I Met Someone At The Dog Show

New at Three Potato Four. This bulldog reminds me of a certain maniac dog I know...

(Bonus points if you know where I got the title for this post.)

Wood Fire

Lately I've been admiring wood fired pottery. It's a process I haven't experienced yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing the process and its results. I've pulled together some of my favorite wood fired pots from Etsy artists. This stunning bottle is from woodfirejim. I love the variety of colors.

This casserole dish by wagnerpottery demonstrates how lovely the shino glaze can be. As an added bonus, the item description includes a detailed account of the wood firing process for the uninitiated.

The mug above is also from wagnerpottery. You will find that the woodfired pottery is often in this orange-rust-brown color vein.

ttbam2001 features the work of artists like this mug from Gary K. Hootman. I enjoy that he included a bit about the artist in his listing.

This flounder vase by Joe Winter is also found in ttbam2001's shop. I love that the glaze can look like other elements than clay; in this case, it recalls rust.

MorrisPottery offers this funky pitcher. I enjoy the multi-colored glazes, and the extra carving and detailed additions.

This monarch bowl is also from MorrisPottery. The design is done with black and white slip trailing - breathtaking.

I want to learn to make such free formed pieces as this mug from landrydeese. Sometimes my pots are funky, but usually not on purpose and never this cool...

A wood fire post on my blog would not be complete if I didn't include a piece from khphillips. Many of his items are wood fired, including this bowl. I want to visit the bird in the weeds...

I found this gorgeous gravy boat at justinlambert. The spout and handle are perfectly proportioned.

I can't get over the glaze on this teapot I found at JordanTaylorPottery. Doesn't it remind you of old iron patio chairs with layers of decades of white paint?

I love the subtle details and simplicity of this vase from jarstudios. The blue is from blue glass impressed into the piece.

The richness of these goblets from heatherledwards123 is sure to add value to your dining decor and complement the best wine in your home.

GREENWOODSTUDIO offers this mortar and pestle complete with a pulled handle and spout.

You will not see this jug in a country band including a jar harp and washtub with a broomstick and twine on top. The brushstrokes and looped handle are far too elegant. Find it at foxpots.

Clayoh's shop has this lovely plate with a helpful description of some of the magic of what happens in the wood kiln.

Here's why I've been thinking about wood firing lately. I bought 25 pounds of wood fire clay, and have been working on some pieces to give it a whirl. The wood kiln at Tin Barn Pottery is up and running. These pictures are of one piece I've been working on. I threw the pitcher, trimmed the bottom, added a handle, and then added an external spout and carved away some of the original form so that it will pour nicely. My apologies for the bad quality of the pictures, they were taken with my cell phone. I spent half of class on Sunday adding the spout. There are so many opportunities for it to turn out poorly, so I am trying to be coy. If it turns out nicely, great. If not, it was a learning experience, and I'll apply what I learned to the next one.

They say never to get attached to any pot. My heart has been broken enough times that I try to be aloof.

In The Name of Science

As I said in my post about brass figures, maybe it's just the circles I run in, but I've noticed a trend of scientific accoutrements in home decor. This takes my affinity for school supplies (and work supplies...) to the next level.

This set of glass beakers from 26olivestreet looks great perched on a vision chart, but I am sure they would be just as happy serving as vases or storage for your buttons, etc.

Now you can measure the volume of your button collection in these graduated beakers from everyeskimo. Don't have a button collection? I'm sure you have an assortment of small items you're saving for some project or purpose. You know I'm right.

I know, I know, everyeskimo is likely to get a restraining order against me because I feature her items in nearly every blog post I write. But I just like her shop and blog so much... and how can you not fall in love with this glass lens?

These mad scientist bottles from vintageonthemake are beautiful by themselves, but would also look great storing little bits or holding colored water on a mantle.

Etched letters make this glass medical jar from tippleandsnack undeniably cool.

sweetcottagedreams has this small graduated cylinder with a metal base to keep it from tipping over when you use it as a bud vase or pencil holder.

Let's say you prefer amber glass, but you need a dropper, too. Garagelnc has you covered with this lab bottle.

This bulb shaped beaker from ladiesandgentlemen would look great lined up on a window sill with other beakers and bottles.

Mix up spirited concoctions with this bar set from ethanollie.

So many of these items are for liquid chemicals... But science is not limited to chemistry, as this vintage Biological Supply House jar with preserved material reminds us. Inquire at bluebellbazaar.

Back to chemistry for a moment (undeniably my worst subject in high school). This green chemist container from Hindsvik would be a great display and storage piece.

See what you can cook up with these tiny lidded crucibles from retrolabs.

Examine life a little closer with this microscope, also from Hindsvik.

I'm not sure what this piece of equipment from WilmaBella was originally for, but surely it's a scope of some kind. I would display a small something on the platform.

There are truly many MANY vintage educational and scientific charts available. Lucky us. This wall chart is from findingfabulous, and educates us on botany.

SurrenderDorothy reminds us that natural history is an important aspect of scientific progress with this fabulous illustration.

I encourage you to get out there, find some hardworking vintage science supplies, and give them new jobs. The best of reusing and recycling, and it should help the unemployment numbers, too. (Colorful beakers via Flickr.)

Shop Update Coming

Dyeing To Try

I had some great luck yesterday at the Big Flea, a giant flea market that comes around every few months. Most of my finds are going into my shop, but I wanted to share these wood block stamps. These are vintage wallpaper and fabric stamps from Europe. The dealer had a whole table stacked full, but for some reason I was drawn to the paisleys. The raised designs are both wood and metal. I love that they're used, rustic, cracked, and lovely all at the same time. And they were once used for interior decor - how fitting. I will probably use them as decor, but I want to experiment with them and clay, and I have designs on using them for their original purpose... They have big openings in the back so you can firmly grip them as you stamp. This one had a number on the side - they must have had a lot of stamps to keep track of! You can also see how thick the stamps are from this side view. So mom, are you up for giving this a try?