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Jul 1st, '09, 21:26
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by Moss » Jul 1st, '09, 21:26

Mrs. Woozl, hi.

I love the idea of supporting businesses as long as you know the costs and what's what. Everyone has to make a living. It might be higher firing costs or a per hour charge or clay. Just my impression.

If this doesn't work out, I suggest trying the local community college where often you can get great labs and good instruction.

CONGRATULATIONS on your new life path. I have this feeling that you are going to love ceramics. You come to it from a good direction being involved in the use of ceramics. You probably have ideas and know what works and what doesn't in a finished piece. For a lot of folks this is actually new information which I find extraordinary since they use cups plates and bowls every day presumably.

Anyway keep us posted on how things go.
Matt Brown
Moss Beach Ceramics
www.mossbeachceramics.etsy.com
www.mossbeachceramics.com

Available at Teance tea room, Berkeley, California

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Jul 26th, '09, 19:55
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by woozl » Jul 26th, '09, 19:55

Hey, Matt
How's it goin'
been looking at those plates....mmmm

Kathy( my wife) lucked out and was at the right place at the right time.
4 pieces are going in the wood fired kiln. :D
They don't usually allow newbs to get in.
Needless to say, goin' over to throw wood on that puppy tonight.
hopefully have some snaps to post....

Cheers

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Jul 30th, '09, 21:52
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by T-session » Jul 30th, '09, 21:52

The overall class doesn't sound bad at all. 24/7 access, $25/25lbs is more than double what they pay, but 25lbs. will last for a while, she doesn't need to keep every one she makes, re-wedging the thrown clay and throwing again with it. I know she will most likely get the pottery bug and that's not a bad thing!! Life is short, enjoy!!
Back from vacation tomorrow!
Hey Matt, your work continues to look great!
Cheers, Bill

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Jul 31st, '09, 00:04
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by woozl » Jul 31st, '09, 00:04

Nice..Image

I think my wife is hooked,
No prob here.


Nuthin' like the first time,
Image

Image

Kiln:Image

Warez, not the woozl's :cry: Image

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Jul 31st, '09, 00:09
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by woozl » Jul 31st, '09, 00:09

Any tips on separating the sagur fired ware from vessels.

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Aug 1st, '09, 15:32
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by coloradopu » Aug 1st, '09, 15:32

woozl wrote:Any tips on separating the sagur fired ware from vessels.

ooooops!

what stuck the glaze or what?

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Aug 1st, '09, 18:24
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by T-session » Aug 1st, '09, 18:24

Is there wadding between the two? I use an small 4 1/2" angle grinder with a thin masonary disc on it and you ease the edge of the abrasive disc in there and cut part way through the wads and they should break apart. A dremel drill/grinder if the pieces are too small to get the disc in there. If there's no wadding... well, if your lucky and the glaze only bridges between the two a little here and there, you can try driving small wooden wedges in the gaps slowly increasing the pressure (tapping around the circle a little at a time with a small tack type hammer) and you might break off the weaker one and save one to be gently ground down to the outside of the glaze thickness, then progressive grades of wet/dry sandpaper (found at an auto supply store for body work) wetsanded to create a smoother surface. Both might break... and there's a tiny chance,depending on how "welded" they are to each other you can save both. Good luck!! Bill

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Aug 1st, '09, 19:08
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by woozl » Aug 1st, '09, 19:08

I am more of a spectator, photographer.
These are low fired nonfunctional pieces
I believe the sagur is unglazed.
It is fired inside of another vessel.
They are packed or lined with straw and other stuff.
When the combustibles burn they leave carbon.
Thinking every thing didn't burn
I can find out more info.......

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Aug 1st, '09, 19:10
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by coloradopu » Aug 1st, '09, 19:10

funny thing that grinder is........


funny thing i too have to grind on 4 of my 6 shelvs.....my stupidity i guess as i lost a fine little tea pot i was hoping for but they have kept it from me and everyone else. sometimes you just have to let them go and understand they are going to a better place. i wish i could save the little tea pot but the lid will never come off and the cup to go with it will never sit level on the table. they have chosen well the gods for i too wanted them.

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Aug 1st, '09, 21:17
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by woozl » Aug 1st, '09, 21:17

A bit spendy, but an agressive, yet not invasive tool.
Thin carbide or diamond$$ blades
and many other apps.
http://www.coastaltool.com/bosch/ps50-2b.htm.

other makers are available ( I have the Fein for work)

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Aug 3rd, '09, 13:44
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by Moss » Aug 3rd, '09, 13:44

Nice Ms. Woozl!

She's got it. Don't need House to diagnose that. She's hooked. :-)

For a beginner those look great BTW. It is a lot harder than you think at first to make things. Give here a pat on the back.

Saggars as we use them today are mostly unglazed, but traditionally they used saggars for ALL firing because they didn't have shelves back in the day, they stacked saggars. Also they are useful for some glazes that are subject to contamination or need a particularly strong reduction like reds.

There is even an old job called a Saggar Maker's Bottom Tapper who was the boy apprentice that went around and tapped the bottoms of the drying saggers to see which ones were ready to be turned over to continue drying. This is back when they would make thousands of saggars at a time.

I always wanted to be a Saggar Maker's Bottom Tapper just so I could put it on a business card.

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Aug 3rd, '09, 13:45
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by Moss » Aug 3rd, '09, 13:45

I have shelves to grind too. :-(

Tested an oribe on a slick white glaze and it slid completely off the bowl. Should have used a sitter, of which I have many, but didn't. My own fault.

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Aug 11th, '09, 10:39
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by Moss » Aug 11th, '09, 10:39

I have been posting a few new items to Etsy and thought I would share them here as well. I have had two successful firings this last month and have only now begun to photograph them.

At everyone here's advice, I have started to make some guinomi in smaller sizes from 80-150ml which I have really been enjoying. There are some really beautiful pieces, but the three that I have started with are a little different. They have iron oxide image transfers on them of barbed wire which is something I grew up with here in California. Interesting stuff although I know it isn't really anything peaceful to contemplate whilst drinking tea... OK no more apologies.

Image
Image
Image
Image

That last one is a full sized yunomi that holds about 250ml more or less.

My shop on Etsy is at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6582263

There are a lot more coming soon.

Also there is a whole new set of my work at Teance in Berkeley for sale. Chawans and a few guinomi of which I have no pictures.

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Aug 11th, '09, 11:01
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by chamekke » Aug 11th, '09, 11:01

I love these - especially the ones with the barbed-wire design! It's very elegant in an abstract way. I can easily imagine it as a motif on kimono fabric.

Incidentally, my first thought was - perfect gift for an Amnesty International supporter :)

Then I remembered: I am an Amnesty International supporter!

My third thought was: shoot, why don't I go buy one. So I did :D

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Aug 11th, '09, 11:23
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Re: Moss Beach Ceramics - Matt Brown (Moss) - Ceramics pics

by Herb_Master » Aug 11th, '09, 11:23

Moss wrote:
At everyone here's advice, I have started to make some guinomi in smaller sizes from 80-150ml which I have really been enjoying. There are some really beautiful pieces,

................

There are a lot more coming soon.
I am glad you are enjoying "working small", I look forward to seeing them all.

Have you had any luck with smaller Monk's Cups or is that still work in progress?

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