Wheel Thrown Pieces for Daily Use
These high fire porcelain pots are inlaid with a blue or red slip using a technique called mishima. I use an exacto knife to carve the image into the surface of the clay. I then paint the colored slip over the design, sanding or wiping the entire pot, revealing the remaining slip inlaid in the carved lines. I also inlay cobalt oxide after bisque firing. These pieces were high fired in a salt kiln. Some pieces were fired three times for a platinum or gold luster effect. All pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe.
Sculptural
Wheel Thrown Closed Forms
These wheel thrown closed porcelain forms are part of a sculptural series. They were high fired using soda firing. Soda firing yields beautiful and unpredictable results. In this process, salt (sodium chloride) is introduced into the kiln firebox or burner ports at high temperature. The salt vaporizes and is carried on the flame to the ware. Then the sodium vapor combines with the silica in the clay surface and forms an extremely hard sodium-silicate glaze. As with any vapor firing process, pots need to be stacked in the kiln with wadding so that the salt glaze doesn’t adhere the pots to each other or the kiln shelf.
Unique Handmade Porcelain and Wire Crochet Jewelry
I use Nerikomi technique, stacking, pressing, and slicing white and colored porcelain to reveal organic rather than carefully planned patterns. I use a tiny crochet hook, a top quality sterling silver (925) wire and rose gold, silver plated copper wire in a delicate rose gold shade. I create wire crochet jewelry often working with cluster patterns, uncovering negative space, playing with delicate shadows cast on the body. I also fill the crochet forms with high fired porcelain beads to add a playful, dynamic to my designs.
