Just realized I have 2 months to the Kenan Center. Two months sound a lot, but not. I can fire the kiln once a week with couple bisque firings, and need four glaze firings to getting ready for first three shows in row. I have been throwing lots lately, and almost 1000lb are gone since February. Once the festival starts, I have only enough time to fire whatever I sold from bisqued inventories and some. My fingers on the left hand are screaming for the first time. Getting old, as my friend potter says. I almost the done for throwing, expect small casseroles, berry bowls, candle holders, ring holders and slab plates. Well, maybe another week . Spring is almost here. Winds are gusting up crazy last couple days, and hopefully settle down soon.
I have been looking for the good nameshi for a while. It is chamois, for smoothing and finishing the edge when throwing. I have seen some in art stores for drawing use, which is very thin. It works, but tends to lose with the throwing slip water.
I bought the current one in Japan while back, 10-15 years ago, and it starts to tear. This is a deer skin, I believe. I was in Pittsburgh last weekend visiting a ceramic supply store. They did not carry the chamois, but directed me to Lowe’s, the home building supply store. They sell as a drying cloth at the cleaning supply aisle. This is thick and very similar to one I have. Maybe a bit softer side, but does the job. One negative so far is the strange smell coming from the throwing bucket, like a seaweed found on the beach. I hope this is just the treatment used for the skin, and goes away. Now, I have more than enough lifetime supply of chamois, suddenly, or more than ten time over…
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