August from Leslie - microwave raku

 

So pretty - from Leslie. I keep admiring her work and wishing I had more time to restore some better calligraphic skills. <sigh> It's OK - I have plenty of good stuff going on. So, I'll just be happy at where I am on the bell curve. Notice how I didn't say *where I am on the spectrum*? It seems like the word spectrum has changed - and that the non-typical-neuro camp has cornered-the-market on the word  *spectrum.* I understand how it happened - and the more I read - the more I find myself with a ton of characteristics that are on non-typical-neuro spectrums.  My *thing* about mail is a bit of a flag. Let's call it a gray flag. It's 10:21 am - you'd think the caffeine would have worn off by now - but apparently not.

Leslie tucked this inside - appropriate message for these days.

***

I spent about a year in the late 70s working part time with a potter, doing the decorative glaze designs on her thrown stoneware. I loved that part and was somewhat interested in learning to throw - but, I could tell that my hands were not on board with that level of gritty materials that fight back. I needed to stay in the world of delicate, fine motor skills. Later, when I had kids, I kept thinking we could build a raku kiln in our back yard. But none of my kids were interested. 

Then....I ran across this - and if I were a youngster, I'm pretty sure I'd be tempted to try this.

micro raku firing in the microwave

And for all the potters out there who know that the solution to gritty clay is to work in porcelain - yes - I was very interested in working in porcelain - but - that would have required a much more disciplined approach. Also - it would have required schlepping to the only studio in town where porcelain was available - and that wasn't going to happen.