Checkpost Post

An interesting monolithic structure going up at the entrance to Haifa; it's the metalwork for a bridge support [you can see its partner encased in a natty mould being filled with cement in the background]. It reminds me of Jeff Koon's flowering dog outside the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum [yes,that's Helen posing front centre]. You're right,that is a lot of metal.

Tel Hai

Tel Hai students hard at work in the Spring sunshine sorting wood for next week's anagama firing. There's a raku firing going on in the background with pots smoking in sawdust-filled bins for some post-firing reduction.

Wrapping

Yesterday I pulled handles,trimmed the porcelain cups,whipped up some porcelain slip from the trimmings and stuck the handles on. Today I'm going to tidy up the handles,stamp my mark and go over the rim with a wet leather to finish them off. Meanwhile they're basking mysteriously in the thin afternoon sun beneath their plastic sheet. By now it should be clear that I like this facetted cup shape- making it,using it,photographing it,you name it. Atmospheric photography c/o IPhone.

Meanwhile in the Studio...

A 5kg pot for Meir's anagama...
Some more porcelain faceted cups [a popular item & fun to make]...
Some tall cut-lipped jugs for the new wood kiln...

Eliav's Birthday

Mazal Tov!
It's good to see that the traditional Jewish art of watermelon-carving is still flourishing; this fine example from Lotem. Helen baked the fine lemon birthday-cake.

In All Its Glory

A stirring sight,I think you'll agree- maybe the first Bourry-box wood-fired kiln to be built in Israel.Finished but not fired- we're biding our time 'til after Pesach.

Sitting on Top of the World

The Bourry-box wood-fired kiln that is replacing our old salt kiln is nearing completion: Sydney here adds another row to the chimney. I'm about to wedge together a variety of clays and throw some pots for the first firing...

Stormy Weather

...because not much will be left after the current storm: they're talking about snow in high places tonight [that's us] but I think it's just morale-boosting national myth and propaganda as usual,so don't bother to phone me and ask if it's snowing. Chance would be a fine thing.

Almond Blossom in Tsfat

It's a good job I took some pictures of the blossom a couple of days ago....