Tag Archives: Layla

Is There Still Anyone Out There?

Posted on June 7, 2017 by | Comments Off on Is There Still Anyone Out There?
So I mostly use a tablet these days, but when I use the computer my blog pops up as a start up tab.  And I am reminded that I have not posted in WAY too long.  I have entered the Instagram world like so many other people.  That is so much easier.  Instant gratification, and I can post when I am in the middle of DOING.  That way there is no, "hmmm, I should post about this on my blog..."and then it never happens.

So look for me there as Anna Branner's Cloth n Clay (@wooliewoman)

Meanwhile I have been keeping busy.  I am still lacking in the motivation department.  Ever since my Dad died (wow, more then 2 years ago now) followed by Layla, my furry studio companion, it seems my energy is not as focused as it should be.  Still working on that.   Working in the garden helps...  I had two Spring shows and have another coming up this Saturday.  That is very busy for me!  And a good thing, since having a goal that needs to be met is definitely a motivator!

This Saturday is the Sophia Street Pottery Throwdown, Fredericksburg's first all pottery show.  We hope that this will be an annual thing.  Come see us Saturday, in front of Sophia Street Studios, from 10-5.  20 Virginia potters, most from our little talented town, but a few from away as well.

Meanwhile here is what I have been working on!






Potters call loading the kiln "tetris" like the game.  This is a glaze firing so nothing can touch!  My kiln is a top loader.  So you build the shelves from the bottom up as you load.













Hope I see some of you this Saturday!  And for all of you that are not local, I hope to load some pots into the ol' Etsy shop in the next week or two!

Peace!











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Progress

Posted on February 10, 2014 by | Comments Off on Progress

I have finally carved out a couple of hours each day that allow me to work in my studio.  The commute is short but our cold temperatures have sure put me off the trip.

But I have a wholesale order to fill so off I go!







The bad thing about Ground Hog Day is the announcement of 6 more weeks of winter (are we really surprised about that?)  The GOOD thing about Ground Hog Day is that it is Layla's birthday!

13 and still loves to open presents!


Today I plan on running some errands, delivering some handspun and picking up a few groceries in preparation for Wednesdays forecast.  Then back to the studio to start decorating those mugs!



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Progress

Posted on February 10, 2014 by | Comments Off on Progress

I have finally carved out a couple of hours each day that allow me to work in my studio.  The commute is short but our cold temperatures have sure put me off the trip.

But I have a wholesale order to fill so off I go!







The bad thing about Ground Hog Day is the announcement of 6 more weeks of winter (are we really surprised about that?)  The GOOD thing about Ground Hog Day is that it is Layla's birthday!

13 and still loves to open presents!


Today I plan on running some errands, delivering some handspun and picking up a few groceries in preparation for Wednesdays forecast.  Then back to the studio to start decorating those mugs!



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Progress

Posted on February 10, 2014 by | Comments Off on Progress

I have finally carved out a couple of hours each day that allow me to work in my studio.  The commute is short but our cold temperatures have sure put me off the trip.

But I have a wholesale order to fill so off I go!







The bad thing about Ground Hog Day is the announcement of 6 more weeks of winter (are we really surprised about that?)  The GOOD thing about Ground Hog Day is that it is Layla's birthday!

13 and still loves to open presents!


Today I plan on running some errands, delivering some handspun and picking up a few groceries in preparation for Wednesdays forecast.  Then back to the studio to start decorating those mugs!



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New Work

Posted on July 16, 2013 by | Comments Off on New Work


I decided to try something a little different.  I have some customers that like my images but are not too happy with the drippy slip.  So thought I would revisit the buff clay I have thrown with in the past.

(You will also notice, I hope, that I have been trying to improve my photo taking.  Can you tell that the first three pictures were taken after figuring out white balance and color intensity adjustablity??  The next ones not so much...)






It seems so much simpler to skip the slipping, and waiting for that slip to dry.  I did discover that I have to wait longer to paint with the underglazes on the clay (rather then the dry slip).  It seems to apply better on a drier surface.  Decorating on the buff does have some limitations.  I don't get that nice contrasting line in my drawings....which of course reminds me that that is the reason I started to use the white slip and red clay in the first place.

So I have done more of that as well.


(Can't get this nice fence line without that contrast...)




Does the drippyness of the slip bother any of you?

The good news is that all of these pots were purchased in a big wholesale order and are now living (I hope temporarily!)  at the Miller Farms' Farm Store in Locust Grove VA.

I also decided this hot weather meant it was time to do a bit of weaving with cotton for a change.  This will be a summer weight shawl.  Just right for a chilly night under the stars at the beach....



Gratuitous hot dog picture. 





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Here comes the heat!!

Posted on May 31, 2013 by | Comments Off on Here comes the heat!!
Lots of fiber and clay happening down here in Virginia.  Despite the rising temperatures... (it was bound to happen eventually right?)

Remember the haul from Maryland Sheep and Wool?   Many of you fell in love with the two twists on the far left....




Now they are a 3 ply (Navajo plied...meaning there is some color separation...) light worsted yarn!  A three ply this thin is pretty good for me.  (That's a nickle for scale.)



Meanwhile my friend Lynette is working on items for her show in August.  I spin wool for her sculptures...and this 8 oz will become a beehive.  The colors are perfect!  We were excited to find it at Maryland.


My latest blanket.....


And I had an exciting visitor.  No pictures of course but Hannah McAndrew was in town!  She was on the long journey home to Scotland after her show with the St Croix Valley Potters in Minnesota.  She was very interested in a blanket so we made a swap.

This plate is BIG, 15 inches across and much more golden than it looks in this picture.  I love it!  And I know Hannah will enjoy her wool throw in chilly Scotland. Thanks so much Hannah!


And I have finally found my groove again in the clay studio.  It was slow going at first.  Even though I have been throwing pots for over 7 years I still often struggle with some of the basics.  I am so thankful when it starts to flow again.


I am working on getting a kiln load dry and ready to bisque in the next 2 weeks.  All those little bowls on the top two shelves of the drying rack have to be in Vermont before the end of the month!



I am SO GLAD that my little AC unit seems to be working ok in my studio.  Not nearly as efficient as the split system I had in my studio in Charlottesville.  I should have taken it with us since the buyers are simply using the space as a garage.  It is definitely cooler then the 90 degree air outside but the humidity still seems high.  Drying is going slow...

So potting, weaving, spinning and sweating on those morning walks with Layla.


She LOVES her air conditioning.

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Foggy Days of Winter….

Posted on January 15, 2013 by | Comments Off on Foggy Days of Winter….


It has been a wet and foggy several days. It started at as warm (hence the fog on the river, isn't it beautiful?) but now the cold is creeping in.  Greg struggles with this kind of weather, but luckily he is heading to Florida for work in a week.  Layla and I will stay here and continue to provide Quality Control at the house project.

But the tile is going in!


And the old cabinets have been placed as of this picture, but installed yesterday.


We just don't have the cash right now to do a full blown kitchen renovation, so we had the room gutted, the wiring replaced where we WILL want it when we do the rest of the work and new dry wall was installed.  I'm going by in a bit to hopefully find that "we" managed to salvage the old (ugly) counter top as well.

The house ended at the end of the cabinets in the picture.  Everything beyond is new.

Lesson learned. (AGAIN.) Expect a home renovation project to go over budget AT LEAST 10%.  We are beyond the bottom of the barrel now.....but it I think we will make it!

In the mean time I have decided this will not be a pottery month.  My folks are downsizing (I may post more about that...) so I have been helping them go through their treasures (being the closest geographically and the only daughter you KNOW some have come home with me.)  I am trying to get another blanket on my loom at the studio, but between being called away to put out fires at the house, painting radiators (golly but spray painting is hard on the hands!), working on a knitted sock commission and just my own lack of motivation with the yucky weather it isn't getting done.  (Throw in DVRd Downton Abbey....)

Maybe today...

And Layla's tail is nearly healed!  We will retire the Cone of Shame in a week or so.



(Her tail is even blurry because she's waggin' it hoping for a cookie!)

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Weaving Away with Clay on My Mind

Posted on May 14, 2012 by | Comments Off on Weaving Away with Clay on My Mind
Now that we are relatively settled in our small rental (I can't call it TINY since that is a whole different kind of house!) I have realized pretty quickly that for us to manage to exist in our small cluttered with boxes space I need to get out as much as possible! The good thing is that means time spent walking Layla along the river (all the Canadian Goose families are so fun to watch!) and many hours at my weaving studio at LibertyTown.

You may have heard that the show for the month of May is the annual Patron Show.  Fantastic work is donated, however number of pieces that that is (I think 51 this year...) that many $150 tickets are sold.  At the end of the month all ticket holders come for the Big Drawing.  When you ticket number is called you choose your own piece to take home!  This year tickets sold out in TWO DAYS.  Below is the blanket that I donated to the show.




My next project is another wool blanket. You may (or maybe not!) have noticed that the blanket for the show has a dark brown back.  This effect is created by the type of twill weave I used.  It also creates a somewhat heavier fabric. (For those of you in the know, a 3/1 twill creates a warp faced side, thats the colors in this example, and a weft faced side, that is the brown side.)  My next project is a more balanced twill that allows for both sides to be similar.

The warp, the yarn set up on the loom first, is an alternating cocoa brown and deep earthy red.


Nearly finished.....


....at the end....


To finish the piece I twist the fringe (that takes about 2 hours worth of Bones on TV.....) and run it through one hot wash/cold rinse cycle in my washing machine.  Last is to trim any loose ends.


I'm really happy with this one.


The colors are not quite true.  The yellowish color (the weft in this case) is actually more of a lemongrass green.....)

So now the weather has turned warmer for good I think.  So I am putting my wool away and pulling out the cotton and cotolin (50% cotton, 50% linen).

I have two blue baby blankets in stock.....Now I think I'll work with some light weight baby blankets with girls in mind!


BUT I have plans to start making pots in the LibertyTown pottery school space....so stay tuned!!

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