Jessica Makes an Unfinished Bisque Shelf...

Jessica Makes Pottery. But, Jessica isn't so great at finishing pottery. After 6 years of working and teaching at a pottery studio I have a lot of unfinished pottery. How much unfinished pottery? Well, 166 pieces of pottery to be precise. 

Which isn't really THAT much pottery. I just glazed 12 mugs yesterday and it only took me about an hour and a half. If it takes me less than 10 mins to glaze a mug, the rest of my glazing should take no time at all. What's the hold up on glazing the rest of these bad boys?

I'm not sure. Maybe I get distracted by the next shiny idea, maybe I feel overwhelmed by the idea that every piece needs to be spectacular and unique. I'm not always great at finishing what I start, but I also really like finishing projects that I start.

So that's how I got here. With a shelf full of bisque and a can do attitude ready to take on the worl... just kidding. But really, keeping a record of what I have done and what I need to do is my way of forcing myself to keep on track. Which could be going better. I could have spent today glazing, but instead I made a stop-motion gif of my unglazed bisque shelf.

Yeah, it's cool. But I really should get to work. So...for the record, my glazing to do list consists of:

• 1 cake stand
• 1 chip and dip
• 2 butter dishes
• 2 pitchers
• 1 teapot
• 3 chalices
• 1 to go coffee cup
• 2 tagines (what is that?)
• 3 luminaries
• 5 utensil holder
• 5 lidded jars
• 9 vases
• 3 planters
• 4 decorations/sculptures
• 13 bowls
• 2 beer steins
• 1 leaf plate
• 8 oval platters
• 5 circle platters
• 7 circle plates
• 10 square/rectangle plates
• 6 mugs
• 9 circle dishes
• 4 octagon dishes
• 2 square dishes
• 6 asymmetrical/organic bowls
• 3 wreaths
• 2 spoon rests
• 5 ring holder dishes
• 1 spoon
• 1 pendant
• 12 ornaments
• 18 itty bitty babies (tiny pottery)
• 2 key chains
• 1 small relief portrait of Mister Rogers (yes it is my favorite thing on this list)
• 5 guinea pigs (test pottery)
• 1 extra bowl (that I forgot on the window sill that didn't make it into the gif, but I'm not upset about it or anything)

Let's see, 1+1+2+2+1+3+1+2+3+5+5+9+3+4+13+2+1+8+5+7+10+6+9+4+2+6+3+2+5+1+1+12+18+2+1+5+1=166

OK, that checks out. As you can see, I'm a bit left brained, as well as, right brained. I'll need both hemispheres to help me as I plan, execute, document and post about my glazing process. My plan is to post a record of the process and results of each grouping of bisque. Step one will be the guinea pigs. I will be back with some progress soon. 

Wish me luck and you can check out my new Instagram account if you are interested in more regular updates: https://www.instagram.com/jessicamakespottery/