Four little teapots

This time I tried new spouts, cut open on top to see if the liquid pours better. Well, it does seem to work, but  judging from all the teapots I've tried out, the best spouts for pouring are the long "S" curved ones, are thick at the base and have a little lip to prevent the dripping. But these are the hardest to make.

Two little teapots

For gnomes, as someone commented :) These are made from that new chamotte clay, quite grainy to touch.




I've been trying and trying, but still am quite far from achieving my ideal teapot, that looks nice, feels good to touch, is easy to use, and pours without spitting and dripping. I think I've experienced all of teapot "problems" so far : cracks on the sides from hot water, "s" cracks in spouts, lids etc. But I'm not giving up!  

Splashes and blotches 1

Some teapots

Thought I'd try this shape, but it proved to be not so easy, partly because of the thick rimless bottom, that cracked during firing.



And a butter dish that was thrown by a fellow ceramist, Aurelia, and I just did some doodling on the glaze prior to firing:

turquoise

This cup is the very reason I started throwing. I wanted it so much (but bought a bowl instead) that I just had to do it.

But this is the closest in colour that I could get... very rough and grainy.

So when I saw Markus Klausmann this year at the Journées de la Céramique, I fulfilled that wish on the spot =)

The inside is mesmerizing! Makes me think of raspberry jam smears.

And he makes beautiful teapots. There was one at the show that was an immediate love for me, but not for my purse. Will be looking for that intricate branch to make a handle now...
This is of his older work.

flower doodles

Mostly tulips.

My first teapot!

And of course, what should have been:

And the result. Where did all that white go?

All my knowledge about throwing a teapot came from the very detailed and thouroughly explained videos by Hsin-Chuen Lin, that I highly recommend.