A few times a year, my husband Dean and I along with our very closest friends,
Scott and Amy, plan a weekend for the other couple,
having the adventure be a surprise. These weekends have proved to be ones that continually amaze us by the love that is shared,
and the laughs that are in abundance.
This beautiful spring weekend in April was planned by Scott and Amy.
Destination: Seagrove, NC, pottery capital of the south.
We stayed in lovely bed and breakfast, complete with samples of local pottery.
Our hosts were so sweet and needless to say, the breakfast consisting of pineapple and cream cheese stuffed french toast, was AMAZING!
One of our first stops at the over 100 pottery houses in the area, was to Phil Morgan's place. It just so happen, that this day was one of two thoughout the year, that he fired up his huge handmade kiln, to fire over 600 pieces of pottery. He treated us like family and instisted we come back to a down-home BBQ which also included throwing salt into the 2,400 degree kiln. That was a thrill!!
Nothing says NC country like eating smoked BBQ with an old John Deere as your table.
Here the four of us are in front of Phil's kiln. It takes 48 hours of constant wood feeding, to get it up to the maximum temperature of 2,400 degrees. It was a bit toasty even standing there for this photo.
I love this shot of the kiln holding it's
extremely hot contents.
Pottery 101
Amy and I try our hand at "throwing"
The highlight of our trip, was Amy and I getting to take a pottery lesson.
Oh my gosh, I was so nervous, but our teacher was so patient. I have always wanted to try making pottery, so finally, this dream came true!
I loved the feel of the clay but quickly found out, that this was truely a lot of careful work. There are 20 steps that go into making a work of art. It takes placing your hands just so, applying pressure at just the right places, and much patience.
I am a perfectionest, not the best quality to have when you create art.
I was almost done with my piece, feeling pretty good about it, when I pulled up to quickly and BAM, the top came right off. Back to square one.
With wet clay splattered on my face, and my piece successfully off the wheel with only a few fingerprints on my finished piece, I then adorned the bottom with the imprint of a little shell. It is in the process now of being glazed and fired and should arrive on my doorstep...hopefully soon!!
I certainly have a new appreciation for people who make pottery.
And, I am putting a wheel and kiln on my Christmas list!!!
