primalmommy on wed 20 oct 04
first kiln: a little thing, could fit three little handbuilt pots. I was
selling roses from a cart, living in a small apartment in Clear Lake,
Texas. It sat on the balcony, covered with a vinyl charcoal grill cover
when not in use. I has asked family members who got me expensive useless
stuff for christmas to help with the kiln instead. hand built, glazes
from those damned little jars.
first wheel: a newlywed, poor as a church mouse, living in the rented
basement of the minister's widow in the tiny town of Prince Frederick,
Maryland. Got permission to use a corner of her covered carport, and
hubby and I bult a wobbledy-hop wheel from a sketch in a redaer's digest
craft book. cast the flywheel on a circle of plywood studded with nails
and surrounded with an old bit of rubber mopboard. The wheel shaft
pivoted on a greased nail, and was steadied by the ball bearings from a
cannibalized lazy susan. Bought materials but also dug clay out of
calvert cliffs and made pots with it.
first studio: pregnant with my now eight year old, I went to zoning with
plans for a 12X24 "potting shed" to be built as a lean-to on the back
wall of my garage. http://primalmommy.com/studiopix.html Scrounged
whatever I could. Put in a french drain and a rain barrel, wired it
after final inspection ;0) drywalled and shingled it myself.. pregnant.
Second wheel: free! Drove to Muskegon to get a wheel from a wonderful
woman named Karen, who had moved and couldn't fit her old kick down the
basement stairs.
Second kiln: free! Before they tore down an abandoned house across the
street, I went over there with a sled and brought home a melted down
hobbyist kiln -- overfired until the kiln sitter tube melted. I gutted
it and fire it with a $14 harbor freight weed burner.
Now when I make some money selling pots at a show or teaching a class at
the guild I buy (used, always) -- electric wheel, slab roller in need of
repair. I have gotten to the point of giving away some of my "make do'
equipment, because i am making enough -- and now, as a business, writing
off on my taxes -- purchases of some new stuff. I got a big Evenheat
kiln when a) my work could pay for it and b) i was making enough work to
fill it and support the electric bill. Bought an extruder from Axner
today.
You can do it. Get creative, lower your standards, get out of your own
way. Do it small for a while. I have set up a winter studio in a linen
closet before.
Not meaning to sound boastful; just trying to encourage others. This all
happened over the last 15 years, through marriage and 3 babies, lean
times, creative budgeting and homeschooling. The rule I made at first
was that my hobby would have to pay for itself. Now it helps support us.
When these kids get grown.. look out, world!
By the way, another kiln was just given away on potterbarter in the last
few days. 850 members, and lots of stuff 'free to whoever will come and
pick it up". Other stuff for sale, cheap. It's like freecycle for
potters sometimes. if you have something taking up space in your studio,
why not give another potter a hand up? Go to yahoogroups.com and search
for potterbarter. Low volume, no conversation list -- classified only.
Yours
Kelly in Ohio
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