Finished - Just in time for Spring!

I'm happy with this one - started last September (2009) it's a top down raglan based on the pattern (#991) by Diane Soucy - I used Plymouth Mushishi yarn along with a "mystery" yarn I got as a gift at the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat in 2009.  I striped the piece knitting 2 rows of color A, then 2 rows of color B... it's a fun and easy knit - and had hibernated for quite a while as a funny looking vest... I decided it is so close to done I should just finish it, so I did! - Lucky for me, it's supposed to be chilly on Monday so I'll get to wear it!

I have also been busy with ceramics... focusing on the use of the image transfer technique that I was introduced to last fall - I was lucky enough to get one of the copy machines that allows this technique - and I have been going crazy with it! 

I decided to focus this Spring's work on simple forms, and using Elizabeth Zimmerman (Knitting Goddess) as inspiration.  I am only using one type of clay (B mix with sand) and only one main glaze (green celadon) - there are limitations as to the types of glazes that can be used with this technique, and from what I have been told this one should work fine...

Here is one of the pieces I made on Saturday - it's a "Melody" bowl (named after Melody Cooper who taught this technique - a simple slab bowl textured on the outside - with a pedestal base... and the rim of the bowl has attached scraps/pieces of textured clay -

The interior of this bowl has transferred images using the above noted technique - it's cut up directions on how to knit a certain men's sweater pattern.  Don't go trying to knit the pattern using the directions, though - there's not enough here to complete the work! 

I then used a green engobe (colored slip) to paint around the transfers, and did some random "fractured" painting on the pedestal to try to balance the coloring.  This piece is ready to be bisque fired and once it's out of that first firing, it'll get glazed with green celadon and high fired.  The green will be more subtle, and the transfers will change color... (I'll show you as soon as it's done!)