Our Blog
Read more about A Bit Off Center, our pottery, and things that inspire us to create.
Winter Luxuries for a Potter
Winters in eastern NC are usually mild and 2012 has been exceptionally mild. But, we had a cold snap, and although I have a small space heater in my studio that manages to take most of the chill out, it never gets really warm. So even though I love making pots, it is...
The Potter and the Baker
I love to cook; but baking was never a passion. It had to do with 2 things: calories and messiness. No matter what you bake, there are a lot of calories. And, sous-potter, Jeff, doesn’t like breads or sweets, which means the bulk of the calories are mine to consume...
February’s Hiatus
February is an uneventful time of year. The holidays have been packed away; the football season is over; and craft shows are several months away. So there isn’t much in the way of demand from February. Because of the hiatus in activity, this is a great time for me...
Production Pottery – Storage
When making functional pottery it is vital that the pots perform their role well; but, when making dinnerware sets, it is also necessary to consider how those pots function when they are NOT in use. So once you have acquired the skills to make similar pots the same...
Production Pottery – Challenge #2
“Technical ability grows naturally with experience, but conceptual rigor needs constant attention and exploration.” Sean O’Connell Although not all potters aspire to be production potters, all potters will benefit from the skills required to make dinnerware. Potters...
Groundhog Day!
I interrupt this series of posts on Production Pottery to wish you Happy Groundhog Day (which should be a nationl holiday for potters). Every February 2nd we turn our eyes toward Pennnsylvania and wait for Punxsutawney Phil to tell us if spring is here or if winter...