First firing nailed.

I decided on some decoration after all and the piece has been bisque fired.

It is a bit of a sloppy fit so I plan to fill the gap between the found object and the home I made for it with some slip and re-bisque fire it.

I could glaze it in there but glaze would create a very weak bond and it may have to travel.

That went not so well....

I patched the cracks but Bad dog did not come through his bisque firing unscathed.

He and his floral adornment sort of fell out- when I was expecting more cracks.

Usually (with my usual clay) I would expect the objects to stick in there.

The question is what to do now?

I could try to 'glue' them in there with some slip and re-bisque or remake the piece with my usual clay. At the moment I am leaning towards remaking it.

Because sometimes the option that seems like the most work will often end up being the easiest.

Damn you clay...damn you and your unpredictability.

A Plan B for Plan B or maybe Plan C.

Yeah.

The earlier 'sketch' for plan B just wasn't working.

So I changed the base.

 Now I just need to decide if I want to go with or without the foliage.
The historic reference is still Staffordshire based on the pieces below.

But you see what I've done?

 The bird now upside down becomes a vessel. 

The useless becomes functional. 

It's a found object that was itself copying an established ceramic form used again in this pastiche!

Oh stop it!

It will also make a perfectly useful bud vase.

My new favorite thing.

It's a diamond cutting wheel for my Dremel!

An improvement on my previous technique that involved a grinding wheel attachment and a hammer.

The cut lube stops the wheel burning out and getting too hot- it's quite good.

Why, why, why did I not buy this years ago.

And I'm in...

 

The Gold Coast Ceramic Art Award that is! For selected artists go here.