The noon hour had just ended last Saturday when Piper came into the studio to begin making a bowl on the potter?s wheel. She began her work by finding a piece of clay about the size of two grapefruits stuck together, formed it into a ball, held it in her left hand and repeatedly pounded it with her right hand to work out any air bubbles. Making pottery on the wheel was an excellent form of stress release.

She worked the clay for about eight minutes or so before finally deciding it was ready to place on the potter?s wheel.

With a container of water at her side, along with a sea sponge and cutting tools, she pushed her foot against the pedal to set the wheel in motion. The next couple of hours were lost in work. Her hands were the conductor; molding, melding, coaxing the clay to her will. Her fingers dipped over and over into the water bucket at her side to keep the clay slick and pliant, a willing servant to the gentle instruction of her hands. A few tasteful yet intricate designs were cut within the body of the piece, rendering it with a look of uniqueness.

After the vase was fashioned to her liking, she cut it from the base of the platform to be set aside for drying over the next eight hours. Then the painting and glazing begin. Two firings and another 48 hours passed before it was ready to be delivered.

Satisfied that it was at least a masculine piece, it was meticulously wrapped and delivered to the Inn in a wooden box, with instructions for it to be passed on to a one Mister Tucker, along with a note of thanks attached with a slender strip of leather.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb143/PiperTippet/Tuckersbowl.jpg