First Blog: Pottery Weekend

     This weekend was a three day event down in Fayetteville, Georgia called Farm Heritage days or locally called, the Tractor Show.  It is hosted by a local family who own farm land with very historical tractors, machinery, and artifacts. Each year in September the family opens up their property to the community to come out and enjoy history, tradition, demonstrations, and food. There are a variety of individuals and groups who set up and share their craft.  There was a cotton gin demonstration with the oldest working cotton gin in the south! There was also a sorgham machine powered by a donkey. This machine takes cane and spits it. Speaking of donkeys, there were a variety of different livestock there to pet and feed. There was a blacksmith who demonstrated his work process as well as finished product. A saw mill was also in operation part of the time.
     This year, I was invited to take part in doing demonstrations of making pottery on a wheel. I took my wheel and supplies down and got to play with clay as I explained the process of pottery making and even let the young ones come sit with me and get their hands dirty. Children and adults seemed to really have fun with it. I had a blast sharing this art form that a lot of people may not have ever tried or heard of. There was a wood fire kiln build by someone else a while back that my husband helped me out with. We used the wood cut by the saw mill. The kiln was not exactly in optimum condition to fire pottery in. We busted several of the pieces as well as the shelf they were sitting on, but hey, that added to part of the fun.:)
      I was so excited that at the end of the afternoon today, the family invited me back for next year to come down and demonstrate again and sell my work! My husband is going to be working to construct the wood fire kiln a bit better for next year's use.