Cultural Pattern_References:

Rains each day; so we discuss the slang.
Raining clay pipe stems
Dutch
Raining fat farm boys
German
Raining cats and dogs
American
Raining chair legs
Greek

Random Ideas_Uncertainty Explored:

Apple Computer patented case for cellular phone made from ceramics. Ceramic is transparent to wireless signals, enhancing the reception. There is also a patent from 2004 – for antenna embedded into ceramics; saving space and money.

Connecting Threads_Trust in Creativity:

"The average human being thinks that happiness lies in stability, in tying up all the loose ends and having things under control. But actually, happiness lies in being able to relax with our true condition, which is basicallyfleeting, dynamic, fluid, not in any way solid, not in any way permanent. It's transient by nature." - Pema Chodron

Daily Experiences Living in Holland:
We are working long days and being at .ekwc is absorptive. We sort of pinch ourselves and ask if we’re in Holland. The telephone, always a mystery in foreign country, speaks to us in Dutch. I wonder if I will learn Dutch while I make mistakes one failed call upon another.

We bought biologic - organic- fruits and vegtables Friday morning at the market. Several vendors who know their early customers, asked how long we are staying in town. Obviously we are Americans, and yet Den Bosch is not a tourist destination. As we walk meandering streets, exploring all smaller passages, town begins to loop into familiar buildings.

Our day begins when we leave the small 30 S.M. Thoreau sort of room with twin beds, a desk, two chairs and an amorior. We traverse a court yard and enter the work center door greeted by kilns of all nature.

Every thing one needs is at your finger tips – linked by orange three ring binders where we enter studio #4 – and the item we’re taking.

Technical References:

Lean clay: slip
Defloculant:
Fat clay: plastic clay
Add bentone – 5 x’s as strong at bentonite
{1.5% in our porcelain and bone china clay mixed on Sat/Sun}
Paper Pulp:
Add .5% to strengthen wet-bone dry strength

Metal and Clay fired at same time
“Defies the laws of physics,” Peter from .ekwc
Art or Industry viewpoint differs in the acceptance of the results

Filter Press the Plastic Clay bodies we’ve made in a dough mixer
> Edges of the clay cake are hard – center is soft
> Will time equalize the consistency or do we need to wedge it?
> Does the pressure of the pump affect the consistency?
Current setting is 30 – 40 {units- kilograms?}
>Water content is 50% - sort of can see finger trails in the clay slip before pumping into the filter. What is the correct texture of the clay slip?