Posts By: Dan Finnegan

Almost everything I’ve made since getting a new start in January has been extra labor-intensive and I’ve been quite content to roll with it. But I’ve been promising myself that I’d begin some serious throwing and then I don’t, instead I carry on the bird and tree theme. But as you’ll see at the end… Read more »

I added a bunch of birds to this tree-like vase and several leaf sprigs before slipping and glazing it. What this has to do with making pots for everyday use I’m not quite sure, and it verges on being cute, although the palette and trial by fire should mellow it nicely. I like the challenge… Read more »

Ron asked about coin banks and the existential question “to put in a stopper or not?”. I would rather not do it myself, but experience shows that the consumer prefers easy access to their cash. A lot of old timey banks didn’t have a stopper, and I still believe that any coin that fits in… Read more »

The snow continues to be incredible and wonderful…we are approaching 50″ total accumulation and it still sounds like there’s more to come. I’ve been spending most of my time on the farm, which allows me to share my 4-wheel drive Jeep with Paul and Emily and Ellie AND to reach my studio instead of driving… Read more »

At one time last week they predicted 3′ of snow…it wasn’t quite that spectacle, but it did snow pretty steadily for 30 hours or more…and something like 18″ fell. I took a great walk with Tom O’Hara and his fireplace as my destination. I dropped off a copy of Tom Wait’s newest live vinyl release,… Read more »

I tried my best to meet the by know famous ‘12(pots) by 12(noon)‘ challenge. I also failed two days running, but it was interesting to note the added urgency gained by just promising myself that I’d try. Then I thought of ways to circumvent the rules!!!…include a clock in the photo but set the time… Read more »

   I’m slowly making my way back into throwing on the wheel and it has made Michael Kline’s challenge all the more relevant. We often talk about the rhythm of making pots, but sometimes getting underway is more like trying to start a car that’s been sitting for a long time, sputtering and stuttering along. … Read more »

Having a contest is a rather shameless way to generate comments, but I’ve been known to be shameless more often than is fair to tell.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter! Even if you didn’t mean to. I’ve learned a couple of things about holding a contest : *Two weeks is w-a-a-a-y… Read more »

    Sunday is the big prize drawing for my January contest. A number of you have figured out the unpublished rules (it ain’t rocket science!) and you are welcome to vote early and often.     I’m farm sitting this week as I finish off the last of my ‘Bedrock’ sculptures. Hoping to get snowed in… Read more »

I’ve been thinking of making LibertyTown money for some time and I roughed out a prototype the other day. I carved into a blank I made out of my fine white stoneware. I let the clay get entirely dry before I begin. I want to make different denominations in different sizes and use them as… Read more »

I’m using two slips these days, one with 6-tile(a N.C. kaolin) as it’s base and one with a French kaolin. I like them both, one being thicker and paler, the other a thinner, orangier skin. But I need to use a different clay for each because of problems with fit. I hate wasting tests on… Read more »

Born in ’55, today I turn 55 myself! I don’t need any presents, believe me, as just being healthy and back in the studio is all a man could wish for. And, of course, the whole world has been taking care of me and bringing me treats for months now. I’m not sure I can… Read more »

Check out this amazing online catalog/collection of American Redware and Stoneware.Click on ‘Featured Lots’ and feast your eyes. Thanks to Jerry Brent for the heads up!Detail of stamp19th c. Harvest Jug (not to be confused with the Harvest Jugs that inspire Doug Fitch!)Thought to be a pot by ‘Dave the Slave’I like flasks (for their… Read more »

Dr. Mike Costa got a mug of mine last week…here’s the e-mail I received yesterday: Mug questionsmicrowave safe?how about gamma rays? If nuclear attack is impending should I encase it in lead or can I just leave it exposed on the shelf.How about temperature ranges – if as expected my kitchen approaches absolute zero tonight… Read more »

A bonus snowfall that totally fooled the weather prognosticators fell yesterday morning and gave us a few inches of beautiful powdery snow, much like the snow I grew up with in Buffalo, NY (average yearly snowfall – 96″!). Usually we have an icy, wet mix here in the Rappahanock River Valley but the frigid air… Read more »

The first pottery book I ever owned was “Finding One’s Way with Clay” by Paulus Behrenson and it turned me into a pinch pot junkie for years. I used to use his various exercises when I taught and it was a real pleasure to meet Paulus himself at Penland a number of years ago.These figures… Read more »

The promise was to myself and I’m happy to report that I delivered on it! I spent most of the afternoon of the first day of the year in my studio on Claremont Farm. Mostly I cleaned up and rearranged and dreamed of pots to come.I just returned from another afternoon there spent dipping my… Read more »

This has been quite the season for generous friends and Xmas continued that trend. I’ve never had a ‘secret santa’ before so I was excited to be invited by a certain red-headed blogger to join in her reindeer games this year.This wonderful pot arrived Xmas eve and there’s no need to tell you who made… Read more »

For more than 30 years the Christmas season has been a frantic time of making, firing and selling for me so it has been odd to spend this season so sedately. Several of the wonderful gifts I received yesterday seemed to have a theme that I will call “Yes You Had Surgery, Now Get Back… Read more »

Usually I’m irritated by the instantaneous title awarded by the TV media to every storm that comes our way…it makes each event seem like a chapter in a rather lurid romance novel after a while. But the Weather Channel has called the lovely snowfall that we just got a ‘Wallop’ and I like that word… Read more »

Everyone at LibertyTown has been busy preparing for the last of our First Friday openings of the year (everyone, that is, but me!). Susan Wyatt spent days rearranging the Emporium with a new (for us) idea and it looks great. Elizabeth, Beth and Aline are putting up the “Small Works” exhibition by our very own… Read more »

As I continue to mend I’ve begun rummaging through my collection of books on clay, starting with the oldest and wandering from there. I enjoy the sometimes archaic language and the strong opinions that seem to have disappeared as we’ve gotten more ‘civilized’. The stronger the opinion the better, I say, whether I agree or… Read more »

I’m having a quiet day reading and half watching football with a good fire in the fireplace. Of course, I’m drinking tea with biscuits, too. I’m getting stronger and eating better everyday; I’m just very sore and they tell me that it is normal.I really just want to write to say thanks again to the… Read more »

Hello again, friends! It has been a whirlwind of a month, from diagnosis to cure, but I am now a part of that growing population that calls themselves a cancer survivor. 10 days ago the wonderful surgeon, Dr. Earnhardt, removed 8″ of my colon and 3 days ago the lab report came back with the… Read more »

(Guest bloggers Anna and John are sitting in for Dan today and want to give you an update…) Without going into too much detail, Dan had surgery about ten days ago to remove the cancer discovered during his routine colonoscopy. All the fixing, patching and sewing that followed the procedure have gone exceedingly well. Dan… Read more »