Cindy Groszkiewicz
Hello, my name is Cindy, and I’m a Happy Potters addict. Signs of my addiction? Constantly dreaming of new projects, looking at everything as a potential clay form or texture stamp, constantly searching the web for project ideas, and getting antsy if I haven’t played in clay for a few days.
My obsession with pottery began in November of 2023 when I took the required new-member class held in the Wine Cup Room at the CATC.
I’ll admit that, at first, I was intimidated by the 25-pound brick of “club clay” and the array of tools given to me on day one. And I was a bit overwhelmed by all the dos and don’ts of things like wedging, slab rolling, banding wheels, joining seams, and using a rib to remove deadly air pockets. I had “first-project anxiety” after learning all the possible ways your pottery could explode in the kiln (did I mention deadly air pockets?). But once I got my hands into the clay, building my first little wonky pot, I let go of all those worries and began to have fun with it—and I was hooked.
The instructors for my class, Cindy Witham and Carol Folsom, made the class so enjoyable. Their wealth of information and excitement for all things pottery made it obvious that they, too, are HP addicts. They helped when needed but also gave us the space to be our own creators. Carol reminded us that our pots are not supposed to look exactly like theirs, because, well, it’s ours.
During the new-member class, we made a pinch-pot bowl and “rattle,” a textured plate and bowl using forms and a tall slab vase using coils. We were introduced to terms such as greenware, bisque, cone firing, and glazing. Club President Linda Burleson gave us a Kiln Room tour and talked about the basics of firing greenware to bisque, choosing the right clay and glazes for the kiln temperatures used, and helpful hints on how to avoid cracking, pitting, crazing, or glaze dripping all over the kiln shelves.
Every member of the Happy Potters has been so helpful to this newbie, from answering my questions and critiquing my handiwork when I ask, to giving practical tips and sharing sage advice, such as from Cindy Witham: “Don’t ever become too attached to a piece until the final firing. Things can and do happen, but it’s just part of the process.”
With all this pottery talk, I’m now itching to get to the studio. I need to check on my first solo project—a hand-built angel—to see if she survived glaze firing. Then I’m going to roll out a slab for a bird planter I saw on Pinterest. Would you believe it’s textured with a placemat?!
Interested in joining the Happy Potters pottery club? Email Club VP Dawn Michelson at [email protected] or Linda Burleson at [email protected] for information.