WHAT FUN IT --TIS

What more can I say about Ecuador. It keeps amazing me. Another day another very fun and interesting chapter. This evening several of us had a unique experience by going to an authentic artisan pottery shop. This gentleman, Ivan,  makes pots the old fashioned way--by hand-- The whole process from beginning to end has been passed down to him over several generations. He was very willing to share his techniques with us as he helped us through the steps of creation.

                                 

                                                                  The master himself

                               

                                                His shop is  filled with his pots

                 

                                                There are several family's living with him


                                              WE ARE GOING TO MAKE CLAY MASKS

                                                    So we all settle down to get started

                                                 We start with a blob of clay

                     using the pipe as a roller to make it flat and the thickness that you want

                                                     

                                                              ------and make this!!!!!

                                                                            Kiln    

Masks are placed inside ready for the fire

He has a unique process to turn the clay black

After "cooking" for 24 hours. the masks are placed in sawdust. The heat of the clay burns the sawdust which in turn makes the clay black.

His son , Sebastian is helping

.

The finished product

 " THE BEADY EYE

Sharyl had fun as well

A pot in the works

I made several and placed them on our wall.

Stay tuned I plan to use the '

"Wheel"

 next

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET