New Mexico Mica Clay Pottery
Mica Clay is holy clay. Hand dug from the mountains of northern New Mexico, this clay is treated with respect at each phase of its digging, cleaning, throwing the forms and firing. The smoke patterns from the final pit fire are called "fire clouds" and are a true gift from the fire. I create these teapots inspired by the Yixing tradition in China, where a micaceous clay is used to form unglazed teapots, which over time take on the flavors of the tea brewed within the pot. In addition to teapots I make Blessing Bowls for daily or ceremonial use, and Bread Blessing Bowls for baking bread.
Custom Order Turtle Dreaming Teapot Set
This magnificent teapot made from the micaceous clay of New Mexico has been sold, but I will make one just for you. Sculpted sea turtles swim around the body of the teapot. The lid knob is a wirewrapped stack of coral, tektite, mala bead, turquoise and amber. Bamboo handle is wrapped with silk yarn made from recycled saris. Set includes two teabowls each with their own baby sea turtle.
I began this set on the day of the Gulf oil disaster, in honor of all the sea turtles, dolphins and marine animals who lost their lives. This teapot's spout creates a magnificent arching pour. You will treasure this teapot and its matching tea bowls as a family heirloom. Shipping is free within the USA.
I began this set on the day of the Gulf oil disaster, in honor of all the sea turtles, dolphins and marine animals who lost their lives. This teapot's spout creates a magnificent arching pour. You will treasure this teapot and its matching tea bowls as a family heirloom. Shipping is free within the USA.
$
322.00
Sold: Big Buddha Belly Teapot
$
245.00
This teapot has sold, but I will make a custom piece just for you.
The Buddha laughs because this teapot is made from mica clay, from the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. It sparkles with the natural mica inclusions, and will grow more lustrous with age and use. The shape of this teapot reminded me of the Laughing Buddha's round belly. There are two laughing Buddha faces, one on each side, beautifully enhanced by the shimmer of mica in the clay body and the smokey fire clouds on the surface.
Another reason the Buddha laughs: this teapot is a collaboration dance between my friend Manny (www.mannybeads.etsy.com), who created the turquoise cairn stupa on the lid. It is resonant with sacred joy; each stone in the stupa seems to sing in harmony with the other.
The lid has a flange that stabilizes it as the teapot is tipped to pour. Inside the lid, an antique mala prayer bead and turquoise anchors the cairn knob and infuses the pot with the mantras and prayers.
This teapot will become a family heirloom. Give it as an unforgettable wedding or anniversary gift.
Brew black, green, white and herbal teas directly within the teapot. I have carved holes behind the spout in the teapot body, to serve as a strainer for the tea leaves. Or use teabags if you prefer. Pour and enjoy!
Size: 10" tall, with handle, 8 - 9:" wide. Volume: this big buddha belly holds 7 - 8 cups. Shipping is free within USA.
I have found inspiration for this teapot from the Yixing (yee-shing) tradition of China's Sung Dynasty, which also also uses unglazed, burnished clay with a high mica content. Like the whimsical Yixing teapots this mica clay teapot will absorb a tiny amount of tea flavor during brewing. After prolonged use, the pot will develop a coating that retains the flavor and color of the tea. In the strict Yixing tradition only one variety of tea is used for each pot so that after a time, one can just add hot water to brew tea from the accumulated flavoring!
The Buddha laughs because this teapot is made from mica clay, from the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. It sparkles with the natural mica inclusions, and will grow more lustrous with age and use. The shape of this teapot reminded me of the Laughing Buddha's round belly. There are two laughing Buddha faces, one on each side, beautifully enhanced by the shimmer of mica in the clay body and the smokey fire clouds on the surface.
Another reason the Buddha laughs: this teapot is a collaboration dance between my friend Manny (www.mannybeads.etsy.com), who created the turquoise cairn stupa on the lid. It is resonant with sacred joy; each stone in the stupa seems to sing in harmony with the other.
The lid has a flange that stabilizes it as the teapot is tipped to pour. Inside the lid, an antique mala prayer bead and turquoise anchors the cairn knob and infuses the pot with the mantras and prayers.
This teapot will become a family heirloom. Give it as an unforgettable wedding or anniversary gift.
Brew black, green, white and herbal teas directly within the teapot. I have carved holes behind the spout in the teapot body, to serve as a strainer for the tea leaves. Or use teabags if you prefer. Pour and enjoy!
Size: 10" tall, with handle, 8 - 9:" wide. Volume: this big buddha belly holds 7 - 8 cups. Shipping is free within USA.
I have found inspiration for this teapot from the Yixing (yee-shing) tradition of China's Sung Dynasty, which also also uses unglazed, burnished clay with a high mica content. Like the whimsical Yixing teapots this mica clay teapot will absorb a tiny amount of tea flavor during brewing. After prolonged use, the pot will develop a coating that retains the flavor and color of the tea. In the strict Yixing tradition only one variety of tea is used for each pot so that after a time, one can just add hot water to brew tea from the accumulated flavoring!
About my process:
I throw and trim my mica pots on my potter's wheel, then meticulously polish with a smooth heart shaped rock to create a lustrous semigloss surface. This burnishing of the surface takes the place of a glaze. No additional glaze is applied, making these pots naturally chemical-free. After the pots are polished, buffed and fully dry, I fire them in my small natural gas kiln for about 18 hours to 1800 degrees. A second firing it in a wood pit fire creates the "fire clouds" When the burning wood makes contact with the clay wall of the pot a smokey image forms. Each fire cloud is unique, a true gift of the fire.
I make offerings and prayers with blue corn at every stage of the process of creating a vessel. Each cup I've made seems to require from 8 - 10 hours of tender loving hands-on care, from clay to fired pot. It is signed with my potter's name Patch, (a name I was given at UC Santa Cruz when I first learned to throw pottery back in the sixties) and dated 2010.
This clay is unlike any other clay I've known during my forty years as a potter. The mica comprises up to 80%, and has a healing quality. Mica has been used in Native American medicine bags for protection and thwarting negativity. I find its energy signature to be of an angelic being, named Micah, who has accompanied me on a recent healing journey and will come when called.
I throw and trim my mica pots on my potter's wheel, then meticulously polish with a smooth heart shaped rock to create a lustrous semigloss surface. This burnishing of the surface takes the place of a glaze. No additional glaze is applied, making these pots naturally chemical-free. After the pots are polished, buffed and fully dry, I fire them in my small natural gas kiln for about 18 hours to 1800 degrees. A second firing it in a wood pit fire creates the "fire clouds" When the burning wood makes contact with the clay wall of the pot a smokey image forms. Each fire cloud is unique, a true gift of the fire.
I make offerings and prayers with blue corn at every stage of the process of creating a vessel. Each cup I've made seems to require from 8 - 10 hours of tender loving hands-on care, from clay to fired pot. It is signed with my potter's name Patch, (a name I was given at UC Santa Cruz when I first learned to throw pottery back in the sixties) and dated 2010.
This clay is unlike any other clay I've known during my forty years as a potter. The mica comprises up to 80%, and has a healing quality. Mica has been used in Native American medicine bags for protection and thwarting negativity. I find its energy signature to be of an angelic being, named Micah, who has accompanied me on a recent healing journey and will come when called.
