Vent,Growl and snarl…. « Walking the Labrynth of Life

Vent,Growl and snarl….

I just need to put this out there..

I am so tired of this crap

I have been pushing through a lot of pottery, It is getting on to show season and I need to start making some money to pay the bills..

(You know those bills that seem to be getting BIGGER AND BIGGER…while the amount of money you make stays the same or gets smaller and smaller. )

Anyway, since I moved to the new digs, I have been struggling to find a clay supplier local, (so I am not getting clobbered on the freight) After a year of trying , I finally tossed my hands up in the air and said “I give!” Thus the trip to Atlanta…

But I had to share..

I had to show you what the issues were…

See one clay had a shrink ratio of about 18-21 %, even though the manufacturer says it’s 12%. I am convinced that maybe once it was that way, but to keep costs down and profits up they started adding copious amounts of water. Grrrrrr

Then I have this lovely problem. I have clay bodies that will not take glaze and it blisters…even with a simple clear glaze!!!!

Grrrrr.

This is a piece made from th clay from Atlanta

Notice the lovely even green…it is suppose to break brown over all the carvings, but stay green where ever it is smooth.

This piece was fired in the same kiln, same firing, same glaze, only difference is the clay body.

Notice how the green is only where the glaze was a bit thicker? what makes it worse is that it blistered and spit…

yes….spit the glaze off in certain spots.

I am sure you can imagine the heart, the time and energy that goes into something that has been carved and sculpted like this, and now it’s not even a piece I can sell.

What really gets me, however is that when I call and complain, they tell me it’s my glaze!

HUNH?

How do they figure that? When it’s fine on one piece, but not on another? It’s the standard,” Not My fault! Nope not me! It was you!!!

YOU screwed up!”

yeah I did, I bought clay local, instead of going with someone I knew was good, and had good company policy! This is where I plug Kick Wheel Clay Co. in Atlanta Georgia, and don’t even bother mentioning the …ahem.. other “clay company”.

Thanks for letting me Rant…

I could go for a few Poor babies..if you feel like it…

sigh

Published in:

on March 25, 2008 at 11:29 am

The URI to TrackBack this entry is: http://sorrow11.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/ventgrowl-and-snarl/trackback/

RSS feed for comments on this post.

21 Comments Leave a comment.

On March 25, 2008 at 1:44 pm Greenwoman2007 Said:
You have lovely work Sorrow. I am so sorry that you lost money on this clay. That is really poor business practice!!!

By the way, I finally took the time to read at the bottom of your side bar too and discovered your other blog about your art. Yippee!! I’m getting a subscription and when I have time I’m going to look in depth at your blog there.

I didn’t realize that all these pictures were links. Most pictures in the side bars on wordpress will link to an image page, but not necessarily to a site, so I never looked. I think you should put your note about the icons up high enough where every one sees it and doesn’t think you just have great taste in images. *smiles*

I’ll be back to take a look at all those links when I get another moment.

I hope that is better…it has in fact floated up and down my sidebar…I keep thinking I should delete it, but then some one reads it! LOL
On March 25, 2008 at 1:44 pm goldenferi Said:
I’d be frustrated as well. These are beautiful pieces. poor baby.

I am hoping that “Poor baby” comes with a pat on the back or a hug…~smile~
On March 25, 2008 at 2:46 pm jazmine9 Said:
That has got to be SOOOOOO frustrating. I can only imagine how much time goes into your beautiful work, only to have it screw up in the kiln. I like to call those lessons, “Lessons in the College of Life.” Sucks, but now you know.
BTW, your worst pieces would be light years better than my best ones!

Thanks sweet! It just was one of those frustrating moments when you stomp your foot like a 2 year old. LOL then get over it and move on down the road!
On March 25, 2008 at 3:03 pm bimbimbie Said:
…. sending you rainbow hugs. Shame on that local supplier for not taking any responsibility. *!*

Yeah, well I now know better ..smile…why is hind sight 20-20?
On March 25, 2008 at 5:26 pm pradapixie Said:
sorrow you are so wonderfully talented, you deserve a whole kiln full of Poor Babes.
hugs and butterfly kisses too
pxx

Pix~ Thanks for the kisses on my ego..poor bruised thing..Good thing I have sweet hearts like you to brighten me out of the doll drums!
Thanks!
On March 25, 2008 at 6:26 pm Kim Campbell Said:
I like it even though it didn’t turn out like you wanted. But that is horrible customer service. They apparently didn’t want to take the time to research and help you with THEIR issue.

Kim~ Makes me so darn mad to thing of it. JERKS>
On March 25, 2008 at 7:19 pm mig Said:
What a shame! The first one was so lovely.
And it’s really hard when you’re counting pennies (cents?) to have to turn away from a good way to save.
Still at least you know you have a good supplier to go back to!

It’s the blessings you have to focus on, not the aggravations…else you’d go mad! LOL
On March 25, 2008 at 8:29 pm Ron Said:
Evening Lady Sorrow~

OOOOOH POOR BABY, POOR BABY, POOR BABY, POOR BABY!

And YES!!!! A HUGE pat on the back, because to me, these look freaking gorgeous!!! I LOVE all the “splits” and “blisters.”

However, this doesn’t excuse the poor clay quality that you purchased locally…and they SHOULD stand behind their product. Believe me, being in retail, I KNOW how some companies SUCK and others are EXCELLENT. And thank God, I work for one who is EXCELLENT.

At least for the future, you found an outstanding company with a quality product. SEE…remember what you told me about how much you LOVED the city of Atlanta???

(that’s it…we need to love there)

Hey, dear lady…you RANT anytime you please, cause GOD KNOWS…I LOVE a good vent!

Peace be with you, my talented friend!

Ron~
thanks for the poor baby’s…
smile
it feels better when some one pats me on the head and says there there.
It’s the rule in this house
“Ask for what you need!”
No mind readers here!
Lol!
Thanks!
you made me smile and feel so much better!
On March 26, 2008 at 2:31 am Cate Said:
Even your “mistakes” look great to me! Good luck with the next batch.

Cate~ Thanks..It’s sweet of you to say so, Just wish it past my own “expectations…” LOL
On March 26, 2008 at 6:16 am Mel Said:
I could ‘deal’ if it were my mistakes. LOL But when it’s theirs and they don’t wanna be responsible….then I seethe a bit.

Pooor baby!
Poor, POOR baby….

*hugshugshugs*

All that work and effort……*muttering*

C’mere…….we’ll have coffee and commiserater!
*hugshugsandmorehugs*

Mel~ Now thats what i needed!
Someone who understands muttering and poting and just needing to feel vindiacted with the agrivation!
LOL
Thanks!
On March 26, 2008 at 8:31 am KT Said:
Awww! Poor baby! Bad customer service drives me CRAZY! Especially when it ruins hours of effort!!

KT~ It drives me insane…
but I get over it…some one somewhere said thats the way to be…
On March 26, 2008 at 12:50 pm nitebyrd Said:
You poor baby! Yes, I can understand your frustration and pain. I think the “mistake” looks pretty good, too. But, poor baby! (((hug)))

A little lower on the pat pat pat on the head! That spot is getting bald! LOL ThaNKS! my poor baby is feeling better!
On March 26, 2008 at 1:26 pm mermaidsmuse Said:
I would have ranted and raved and stamped as well..big time..Your mermaid is very at home here, at least she was a great success like all your others which will pay the bills I hope..will write you properly later, hope all is well in the kiln of life for you ~hugs~ xx

Muse~
so happy to hear! And I am sure you felt my stomping and heard my mutterings..even under the sea…I can be a big baby!
On March 26, 2008 at 3:56 pm Lillithmama Said:
sorrow ~

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

XOXOXOXO

ps. http://lovegrower.blogspot.com ~ new and public girlfriend, pls change my button!

Will try and get to the button soon!
Moo and double moo!
Thanks Momma LOVE!
On March 26, 2008 at 9:04 pm Deb Said:
I’d have been frustrated and throwing things, I think. Big hugs! I’d also take the pics you posted here, email them to the company with the explanation you gave us. Or print them out, take them and talk to the manager and/or the owner. Look them up in the BBB, maybe even report them (if this is the kind of thing that would be reported to the BBB). It is a lot of effort, but those creeps shouldn’t be able to take advantage of the fact that you trust them to be selling what they say they’re selling!

How much clay do you buy at a time? I’ve a friend coming up from Atlanta to the Richmond area. Not sure if he’s driving his truck and bringing his bike or riding his bike all the way. I also can’t promise anything on his side, but if it would be somewhat convenient for you to get to Richmond, and if his trip works out (it is tentative right now) I could ask him if he’d be willing to pick up some supplies for you!

Just a thought.

Also, have you talked to other pottery folks in your area? Maybe you can form a sort of co-op and buy in greater bulk together and save money that way.

Deb~
You are the best!
I smiled and thought theres a girl who lives in the non artist world!
LOL
And it’s probably a good thing..I would drive you nuts!
I called the place of Business and spoke to the owner who gave me the song and dance and then passed me to the chemist who formulated the clay, who talked chemistry for a while and then discussed glazes and said yeah it was the glaze, because of the ingredients in the clay were not compatible with the clay body ingredients, so thats why they blistered, and yes it was actually a combination of both, but they are not liable for glazes that they don’t sell pre-made.
But the thing of it is, I love the chemistry aspect of it , so i always make my own.. And when they zealously guard their recipes for the clay, you really have no way of knowing which glazes are going to react negatively, because you don’t know the make -up…
so i usually do a test piece, and i did. but on the smaller surface area it didn’t translate that way, but once my surface area was larger…I had more pockets of chemicals for error.
The potters in the area use a company whose shrink ratio is way off. My first complaint, and i don’t like other things about it, I guess it’s like being a photographer in the old days and being partial to one film over an other. We all have our reasons…
Bu i thank you for the wonderful suggestions, and support! It was VERY helpful!

You’ve such talent! Your work is always beautiful and interesting.
On March 26, 2008 at 9:05 pm Deb Said:
(and that trip my friend is likely taking would be sometime in May, based on the last time we talked. Meant to say that in the previous comment!)

Thank you! Richmond is where the company whose name shall not be uttered is out of! I have a ton right now because i just came back from Atlanta with 500 LB.! So I thank you, but Not right at this time…I have limited storage space!
THANKS!!!!!
On March 27, 2008 at 9:12 am SurfaceEarth Said:
Well deserved rant!!!!

SE~ thanks…we all need to rant and get rid of the negative from time to time!
On March 27, 2008 at 10:54 am missharleyquinn Said:
Poor sweet Sorrow *hugs and smooches*…Bad clay makers, ruining your day.

Missy~ I adore ya sweeT! Thanks for the “poor baby!” I am smiling now!
On March 27, 2008 at 4:09 pm tobeme Said:
File this under lessons learned! Enjoy your trip. Maybe there is a bigger reason for you to go to Atlanta.

I never need a Good reason to go to Atlanta, I love that town! all southern girls do!
On March 27, 2008 at 6:38 pm gypsy-heart Said:
I agree with tobeme! you never know why things happen..eh?
I also agree with Cate…even your mistakes are beautiful!

Sending you calming energies of peace.

Gypsy!
I am never calm, but I love the soothing peace you send! Thanks!
On April 13, 2008 at 5:56 pm Loving Annie Said:
Poor Baby ! That is ridiculous of them - and your plate made with the first glaze and the Atlanta clay was beautiful