Tajine and Woodfire

I've had a lot going on this week. Trying to get everything that I want woodfired made and working on tajines. I've made two so far because of everything else I made for the Woodfire. I like the tajine on the left in the pic. I like the wider top instead of it being skinny but I want to make one with the lid walls straighter instead of bowed out. Ill try to make the next two like that. Then move on to a double tajine or a tajine with a divider in the middle. I really hope to get some mini microwaveable stoneware tajines. I'm thinking something like a soup bowl I made a while back with a lug handle but with a tajine type lid. The lids have proved challenging to trim because of the tall cone shape and I broke a piece of the rim off of one. I was able to reattach it but I'm not sure if it'll hold. Flameware is supposed to be finnikie so we'll see.

I was also wanting to make something for bfa that correlates with the color of playdoh and how Dalton tends to mix the colors. If I choose to use those pieces I'd like some of my pieces to incorporate the same colors and twisted color patters that come with mixing playdoh. I saw an article a while back about layering colored blocks of clay and compressing them with a rolling pin to make slabs. Then using the slabs to lay over a built form. I might try something like that. Or just wedging some different color clay together and throw something with it. Ill probably just stick to mugs bowls or plates. I need more plates so those should be first on the list.

Past for the future.

For this project I will be making tajines. Cooking is something that I do every day and will most likely continue to do in the future. While I cannot find an origin date, I know the tajine has been around for a while and originated in Morocco, Maghreb, and North Africa. This cooking apparatus of the past is still being used today. I will "modernize" this form of cooking by incorporating elements from my life that will remain a prevelant force in my future. My son, being a huge part of my past, present, and future will draw on the finished tajine thus connecting its past to my future. In further thinking about this, I have considered taping off some negative areas on the pot so the entire thing is not covered in scribbles (see photo for sons drawing example and photo for neg. space reference) while adding a little something extra to look at. I have considered further ways to bring the tajine up to modern times by making individual smaller tajines for the single person or the loner. Flameware would be nice for baking, stovetop, or the grill while a stoneware mini-jine would be great for the microwave further bringing it into the present/future. I've also considered a double tajine like the one below for microwave cooking of eggs (ew. But something my brother insists tastes just as good) or even for making two dishes at the same time for families with picky eaters that may insist their carrots be cooked separately from their meat. I've already quoted 4 full size flameware tajines to fufill project requirements, but would really like to make some individual ones out of stoneware before Woodfire.

Sorry this is so long. I got inspired while  looking for reference pics.

Goal met.

My goal for the project is met. I have made two chip and dip servers. I want to make one more before crit. I've found time to be crucial when it comes to cutting and bending the rim. I think I need to make taller walls on outer platter to better connect to shorter inside bowl. The shorter walls are giving a nice wave profile of the rim. I think I like it but need to make the other just to make sure. The plates are done. I've considered making them a little bigger. Ill probably make more before the woodfiring and after crit. I also tried to bend the rim out but decided against it. I felt the rim bending in on the plates related more to the platter.