Solo Bowl making takes time

[Jade Laken]

65th of Summer 517 A.V.

Jade walked out of the bedroom while stretching out. So much had happened with the trip to Riverfall and the knights. The young mother had not wanted things to end with Ferrin the way that they had, or to lose her patron Ball. But the woman decided early on that she would do what was best for Dina. Rubbing her face, the girl looked at her new home as the small city of Syka had become her new home. Never one to quit, the young drykas was determined to return to the knights one day and finish what had been started. But now she deemed giving Dina a stable home as more important. Which brought the girl to her task at hand, trying to remember how to make pottery. Her mother had dabbled with making the items some during the rainy days for fun. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her bag and went to get some clay as the oven sit ready to be lit. Waking to the box that housed her work material, the woman reached in and grabbed several large handfuls. Determining she had enough for the moment, the girl walked over to her spinning wheel and sat down.

“Let’s see how well this is going to go,” Jade whispered to herself.

It was still early morning meaning few adults were moving much less her own little one Dina. The child slept well through all the chaos of last season into the current one. Getting a good-sized ball of the clay, she threw it into the place on the wheel. Leaning back the woman checked to make sure it was centered so it would not be difficult to use or warp the clay. Confident that it was in place, she straightened back up and put her foot on the pedal. Starting the steady pump, the woman dipped her hands into the water and quickly cupped the dry material. Holding both hands in place, she allowed it to get the clay good and wet. Taking another quick dunk in the water, Jade cupped the outside and slowly inserted her thumbs into the middle. Watching the hole for, she drew her hands up and out making the opening widen. Slipping her hands into the water again, the woman began pulling again making sure to keep the edges wide.

“So far so good,” the woman said rubbing her head smearing a little clay on her forehead.

Taking a deep breath, the woman kept going till she got what looked to be a twelve-ounce bowl. Pinching up just a tiny bit more, the girl knew that a slight raise would help it sit up right. Drying her hands the woman grabbed a small chisel and got down close using it the shave off a sliver of the bottom giving it a more sturdy form all the way around the bottom. Stopping the woman lifted the piece of stone off the middle and moved it over to a table to dry on.

"The Ways of the Drykas."

[Jade Laken]

There would need to be utensils to go along with the bowl, but she was unsure how well eating out of the clay spoon or fork would go. Deciding it would be better not to try those the first time on her own with as much small detail work there was; the woman leaned down after returning to her seat and got some more clay. Balling it up, she got a little more and made sure it was tightly packed. Raising her hands up with the material in hand, the girl smacked it down on to the center of the wheel. Leaning down to put her eyes at the same level, the drykas was happy to see it centered. At least centered to her anyway, sitting back up straight she started turning the wheel. Once it was going at the right speed, Jade dipped her hands in the water and cupped the clay ball for a minute.

Slowly the woman put her thumb down in the middle once more. Instantly a hole appeared and started to grow. It spread wide under the blonde’s gentle coaxing. Cocking her head to the side, the woman leaned down watching very closely how everything was coming along. She did not want the bowl too thin or too thick. Both extremes would make for a very awkward eating experience for people. She also figured it would be easier to make two bowls then perhaps make some cups to go along with them. Of course, making sure to check them as they bake while working would prove to be interesting. Her mother had instructed her from the beginning to never leave clay half made. While away the materials would start the hardening process making it more difficult to continue after returning. Trying to remember everything was causing the blonde to get a large headache. Sighing the woman leaned her head back letting it pop some before progressing with her work day.

“Almost done,” Jade said and dried her hands before getting the tiny chisel again.

Soon enough the bottom was chiseled out or rather formed into a sturdy frame. Leaning up the woman slowed the wheel to a stop and used a fishing line to cut the bottom away from the wheel; so that it would not break when she picked it up. Walking over to where the other bowl was the woman put the two beside each other and let them dry out some more. Grabbing a rag, the girl went back up top to the house. She needed to check on Dina before getting any farther involved with the process. Walking in, the woman smiled hearing the child playing with her dolls giggling.

“Good morning beautiful,” Jade called out and hugged her tightly when she ran over and hugged her.

“MOMMY!” Dina exclaimed laughing before wiggling down saying she was hungry.

“Hungry? I thought your name was Dina,” Jade said with a smile. The child giggled and argued with the mother playfully as she cooked.

"The Ways of the Drykas."

[Jade Laken]

Jade helped the girl sit at the table before bringing over a bowl of oats that had honey and ginger cooked into them. That helped to season them with plenty of flavor, tasteless oats were the worst thing to eat. It would taste like a gooey mass of nothing in a person's mouth. Putting the food before the child, the mother grabbed her own bowl and sat down as well. The blonde smiled gently at her daughter while she slowly ate carefully. The mother had finally gotten through to the child about relaxing and eating her food slowly. Dina had always been worried about not having enough food. The blonde knew it came from being at the orphanage for so long having to fight other kids taking her food or trying to.

“Eat up so we can go back out. I have to work on the bowls and cups,” Jade explained to the child.

“Yes, ma'am,” Dina stated and ate carefully but quickly.

Jade finished eating and began to wash the dishes that were finished being used. Checking on the oatmeal, she put the lid back on the pot before putting the fire out for the morning. The girl would heat it up again later on in the day. It was not long and the pair walked out of the building and headed down below it. The woman walked over to the oven and knelt down; she still had to get the fire lit and blazing. Once that was ready, then she had to bake the clay so that it would harden and be useful. Looking at the wood close by, Jade made a mental note to get an ax soon so that she could get wood. The palm trees were tall, so the girl knew she would have to go within the jungle and cut off limbs.

“Okay baby girl, go and play in the sand. I have to work with the oven,” Jade stated and smiled as the child ran off.

Turning back around, she got comfortable and began to put the wood into place. The familiar dig of bark in her hand helped the girl relax some. Feeling around, the woman groaned not feeling her flint and steel. Sighing the blonde got up and headed into the house to find her pack. Looking around, she finally found it and returned outside closing the door behind her. The blonde ducked back under and bounced over to place. Just kneeling on one knee, the young girl struck a few times. Sparks hit the wood with each strike but nothing caught at first, it took five strikes before the tinder finally caught. Moving back the girl gently blew as the fire started to blaze. She moved her head back as the fire began to roar.

“There we go,” Jade said and stood up.

She felt inside where the bowls would be placed. The blonde felt the heat slowly starting to fill the opening. Nodding she moved to check on the bowls that were on a flat piece of board.

NaNo Count513

"The Ways of the Drykas."

[Jade Laken]

The girl slowly turned the board looking at all of the bowls to make sure nothing had happened to them. The last thing that the blonde wanted to happen was to sell the mercantile messed up products. That was not a good way to make a good impression with the business partners. Popping her neck the blonde was happy with what she saw, everything still looked beautiful. Skipping back over to the oven, she reached a hand in and nodded at the heat level. Walking back over quickly, Jade slowly and carefully picked up the board moving them into place. Pulling her hand back, the girl walked over to some finished pieces looking over them. She had to work on adding some color to the works. Dina had begged her to color a heart on them, but the mother had told her that they would not sell as well. She promised the little one to make her a cup special with some hearts on it. The girl had been so excited that she ran off giggling; Jade was happy to see the child happy.

“Okay bowl one,” Jade stated and cleared off an area so that she could work.

The blonde worked on remembering what her mother had always told her. Before the glaze came the prep work. Grabbing a hand towel the blonde found her sand paper and began the slow process of working the roughness out. Starting at the bottom, the girl worked to make the outside of the bowl smooth. Holding it up to the light, she looked over the surface closely trying to find any more rough patches. Happy with how it looked, the blonde used a lightly damp rag to clean the dust off the surface. Putting it down on a clean board, the woman allowed it to dry before moving to the inside. She picked up a cup next and continued the steps once again.

Taking a break the girl got up after wiping off the cup and went to check on her bowls within the fire. Pulling them out some she tapped very lightly deciding to leave them under a little longer. Making pottery bowls was a very weird science that came with a lot of mistakes. The Drykas's mother had always been an understanding woman of the child's mistakes. Popping her neck, the blonde went to find her child as the entire area had gone strangely silent. Looking around, she spotted her trying to sneak to the jungle. Clearing her voice the mother put a deep tone as the child knew when she was in trouble.

“One!” Jade started her slow count as Dina jerked around seeing her.

“Two!” The child hurried back to her mother before the blonde could get to three knowing her tail was in trouble.

“Inside now, I will punish you after I finish work for the day,” Jade growled and followed her till she was laying on the bed.

Nodding the mother returned outside once again. She did not care if the girl played with her dolls on the bed, but Jade would know if she started walking around.

NaNo Count526

"The Ways of the Drykas."

[Jade Laken]

Jade walked over to where she had began to sand the clay bowls to get a smooth edge. Putting all the unsanded pots to one side, the girl cleaned off what had piled up before taking the next piece. She had started to dabble with a design for some spoons to go with a set of bowls and cups. The blonde had been working on making a full set to offer the tidepool bar. So far most of the food was served either in coconut shells or on platters made of the local wood. Staying very still the girl listened closely to any creaking in the wood above her head. Standing up, the blonde walked back into the bungalow and pulled the finished pottery out of the hearth. She was happy to find them baked with no sign of cracks. The girl allowed the fire to dwindle not wanting to get the wood wet.

“Mommy may I get up?” Dina called from the bed.

“No, you are still grounded. I have told you not to go anywhere near the jungle without me. I am working on designing a full set of dishes, do not exit this bungalow. Am I understood?” Jade asked looking at the girl.

“Yes, ma'am,” Dina said quietly turning over.

The blonde put the bowls in her bag and walked back outside and down underneath the building. She found it easier to craft in the open air then bake with in the house. It did not take much heat to cook the clay into a form that would be useless in every day life. The blondes mind drifted back to her run along the beach with Dina several days before. The child had looked so happy to get out and play in the water even if it was just the edge. The mother sat down and folded her legs up under her trying to get comfortable. She had a long way to go with the spoons and a fork or two to start with. The blonde was not as familiar with them as she was bowls and cups, even plates were easier to work. It was the smaller more slender parts of the spoon where the hand held on that was often harder to craft using the wheel. She would most likely have to use her hand to completely work the clay instead of spinning the wheel to get the curve in it.

The blonde worked on drawing out a design that would compliment the bars atmosphere. Sketching a quick online of the sign, the girl tried to decide what to put on the handle to make it unique. The mother wanted each piece to be unique to every customer who bought from her. She hated every piece looking the exact same no matter who was buying. It was the touch of individuality that made every patron feel special.

NaNo Count485

"The Ways of the Drykas."