March 2025 — Raised Pet Bowls — just kidding— Ring Holders

Conclusion — these are super cute and I kept 2 for myself to use at sink and in studio. 4/4

So what had happened was… I got busy with market prep… which meant less time for playing with new skills — sorta.

The concept of the raised pet bowls came to me because one of my cats - Opal, the younger of the 2 - almost never lowers her body when she eats, she also eats very quickly to make sure she can have some as her brother - Jasper - is a little food aggressive, so she eats on the fly. Then subsequently vomits everything she just ate because it never made it out of her esophagus into her stomach due to her stance- theory. So I thought if I could make bowls that are on a pedestal she would have less of an issue. I have not really made 2 part pieces before, and it was pretty daunting. I do still plan to make them, but they are back burner for a bit.

What I ended up making instead were little ring holders. I used to wear a lot of rings before I started in ceramics. When I am throwing I still try to take my wedding rings off to preserve the metal — she is a family heirloom from my husband’s family, ring was made sometime in the early 20’s — that’s 1920s. Beaultiful ring with a lot of filigree — she is great at collecting clay under the stones. When I can take it off to throw I do - when I cannot get it off because it is nearly 90 degrees out and my fingers are sausages I am just really careful. Anyway, I keep one of these ring holders nearby in the studio - both at home and the co op studio I would out of at times, as well as near the kitchen sink - more in case I think about it - rarely do.

So, I did not accomplish the “assigned” task of the month - which are assignments I made for myself so I am not mad about it, I still made something new and they are both cute and practical.

Stay tuned to see if/when the raised pet bowls decide to come back into the rotation.