Big sunrises & bigger skies need even bigger photos!!!

With clouds on the horizon, the morning ride had great potential.
Potential for an incredible sunrise!!!

As the sun continued to rise, the layers of clouds continued to move & separate in layers of color across the sky.

Well, with my new glazes ready to go, I started glazing and loading the kiln. It’s a small electric kiln we use just cone six firings. I felt a little torn between glazing just a few pieces to test the glazes… and glazing a lot of pieces to fill the kiln. You know how I love to pack a kiln tight. And yet with new glazes, I didn’t want to glaze too many bisqued pieces just in case something goes wrong. It was a tough call. Torn between testing safely and glazing a lot of pieces – especially with two art fairs right around the corner!!!

Kiln Layer #1 – mugs & soap dispensers.

Kiln Layer #2 – ikebana flower vases.

Kiln Layer #3 – bowls, spoon rests & layered glaze test tiles.

Kiln Layer #4 – spoon rests.

Kiln Layer #5 – more layered glaze test tiles & bowls.

Well, I’ve done a few rounds of testing. Pretty pleased with my new Cone 6 options. So I’ve decided that I might be ready to mix up a bigger batch and actually try firing a kiln full of real pieces. So I’ve measured, mixed, sieved, mixed, sieved again, and soon I will be ready to start glazing… and hoping that they turn out well?!… and don’t do something stupid like melting right off the pots and onto the kiln shelves?!

I’ve decided to go with two of the recipes I’ve been testing. And two of my cone 10 glazes that seem to work pretty well at cone 6 too. And then I also found two cone 6 pre-mixed glazes when I was up at Continental Clay in Minneapolis. So I will be kicking off my first cone 6 test firing with six glaze options… and ten fingers crossed.

Today was the Arlington 500 bike ride. Seventy miles through rural roads northwest of Chicago. Right around Mile 62, we pedaled past these signs… they made me look twice… and stop for a quick photo op…

Good to know the deer are having fun as they cross the street!!!
And I had fun laughing on the side of the road.

And for those of you who might not be on the postcard mailing list…
here’s your postcard with my Summer Art Fair details!!!

With only one week until my first art fair, I guess today might be a good day to get my postcards in the mail, huh?! Better late than never…

Finally. A dry morning.

It’s been raining so much lately that every morning has been too wet to ride. It felt great to get out this morning… at least until rain clouds popped up which were good “encouragement” to turn around and head home! Turned around halfway.

Luckily, the rain clouds passed and I stayed dry as the clouds seemed to move on… well, at least halfway for a stunning cloudscape!

And then it opened up…