HAPPY EASTER… or whatever holiday you might be celebrating this season… and just hoping that you take time to notice the small details & appreciate the special moments along the way!

One of the “benefits” of being stuck in my studio all day yesterday while firing the soda kiln… is being able to get a lot of side odd projects done. Like turning out my latest batch of reclaimed clay… now sitting on a large plaster bat drying up until it’s good to wedge up and start over with some new “free” clay!!!

HAPPY EASTER… and enjoying this hidden bunny amongst the coleus garden! Just a reminder that I will be doing a PLANTS & POTTERY POP-UP SALE in the Peoria area on Friday, May 13th & Saturday, May 14th. Plenty of homegrown coleus, hostas, annuals & houseplants… along with lots of pottery!!! More details to come!

My kitchen windowsill is currently abloom… with a few orchids re-blooming just in time for NATIONAL ORCHID DAY today! Their timing is impeccable as they just started opening two days ago… and they’re pretty splashing some color in my kitchen! Good thing they seem to “thrive” with neglect… cause I’m not the best at remembering to water them!!!

Celebrating NATIONAL ORCHID DAY with this beautiful orchid re-blooming again down near Peoria. I think this might be the healthiest & happiest orchid ever… must be the handmade flower pot. Thanks for sharing this stunner Rosene!

It’s always nice when you check the pyrometer at the end of your firing… and realize that you’re just 14-degrees different from top to bottom of the kiln! Pretty darn close… I mean, single digits would have been nice, but I won’t get greedy here!!!

And there it is… cone 10 is down, soda is in, the kiln soaked for awhile… and I called it done! Always a moment when you turn a kiln off and it’s suddenly so quiet… and you just hope that you did everything you could to make a successful firing!!! Fingers crossed for unloading Monday night.

Just putting the last of my soda mixture into the kiln… and the fire frenzy is happening!!! Hopefully those soda-rich-fumes are traveling all around inside leaving some sweet soda surfaces on my pots!!! It cools tomorrow… and I don’t get to peek until I unload Monday night!!! Oh, the anticipation!!!

We have ignition… giddy-up!!!

My soda-firing has been going pretty smoothly today. Still a long day, but I got a LOT of projects done around my studio too! Getting my soda mixture ready… as it’s about time to start adding the soda into the kiln atmosphere. That’s when the real flaming drama really begins!!!