While my soda kiln was in “body reduction”… I made my soda mixture for later.
Basically soda ash & soda bicarbonate.

In the old kiln, I just scooped the mixture into the kiln on a long angle iron going in through the front peep bricks… dumping into the fire box. But the new kiln has a different fire box & peep “situation “… so we can only add soda through the back peeps with a much shorter angle iron. So I had to roll-up my soda mixture in wet newspaper “burritos“ that I will add into the kiln towards the end of the firing. Dropping them in through the back on that short angle iron. A new kiln & a new technique… we’ll see?!

Last night when I made it down to the kiln room, I was “greeted” by an empty kiln full of possibilities! And the newly rebuilt soda kiln with a brand new “brick-backed” steel door! This will be my first firing in Lillstreet’s new soda kiln… so a little anxiety… a little excited… firing with fingers crossed!!!

Last night when I finished glazing & wadding, it was time to take my studio cart down to the kiln room. It’s a rickety old freight elevator… so I use strips of masking tape as makeshift “seat belts” to keep pots from jumping off the shelves in the way down!

The soda kiln has been on for a couple hours now… still warming up.
The kiln is packed tight… so it’s gonna be a long day!!! Fingers crossed….

A little last-minute glaze spraying… just some tenmoku fun
before loading my soda kiln tonight!!!

It’s gonna get hot in there… gotta see where we’re at!!! My cone packs are ready for this weekend’s soda firing… well, two for this kiln & two for the next! Each cone melts at a different temperature… so I’ll be watching them go down throughout the day tomorrow as I fire the kiln. Pull out a brick, take a quick peek & put the brick back in! Very hi-tech, huh???

clouded start to what looks like a warm & sweaty day to come!

Over my last two art fairs, I’ve had a lot of people asking about the hybrid mugs that I showed making a few weeks back… the ones using my new handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools with the coneflower pattern. Unfortunately, they haven’t made it through the soda firing yet. But with so many people asking… I think I need to make MORE hybrid mugs! This time ALL with coneflowers!!!

Okay… so entire POTTERY TOUR weekend was not perfect! Friday afternoon was not so great for me!!!

THIS happened on my drive out to Sandwich with all of my stuff!!!
On the entrance ramp from the Kennedy to 294 South…
on the side of the road by O’Hare!!! Fun, huh???

And realize … my car looks like this all packed up!!! And where is the spare tire???

Yep… you got it… UNDER ALL OF THAT!!!

So picture me on the side of the expressway unpacking my car… all over the side of the road… like a big garage sale!!! ugh. Luckily, I knew how to fix it… so I did my best. Passenger rear… so the side with the traffic flying by!!! And then packed it all back in!!!

However… who knew the real tire doesn’t fit in the same space as the spare tire?!!! So the only place it would fit was ON TOP with the other stuff?!!! Even more like the Beverly Hillbillies!!!

Not a good start. Luckily, Cory’s son Aidan took it to be fixed
on Saturday for me during the show!!!

Aidan to the rescue!!!

Not only did we have a lot of great pottery at the Sandwich stop this weekend… but we also had a “Pottery Princess.” Our host Cory’s granddaughter Ivy was all dolled-up for the day. And making great notes for us to drop in our customers bags on Sunday! The cutest!!!

And unbeknownst to me… the “Pottery Princess” also transformed into the best little helper when it was time to pack-all of my stuff. She listened well, packed with care & had a great time helping me!!!

Thanks Ivy!!!