We’re all enjoying the natural light coming through the skylights in the new & improved Glaze Room at Lillstreet Art Center. So much larger now so there’s plenty of room to keep your distance… and get some glazing done at the same time! Plus, now we have a sign-up for a glazing time-slot system to keep the traffic down, time to clean & sanitize… and to keep everyone safe & socially-distant!

One of the best parts of “kiln firing day” is I can also get a lot of “busy-work” done around the studio. Like spraying these baby building blocks with a layer of clear glaze. If you remember, these were leftover from the end of our Winter session and my Lillstreet Throwdown class. We made them as a surprise gift for Molly & Jacob who are expecting their first child. We finished building them at the end of class, and they were bisqued soon after that. And there they sat on the shelf as the pandemic took hold.

Sure, I was working in the studio. Sure, I could have glazed these any time over the past three and a half months… but of course I kept putting it off. Well, they’re FINALLY glazed… and ready to be fired again! The “Team Lavender Baby” is due in six weeks… so I had plenty of time. Could have easily procrastinated a few more weeks!!!

Just a few of the pots that made their way into the soda kiln last night. All glazed, wadded & ready to go. I’ve figured out that a “full” cart of glazed & wadded pieces pretty much equals a full soda kiln… thanks to my handmade studio cart with adjustable shelved made by my Dad several years ago!

The strips of masking tape work as a “seat belt” to keep the pots from jumping off the cart as I roll out of my studio, down the freight elevator and along some uneven flooring to get to the kiln room!

Tenmoku glaze inlaid into the stamped impressions on these flower pots. I paint the glaze on… and then wipe off the top surface so the glaze stays only in the impressions!

So the birds are still “naked”… while the jars have now been glazed & wadded for the soda kiln. I can’t wait to see how my flock turns out after soda-firing. The random flashing effects & soda atmosphere should change the colors a good bit… and hopefully all in a good way!

Okay, so my birds are still working their way closer to the soda kiln… I’ve added some colored details to the twigs & leaves! Not quite sure what I’m doing with the birds yet… I have too many options, but not enough decisions!!!

And speaking of MUGSHOT MONDAY… just showing off two new mugs for my “already-overflowing” Mug Collection! Beautiful mugs & glazing effects by Steven Showalter in Minnesota! I’ve admired his work for years… his techniques, his teachings and his willingness to share everything online! We’ve never met, but it seems like I know him already thanks to social media! And you should too… look him up on Facebook or Instagram… his work is AMAZING!!!

So here I am still showing off some of my pottery collection! Here’s another kitchen cabinet with my Steven Hill dinnerware set. Long story… it’s all here on my blog if you just do a quick search for Steven Hill… I never thought I was going to get it… it was a long time coming… but Steven pulled through, and “surprised” me with these beauties!

Great glazes. Great pottery. Great guy!!!
Thanks Steven!

Back from my ride, showered & changed…
time for a little breakfast. Starting with some fresh Vitamin C!!!