The front door bricks were just taken off… and all looks good!.
Always a relief to see some good colors and nice soda flashing effects.
And to know that as you dig in and unpack the kiln it’s only going to get better!

It was also nice to see the top cone pack still intact. At some point towards the end of the firing, I lost visuals on it. The kiln was so hot, glowing orange with flames shooting out… that ot was tough to see in through the peep. I actually wondered if it had fallen off the shelf at some point?! Apparently not… but that Cone 10 did melt nice and flat, huh?!

Always fun to unpack and see what’s in-store. So many nice things that were “kissed” by the kiln flames. Beautiful blushes of colors and soda build-up. So many of these pieces will be coming with me to Schaumburg & Hinsdale for my first two art fairs. We’re just weeks away… and here’s a sneak peek of what to expect…

One of the many joys of soda firing. Some times the Kiln Gods like to give some pots a good sloppy kiss of goo. Changing their destiny forever. Luckily, this was my only “kissed” pot.

Now THAT’s a big smooch!!!

Click over to my INSTAGRAM feed to see a video of what happened to this “lovely” pot!
www.instagram.com/firewhenreadypottery – and then hit FOLLOW.

Or, even quicker, click on the QR Code…

Just one of the many mugs that has been inlaid with temoku glaze, wadded, loaded and was fired in my soda kiln Saturday. The kiln has been cooling and now I get to unload tonight. Can’t wait to see how this mug, and all the others, turned out!?

My studio cart is pretty much full… which means I’ve glazed & wadded enough pots to fill the soda kiln. Of course it’s kind of a guessing game of how it will really fit when stacked in the kiln.

A few quick masking tape “seat belts” and my cart is ready to make the trip downstairs to the kiln room. The masking tape helps keep pots from jumping off while they ride down in the rickety freight elevator!

The glazing continues… and it’s pretty much taking over my studio!!!
And making quite the mess on my wedging table.

Since this is a soda firing, a lot of the surface “glazing” will be created by the soda atmosphere in the kiln. So I typically leave a lot of the exterior clay unglazed. Instead, I like to fill the stamped indentations with temoku glaze.

After painting over all the stamps with glaze, I then take a damp sponge and gently wipe off the top surface. Leaving the glaze in the indentations to help highlight the stamped texture.

Wiped clean, ready for wadding and the on to the kiln!

Had to start somewhere… so first up were these simple ikebana vase disks.

In my pottery class last night, we revisited the Glaze Room and dealt with some more intermediate glazing techniques. Double-dipping, glaze combinations, decorative wax resist, wood ash, stains, spraying and more. Of course we ended with everyone’s favorite. BUBBLES.

A fairly simple trick of adding DAWN dishwashing detergent to a small cup of glaze. Blowing into it with a straw to make bubbles. Then carefully applying them to a glazed pot. Nice patterns. Nice contrast. And so much fun to watch my students giving it a go… like Cecile!

Just getting ready for tomorrow’s big show! Unpacking, cleaning & pricing the pieces from Monday’s cone 6 glaze firing. And loving the quick pop of color!!! These porcelain cups are perfect for a quick sip of water, or a quick shot of something stronger. Some may call them yunomi’s… I call them adorable!!! Fun bright colors and very smooth to the touch. Ready to go tomorrow!!! First come, first served… just like the collaboration pieces with my metalsmith friend Amy Taylor!!! So come early…

And don’t forget… mugs too!!!… you know they’re my very favorite thing to make.

A fun & colorful diversion from soda-firing. I think I need to explore this cone 6 glazing a bit more. I’d love to find a few more glazes that are deep & saturated colors, and yet break well in the stamps. Any suggestions?… please feel free to add your favorite glaze recipe in the Comments section. Thanks.

Less than a week from the next Holiday Home Show… MUD & METAL…
and I’m trying to squeeze in yet another kiln of goodies!!! So I spent the evening tonight glazing up more porcelain pots in some bright cone 6 colors. Lots of mugs, yunomi, holiday stars, tiles and more!

Spent the evening waxing bottoms of some new porcelain pieces
as I’m pulling together another kiln firing just in time for my
Second Holiday Home Show in Saturday, December 12th.