After a couple hours of “pottery Tetris” last night… I finally had the soda kiln stacked & loaded with a LOT of pottery. Luckily, I had “over-glazed” in my studio so I had a few extras pieces to choose from that didn’t quite make it into this kiln… so they just will have to wait until my next soda firing. Oh well… I think there will be “plenty of pots” for my next couple art fairs!

After a long day of glazing & wadding yesterday, I finally had my studio cart filled and ready to roll downstairs to the kiln room. As the freight elevator is not the smoothest of rides, I always use some masking tape “safety belts” to keep any stray pots form jumping off the cart during their travels!

Stamps inlaid with glazes & wiped clean… now to add a liner glaze of tenmoku to match!

Starting off today with a batch of mugs that need to be glazed & wadded. I’ve applied a layer of tenmoku glaze into all of the stamped impressions to help accentuate the textures & patterns. Now to wipe it off… leaving the glaze inlaid in the stamps!

You know it’s my least favorite part of the pottery process. But it’s got to be be done. So I’ve been working the past couple days trying to make some headway through my bisque… as I need to fill a soda kiln this weekend! At least this accidental “smiling sponge” made me happy this morning to kick-off another day of glazing!!!

So last week during my SURFACE DECORATION class, my students got their glaze test pieces back from the kiln! The week before we focused on some “different” glazing techniques… and I encouraged them to try something new that they’ve never done before. They’re always hesitant to try new things on their own pieces… so I actually gave them some bisqued cylinders that I made for them ahead of time to play on! Overall, I think they all liked the results… learning some new tricks along the way. I kind of wish we had used a bit more glaze on a few of them that were looking for some good glaze drips running down the sides… not enough glaze, not much of a drip!

Spent the afternoon prepping, pricing & packing… getting ready for the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival this weekend. Sort of enamored with this collection of colors & textures… you know how I love a “not-so-basic” bowl!!!

This platter turned out pretty special… I’m loving this green color & how it works so well with the stamped textures & spiral grooves. There’s only one… and it will be available at the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival tomorrow. Who knows… it might go fast?!!!

What a difference a kiln firing can make!!!

All lined up… ready for a quick layer of wax resist on the footrings… then some quick glazing before teaching class tonight. I’d love to get them in the kiln soon… as this coming weekend is the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival!!! And I’d really like to have some of these berry bowls ready for this weekend!!! Fingers crossed…