So there was a gaping hole in the top layer of my bisque kiln…
I knew that I had to make something quick!

I “threw together” a couple tall slab vases… measured just to fit when the kiln lid closes. I finished assembling them JUST in time to teach my Tuesday night class. I put them on plastic grid and a banding wheel so I could rotate them in front of a fan to dry them quickly. During class, I skipped out (unnoticed) and ran upstairs to add some colored slip details and keep them spinning.

When class was finally over… they had to go into the kiln regardless of where they were at. I had to fill the space, but couldn’t wait any longer to get the kiln started. So they went in a little damp… with a bit of a pre-heat on the kiln… and fingers crossed.

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With my soda kiln scheduled for this coming Saturday, I knew that I needed to crank out some last minute work… and squeeze it all into one last bisque kiln. Sure, it might not be my finest job of packing a tight kiln, but all of the little “filler” pieces went into the bisque kiln a couple days ago! So for now, I just knew that I had to get things bisqued quickly so I had some time to glaze & wad before Friday night’s soda kiln loading.

Kiln Layer #1 – lidded jars, small pitchers, mugs and some ornaments.

Kiln Layer #2 – two stamped platters, two bowls… and some more ornaments!

Kiln Layer #3 – half of the third layer was filled with stacked stamped bowls.

Kiln Layer #4 – porcelain mugs, bowls and some stacked pieces to fill the height.

But, oh wait… there’s a gaping space on the top of the kiln!!! We can’t have that.
You know how much I LOVE a well-packed kiln. I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I left that empty space like that!

Gotta make something quick to fill that space!!!

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Started this morning with a quick kiln loading. I kind of surprised myself by having enough work to fill the kiln. I’ve been trying to make a lot of work quick… guess it’s been working?! As I have a full soda kiln firing scheduled for next Saturday. So all of these pieces will need to be glazed & wadded before then!!!

Bisque kiln layer #1 – Mugs, mugs and more mugs!!!

Bisque kiln layer #2 – More mugs, votives and ikebana discs…
with some ornaments tossed in too!

Bisque kiln layer #3 – Tumblers, plates and a large stamped bowl.

Bisque kiln layer #4 – Dessert plates and ornaments.

Bisque kiln layer #5 – More dessert plates and more ornaments.
DOn’t panic… the cracked shards aren’t mine. No harm. No foul. They are my studio neighbor Karen’s piece that she uses for glaze testing. I had a little extra space… and you know how I LOVE a well-packed kiln!!!

Packed tight all the way to the top. The lid of the kiln
will lower down to within a 1/4″ of the bows!!!

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Just unloaded my “last minute” cone six glaze firing. Very excited about my new blue glaze that will be making its big debut at ART IN THE BARN this weekend!!! Limited quantities though… since this was the first time I’ve used this glaze! There will definitely be more…

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Early morning peek into the soda kiln. Looks good so far. Took out the top rows of brick to help with cooling. Unloading this evening… with everything heading to ART IN THE BARN this weekend in Barrington.

All of my soda mixture has been put into the kiln… and Cone 10 is almost down. So much fun playing with fire. Watching the warm glow & shooting flames as you pull the peeps to peek inside. A long day of firing coming to an end soon. Hoping for beautiful treasures inside.

It was late last night when I finished loading the soda kiln. It’s packed with a LOT of pots!!! Firing is already underway today. Lots of new work headed to ART IN THE BARN next weekend in Barrington!!!

Glazed, sprayed & wadded… let the kiln loading begin!!!

And while one kiln cools…
it’s time to start glazing the pieces from last week’s bisque kiln.
Starting with my favorite… mugs, mugs and MORE MUGS!!!

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