And now we have handles… and therefore, now we have MUGS!!! One step closer to the bisque kiln! Another step closer to getting these done in time for next weekend’s art fair in Glenview!!!

With one big “commission” batch of mugs finally done… I’m already working on the next batch! You know how much I LOVE making mugs. I’m going to try to rush these through the process a bit to get them done in time for my next art fair… The Glenview Summer Art Fair in a week and a half! Fingers crossed…

So the commission geometric mugs made it through the soda-firing. I’m very excited about the results from Catherine’s kiln firing. She got some wonderful results, good flashings, nice soda-build-up & none of that crusty grayness. I’m confident the Groom is going to LOVE his commission gift mugs! Perfect for another MUGSHOT MONDAY!

So now I’ve wiped off the top layer of tenmoku glaze so you can see the geometric shapes even better. I’ve also added the liner glaze to all of them. The request was for the colors to mimic the colors of the wedding… which is based off of a “fig.” Yes, the fruit. So we decided that the liner glaze would be a purpleish-plum color. Fingers crossed that they look good after the soda-firing!

Starting the mug glazing process… putting some tenmoku glaze into the stamped details. When they dry, I’m going to wipe the high surfaces so that the glaze stays inlaid in the indentations.

Finally loading the bisque kiln… putting in a LOT of mugs on the bottom layers!!! You know they’re my favorite thing to make, so this has been the perfect project to keep me busy for awhile!

So here’s a sneak peek at some of the commission mugs with geometric shaped stamps! Looks like I need to do a little more cleaning up on them as I start to set them out to dry… but then they should make it into a bisque kiln in the next couple days!!!

At this point they’re all assembled, detailed & ready to start drying slowly. Headed off to the bisque kiln soon… moving along nicely with this commission project!

Okay, so it took awhile…
but I finally have all forty… err, thirty-nine… handles attached!

Handles pulled… then looped over so they can start to firm-up a bit. I flip them like this so that they get the curve established right away while the clay is freshly pulled. If they start to stiffen up while straight, they’ll be harder to curve later. Plus, they stand up this way… so no weird marks or blemishes from laying them down on the table. Once they stiffen up, I will cut out the part I need & attach it to the mug. The rest of the clay will go back in the bag!