Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: hybrid mugs, mugs, soda-fired, textures, tools

The folks at MKM Pottery Tools just did a really great post about my hybrid mugs
on their Instagram feed. I love their textured handrollers…
and it seems they love my mugs!!! A perfect collaboration!

In case you’re wondering…
this hybrid mug was made with a #BHR-142 Basket Weave handroller.
They have tons of cool patterns… so check ‘em out!!!

Categories: flowers, soda-fired, stamped, vases

More flowers from the weekend art fair! Another stamped & soda-fired vase…
hoping that these have a bit more life in them! I think they’re a bit “sturdier” than lilies?!
I guess we’ll find out soon enough???

Categories: flowers, soda-fired, stamped, vases

After a weekend in my art fair booth, I’m hoping that these white lilies might have a few more days of “pretty” in them?! They still smell great… so that’s a good start!!!

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY with a bunch of new stamped & soda-fired mugs from my latest firing. Still loving all of the colors that came out… instead of the frequent grays & browns of a soda kiln!

Categories: flowers, seasons, soda-fired, stamped, vases

Kicking off a beautiful Spring morning with a vase full of aromatic lilac blooms.
Such a shame that these beauties are so short-lived… as are most Spring flowers!

Categories: hybrid mugs, mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Celebrating another Mugshot Monday with some of my newest “hybrid mugs” fresh from my recent soda firing. Hard to believe that art fair season starts in just over a month away… and these mugs will be coming with me!!! First up?… the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival in Memorial Day weekend.

Categories: kiln firing, mugs, soda-fired

Just got a little busy… and now realizing that I didn’t post many photos from my recent soda kiln! So here are a few more photos of the front stack before I started to unload everything. It’s always like Christmas opening the door to reveal all of the presents inside!

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Unloaded my soda kiln yesterday. The anticipation & surprise of opening a kiln never gets old. Such a treat. And I always love to see some bright colors… proving that soda-fired pots don’t always need to be gray or brown!!!

Categories: kiln firing, soda-fired

Gotta love when you pull the kiln door away… and it reveals a lot of “soda-shiny” & colorful pots!!!
Big sigh of relief to see beautiful pots… another successful soda firing!

Categories: kiln firing, soda-fired

After about three hours last night, I finally had my pots carefully stacked in the kiln. Trying hard to get as many pots squeezed in… while not packing it too tight. There needs to be some “space” between the pots for the soda atmosphere to work its way through to “glaze” the pots with soda build-up.