Started taking off a few more layers of bricks… almost cool enough to unload. It’s always exciting to see a good “pop” of color at the top of my soda firing. I’m not a fan of the “soda-blasted” dark grays that look like “dolphin skin”… some people like it, but not me!!! I prefer COLOR over dark grayness!!!

Today is Monday… welcome to a new week! It’s also soda kiln unloading day!!!
I just cracked the kiln open so it can cool a little quicker. Also… a little sneaky peek!!!

As the firing is nearing the end, it’s time to add the soda mixture into the kiln. It evaporates instantly, causing the flames to go CRAZY… and hopefully sending the soda mixture throughout all of pots & shelves inside!!! Wherever the flames hit the pot… that’s where the soda mixture will work its magic & “glaze” the pot!!! Fingers crossed.

So I just placed the kiln in “body reduction.” This is when I throw the balance of gas-to-air out of whack. Too much gas for an efficient flame… so the kiln is seeking air anywhere it can find it. Thus the flames shooting out of the kiln searching for air… like the movie “Backdraft.” It is also the time that the porousness is being sucked out of the bisque making the pots inside solid & vitrified. Who knew so much chemistry & physics would play into my simple little pottery world?!

Early this morning… WE HAVE IGNITION!!!
And a long day ahead of me in the studio firing the soda kiln
for next weekend’s ART IN THE BARN in Barrington.

Beautiful soda kiln bricks after a LOT of firings. The build-up is amazing… although not so good for the longevity of a kiln. Luckily, the soda kiln at Lillstreet is scheduled to be rebuilt at the end of the year.

Here we go again… seems like I just loaded this kiln a couple weeks ago?!

Like a kiss from a rose… in a stamped & soda-fired vase! Pretty little orange garden roses in an oval vase… with a strappy little handle that helps keep the flowers where you want them! I’ll be bringing a few of these oval vases to ART IN THE BARN next weekend.

Plus, it looks like I may have had an overnight critter visiting my booth… ever-so-gently “admiring” some of my hybrid mugs. Luckily they were on the top shelf… so no harm, no foul.

Removing the front door of the kiln is always exciting… as it reveals the fired work for the first time layer-by-layer, brick-by-brick. Fingers crossed that everything turned out well. Excited to see that there are some good colors, good clay surfaces & not too much of that “blasted dolphin-skin grayness” that happens in a lot of soda kilns! Looking good so far… and usually gets even better as you dig in further while unloading!