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!

Pretty pink sweet peas posing in pottery per my Peoria pals! Yes please!

And thanks for sharing Gerry & Rosene… pink petal perfection!

Celebrating another Mugshot Monday with a splash of color! As someone who does not drink coffee or tea, I don’t use many mugs. Ironically, the mug is my all-time favorite thing to make… and I make a LOT of them! So for those non-caffeine drinkers… mugs make great vases too!

After a trip to the Andersonville Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, this collection of beautiful dahlias is now looking quite comfortable in one of my stamped & soda-fired oval vases. Beautiful blooms from Vangie’s Farm… including crazy cool & crazy huge curly burgundy dahlia! Perfect for a beautiful Floral Friday!