It’s gonna get hot in there… gotta see where we’re at!!! My cone packs are ready for this weekend’s soda firing… well, two for this kiln & two for the next! Each cone melts at a different temperature… so I’ll be watching them go down throughout the day tomorrow as I fire the kiln. Pull out a brick, take a quick peek & put the brick back in! Very hi-tech, huh???

Over my last two art fairs, I’ve had a lot of people asking about the hybrid mugs that I showed making a few weeks back… the ones using my new handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools with the coneflower pattern. Unfortunately, they haven’t made it through the soda firing yet. But with so many people asking… I think I need to make MORE hybrid mugs! This time ALL with coneflowers!!!

Here’s my latest batch of hybrid mugs… with groovy cool patterns & textures made with some of my newest MKM Pottery Tools handrollers. Now they just need some flashing slip while they’re still leatherhard. Then it’s off to drying, bisque firing, glazing, wadding & soda-firing. Still a long ways to go before these are ready to go!!! Lots of steps… not just in the making, but also in the finishing.

It’s been fun using some of my new handrollers today from MKM Pottery Tools. I’m generally a more “geometric” kinda guy when it comes to patterns & textures. But I will say I’m pretty excited about some of these new rollers that a more “illustrative” pattern on them. We’ll see how it goes with more rollers for more patterns!!!

Here we go again… making some textured slabs with my new MKM Pottery Tools handrollers. Fun patterns with crisp clean edges… coming soon to a new batch of “hybrid” mugs! This is the handbuilding part… soon to be added to the wheelthrown part! Thus… “HYBRID” mugs!!!

Time to have some textured fun in the studio again! My collection of MKM Pottery Tools handrollers has practically doubled. You can tell the difference… the clean new ones vs. the dusty loved ones… all of them just waiting to make some new impressions!!!

After last week’s demo on “thick slip” with my SURFACE DECORATION class, I’ve continued working on this platter in my studio. Now that it’s leatherhard, I decided to start carving a texture all around the flange of the platter. So much nicer with my favorite DiamondCore Tools carving tool. Crisp, clean edges every time!

While I’m in the middle of making my “normal” stamped mugs for a future soda-firing… I need to remind myself that it’s time to make more of these “hybrid” mugs too!!! My collection of carved handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools has recently “doubled” & I can’t wait to try out some of their newest patterns while making more of these wheelthrown & handbuilt combo “hybrid” mugs!

Can’t believe my collection of MKM Pottery Tools handrollers has just DOUBLED!!! Great patterns & textures made with perfectly crafted wooden handrollers. Can’t wait to start playing with them… time to get them dirty!!! Just in time for another Texture Tuesday!!!

Some early morning textured tiles in the works… getting ready for “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” which is just about two weeks away! A mix of textures using my own handmade stamps & some using my favorite MKM Pottery Tools handrollers!