So I’m nearing the end of my soda firing today! It was a nice & even firing the whole way through. Always a good feeling when you get to the end and turn it off. So quiet. For tomorrow is a “Fun Day” while the kiln cools!

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It takes awhile to load the soda kiln. Especially when you’re doing it by yourself. Lots of pots & lots of shelves. It’ pretty much like a large 3D game of Tetris. Packing as much in as you can… but keeping space for the air & soda to flow through.

Here’s the back stack of the soda kiln… a third of the space filled.
More pots. More shelves to come

And then the bottom “floor” layer of the front stack…

And then finally, a few hours later, the front stack is piled up and ready to brick up the door.

And the top cone pack to watch throughout the firing. Each pyrometric cone is a different density so they melt at different temperatures. When the last cone goes down you know you’re done wit the firing. Very hi-tech!!!!

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An empty kiln full of potential.

One last bisque kiln loaded and firing. Time to start glazing the pieces that came out
of my previous kilns… as my next soda firing is THIS WEEKEND!!! Yikes…
fire fast, cool faster… quick!!!

Bisque Kiln Layer #1 – mugs, flower pots, soap dispensers and square vases (upside down).

Bisque Kiln Layer #2 – stacks of serving bowls, cups… and one class demo ornament!

Bisque Kiln Layer #3 – mugs, teapots, bowls, and square vases

Bisque Kiln Layer #3 and a half – a half layer with small plates & square vases

Bisque Kiln Layer #4 – another half layer with a stack of stamped platters.

And I love when the kiln is packed pretty tight all the way up to the top.
Just a smidge of air space between these platters and the lid when it comes down!

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A little late-night glazing last night…
just one last kiln firing for this Saturday’s Holiday Home Show!
Mostly plates & platters coming out in fun cone six colors just in time for the big party!
This Saturday 12/16 at my place from 10:00am-6:00pm! C’mon by!!!

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Door bricked. Peeps pulled. Kiln cooling. Unloading tonight.

It was a rather “late” night of loading the soda kiln last night. Started late, finished even later. But, I got a lot of work squeezed in. So it’s a sequence of posts & shelves to build up from the bottom filling with pots & pieces along the way. The back stack is just one shelf wide, whereas the front stack is two shelves. Eventually, you run out of room (and shelves) in the kiln. Brick up the door, candle for a bit, then turn it off and go home for a very quick “nap” before coming back to fire it off all day long!

Back stack…

Front stack…

An empty soda kiln with a beautiful layer of soda build-up
making a stunning “patina” on the brick interior.
Soon to be filled with pots. Layered with shelves. Ready to soda-fire tomorrow.

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Always a good sign. Just one last kiln done and cooling for this weekend’s
ART IN THE BARN. Not so bad… my third kiln this week!!!

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With ART IN THE BARN getting closer & closer…
and so many “Ghouls” still to make… I decided to squeeze in one more kiln firing just because I can. So I threw together some quick replenishment pieces that will get a quick cone six glaze firing early next week… just under the wire. Sure, it’s not my best packed kiln. But it does have a lot of mugs & bowls for ART IN THE BARN. As well as a little holiday surprise on the top layer!

Bisque Kiln Layer #1 – my favorite thing to make... mugs, mugs and more mugs!!!

Bisque Kiln Layer #2 – some stacked bowls and small trays for salt & pepper shaker sets.

Bisque Kiln Layer #3 – more bowls, more trays, and some ikebana vase tops.

Bisque Kiln Layer #4 – which in this case turned out to be a low-fire GLAZE kiln layer!!!
The green glaze is actually a low-fire clear glaze. After firing, these little pumpkins will show their true colors… warts and all.

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