Tonight I loaded another electric bisque kiln. I’m trying to get everything ready for next weekend’s soda firing. So I’ve got a lot of work to do before then… and filling this kiln to fire overnight just gets me one step closer!

Bisque Kiln Layer #1 – mugs, casseroles & ornaments

Bisque Kiln Layer #2 – more mugs, casserole, oil lamps & ornaments

Bisque Kiln Layer #3 – textured wall pillows, ornaments & tiles.

Bisque Kiln Layer #4 – textured wall pillows & ornaments.

Bisque Kiln Layer #5 – more textured wall pillows, more mugs & more ornaments.

And I was pretty pleased when I saw how close I got to the top level of the kiln. You know how I love to pack it tight, and fill every space possible, so as to get the most fired for my money. Nothing bothers me more than a loosely packed kiln with a lot of empty space. Costs the same… packed full or partially empty. I prefer FULL!!!

The soda kiln has been rebuilt. Brick by brick… with a nice curved arch.
Remember, the old kiln was suffering from a sagging arch, so it’s good to see it back in place. And so fresh & clean. At least for one last day. It will never be this clean again… the Lillstreet soda class is loading the kiln tomorrow night for the inaugural firing of the new soda kiln. Firing on Saturday… the new soda will be added Saturday night leaving it’s permanent mark on the fresh, clean bricks!

Well, it looks like they finished building the new soda kiln today at Lillstreet. Yeah!!! Huge thanks to Doug Jeppesen & Neil Estrick for leading the team to get the job done. As well as soda monitors Fred, Amanda, Adam & Sam. So nice to have anew kiln with a new arch. Remember my last soda kiln firing?… the last firing in the old kiln. You’ll see how the arch of the old kiln was nothing arch-like… it was almost straight across and not very safe! Here’s a little reminder…

So clean. So new.
Yep, a couple firings should take care of that!

Today they added the arch. The bricks are in and the wooden frame is gone!
If you recall the photos from my last firing in the old soda kiln, our “arch” was pretty much straight across. Good to see that this kiln is starting out with a pretty dramatic arch.

Thanks to Lillstreet Soda Monitor Amanda for sharing these photos on Facebook…
and for being part of the kiln rebuilding team. You guys are rockin’ it!!!

The kiln rebuilding looks to be coming along nicely. Today the team got the steel frame back in place. As well as building the wooden frame for the arch bricks to sit on. The kiln looks a little smaller than the old one… but I’m sure it will “grow” as they add the arch bricks tomorrow.

Doug Jeppesen, Neil Estrick and the kiln building team made some great progress today on the new soda kiln at Lillstreet Art Center. It’s starting to look like something is coming together! Can’t wait to see those brand-spankin’-new kiln bricks after a few soda firings!!!

Several skids of new kiln bricks showed up at Lillstreet today. Looks like some kiln building is about to take place!?… I think the plan is for Doug & Neil and the kiln building team to start building tomorrow. Can’t wait to see it all come back together.

It looks like not much is happening in the soda kiln room these days. It was a quick rush to finish my firing and clear out in time for the demolition. And now it seems to just be sitting there empty. Although if you look inside the room, you’ll see that the newly-poured cement foundation has been uncovered and is now drying & curing.

The cement foundation was poured today for the new Lillstreet soda kiln.
I’m sure it’s going to take some time for that chunk of cement to dry!!!