Don’t you love it when you’re working on something else…
and then you find out that someone else is loading a kiln and they have
extra space to be filled?! And you just happen to have greenware ready to go?!

Well, last night my friend Marian was loading a kiln of her work and kid’s projects
but didn’t have enough to fill the kiln. So I got to fill the bottom of her kiln
with my work before she finished it off with hers! My pieces filled the bottom layer
and a half. Waiting for Marian to top it off. I just love being the “free” kiln filler!!!

This afternoon I unloaded my electric kiln full of terra cotta – and some new stamps!
So my first kiln of the New Year is finally done. And everything turned out great!
I especially love the rustic orange color of the terra cotta and the “antiqued” quality
that the black underglaze gives it.

So here’s my dilemma… In my head these were intended to be planters for outside
on your deck or patio. And I know that I don’t like my outdoor plants to have trays
as they collect water and sit in puddles after it rains. So I didn’t make water trays to match.
Should I have made matching trays?! A couple people at the studio have asked
about the trays – and now I’m kind of second-guessing myself. Keep in mind, that not
everyone would need the tray. But if I were to make trays to match, it not only means
I need to make trays to the correct sizes and keep them together as pairs, but it also
increases the price point by nearly double! Is it worth it?!

Kiln Favorite #1 – Large Stamped Bowls
I’m pretty excited about the new bowls that just came out of the kiln!
Probably the largest and most stunning bowls I’ve ever made?!… if I do say so myself.
With dramatic stamping, deep finger impressions, beautiful glaze reactions and more.
I love ’em!!! I’m so excited… Here’s a little teaser…

Kiln Favorite #2 – Holiday Ornaments
And I’m more than a little enamored with my new holiday ornaments!
I’m trying really hard to not keep them all for myself. I was a little concerned that they
may “jump off” their firing tripods during the volatile soda firing. I am happy to report
that there was only one jumper! So now I need to finish them off and get them ready
for the upcoming Holiday Home Show! And “convince myself” that I can’t keep them all!

So after two days of waiting… my latest soda kiln was finally cool enough to unload
late this afternoon. So I cracked it open, then unbricked the door – layer by layer.
It’s always so much fun to open a kiln and slowly reveal the contents one layer at a time!
To see the final results of all your hard work – throwing, decorating, trimming, glazing, etc.
So I was thrilled when I opened up my kiln and saw nothing but beautiful pots!
Just in time for my Holiday Home Show – only one week away!

Today I fired my soda kiln.
Packed full. Top to bottom. Jam packed. More jam packed than usual.

So I started early, made some adjustments early on – and kicked it into high gear
as soon as I could. It fired quite easily all day… and I even got to teach another class today
in the middle of my firing. The usual teacher had a bad migraine and she asked if I could fill-in.
And since I was “trapped” there firing the kiln all day, I had to say yes… and it turned out to be
a nice diversion from the firing. Towards the end of the day, it was firing quickly. And I
completed the firing in record time. Turning it off earlier than expected – especially for being
packed so tight. And the kicker… my temperature difference between top & bottom was just
9.7 degrees according to the computer pyrometer!! Pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

So now it’s done… and cooling. My goal is to cool it off quickly and unload Friday afternoon
if possible?! That way, the Home Show set-up process can continue on Saturday…
I have a LOT of pots to carry up the three flights of stairs! And a week to get it done…

I was originally planning on loading my soda kiln on Tuesday night after class.
And I wasn’t looking forward to starting after 10:00pm for the long process. With all the
pieces and hundreds of tiles… it takes quite awhile!

But then I found out that the classroom kiln before me fired a day early, and was therefore
being unloaded a day early. So lucky me! So I glazed a little faster. Wadded a little quicker.
And then went down to load my kiln… err, maybe I should say “pack” my kiln! It’s a little
tighter than usual. Let’s hope that the soda vapors can find their way around the kiln?!

I’m a little apprehensive though about my new ornaments and their support tripods.
In theory I think they’re pretty cool… I just hope the “volatile” soda atmosphere doesn’t
knock them over during the firing. I don’t want to find wayward ornaments glaze-fused
to the insides of bowls and stuck to the sides of other pieces?!

Technical difficulties resolved… and now retroactively catching up!

After an INCREDIBLE morning bike ride, it was back to the studio to continue
production for the holidays. After a few days of drying (or a few hours if you’re
a mask) it was into the electric kiln for another bisque firing. Luckily, I had some
extra time which allowed for a few hours of preheating before the kiln kicks into
full firing mode. So it will give the “ever-so-slightly-so-damp” masks a chance to dry!

Layer One: Two new masks, ornaments and a lot of tiles “protecting” the masks
from drying too quickly by the electric elements.

Layer Two: Two more masks, more ornaments and more “protective” tiles!

Layer Three: Bowls, mugs, votives, and a few more ornaments here  & there…

Layer Four: Bowls, tumblers, wall pocket vases and some tripods!

Tripods you say?!… what are they going to be for you may ask?
Well, my plan is to bisque them, dip the tips in kiln wash and then “perch” my ornaments
onto them in the soda kiln. Hopefully, they will give me some good exposure in the kiln
on all sides of the ornaments without needing to wad each of them individually. At least
that’s my plan… we’ll see…

After a weekend away at my parent’s house celebrating my Dad’s birthday with a lot
of gardening & work around the house… then birthday dinner & cake… and then a
wonderful day pedaling in Wisconsin for the Harmon Hundred… it was back to the
studio tonight to finally unload the kiln now that it is quite cool. And I was quite
pleased with the results – including a new selection of stamped & glazed bowls!

So this morning I didn’t get to ride. I had to work. Yep, duty called.
I had to start the kiln firing very early this morning instead of pedaling my sunrise ride!
I guess it was a small sacrifice, as Karen fired the kiln for the rest of the day.
So my “sunrise” today was a small gas flame coming out of an old burner port!

With “Art In The Barn” just a couple weeks away, I kind of feel like I’m ahead
of schedule by loading my kiln tonight… and firing tomorrow. No last minute
unloading and shlepping hot pots to the fair for me this time!

Tonight I loaded my work into a high-fire kiln for a cone 10 gas reduction firing.
I am sharing the kiln with my friend & studio neighbor Karen Patinkin. The back stack
is mostly mine, with the exception of her big bowls on the top. The front 2/3 of kiln
was loaded with Karen’s stunning large platters with intricate glaze detailing and
some of my smaller “kiln filler” bowls around them! Tomorrow we fire…
and it’s up to me to get it lit up & started very early in the morning!