March Firing

Front stack

 The kiln is out and waiting for us to sand off the bottoms of the pots, check for seconds, compare the clay bodies to figure out if we are going to switch to the new one, price and then carry them over to the store.

There are people that think we don't work. This part is the work part of what we do. Tossing some clay on the wheel head is fun. But, there is work that comes after you have had the fun.

Overall we like the new clay body and think that it works well with our glazes.
We had some odd things here or there but we believe that was more about the firing and possibly reduction than the clay body.

middle stack

Last year we noticed a change in the color of the iron black and the way it acted when it was applied to the bisque ware. It was just not quite the same and we could not put our finger on why.
We tried tweaking it in several different directions with no changes to how it behaved.

Then Mark remembered that when we first started the business we mixed the iron black with 200 mesh flint. Then somewhere along the line we switched over to 325 mesh flint.
Last week Mark picked up a bag of 200 mesh flint that he had ordered and mixed a batch of the iron black. At the time we were half way through glazing and you know that saying, in for a penny, in for a pound, we just went for it.

Then Mark had doubts about the glaze since it was different in color and possibly melt. We tossed two test in our electric kiln to see how it would melt.
It was fine.
In fact it turned out better than we thought it would be and reminds us of how the black use to come out.
Success!

 

back stack

 The other thing that we noticed in this firing was the older batch of iron black and the top glaze we use seem to have had a disagreement of sorts and it looks as if the top glaze crawled on top of the black.
But, instead of the black glaze going along for the ride it stay put and the top glazed pooled thicker in places. ( I know does that make sense?)
Just take a look at the lamp base on the bottom of the back stack.
And, you should see its twin brother!
Very interesting but not something we want to repeat on purpose.

 There was some great iron red in this kiln load.
There it is looking all tasty and yummy with the wood ash glaze.

And, mugs.
Mugs,mugs,mugs.
We really needed mugs for the store.

jars are yummy and so useful, you can put something in them. I love jars.

I was fond of these jars.
Yes!

Any questions?
Or just come on out and we will show them all to you.
Bring coffee we will be out as of tomorrow and things could get ugly if we have to fight over the last cup.


Cheers,
M

kiln pack- cone 10 baby!

Me, do you want cake or cookies for your birthday?

Him, " I don't need a cake."

I think I can figure that one out.
There are a batch of cowboy cookies resting in the refrigerator for me to bake later.

On another note, we played tag with the weather while we figured out the best day to fire the kiln. I think we found it would be today even though it is his birthday. He was up, not at the crack of dawn, but somewhere around 1 am to start the kiln. I did not notice until I woke up cold and alone at 5 am.

The plan was to load part  of the kiln yesterday and then finish off today making it 2 easy days. Then as I was listening to the radio they talked about today being a good day weather wise with winds moving back in on Thursday. Time to crank it up and change the plan. We just kept up the pace and had the kiln loaded with the door bricked by 4:30.

 Here is the back stack waiting for the "crown pots" to be placed. This one was a 17 inch crown.

Today it is his birthday and although a person should get the day off on their birthday he has a witch of a boss and working it is.

To help him through the firing there will be cookies. What else could a person want???

A little bit of a close up shot of mugs and things.

Middle stack in and ready time for a break.

A closer look.
Wee teapots, fingers crossed that they come up and the top ash glaze does not run too much.

Me, " Oh! I forgot to take a picture of the front stack!"

Him, " Too late!"

Fire today, cool down Thursday, Friday, open on Saturday.

Come on over and  we will let you help.




Happy Birthday Cowboy!
XXOO,
M