Today, we clean, and plan.
Dreams can come true.
M
Showing posts with label new kiln. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new kiln. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
A satisfying end and new beginnings
Today, we clean, and plan.
Dreams can come true.
M
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
What's up at Whynot?
What's up at Whynot?
First off I am still working on how to move and add pictures and use a new program plain and simple truth.
I spent part of the day on Sunday moving all my pictures over to the new computer.
Once I figured out how it took about 4 minutes to get them all on.
Now my hang up is getting them from the camera to where I want them.
And, I have not had a lot of time to take pictures so that leaves me little to post here with all my words.
I step out the basement door and shot some trees.
Upload file names trees....that worked.
Then I step into the kitchen and shoot some flowers upload and where are they?
Not where I wanted them but here they are.
Now I could show you winter pictures or pictures from the last several years, but I am nowhere near figuring this all out.
So I am moving on for now:
We are glazing pots for the small kiln to fire this week while we wait for all the big pots to dry out enough to go through the bisque kiln.
We are planning a kiln opening for the end of the month, plan to come out.
May 26th from 9-5
We are working on plans for our October Open house and celebration of 30 years of working, living and making pots here at Whynot.
Date coming soon, I think the first week-end of October, again mark your calendars.
Mark and I have also joined the Co-op of Seagrove Potters in downtown Seagrove as of today.
We hope this is another way to sell pots and get folks who are new to the area to come and find us a mere 2 miles up the road. This will be a new adventure in our many adventures of living, working and making pots in the Seagrove area.
Oh, I know it's spring but I can find this picture!
More later with what I hope are recent pictures and new adventures.
Cheers!
M
First off I am still working on how to move and add pictures and use a new program plain and simple truth.
I spent part of the day on Sunday moving all my pictures over to the new computer.
Once I figured out how it took about 4 minutes to get them all on.
Now my hang up is getting them from the camera to where I want them.
And, I have not had a lot of time to take pictures so that leaves me little to post here with all my words.
I step out the basement door and shot some trees.
Upload file names trees....that worked.
Now I could show you winter pictures or pictures from the last several years, but I am nowhere near figuring this all out.
So I am moving on for now:
We are glazing pots for the small kiln to fire this week while we wait for all the big pots to dry out enough to go through the bisque kiln.
We are planning a kiln opening for the end of the month, plan to come out.
May 26th from 9-5
We are working on plans for our October Open house and celebration of 30 years of working, living and making pots here at Whynot.
Date coming soon, I think the first week-end of October, again mark your calendars.
Mark and I have also joined the Co-op of Seagrove Potters in downtown Seagrove as of today.
We hope this is another way to sell pots and get folks who are new to the area to come and find us a mere 2 miles up the road. This will be a new adventure in our many adventures of living, working and making pots in the Seagrove area.
Oh, I know it's spring but I can find this picture!
More later with what I hope are recent pictures and new adventures.
Cheers!
M
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
and Greenware
All we need is one bisque of filler and crown pots and we will be set for a firing in the small gas kiln.
Since it is a wee-little one we hope to get it glazed and loaded before the end of the week.
Sooner would be great , but I took an order for 15 tiles and they need to be finished before the end of next month.
We started those by rolling 1/2 of them on Saturday and then the carving started yesterday- I have 8- well that's one extra than 1/2 but who's counting-----they are now wrapped for slow drying.
The plan is to roll more tomorrow while the bisque is firing.
Then we are going to carve and glaze.
Just because we are gluttons.
Last night we worked late.
Then today I was out working at 7 am.
So now I am doing nothing..
Might just treat myself to a bit of blog reading before I fix dinner. I will think of you all while I eat a bowl of green beans fresh from the garden.
Since it is a wee-little one we hope to get it glazed and loaded before the end of the week.
Sooner would be great , but I took an order for 15 tiles and they need to be finished before the end of next month.
We started those by rolling 1/2 of them on Saturday and then the carving started yesterday- I have 8- well that's one extra than 1/2 but who's counting-----they are now wrapped for slow drying.
The plan is to roll more tomorrow while the bisque is firing.
Then we are going to carve and glaze.
Just because we are gluttons.
Last night we worked late.
Then today I was out working at 7 am.
So now I am doing nothing..
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| Fun pots for the next firing |
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| cookie or dog biscuits would work well in these. |
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| yummy pots for the firing...tasty! |
Might just treat myself to a bit of blog reading before I fix dinner. I will think of you all while I eat a bowl of green beans fresh from the garden.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
March Firing 2011
YES! This firing went so much better then the first two.
We were very pleased with the firing time and the glaze results.
The day after the fire I was able to take a look and see the Iron red glaze through the peep holes.
I was happy with what I could see.
Last night Mark opened the top bricks of the door for some more looks.
Then this morning it was take the whole door down:
We had 1 teapot with the lid glazed down and 1 pot where there was a dry spot.
But overall the whole kiln worked so much better from the taller shelf at the bottom to how most of the glazes fired.
The Satin matte glaze was hot enough to go more clear with a blue cast to the color.
The blue ash glaze was hot and lost a bit of the texture you see in the glaze but very doable in color and melt.
The Spodumene glaze went very green and lost some of the toasty orange color that I really love, but again I like it.
It made me think about how we chase color or chase a color like that is the only thing we should expect from the glaze.
We tend to ask a lot from all the elements;the clay, the glaze and the fire and not give in to what the kiln gives us.
What I think we both want from this kiln is more of the unexpected and less of the expected.
Now to see if there is a buying audience to go along with what we get from the elements all added together.
This Teapot was the one with the lid glazed down.
We will try to get the lid off but it might not happen.
One last note:
Why fire some of the pots again?
Here are the ones from firing two that were put back through the flame:
The two tumblers right and left looked like the one in the middle back.
The ash glaze is melted but not that interesting and not as warm.
The iron red is muddy and just kind of blah.
Now look at how the iron red's color comes out, the wood ash comes into its on and hits that bottom glaze and gives us those wonderful black runs.
It's that place where why settle when you know there is better?
Now- pop back over to the last post to see these mugs before- and now after.
The pots are sanded, priced and going over to the store for sale.
We are getting ready for our spring kiln opening and it will be nice to have some of these new pots on the shelves.
Cheers from a rainy ,cold, no snow day here in NC.
M
We were very pleased with the firing time and the glaze results.
I was happy with what I could see.
Last night Mark opened the top bricks of the door for some more looks.
But overall the whole kiln worked so much better from the taller shelf at the bottom to how most of the glazes fired.
The Satin matte glaze was hot enough to go more clear with a blue cast to the color.
The blue ash glaze was hot and lost a bit of the texture you see in the glaze but very doable in color and melt.
The Spodumene glaze went very green and lost some of the toasty orange color that I really love, but again I like it.
It made me think about how we chase color or chase a color like that is the only thing we should expect from the glaze.
We tend to ask a lot from all the elements;the clay, the glaze and the fire and not give in to what the kiln gives us.
What I think we both want from this kiln is more of the unexpected and less of the expected.
Now to see if there is a buying audience to go along with what we get from the elements all added together.
We will try to get the lid off but it might not happen.
Why fire some of the pots again?
Here are the ones from firing two that were put back through the flame:
The ash glaze is melted but not that interesting and not as warm.
The iron red is muddy and just kind of blah.
Now look at how the iron red's color comes out, the wood ash comes into its on and hits that bottom glaze and gives us those wonderful black runs.
It's that place where why settle when you know there is better?
Now- pop back over to the last post to see these mugs before- and now after.
The pots are sanded, priced and going over to the store for sale.
We are getting ready for our spring kiln opening and it will be nice to have some of these new pots on the shelves.
Cheers from a rainy ,cold, no snow day here in NC.
M
Saturday, March 26, 2011
It's not me its you
We dumped the burners we used the last firing and went back to the ones we used for the first firing.
Having these in place seem to help all around.
We went out around 5:30 to light the burners and had the kiln on around 5:50am.
It went right up and was heating very quickly and we just let her go.
I stayed with Mark early on and true to my nature wandered away to do other things.
I will have to get a grip on my focus to fire the kiln alone.
I checked back in with him now and again and was surprised when he said we are going to do reduction soon.
Really!??
This was just after noon- maybe noon-thirty.
We reduced the kiln and figured about 3 more hours.
We were done at 3pm.
Fingerscrossed and we are waiting for cool down.
UNDER 10 hours.
Now this is more like it.
She is definitely up for a new and better name.
I am loving this flower- she is opening new buds every few days.
A beauty.
We went out around 5:30 to light the burners and had the kiln on around 5:50am.
It went right up and was heating very quickly and we just let her go.
I stayed with Mark early on and true to my nature wandered away to do other things.
I will have to get a grip on my focus to fire the kiln alone.
I checked back in with him now and again and was surprised when he said we are going to do reduction soon.
Really!??
This was just after noon- maybe noon-thirty.
We reduced the kiln and figured about 3 more hours.
We were done at 3pm.
Fingerscrossed and we are waiting for cool down.
UNDER 10 hours.
Now this is more like it.
She is definitely up for a new and better name.
A beauty.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
back in the fire
Yesterday we loaded up the small gas kiln.
( name is being with held to protect the innocent)
Some of the items I put back in the kiln were some of the pieces from the last load that either did not get hot enough or were just too muddy looking.
Like these mugs:
We decided to bump the bottom shelf up to 8 inches and see if that will help mature all the pots across the bottom shelf. Its funny working out the ends and outs of this new kiln.
Hot spots, cold spots.
We also are going to change out the back burner in hopes that another one will burn cleaner.
We also want to move the firing time up and bump up the heat at a faster rate.
It would be great to get this down to a 8-12 hour firing.
Is this asking too much?
I know when we fire the cone 6 in the electric kiln we are doing that in about 8 hours.
I know, I know different glazes, differnt kiln and all that jazz but I really think we can shorten the fire from 16 hours.
For a baby kiln that seems a bit long.
Today is calling for gusty winds so we are waiting until Friday to light things up.
Today- time to clean up and get ready to throw more pots.
Here is a little spring coming out- the Japanese Red Maple in the front yard.
The moon this morning-interesting...
( name is being with held to protect the innocent)
Some of the items I put back in the kiln were some of the pieces from the last load that either did not get hot enough or were just too muddy looking.
Like these mugs:
Hot spots, cold spots.
We also are going to change out the back burner in hopes that another one will burn cleaner.
We also want to move the firing time up and bump up the heat at a faster rate.
It would be great to get this down to a 8-12 hour firing.
Is this asking too much?
I know when we fire the cone 6 in the electric kiln we are doing that in about 8 hours.
I know, I know different glazes, differnt kiln and all that jazz but I really think we can shorten the fire from 16 hours.
For a baby kiln that seems a bit long.
Today is calling for gusty winds so we are waiting until Friday to light things up.
Today- time to clean up and get ready to throw more pots.
The moon this morning-interesting...
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
M&M Kilns -gone, gone, gone....
The kilns are gone!
Picked up Sunday by a great couple of friends from Richmond.
The happy, proud and very excited new owner!
I was not so sure those bad boys would fit in the truck but was so happy to be proven wrong!
Gone- out with the old and on to the new.
The first firing to season the kiln is done now let's fill her up!
Cheers!
M
Picked up Sunday by a great couple of friends from Richmond.
Gone- out with the old and on to the new.
The first firing to season the kiln is done now let's fill her up!
Cheers!
M
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Report
Okay- right up front I need to give full disclosure.
I did not fire the kiln but here is the short version from the big guy.
The bottom was underfired and what was not under fired was very, very reduced.
The iron black glaze that we top with a wood ash glaze that has rutile in it and is our staple glaze did not like this firing one bit.
Most of the top glaze just burned away.
With that said the iron red and spodumene glaze liked the heavy reduction.
The results were different then in the other kiln but not bad.
So what was learned:
We need to make a change in the bag wall.
The burners are possibly too powerful for the kiln- we are going to step down to a smaller burner.
We are going to use only certain glazes and none of the black and blue until we work out the firing.
all in all- we are happy and knew we would be making seconds.
It takes time to learn a new kiln and this one shows great promise.
Here are some results:
Now we really are ready for some down time.
I would like to thank you all for reading, commenting and your never ending support this past year.
I have meet so many new and interesting people and potters through this blog.
My wish for you all is some family time and some good old peace and love for the holidays.
Merry Christmas to all!
and soon- A Happy New year!
Cheers,
M
I did not fire the kiln but here is the short version from the big guy.
The bottom was underfired and what was not under fired was very, very reduced.
The iron black glaze that we top with a wood ash glaze that has rutile in it and is our staple glaze did not like this firing one bit.
Most of the top glaze just burned away.
With that said the iron red and spodumene glaze liked the heavy reduction.
The results were different then in the other kiln but not bad.
So what was learned:
We need to make a change in the bag wall.
The burners are possibly too powerful for the kiln- we are going to step down to a smaller burner.
We are going to use only certain glazes and none of the black and blue until we work out the firing.
all in all- we are happy and knew we would be making seconds.
It takes time to learn a new kiln and this one shows great promise.
Here are some results:
I would like to thank you all for reading, commenting and your never ending support this past year.
I have meet so many new and interesting people and potters through this blog.
My wish for you all is some family time and some good old peace and love for the holidays.
Merry Christmas to all!
and soon- A Happy New year!
Cheers,
M
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
It is time and time marches
Today is the day Mark pulled the names from the hat (pottery bowl) for the generosity chain from me to you and you to whoever 2011.
The first name is Julia from Henhouse pottery-go Julia
The second name is Trish a potter living in Alberta, Canada.
The third is Michele Hastings a recent transplant to Seagrove who lives around the corner- this will be great on shipping!
The fourth is Robert Young of Tropiclay Studio in Hagatna Springs, Guam, United States
and last but never least is
Leslie Williams of In Short- I swear Mark pulled these---- of C'ville Va. who just happens to be related to me.
My favorite youngest sister!
So in the next year between today, my birthday, and next year 2011 something will come for you!
Hummm, something nice not creepy like out of the old B movies.
Now, the new kiln is cooling.
I am firing my tiny test kiln with some last minutes stuff in it.
And it is my Birthday I wonder if Mark has some plans for later...
Cheers!
M
Last night:
The first name is Julia from Henhouse pottery-go Julia
The second name is Trish a potter living in Alberta, Canada.
The third is Michele Hastings a recent transplant to Seagrove who lives around the corner- this will be great on shipping!
The fourth is Robert Young of Tropiclay Studio in Hagatna Springs, Guam, United States
and last but never least is
Leslie Williams of In Short- I swear Mark pulled these---- of C'ville Va. who just happens to be related to me.
My favorite youngest sister!
So in the next year between today, my birthday, and next year 2011 something will come for you!
Hummm, something nice not creepy like out of the old B movies.
Now, the new kiln is cooling.
I am firing my tiny test kiln with some last minutes stuff in it.
And it is my Birthday I wonder if Mark has some plans for later...
Cheers!
M
Last night:
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| there is something about that flame... |
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| the only plants that will flower in my house... |
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
cheaters and liars
I stumbled out of bed in the wee hours to look at the eclipse to find the clouds had moved in early and covered every star and the moon.
Boo - I did feel a tad cheated.
It was like watching the ending of lost or x-files all over again.
All fluff with no real ending.
I slipped back into bed and Mark decided to get up even though I told him the clouds had come to steal away the moon.
He got up because yesterday as the temperatures rose to the 40's we got a bug and loaded that little gas kiln!
I know I had just posted we were not going to fire and now here he is out there right now with the kiln on.
We are trying to see this as one big test load because we don't know how it will fire.
We don't know how the glazes will come out- hot spots- cold spots.
It is all unknown.
But what would Christmas be without a few surprises?
M
For Ajay:
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Dance
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Dance
You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too, yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Boo - I did feel a tad cheated.
It was like watching the ending of lost or x-files all over again.
All fluff with no real ending.
I slipped back into bed and Mark decided to get up even though I told him the clouds had come to steal away the moon.
He got up because yesterday as the temperatures rose to the 40's we got a bug and loaded that little gas kiln!
We don't know how the glazes will come out- hot spots- cold spots.
It is all unknown.
But what would Christmas be without a few surprises?
M
For Ajay:
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Dance
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Dance
You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too, yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Turnning up the heat
Last week was a good week for Mark to take the time to finish the small kiln.
He needed to run the pipe lines over to the gas, make connectors,add pressure gauge, make a damper and find some door brick.
So that is what he did.
If you want more detail you will have to ask him.
Last Saturday he bricked the door for a test run and to season up the kiln.
He took it up around 400 degrees and it just coasted right up there.
The next plan is to load it with pots and fire but it is too doggone cold this week.
Maybe next week we can get a unseasonably warm day, well, one can hope.
The kiln will run off two burners; this is the back burner.
Might be a tad too powerful and we have another size to set down to.
Damper
Mark decided he is too old to bend down all the time and did a great job of putting the gauge where you can just walk over and read it.
Rather then stand on your head.
There she is ready, willing and able.
Time to fill her up!
Meanwhile after some good advice from Alex I now know which kiln I plan to order.
Now to just get it done.
Cheers!
M
He needed to run the pipe lines over to the gas, make connectors,add pressure gauge, make a damper and find some door brick.
So that is what he did.
If you want more detail you will have to ask him.
Last Saturday he bricked the door for a test run and to season up the kiln.
He took it up around 400 degrees and it just coasted right up there.
The next plan is to load it with pots and fire but it is too doggone cold this week.
Maybe next week we can get a unseasonably warm day, well, one can hope.
Might be a tad too powerful and we have another size to set down to.
Damper
Rather then stand on your head.
There she is ready, willing and able.
Time to fill her up!
Now to just get it done.
Cheers!
M
Friday, June 25, 2010
and in a flash!
I don't know how it was at your house yesterday but it hit 101 here.
And even with that heat the flashing was finished up on the kiln.
Looks pretty dog gone hot, does it not!??
We are not the only ones who have plans for this kiln.
We have some friends who are already filling it up!
I worked on some jars using the patterns I "lifted" from my night gown.
I have done them on tiles and pillow pots in the past.
Now I find them coming out on small dishes and jars.
I wonder where they will show up next.
AND! the first set of tiles for the back splash are through the bisque kiln.
What a load off to have some at this stage- more to go and more to come.
keep cool!
And even with that heat the flashing was finished up on the kiln.
Looks pretty dog gone hot, does it not!??
We are not the only ones who have plans for this kiln.
I worked on some jars using the patterns I "lifted" from my night gown.
Now I find them coming out on small dishes and jars.
I wonder where they will show up next.
AND! the first set of tiles for the back splash are through the bisque kiln.
What a load off to have some at this stage- more to go and more to come.
keep cool!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Bee-cause I love you
Yesterday in my walk to work, involves getting up and walking across the yard, I walked by the Magnolia trees which were just humming with activity. I just happened to have my trusty camera with me because you never know when something good will happen and plus I was out for some Blog material.
I happen to catch these bumble bees all in twitter over the pollen.
It felt a little like I was a peeping Mary watching them roll in the carpels .
One was just having a field day, as they say around here. He or she was just rolling and humming a low happy hum.
I just finished reading Julia over at Henhouse Pottery and I am sure she could tell you much more then I can about the bees and what they are doing.
I was just happy to watch.
While I was there another bee, not to be left out, joined the party.
That is when I figure three was a crowd and went to work.
When I got there I looked out my window and in time to catch this worker bee finishing up the chimney.
It looks great from here- now to close off the roof and do the flashing.
Out early again to beat some heat and go check on the bisque load of tiles.
Fingers are still crossed!
I happen to catch these bumble bees all in twitter over the pollen.
It felt a little like I was a peeping Mary watching them roll in the carpels .
One was just having a field day, as they say around here. He or she was just rolling and humming a low happy hum.
I just finished reading Julia over at Henhouse Pottery and I am sure she could tell you much more then I can about the bees and what they are doing.
I was just happy to watch.
While I was there another bee, not to be left out, joined the party.
That is when I figure three was a crowd and went to work.
When I got there I looked out my window and in time to catch this worker bee finishing up the chimney.
It looks great from here- now to close off the roof and do the flashing.
Fingers are still crossed!
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