A Jug's Journey

I posted this picture in my last blog post. This jug is one of my favorites... but it's gone and in the hands of friends. :( Someone asked about how it was made.

Phoenix clay (highwater clays)
Etched words into the clay when it was leather hard.
Let that dry a little and the brushed white slip into the words. This is a delicate process to say the least...
Bisque fired it...
Glazing: outside dipped into Tom's Clear...
Inside dipped into Catherine's Oribe... Rim dipped into Catherine's oribe.

I was surprised at how much the Catherine's Oribe glaze on the rim ran. Great reduction in the kiln...

Because of the copper in the Catherine's Oribe glaze, it isn't used on the inside of functional pots.

That's it! Another kiln was loaded last night. Perhaps some of my pots made it inside. Will keep you posted.

It's Open!

This is my favorite piece from the most recent firing. It has etching all around the outside that shows up fairly well because white slip was painted into it. Glazes: tom's clear with catherine's oribe on the rim and inside the jar. I gave it as a gift the day after it left the kiln-- before I could get better pictures! I'll definitely use more of this glaze combo, although the catherine's oribe has copper in it making it not usable for the inside of drinking or eating pots. :(

But first, a peek at what's inside the kiln as it is cooling down.

Two of my tumblers. I used different glazes. Not sure what to think at this point. Haney's White with Catherine's Oribe as an accent.

One look at the front stack.

front stack minus a few pieces...

Adrienne's big pots refired because originally they didn't reach the needed temp. They're sitting on some sand to help catch the runoff when the glaze falls....

A happy colorful seal amidst Julie's pots.

Some in the back stack got kissed by one of Greg's bowls that had copper on the outside.

Greg admiring the rich colors!

Julie's plates... and Elaine's bowls.

Greg and John talking about a pot.

Part of the back stack. We unloaded the pots so fast it was hard to catch pics.

Check out the pots on opposite sides of the kiln, both sitting on bricks.

Some of my pots. I like the glazes but will try some different things with them.... A nice, simple look. Wish I had more pics of that jar though... Oh well, at least I could give it away directly and not have to pay for shipping! Will try to get some closeups of these pots soon.

While Waiting

Some of my pots are in this kiln....and while waiting, I made some more pots.

Here's the chart that was created during the firing.

During class Adrienne did alot of demos... like make handles on some of her pieces.

She also gave me some wisdom as I made plates. I made three.

She gave me some insight about lids... I need to make a lid like the one above.

My three plates; all are a bit different. This is my least favorite form to make; trimming them is not fun either.

Meanwhile, my christmas cactuses are blooming at the same time! Next post will show the pots that just came out of this kiln... :)

Memories and a Kiln Loading

Talked to my cousin Lili tonight. (Pic: Lili, myself and Juana). She is one of my 6 cousins in Bolivia and she is the first of my family there to visit here. She'll be with my parents for about a month but due to work and distance it looks like I won't be able to see her. Immigration rules have made it difficult for any of my family from Bolivia to visit, plus it's so expensive! Don't get me started at how privileged we are here in the U.S. We can visit 90 or so countries easily and yet we make it so hard and sometimes impossible for others to enter ours? I think we need to be better neighbors.
With all that said, I have fond memories of the short amount of time I've spent with Lili. I vividly remember playing with her and her sister Juana during my trips there as a child. We always found joy in the smallest things. I wish we could see each other more often. Amazing women!

Onto a kiln loading.... here was the beginning. Two of those tumblers and the jar in the back are all mine. These are in the back right of the kiln. Loading was last night. I took a few pictures while two others loaded the kiln. My camera is fading on me.. and now the shutter isn't working.

Once again, the back right of the kiln.

Camera fading... the kiln is getting more full.

Who is that loading the kiln? It was amazing to witness how many pieces were fit into it. One of my teacups is next to that teapot with the long handle on the left side.

Who are these two? Hint: teachers at clayworks and experienced kiln loaders...

One shot before the door was closed. Those two tumblers on the right in the middle are mine. :)

These two are Julie and Greg! Last check before the door was shut. Clyde, the new bird who has decided to recently live at clayworks, saw all of this too. Will make a post about him and the halloween barrel firing soon....