What a Day! Skutt, etc...

 First, Skutt.  Called them about the crack in the kiln brick wall on the inside of my kiln.  The technician at skutt said it was a normal stress fracture- to be expected.  'Happens all the time' he said.  Still took a picture of it and documented it for my files.   I'm a bit relieved.

Put some clay through the extruder at a friend's home and well, I didn't have quite enough clay.  As maybe you can see, there's some lighter clay on the inside of several of these.  That's loafer's glory clay-- and the clay I'm testing is starrworks starrwhite.

 The test tiles are now on the drying rack--- awaiting time in the kiln for my first bisque firing this weekend.  :)  I'm loving the cooler weather; trimmed a pot today as it was raining outside.  70 degrees!  I love this.   Will also mix some test glaze batches this weekend.  Can hardly wait!

 Here the test tiles are drying... at several different angles.

So, it's been a simply wonderful day.  On a way different note, I've discovered this frozen yogurt recently as it's on sale at Lowe's.  And well, it's the best I've had in a LONG while.   More soon-

My Heart Sank... and Generosity

 Opened my new kiln this morning as I'll soon be unloading it for its FIRST bisque firing ever... and noticed this crack- towards the bottom.  My heart sank.  Really.  I'm calling skutt tomorrow.  Any wisdom?  Please, please share.  A friend suggested that I take a picture, email skutt and get this on file if the warranty doesn't cover it.  I was so disappointed.  I haven't put a thing in the kiln yet.  Only did a test firing as the installation instructions requested.  :(

 The generosity is that Linda Dalton taught me how to do the computation and measurement of glazes.  She and Jim Dalton have been wonderful to get to know since I moved here.  So thankful they are closely and so generous!  All the conversion stuff had intimidated me... and she walked me through the whole process.   She made this all look easy.  I took copious notes.  Interestingly, chemistry was my LEAST favorite subject in high school.  This weekend I'll be measuring test glaze batches--  100 or 1000 gram size.  This shows the new ohaus triple beam scale I bought.  Interestingly, it didn't come with the three weights that Linda uses- and she recommends that I get two of them.  Any wisdom as to what to do?  Maybe this particular scale isn't built for weights.  I plan on calling ohaus about this.

 First zinnia of the season.  These grew from seed and the rest have a while to go.  I'm hopeful others will bloom.

 The Dalton's gave me some tomatoes and a cucumber, fresh from their garden.  Such generosity!

 Thanks to the yummy tomatoes, I had a BLT for dinner.  YUM!   mayonnaise, rye bread, homemade tomatoes and bacon.  :)

Oh, and here is me on June 21 in the North Cascade Mountains.  Loved this hike while on vacation.  It was 70 degrees at the start of the hike and then this was the end.  Big lake behind me.  Had to find my way in the snow and mark my trail, along with the help of a friend.  Loved it!  Oh, and it wasn't that cold even with all the snow around me.   Thanks for reading and please share your insight!

It's Always Been the Teabowl

 This tea bowl is one that I discovered by surprise while on vacation.  I had made it two years ago and it just well, stayed around.  The current resident potter liked the form and how the glaze hung on it.  I decided to find it a new home- mine!  Sorry that I don't know the glaze colors.  Clay is Bob's Blend from the Clay Art Center in Tacoma, WA.  This photo isn't the best.  The tea bowl has a thumb indentation too.  All in all, it's a keeper.  I love its from; the tea bowl remains my favorite form these days.  Always has been.  For now, still is.  Maybe always will be.

 Brought these potatoes back from my parent's house, with dirt still on them, all straight from their garden.  I think I'll make hash browns tomorrow--- one of the few foods I can eat these days.

Brought these tea plants back too.  My mom makes the most amazing tea and in their garden, it grows like a weed.  I hope these small cut plants become weeds too--- over 12 roots in all.  I've been watering them consistently.  Thanks for reading!

Salmon, Glaze Recipes, and Cool

I always end my vacation to Seattle with a grilled salmon burger from Anthony's Restaurant in the Seattle airport.  I highly recommend it.  If I remember, I order rice instead of fries.  Forgot this time, but brought this onto the plane.  Best lunch at the end of vacation that I could find!  

 First, here's a couple glaze recipes I liked from a past edition of Ceramics Monthly.  I spent part of vacation looking through old magazines gleaning words of wisdom.  Was reminded that Ceramics Monthly doesn't go out of style.  Hope to try these Cone 6 glaze recipes.  Save your Ceramics Monthly if you subscribe!  I'm thinking of putting in a subscription...

 Hard to believe that less than two weeks ago, I was in weather this cool.  High of 65 most days and as low as 30 one night.  Loved the weather, place and people!  On this particular Friday it was overcast on Lake Chelan and well, just beautiful!  The place I visited was only accessible by boat and no cell phone coverage-- and lots of untouched nature all around.

 Like the look of this glaze test tile chart.  I plan on creating my own in my studio.

 Here is the studio I worked in.  It's built on the bottom floor of a huge building--- and with part of the roof sloping down like that.  Has excellent lighting--- with windows at each end and all along the one wall.  It was just beautiful.  Some nights I'd be trimming pots when it was cold-- and well, the deer were outside as if spectators who had come to watch.  The deer would come to visit at dusk.  Love this connection to nature.

Went on a couple hikes.  It was late June, yet the winter had been quite cold and full of snow (323.5 inches in all).  This is in the midst of a 10 mile hike.  I'll post the snow pic in the next blog post.  Here's what it was like about 1/3 of the way up.  (2100 ft. elevation change)  When life is challenging, I take my mind here in the midst of beauty that is too beautiful to put into words.  Thanks for taking the time to read this!  Oh, and I'd love to have some glaze measuring advice--- anything to keep in mind when looking at a glaze recipe and when you're getting ready to measure the dry ingredients?   I need to research this some. Thankfully, I'm beginning to feel better from dental surgery and I'll have some time at the end of this week to figure this all out and mix some glazes.  Will post some more pics of vacation later too.