Time to load the gas kiln! Here are cone packs that will be put in the kiln to monitor the temperature.
Helped load the kiln last night. Here's one of my spotted shino cups with wood ash and soda ash on the outside, along with accents of catherine's oribe glaze. I used just about the same glazes on each piece that's now in the kiln that will be fired beginning on Monday.
Here's another shelf. This was a student firing, so there were pieces of all shapes and sizes in it.
Hard to see in this picture, but two of my yunomi teacups are behind this post.
The back stack of the gas kiln. Check out the two yunomis in the right bottom of the pic.
Here they are. I have a good track record of having pieces in this coveted spot; the results are spectacular!
Becky and I had some great conversation over wine. Cheap Trader Joe wine which I think is delicious!
It was cold while loading the kiln; the kiln is in the garage part of the studio and is not heated. Julie, the studio manager was dressed appropriately and here is holding one of my bowls, looking for its best spot. She has this way of fitting an enormously great number of pots into one kiln. I think it's like a puzzle; she must be great at puzzles. It was fun to help out a bit; I love this kind of thing.
On this front stack are some of my bowls.... well, four in all. The brown darkness is from the shino that was still drying as it had recently been glazed.
Here's the shelf onto of the one before this pic.
And finally, the finished kiln. Cone packs at the bottom and at the top- to monitor the temp in those respective places. The space at the top will be filled with a few of Julie's pots before Monday when it is turned on. About twenty or so of my pieces are in this firing. On the front stack you can see one of my bowls--- right stack.. fourth shelf from the bottom.
It's also snowing here in Charlotte, NC. I will post take some pics of pottery in the snow tomorrow; it is simply gorgeous here! The more snow, the better is what I'm thinking....
The latest group of pots came out of the kiln yesterday- Ash Wednesday. I like the wood ash in these which is the spots of gray on each. Glazes: spotted shino base with catherine's oribe and soda ash and wood ash as accents. I really like how the rims are lighter... from a thicker coat of shino. Thanks for the wood ash, Dad!
I really like this; there's some variation in the spotted shino glaze-- both of these above have that... the difference is the thickness of the glaze. Left: thicker than the right.
Meanwhile yesterday I made this big bowl. This is the largest one I've made to date. 6 lbs of clay. I'm quite happy with it!
This chalice and paten are beautiful! Plates are just not fun to make...
I also spent some time etching words into these vases, which are upside down drying.
Made this big casserole Tuesday night too, plus the lid.
Another chalice and paten set. I like the plates with less oribe; this has a unique look though.
Some of the yunomis from the last firing. Even the one on the far left is spotted shino glaze-- just thicker glaze.
Some bowls. I'm making more bowls these days.
Good grey from the one with soda ash on the left. I like how the shino drips a bit at the rim.
Bowls!
This is just tons of fun.
I think I'll get a new camera sometime in the next couple months or so. What fun it is to be in the pottery world. I wonder... what next? 
