Closer!

 Getting closer and closer to having a full studio and a kiln load of finished, glazed pots.  Sieved 5000 grams of a third glaze late this afternoon.  Sieved it four times.  Much easier to do with the bigger quantities.

 Put another layer of kiln wash on the shelves.  Here they are drying on any flat surface there is.

 Also put a layer of kiln wash on these stackers or whatever they're called- to stack plates and shallow bowls more efficiently...

 Made this last night.  Cut up an apple; sprinkled some brown sugar, cinnamon, small handful of oats and a bit of earth balance spread over it and put it in the oven for 15 minutes at 350.  In a ceramic bowl of course.  Absolutely delicious!  Think it's even better because the apples are from my parent's orchard.  :)

It's also the Eve of the Feast of St. Francis.  I etched the words of a prayer attributed to him, which will be soon dipped in glaze and fired.  My first full firing will be Sunday afternoon.  First though is a test firing of the three glazes I just mixed- all in bigger quantities.  That's on Friday.  Now to find a few small bowls to dip in the glaze...  Getting there!

Another question- please help!

Okay, today I began to sieve the 5000 gram dry mixes I made.  When I added the water I decided to only add 2 gallons.  Less is more.  I told myself I could add more water easily rather than take it away.  Then I sieved each mixture four times.
Question: I only added 2 gallons of water.  Read that about 2.5 gallons was the norm.  It seems that with 2 gallons of water, the glazes have a good 'skim milk' kind of consistency.  Am I measuring this wrong?
I will test the glazes- from the bucket- put them on a few small pieces and fire them to see about the thickness and color...

Gosh, this math and chemistry is wearing me out a bit!  I tell myself that when I get the first few buckets of glaze mixed, then I'll be set for a little while, at least.  :)  Sieving the glazes is my least favorite part... but is much easier with bigger quantities.
Thanks for reading and for your help with this!  

Test Glazes- Some Great Combos

 Here are a few of the test glaze combos that I really liked from my first glaze cone 6 firing.  My test glazes traveled with me for the trip to my parent's house the last few days.  Family helped me pick some good glaze combos and I agree with their choices.  All of these are on starrworks starrwhite clay.
Above:  Left tile:  Burke's celadon;  Right tile: Bluegrass on left triangle of tile; Leah Leitson's Chun's Celadon on right triangle.  Looks like the celadon is running over the bluegrass easily.
In this, I'm looking for transparent glazes.  I want something that is similiar to what is above at the top of this blog, a color that one can see through to see the words written on the outside of the pieces.

Left tile:  Leah Leitson's Chun Celadon (double dipped on top)

Right tile: Floating Blue (double dipped on top) 

Here's another glaze combo I like:

Left tile:  Leah Leitson's Chun Celadon and then the top part dipped in Leah Leitson's Chun Light Blue
Right tile: Floating Blue- (double dipped on top)
As you can see, I put a cross stop in the middle of each tile and particularly on the left, you can see the underglaze shining through.  The stamps are to see if the glaze is transparent.

 Here's another one I'll use someday.
Left tile: Bluegrass
Right tile:  Caribbean Sea Green (double dipped on top)

What fun this is!  I admit that it helps and is incredibly inspiring to see my niece and nephew have so much fun playing with the test tiles and having so much fun.  They are the best!
Today I mixed 500 grams of one of the glazes.  Tomorrow another, and then adding water, and the sifting begins!  My hope is to have two glaze firings done by next Tuesday when I leave for a conference with colleagues who are interested in buying some pottery; Tuesday, a lofty but attainable goal!
Thanks for reading.  It's always good to hear your wisdom and comments.  Loving the pottery world!

Long Week and Glaze Test Results....

 Here's a quick snapshot of the glaze test tile results.  More details soon.  Overall, I'm pleased, yet I wish more combinations were ones that were transparent.

 It has been a busy week.  Monday morning I learned that my grandma (mother's mother) had passed after declining health.  She was 90, I believe.  I have had the privilege of knowing all four grandparents; all have lived into their 90's and one is still living.  As I write, I'm in PA for a short visit.  Memorial service was beautiful and I must say that it helps immensely at a memorial service to have a 3 year old sitting next to you to watch.  Really!  It is wonderful to be with family; only wish our time together was longer.

Times like this remind me how life is short and how time with family is what it's all about.  I'm so thankful that I get to see my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews at least 4 times a year and usually, like this year, more!  Thanksgiving cannot come sooner.  If only I could bring my studio with me!  In the meantime, I do what I can to keep the family updated about pottery happenings.  Garrett (1 3/4) loved helping me choose the next glaze combinations for my first round of pots.  How I love this boy!  More details about test tiles, glazes, etc. next week.  I have a mid-October deadline for some bowls, so it will be a busy week mixing glazes.  Thanks for all your comments and for continuing to read, despite the gaps in blog posts.