shattered

Obliterated, destroyed, demolished.

Never had this happen before.  A crack or two, yes, but not blown up.  This piece was to be similar to the bird bath pictured below.
The results of my C.C.I .(ceramic crime investigation):   I can eliminate moisture. The piece was bone dry.  I believe the cause behind this mess was contaminated clay.  The remains contained a few tiny curls, about twice the thickness of hair and only about 3/8 inch long, of what appeared to be a lighter colored clay.  My guess is, that while I am very careful to clean the wheel, tools, etc. when switching from tan stoneware to white stoneware  I was less concerned switching from white to tan.  I guess I figured it wouldn't be noticeable. Yes, but what about the different shrinkage rates?  Oh.  There are bits and pieces of this thing all over the kiln, including the elements.  The good news is that the berry bowl I had sitting inside it came out unscathed. Same for a couple of saucers to the side of it. Everything else in the kiln, made with the lighter colored clay, came out fine.  Of course, it was a commission.  Natch.

I just felt the need to add a pretty picture.  I posted this finial on Etsy a few days ago. Slowly trying to get the shop up and running again.  The leaves, with their burgundy coloring looked so nice next to this glaze.

strange variety

Yesterday I looked at what I'd been making lately and thought what a strange little accumulation of forms this is.- Jars for holding large margarine tubs, small slab-built planters for succulents, and birdbaths.  Really no logical morphing from one shape to another going on here.  The jars and birdbaths are customer requests and the succulent planters are for me.

  The birdbaths were a challenge.  Raising my wheel so I can stand and throw solved some back pain problems, but when I need to throw larger than usual amounts of clay it seems more difficult than when I was sitting.  I used to be able to lean into the clay, almost getting my shoulder behind my hands.  That's impossible with my wheel up higher, although I try by standing on tip toes.