getting ready to bisque.....and Red happens

It's been taking a very long time for things to dry out, but I finally have enough to bisque fire today.  I figured with the dry winter air I might have a problem with pots drying too fast, but I guess the basement always stays a little damp.

Some salt pigs and a utensil holder in the kiln today.  Pots were piling up in my basement workspace.  Usually when they are almost dry I transfer them to a shelf next to the kiln in the garage.  With some nights dipping down to the teens recently I was afraid to do that.  If there is still visible moisture and the temp goes to freezing seems like things could go wrong, as in expansion.  I've never taken a thermometer down there.  Since the garage is mostly underground maybe I'm safe.

French butter crocks, also in the kiln.  Actually one crock and 3 lids.  I have some extra crocks due to the tendency the lids have to develop hairline cracks.  Hence the extra lids. 

Not ready to fire- some nesting bowls and a set of soup bowls.  I'll be heading down to trim some of these this afternoon. 

Red happens.  Found this mess this morning.  I leave my slip bucket to set overnight on my wheel so the water will separate enough to pour out,  then I'll recycle the slip into clay. Red, the cat, loves to watch anything liquid move across the floor.  He, in fact, finds it hugely entertaining.  Used to tip his water bowl over every day until I got a tip proof bowl.  I've learned not to leave small glaze containers on my table and I had been hiding my slip bucket from him.  Lately, I thought I could get away with just covering it with a towel.  It worked...for a couple of weeks.  

The guilty party.

Here's what happens to the slip, trimmings, etc.  I'm using a rack that used to dry out bath toys.  The very wet clay is slopped onto a piece of canvass and left to dry to the consistency of usable clay.  Then, because I don't have a pug mill, I double bag it with plastic grocery bags and slam the heck out of it. The idea being to de-air it as much as possible. That doesn't get me out of wedging, but it helps make it easier. 

fresh from the kiln

We've had a couple of gorgeous days with cool nights.  Perfect for firing the kiln, which I did yesterday.  Here's a peek of the kiln opening:              

Some nice summery colors.  There's not even any brown, unless you count one of the glaze tests- unusual for me.

A "before" of some test tiles.

And the "after" fired a hard cone 6.

This Temmoku glaze has gold flecks in it.  Doesn't show up so well in this photo.

A Chun glaze over the Temmoku. I used some different materials in a couple of glazes this time.-  I had never heard of Epsom salts or borax as glaze materials before.  I may go into more detail about these glazes at another posting. 

Yeah, berry bowls!  I still have a few left to fire, as I couldn't fit all in the kiln this time.

The fence-sitting birdbath.  I was really worried about this.  I only made one because it was so time consuming to build.  I knew it would be a bit risky with all those seams, even though I let it dry very slowly and as evenly as possible. There are a few surface cracks.  A small one inside at the far right ginko leaf, and a couple more along the bottom outside seam.  Because of these, I may offer to let the customer try it out for the summer before paying me.  I think it will hold up fine, though.

I was just having fun with my camera because it is such a beautiful day and I bought a tripod for myself this morning.  Previously, I had been borrowing the one I bought my son for Christmas.  But it often gets left at his friend's house when they video their band practices.  So, time for my own.

This green glaze is nice over the white. I don't think the rutile over the stamped design is really adds anything, though.  Will probably leave that off next time.

Just did these two mugs in this glaze combo- same base glaze with cobalt in the blue and rutile in the yellow.

Little wall piece.  Will add wire for hanging.  Click on this one to enlarge it.  Lot's of texture, plus you get to see all the little plants and mossy stones, etc.

French butter crock nestled among the catmint.  Notice the bee on the blossoms in the upper right.

ready to fire, but...

I think  I'll wait until the temperature is below 90 degrees.  The kiln is a little too close to air conditioned living space- actually under it.  Running a kiln to around 2200 degrees seems a little ridiculous when you're trying to cool your environment.  In the meantime, I'm making up some glaze tests.  I can always fit a few in the top shelf here and there.