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I've had these drop frames a few months now and am finally getting around to giving them a try-out.

I ordered the frames from Moss Beach Ceramics.  They may or may not have them in stock at this time.  I'm not sure where I first came across information about the frames but in searching to learn more I found this Lapella Pottery video to be very useful. There are three sizes of frames.  Above picture shows the smallest plate at left, and the middle size on the right is still drying in the frame.

 

This one is the largest.  Right now it measures 11 & 1/4 inches across.  I added handles because I don't envision this as a dinner plate.  Maybe after it shrinks in the firing I'll change my mind.  Right now it looks too big.  I am concerned about warping.  I used 1/4 inch slats when rolling out the slabs.  I hope that's thick enough.  I also purchased alumina hydrate to sprinkle on the kiln shelves to help deal with the shrinkage movement during the firings.

Here's our new neighbors.  Mom is parking junior beside our storage shed some mornings while she goes off to get some breakfast.  Junior is one of the most hyperactive fawns I've ever seen.  He has trouble remaining stationary while mom is away.

getting ready for Harvest Moon

More glazing.  I've decided to really get after my accumulated bisque ware.  I have noticed a certain work pattern has caused this build-up of bisque ware: I want to make enough green ware to fill up the kiln every time I get a commission from a customer, but I'm not going to run the  kiln just for one set of mugs. Then I do the glaze firing, and, as many of you know, a lot more pots will fit in a bisque firing than a glaze firing so there's always some pots that get left out.  Then I get another commission and the cycle starts all over again.

Here's a few things from the last firing-

I'm very fond of the pumpkins.  There are more of these firing in the kiln right now. They seem particularly appropriate for the upcoming Harvest Moon Festival in Parkersburg, West Virginia  September 15 & 16.

I used a clear base glaze with some green-gray stain mixed in for this french butter crock.  This is a glaze I mixed years ago and it was not at all attractive on my iron bearing clay.  I like it a lot on this lighter, almost white stoneware.

 

I ran into a problem with pinholes in this goldust tenmoku this time. Don't know why.  It only happened on the inside- both lid and jar.  I touched up the glaze and it's getting refired in the current firing, so see what happens. 

 

An experiment.  I made this plate using a drop frame.  I think I need to look around for wider molding for the frame, as I would prefer a deeper lip around the plate.  I won't be doing this any time soon, though.  It's just too time consuming to search for the right materials and put them together.

 

Here's a pic of the drop frame. Don't look to close- mitering is not my specialty.

Well, I'm getting to the end of my current glaze firing- at the check on the kiln every 5 minutes phase, so gotta go.