Kiln Unloaded

I couldn't wait. The kiln had been cooling all day and while I occasionally would sneak a peek to see how some of the items on top came out, I couldn't wait any longer. The green color is a new glaze for me and I really wanted to see how it turned out. The test tiles looked great, but sometimes test tiles just don't give you a good idea how it will look on pieces. So at about 250 degrees (no serious burns to report), I decided to unload the first couple layer. And, I'm very pleased with how the green looks on pieces. Even better than on the test tiles. The above photo is the first couple layers from the kiln. Most everything turned out as expected or better which is very unusual.

Below is a photo of one of my french butter keepers in the green with white overlapped on the outer circle of the lid. It's a really fun color.

Bluff Country Studio Art Tour

Even though the Bluff Country Studio Art Tour is months away, I've been working on putting together some of the details for the Spring event. Since the place I'd previously set up for the tour is no longer available and our farm/studio doesn't have really good driveway access, I needed to find a new spot to set up for the tour. A few hundred feet from the end of our driveway is a wonderfully refurbished stone schoolhouse which is used as a seasonal rental for tourists and hunters. The owner has graciously agreed to allow its use for the art tour next April.

Now I just need to get some inventory ready so I'll have enough pottery to fill this beautiful space.

Etsy Mud Team Mug Swap

The Etsy Mud Team is having a Mug Swap this week. Here's a beauty I just unloaded from the kiln this after noon. It's glazed with Glossy Black on the inside and the outside is Iron Red over a slip design. It's perfect for a nice cup on hot chocolate on a cold night. There are so many cool mugs other potters will be exchanging, I can't wait to see which one I receive.

Studio progress

After the cold, rainy, snowy, dreary days we've had in Minnesota lately, I was very grateful for the cool but sunny day we had yesterday. Yesterday was a glazing day and it worked great to use my deck railing as additional drying space for pots that had been glazed. The weather earlier in the week didn't help things dry very fast so all my horizontal surfaces were covered with pots that were still too damp to put in the kiln. Some time on the deck helped that problem and I've got a glaze load in the kiln running right now. Adaptability is a must have characteristic for a potter I think.

Favorite part of Saturday

I love Saturdays. Instead of having to get up and head out to my weekday job, I can choose to sleep in and then have a leisurely breakfast. But many Saturdays, I opt to get up early anyway, hurry through my breakfast and feeding dogs so I can get out to the studio to open the kiln. Maybe I subconsciously plan it that way, but I often run the kiln on Thursday to Friday and then the kiln is ready to be unloaded bright and early on Saturday.

I start the day by seeing what treasures await me in the kiln. Most often I'm excited by what I find and occasionally I'm disappointed but challenged by what I find. Either way, that's one of my favorite parts of Saturday. Then I can take a little leisurely time, but not until I know what the kiln gods have kisses in my kiln. Above is a sample place setting out of this morning's kiln. I have a couple folks exploring having dinnerware made and I wanted to have some samples available to aid in their decision making.

I was very pleased with these pieces. The sample place setting will also be making their way to my Etsy shop listed as made to order items.

Hope you have a great Saturday too.