Firing #7 - A Few Favorites

My 7th firing of the wood kiln went well and I finally feel like I've really got the process down.  I've got a collection of glazes that mostly work well for me and the after trying lots of variations, the schedule seems to give the results I'm looking for. 

Here are photos of some of my favorites from this firing.

 

 

Snowflake tiles

Earlier I posted about some snowflake tiles I was working on.  They are finally completed.

My initial plan was to have glass in the impressed snowflake design, but never having made these before, I wasn't sure how much glass to use to accomplish that.  Most of them had much more glass than needed on them, but I also like how the glass has melted over the entire tile.  Two of the seven had enough glass that it actually ran off the tile and left a big goober on the bottom.  They should clean up just fine with the grinder, but in the future I'll have to remember that more isn't necessarily better. 

Like so many other things in life. 

A few of the tiles are available at the Lanesboro Local and a few will be available at my Holiday Mud and Suds Sale this coming weekend.

Have a great week everybody.

Firing #7

Bright and early this morning we buttoned up our 7th firing of the wood kiln.  We loaded it up on Saturday afternoon.  Went out for dinner with friends and then on Sunday morning we started the firing.  

It was a little chilly so I spent most of the morning sitting in front of the fire box adding small pieces of wood until it got too hot to sit there.  

After 24 hours of firing, cone 11 was starting to go on the top shelf and 10 was bent on the bottom.

Do you have to wonder why someone who knows they are going to get just plain filthy firing, decides to wear a white sweatshirt?  Because my "It's OK if I'm dirty, I'm a potter" sweatshirt wasn't around.  It makes perfect sense. 

Holiday Fun

With the holidays coming up, I decided to have some fun working on some winter tile coasters.  While at Michael's several weeks ago, I found these snowflake wood cutout ornaments and thought they'd make some nice texture on "something". Turns out they do make nice texture on "something" like tiles, so I made a couple boards full and hope to fire them in my upcoming woodfire with some cobalt blue glass in the design.  Not sure how that will all turn out, but it sounds like it could look really interesting if it works.  

The wood is pretty fine and delicate.  If the test tiles turn out nice, I might need to see what Michael's has left to use when these break. Have a great day!!

TGIF

I've had a very full week and am so glad it's Friday.  What's been going on you ask?  Well...

Sunday we had a tile making workshop here for the Northern Lights Greyhound Adoption group.  It was great fun and we made lots of unique greyhound themed tiles.  

Wednesday I delivered a pottery order to the folks at the Love from Minnesota stores.  They are opening a new store in Ridgedale Mall and will be carrying my pottery in the store.  After it opens, I hope to get a photo of my pots in the store.  That was super exciting!

The previous Friday, I'd done an interview with one of the local papers in SE Minnesota regarding the Empty Bowls project coming up November 11th in Harmony, Minnesota.  The article was published on Wednesday as well.  Here is a link to that article.  I was sort of hoping to keep the part where I peek in the kiln when Kevin isn't around a secret, but I guess my secret is out there for everyone to know.  :-) (I'll bet everybody who knows me already knew that anyway)

 

Last night I loaded a bisque kiln of all the tile pieces and lots of other things. Today I set up for a craft fair at Dakota Electric Association in Farmington, MN and tomorrow we are there bright and early for the morning rush of deer hunting widow weekend sales.  So much to do, so little time.

All that in addition to working 40+ hours at my "real job".  I think I should take advantage of my little bit of quiet time this evening to kick back, do some quiet reading while sipping a Big Ginger (here is the recipe if you'd like to join me).

Have a great weekend everybody.

p.s. don't drink & drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!