Glaze tests

I've spent several weeks reading through John Britt's book, The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes and have selected about ten glazes to try in cone 10 reduction. Tanner is my fabulous apprentice who has been on board with me here at the studio since last August. In exchange for studio time, clay and glazes - he works for me a few hours a week. After a little instruction - he has become a master glaze mixer and has been mixing up our new glaze tests in 3,000 gram samples. We always wear a respirator while mixing glazes - but not so much for photos.

The hardest part

That's my husband on top of the snow covered roof...highly motivated to get the chimney pipe connected to the kiln. Seems 30 degree temperatures are warm in comparison to the past week - and though we had hoped to cut through the roof in late November (before the snow was a factor) we never quite made it and Tim just decided to go for it today! The sawzall died. The drill bit broke. The screws snapped in half. In general - nothing was going our way...but we managed to get the support in place and the metalbestos double-walled pipe is now supported from above - without the weight of it resting on the kiln hood. We've covered it with a tarp for the night - and will finish it up after another trip to the hardware store this week.

I whipped up a warm batch of chocolate chip cookies to show Tim my love and gratitude - and he is now thawing out and napping in front of the wood stove.

I'm so lucky.

Everyone needs a thnead

So I just finished making a dozen adorable soap dishes as I am trying to use up the last of my Laguna #310 clay which won't be going in the gas kiln. I have a few orders to start the year and will still be firing the electric kiln in order to fill those.

I'm feeling torn between needing to make 50 test pieces fast for the new kiln...and wanting to produce the highest quality work I can make. Wanting to try new things this year - more celebratory pieces like candle holders and cake stands...and needing to make lots of mistakes before I get there.

Good thing my next show will be the annual Artspace Seconds Sale in March '09.