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.

Man Power

We called on our friend Nathan again for a little heavy lifting. In just a few minutes the electric kiln was moved from the garage (which is attached to the house) to the new kiln shed. Now both kilns will be in a separate building away from the house. Thanks Nathan!

Aaaahhh....New England

It's been a while since my last post. I've spent most of November and the first half of December exhibiting my work and playing dress up for art openings. It's been fun to visit with lots of friends and customers that I only see once a year or so. Now it's back to work setting up the new kiln shed. Tim is connecting the electric for the little L&L kiln...so we can move that into the shed as well. My apprentice Tanner and I cleaned and moved about 5 shelving units into the new space last week. Their emptiness is like a calling...and I can't wait to start filling the shelves with pots for our first firing. It has taken an entire year to see this kiln project materialize...and when I slide that barn door away I'm still surprised to see a giant gas kiln sitting inside.

Fuel for the Fire

My 500 gal. propane tank came today for the kiln! Very exciting to have fuel for my fire. The gas inspector will need to come give his "okay" and we still need to finish the chimney installation before we can fire it up. OH - and make enough pots and all new glaze tests! 2009 will be an exciting year.

It's Electric...

Homeowners are allowed to do their own electrical work! Good times. After I stretched out 7 different 60' lengths of wires and bundled them together...we (and I mean Tim) immediately got them all tangled pulling them through the PVC. It was a free half hour marriage counseling session trying to work it all out. Tim will be doing the fussy finish work today of fitting all the PVC connectors together on the house end and getting the wires into the basement.

Another Gas company is coming today since the first company hasn't been very responsive. We (and I mean Tim) need to dig another ditch for the propane line before the ground really freezes - and that means soon!