Off the Porch and Growling

So today was a "good" day and a "bad" day, not possible? Au' contraire - of the seven mugs I put in for bisque six returned from their first journey into the fire. This is a good thing, trust me - it really is ... when you re-hydrate pots odds are you will lose at least half if not all of them. Unfortunately the kiln gods desired a sacrifice. Naturally it was the best mug out of the seven. C'est la vie. It is what it is - the good part is I can and will do it again, the bad part is the ugly tri-foil looking through and through crack in the bottom of an otherwise gorgeous mug.

Apparently there was also an accident this last week, in that someone bumped my board and flattened the side of two of my bowls, making them unusable. Clay has a memory, yep sure does - go ahead laugh if you want but it's true. If I could have gotten the bowls back to "round" I would bet they'd come out flat on one side, as as soon as they started heating up they'd flatten back out. So meh, yeah another tweak of the snoot. Somedays are like that.

However; I put together a pot after fighting the lid a bit - was almost too dry to trim but with a little perseverence I was able to get through it ... I took a look at the pot and decided to flatten the sides making the pot square 'ish ... and applied today's lesson on throwing handles, I trimmed the bottom round lightening the pot and adding a bit of lift. Notched the base which is a newer techinque I have been using. I like the effect. Anyway I created a strap handle for the lid after stamping it for effect. Also added a few stamped wads of clay tothe front and near the handles. I then applied a few judicious scars, dings and dents to the pot.


Todays other lesson was bottles, and/or vase like objects. In essence collaring in - its the hardest thing to do, once you get the height you want, you start collaring in trying not to let the clay wrinkle, warp of otherwise destroy itself while climbing higher and not getting out of center. Fun, no I do mean fun. I enjoyed the challenge. I threw two the first I got a little more round than I initially wanted so it became a rounded vase like object. I am considering a double looping handle like a heart. For the other one I am considering making it a pitcher with a narrow neck. Meh, still thinking - we'll see what happens this next weekend.

The six mugs that survived, as well as the pot from last week which looked vaguely central american'ish I glazed and put in for the final trip into the flame, it will be interesting to see what comes forth this next week.

Another good days work, I had to re-hydrate a few of the pots since the time between classes was so long. I trimmed seven of the eight forms, got rid of one - it cracked. Pulled eight handles, and futzed most of the class putting mugs together. I waxed the joints since the base forms were so dry when I started. Hopefully that will retard the drying enough that the handles don't crack. I added a few stamps and thumb rests to adorn the mugs.

Kiln gifts were recieved courtesy of the Kiln Gods and Goddesses whic reside within that most excellent structure housing the fire which causes change. The two mugs I showed glazed but unfired in "Good Days Work", -er to be technical the glaze firing is the second firing. Anyhow here's what they look like after returning from their journey into the flame.

I did these the same way I do all my pots, externally Red Iron Oxide, followed by Soda Ash and then a liner gaze. In this case I used Bermuda Green as the liner, and while I do not think it has the pop
something like Antique, or Ellen's blue does I like the way it melds with the soda ash and you can see the play along the glaze line between the soda ash and the glaze it becomes almost a golden tan color. Pretty cool ... well I think so at least.

Hopefully this next week I can get the last seven into bisque and then the following weekend get them glazed and out to the people who will recieve them.

Also threw a three pound jar, and lid which was the lesson this week. I always enjoy the lessons even when I've had the class many times, I never fail to learn something new or get a new take on how making pots might be approached.