new pots and new pigs

A pig in sheep's clothing...

I am assembling piggy banks this week and trying to keep it interesting!

Here are a few photos from the firing.

This platter was my favorite. I made it months ago and finally got around to glazing it.

The pink on these pigs was the result of gloss green over Temple white. I never expected it to turn pink, I thought it might be a light green. The cross over on the mug below is the same combination. The one thing I learned from this is that I can now create pink pigs for those that have been asking!

A firing means new pots in the Etsy shop, be sure to check it out over the next few days.

first peek

Took down half the door tonight. The shino is looking good in the front.

My tests are sort of weird, but the bottom half of the mugs was the real test and it did what I was looking for. I can now glaze the rest of the porcelain dishes. As soon as I saw these I thought, "why didn't I glaze the top half of these mugs in tenmoku?". Live and learn. That's why they are called TESTS.

We will finish unloading tomorrow.

Firing Solo!

The Treasures of the Earth Show in Shelby, NC ended yesterday and to make the best use of our time Jeff drove up there today to pack up our display while I stayed home and fired the kiln. You may remember that Jeff typically fires the gas kiln. I often make adjustments when he asks me too but basically, he is in charge. Since moving to Seagrove I haven't fired this little kiln from start to finish on my own. I swore I was going to learn this kiln and it is so easy to put off when there is someone else there to do.

Today I had to do it out of necessity!

I didn't have any trouble keeping the temperature rising to 200 degrees per hour, it seems like I struggled with that in my big kiln in NH. It either went too fast or too slow.

 View through the passive damper when I put her into reduction

View through the damper

My test mugs are in this kiln as well one of Jeff's vessels sinks, glazed in shino. It's an order... I guess he trusts me with the firing! We will probably be done about 10:30 tonight, unload late Sunday or Monday morning.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me!!!!