Etsy store!

I have opened an etsy store, and I have to say I'm liking it. Hope you guys do too:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6438250

Hi, everyone. Just to let you all know, I am getting ready for the first firing of the year. Right now, I am planning on lighting the kiln tomorrow, and finishing sometime Saturday the 3rd. If you would like to come by anytime during the weekend, please let us know.

So far, our show schedule is small, as I will be trying to get into more galleries this year. The first show will be at the Cambridge Pottery Festival, June 14th and 15th.

Hope to see you all soon!

April 2007 firing

The stuff is out of the kiln, and looks great. The ash coverage is excellent, and I got some nice, deep browns, and warm flashing. Needless to say, I'm pretty happy. Here are some pictures. Sorry I didn't have time to make the layout a little better, but I think the pictures are all you need anyway:

April 2007 firing

Enjoy. Comments are neat.

First firing of 2007 finished!

After 40 hours, we finished the first firing of the year. I peeked in the kiln this morning (36 hours later and it was still 500*) and the color looks promising. I will post pictures of the work after I open it tomorrow or Wednesday. Until then, here are some pictures of the loading and firing:


The door is almost bricked up:


Wood - cut and ready:


I used some good bourbon for my lighting ritual:


I keep the kiln below 200* for six hours to drive off any remaining water:


Taking is easy:


Getting hotter:


Bethany looking tough in the morning:


Side-stoking some wood and wet sawdust:


Almost finished (at about 2300*). Those are flames coming out of the chimney:


The moon:

Winter work

This winter has been hectic. I haven't been able to throw as much as I would have wanted, but what I have thrown, I am pleased with. This vase is about 19 inches tall, and was made in two parts. I also made a paddle which I have been experimenting with. I used it to create the texture you can see.



Also, I have been making planters which I am hoping to be able to market to greenhouses in the area, and possibly sell at home and garden shows.



Click on any of the above pictures to see more of what I have been making these past few months. I hope to be able to fire this stuff in about a month. Bring on the warm weather!

Weekend open house

This past weekend went well. About 50 people came through on Saturday, but only six came through on Sunday. It was raining all day, and the Packer game was on. Overall, I call it a success.

On Saturday, a neighbor came by with her son and daughter, and a bucket of clay that the little girl had dug from a creek bank in Monroe. The mother said, "She needs to talk to someone about clay." I let her throw a lump of it on the wheel, and she made a little cup. She is going to bring it back when it dries. Hopefully, when I fire it, it doesn't melt completely.