In the Studio

Ceramics life is complicated. I learned a long time ago never to expect anything to turn out right, because it hardly ever will. I knew after the Bisque firing that my trays were in trouble. For some reason (possibly a thick application) the underglaze were chipping off and flaking. I tried to chip off the pieces that were peeling up and recoated it. As I expected the touched up areas were no good, but after the glaze firing other spots were fragile and chipping off. Let me tell you splinters of fired glaze are like shard of glass in your hand.

 These trays were a great starting point, but sadly they will be destroyed. One of the best things to do with pieces you don't like is to hit them with a hammer. It's quite freeing and good for when your frustrated. It just doesn't make sense to keep things that are no good.
 I did have a few pieced come out okay. Nothing to jump up and down about but a few cups are the right size and weight in hand with less then pretty colors. I love how the glaze/ design on this one turned out but is slightly large in my hand and has some rough spots in the glaze.
 All in all a great learning experience. I have restocked on underglazes and now know the clear glaze over the underglazes works perfectly. So from here it's all about perfecting it.

In the Studio

The clay co-op's kiln is loaded and will be glaze fired this weekend.  As always when firing, hopeful that all will turn out well.

In the Studio

Work on the home studio has stalled out. We are working on a new rhythm for the summer with my Love home more from work, which always throws us a curve ball. Throw in construction on our street, ripping the road out, heavy machinery going up and done the street and some mornings the work starting at 6:30 am! Really? No one should have a loader going up and down their street at 6:30. Anyway, it's kinda chaos.

But planning is happening. Clay orders being made up. Table plans drawn up and wheel fixing in the works.

At the clay co-op I've been cleaning out the reclaim bucket and drying out all the clay to transport over to a pugger. So we will have freshly de-aired clay at the co-op.

After that gets done I will try to get up there more often to work on my new designs.

In the Studio

We determined that we need a utensil jar instead of the two drawers we are currently using to store our stuff. So here are two I am working on. I'll be bisque firing this weekend and I think there will be a glaze firing next weekend. Then we'll see if these work out.

*edited to update.  The blue piece was lost in the kiln.  It was too wet when I fired and while I thought I was going slow enough to dry it out, I guess it didn't.  It shattered into a bizillion pieces. The back piece made it though the bisque though.

In the studio

I've been playing around with an idea and really feel good about these trays.

I hope they make it through the firings. Today I had to destroy two pieces due it plaster contamination in the clay body.

I've gotten the home studio painted and now we are moving on to wheel repair. I see a trip to buy clay in our future.