June 13 - Raku

We made it back in time to throw our suitcases in the house and I took off for Clayworks and a raku firing for our last class in the session.

Greg fired the kiln and we cooked some pots to very good results.  I fired the one I put the scarab beetle on and am very pleased with it.  I also fired another one that might require a bit of touching up.

Greg wearing the "not for raku" gloves --for raku.
(Note my big finger in the top left of the frame.
Still getting used to the Droid camera.)

Happy pots.

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June 6 - Working

Last year Allison McGowan taught a workshop for the Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Guild that I attended.  When it was over I helped her clean up and load out and she gave me some of her special porcelain mix.  She told me it's plasticity would make it throw nicely and I have been looking forward to trying it for quite a while.  I have had to re-slake it twice since it's slept on my shelf for so long.  During that time it has grown what several of us think is algae since it seems too green to be mold.  Allison was absolutely correct, it was wonderful to throw compared to regular helios.  I made a taller pot than I normally can make with porcelain.

I added a large scarab beetle to the simple pot with vermiculite and used nickel chromium wire for the legs and antennae.  I have plans for it later...

Beautiful green porcelain.

Large porcelain piece made from the green clay.

Scarab beetle added.

Still waiting for the "castle" piece to dry.

I have to have music.

Hubert watches the proceedings from his shelf
but chooses not to comment.

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