2018-03-03 - Saturday - Muddy Fun and then some

Saturday was Muddy Fun day and we had the usual group of enthusiastic students and volunteers.

At lunchtime I went to the Common Market and got a modified Evil Homer sandwich, red pepper gouda bisque, and a Mexicali Stout. Yum.

After lunch I made three pots that are to be fired in my friend Hal's groundhog wood kiln. More refinements to come later.

I thought I'd leave an inspirational message on the white board.

Later that evening Karen and I went out to dinner and I got this fortune.

We are scheduled to go to Amelia Island, FL, and an Alaskan cruise this year, so I guess it's correct.


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2016-03-18 - Friday - Kiln loading and car repair

Friday I went to Hal and Corine's to help load the kiln for Saturday's firing. Hal has to crawl into the kiln and we slide the pots across the firebox on two boards in a laundry basket. It works well.

I had to pick Stephanie up at H & H Automotive after having her starter replaced and she decided her next vehicle needs to be this truck. I don't see it.

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2016-03-17 - Thursday - Glazing and slipping

Thursday I glazed some test tiles that will be fired in Hal Dedmond's wood kiln. Can't wait to see the outcome.

I slipped the tea bowls I've been making to give them a bit of an accent.

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September 3 - Tuesday - Pot progress

I came to the realization that I was not going to be able to bisque fire these pots in time for Saturday's firing so I decided to go in a different direction.  I put handles on the crock and did some white, blue, and black slip decoration on the larger one.  I've got some ideas on a different glaze technique on the large one.  We'll see.

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September 2 - Monday - Pots for the wood firing

I've been rushing to make pots for Hal and Corine's wood kiln.  I generally try for more traditional shapes when I'm firing in that kiln.  It just seems to fit since it is a traditional kiln.

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September 15 - FIRE!

Saturday was firing day in Lawndale.

We fired the kiln by throwing wood in the firebox until we achieved the correct temperature and the pots were done.

We had a lot of fun during the day and a great lunch, not to mention lots of boiled peanuts.

Afterwards we had a beer and visited for a bit before heading down the road to home.

I can't tell you how great it is to be a part of this firing.  It's fellowship, the joy of making, the anticipation of the finished pots, and enjoying time with the great people doing it.  Hal and Corine have such a wonderful home you can feel the good karma all around you.  It's a magical place and I feel honored every time I visit.

If you have a chance to attend one of their home sales, you can see what I mean.  Don't miss it.

Back to the firing...

During one of the breaks I snapped some photos of the various artwork that sits atop the kiln.

The crew taking a breather.
Adrienne, Hal, Dave, and Chad.

That's over 2000 F.
If you don't think so, stand next to it for a second.

Hot stuff.

Finished with the final blast,
some of the pots are visible behind the flames.
Time to close it up and let it cool slowly.
A job well done.

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September 14 - Loading the kiln

After catching up last month I have fallen woefully behind again.  I have too many things to make one big catch-up post so I am going to throw these posts up quickly to get current but not leave out any fun stuff.  Hang with me, here we go.

On Friday we loaded the wood kiln at Hal and Corine's place in Lawndale.  Hal climbs in the groundhog kiln and loads the pots using a very sophisticated transport system:  a laundry basket that we slide back and forth over the firebox on two boards.  Hey, it works.

There were a lot of pots to load but he got them all in and the basket made many trips.  After that, it was time to shovel the old ash and charcoal out of the firebox so we could fill it up again when we fired it.

After everything was done it was time to go home.  We'd be back tomorrow to heat it up.

Hal loading the kiln.

Chad taking a bucket of ash from Hal.

Hal digging out the ash.

Yup, it's really Hal.

You can see him standing in the firebox.

That's a hard-working man.

That's a finely loaded kiln.

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