Autumn Inspiration~ Thinking about Glazes

Images from my Sunday morning walk. 



I hope to achieve these colors like this through reduction firing once I get that kiln up and running.

Maybe I need a sprayer to apply glazes...The overlapping splashes of color just don't come through the same with dip and pour!

 I have never been offended by the description of "earthy"...as it relates to me personally OR as it relates to my pots.

Platters and Plates

 Blues and Greens~ Recently out of the kiln. Love using recycled clay for plates and platters.

Kiln Surgery Begins

So, back to my "new" Bailey gas kiln (for a review- click here) . I will be cutting down my stack and adding a heat vent so it will look something like this:

To get there I first took off the outer shell of the stack and then grinded off the welding on the angle iron supports (2), which hold the steel inner shell.

 Outer shell and two angle iron supports:

What I am left with is a three sided steel inner shell that appears held in place by the pressure of the bricks. I don't see any more welding, however it's tight. There is plenty of rust. You can see kiln brick on the right side where the steel has become so thin.

I suspect, after showing the photos to Bailey, that I will be cutting through the steel and stack and taking off about 18-24 inches. I'll let you know and will post the continues surgery.

 Another "little" issue to take care of will be to install a lower damper- similar to the photo at the top. This kiln had its damper on the top of the stack. Apparently the lower stack will increase reliability in the firing process...for reasons which I have to learn (again!)

What an adventure for a person who has never 1) fired a gas kiln and 2) never built a kiln!

Vampires: Take Cover!

The garlic has been harvested and cured (a photo of mine above). I finished these little plates today- adding texture to the center.  

Take a peeled clove (or two) of garlic and rub it on the texture. The garlic breaks down then add a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to create a dipping sauce for your favorite bread. 

These plates have a way to go before they are ready!

  A little olive oil and balsamic vinegar to encourage the plates~

 

This is an example of a finished garlic plate:

Garlic Jar~they are on my "to do" list for tomorrow

                                                     

A Confession~

I lost the recipe for one of my best glazes. There, I said it.  I have known about the missing recipe for about a month now, but have not come clean about it.  During that time I have conducted a slew of glaze tests trying to find it, hoping it would be found easily and no one would have to know.








I have a huge batch of the deep navy blue to tide me over while I search. Another positive: some of the tests have resulted in other beautiful blues but...I want my tried and true "Indian Lake" back (she pouts). I will keep trying- heck I only use about three or four glaze bases how hard can this be?? Apparently more difficult than predicted.

This situation highlights my tendency to get lazy and not put things in their proper place- (like in my recipe book, duh). It also highlights what happens when I rush...which is way more often than I care to admit. A major character defect of mine is that I tend to not enjoy "the process". So focused on the outcome that details get lost, mistakes are made, and I cause unnecessary stress for myself...