Test Tiles in Kiln Today

The new glazes arrived earlier this week so I have been glazing some test tiles I made last week from porcelain and stoneware clay. Today, I am firing the kiln. It always amazes me to see the color of the glazes before they are fired. Some that look very burnt orange will actually turn out denim blue or burgundy, some that are dark gray will turn out blue, some that are light brown muck colors will be beautiful greens or pinks. I am always excited to fire the kiln knowing that tomorrow when I open the kiln, I will have an array of colors inside. I am expecting about 29 new colors to reveal themselves tomorrow morning. I am hopeful that all 29 colors will be spectacular. I am very excited to see the pinks. I really need a good pink glaze. I have been looking for one that is semi-opaque to transparent. These have a tendency to flow nicely over textures. Check back tomorrow and we will open the kiln together.

Tripping Kiln

This past weekend my Duncan kiln was running a cone 6 glaze firing. About 5 1/2 hours into it the main breaker of my house was tripped. Now by this time it was dark outside..real fun trying to find the battery lanterns in the house using the light from our cell phone. After we got the power back on, I went to the kiln and noticed that the kiln sitter had not shut off the kiln. After unplugging the kiln, I noticed that the wall socket and the plug was melted. I decided it would be a good idea to have the fire dept come and test for any hot wiring in the house after my daughter said her TV was going out everytime I shut the breaker off for the kiln..which by the way is wired to it's own breaker. Everything was safe in the main breaker box so we could go to bed. It was a restless night for me because all I could think about was the 200 pieces I had in the kiln. Many were to be made into jewelry for a wholesale customer appt. later this week. Daybreak finally came..time to see the damage in the kiln. Those items closest to the top of the kiln were almost done. They have shinyness to them but most are the wrong color the items on the floor of the kiln were ornaments for christmas and had a clear glaze on them..the glaze was not even melted.. I am now left with a few salvageable pieces and a kiln that will not come on..I don't have to tell you how important a kiln is to our art and livelihood.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung here in North Carolina. Look what is blooming at the studio. Several of my orchids are in bloom right now. I love orchids. I have been growing orchids for over a decade. The orchid pictured on the right was bought back in 1996 at the Miami International Orchid show. It is named phalenopsis Plantation Imp 'Forever Orchids'. It is a cross between Phal. Rousserole 'Plantation' and Phal. Gladrose 'Plantation'. The orchid on the left is also a phalenopsis orchid. It is named Phal. Kaleidoscope. This orchid is a cross between Phal. amboinensis and Phal. Red wine.

Today, I also received a new shipment of glazes. I now have 33 new glazes to test. Some will go in the kiln this weekend when I fire the animal print beads and pendants that I have been working on over the last several days. The new pendants that my daughter designed will be in that bunch. I think I counted over 110 pieces that will be fired. Keep checking back to read and view pictures of those new designs.