19th FIRING, 12th GLAZE FIRING!

 This green casserole turned out just as I expected, which is unusual.  It's hard for me to duplicate what I do but this is  the second piece I've done with the same effects!  (The large vase in the previous post...)  Love it.

 Thanks to the kids at Wirt County High School for telling me about their favorite glazes--now they are my favorite glazes too!

 The front mug above and the back mug below were made by Karlee Wyer.   I hope she doesn't think she's ever going to get them back!   (:

Below my poor teapot:  the lid stuck to the body.  I've ground it a bit with the Dremmel, tried hot water, now I've poured in some water and put it in the freezer to try Diana's suggestion of letting it melt a bit and see if the block of ice will drop down and release the lid when turned upside down.  If that doesn't work, I'll grind it some more.    My, but it's a strange glaze,eh?

These mugs are my all time favorites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry it's such a poor quality picture.)

2012 BEGINS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

The cup below is my husband's favorite.  It is a mixture of S240 and S266 (proportions unknown, I just threw the scraps into a heap).  I finally made the handle large enough for his fingers and the body is full size.   The glaze inside matching the glaze on the handle gives it unity and the clear over the slip on the outside adds interest and variety.  The white band around the shoulder is made by painting white S240 slip on the form as it turned on the wheel just after trimming.   (Slip must be added while the piece is leather hard else it will not meld with the body and will flake off.)  A toothed tool was run around the slip to reveal the body color in the brown lines. 

The common comment about my works has been that they are small.   I can't get over how much clay shrinks as it dries and during the two firings.   This vase is an attempt to force myself to work larger.   At first it seemed such a waste to use a 3 or 4 pound blob of clay for just one piece, but after hearing all the compliments, I think I'll start going for 5 pound blobs! 

Below is the same piece glazed.   I used Pam's Blue inside (poured in and poured out as I turned the vase over the jar of glaze).  On the outside I painted Coyote Cone Six Forest Satin glaze and fired to cone six. I don't know why it cratered this way but I love the effect.   Will try it on a little brown casserole made of the same clay.    I'm always surprised that this terra cotta colored bisqueware fires out to a deep blackish brown!

Above:  Bisqueware waiting to be glazed   Left:  Greenware waiting to be bisqued.      

The pots below are basic Coyote Really Red and Cobalt glazes over a Standard Layering Glaze which was painted on the pots.  I like the effects, but I'm not crazy about the primary colors.  I'll be trying the layering glaze with other colors in the next firing.

The next "assignment" is to practice throwing plates.   My potter/friend came over and demonstrated how she makes them;  she's a former Tamarack artist so I've had excellent instruction.   Now let's see what I can do with it!

ttfn