Wood-Fire Finished! Kiln Opening & Pottery Sale April 20
A quick update to let everyone know about our kiln opening & pottery sale this Saturday, April 20, 11-3, come if you can! Experience the thrill of unloading warm pots straight outa the kiln! Meet the artists! Oggle and caress!
Oh. I’m tired.
Here are some random photos of the loading & firing of the past couple weeks. And the poster with all the deets about how & where to find us on Saturday. Here’s hoping the firing — about 48 hrs shorter than usual because we reached temperature (2400 F) throughout the kiln by Friday — was successful!. (Except for you, Contesters, let’s hope your pieces suck!)
[Photos via everyone but me.]
A variety of lovely wares waiting to be loaded.
Kat glazing. Correct glaze chemistry is important for good results.
Needs salt.
Fitting in all 800 or so pieces is a feat of patience and sophisticated engineering. Or so I like to believe.
How ever will we get everything in here, with larger pieces like this toward the front (fire) and more delicate glazed pieces toward the back?
These cones all melt at different temperatures and act as somewhat of a pyrometer inside the kiln during firing.
Door at the front of the kiln where the fire box is located.
Oooo, hot.
Mike and I feeding the beast from both sides with wood dropped through two side ports.
Becoming one with dirt and fire after six hours of this @ 2200 F.
Collection of kiln goddesses guarding side door.
Jann tending side port.
Dinner time.
Bye kiln.
Live Clay 
Sadly, I can only be there in spirit 😦
Wish you every success!
Thanks John! The openings are always a little like being a kid at Christmas…
Laura,
You somehow manage to make “Oh I’m tired” look like a lot of fun. Good luck on Saturday!
Stacie
Thanks, you! Can’t wait to read your latest… 😉
This looks so amazing! Definitely looks challenging but so rewarding. Wish I could come check it out.
Thanks longhorns, you’re invited to stop by if you find yourself out this way… one desert for another 🙂
I had no idea this is how kilning goes down. What gritty sweaty fun!
Awesome, Laura
Thanks Mike, I love it when people learn a little something they might not have known about this kind of firing. And welcome home! Can’t wait to catch up on my reading — you vs. Japanese toilet… imagine the fun!
Laura, this looks so cool!! I wish I could fly to New Mexico and come to this event. The scenery, the art, all of it looks so inviting. I bet this will be an enormous success!
Hi Brigitte! How nice to see you here and yes, it would be awesome if you could just fly over for the opening 😉 Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and yes, all fingers crossed for a successful firing!
Oh my sister would be there in a heart beat if she were on the same continent.
What continent is she on?? Is she a potter? Thanks for stoppin by, charcoal!
Fantastic! Teh pictures almost make it like being there. But you know, with less sweat… 😉
Well, next time, I can Fed-Ex a little dirt, sweat and ash for you to sprinkle around while you’re reading to achieve a more sensory experience. Either that, or get your El Heinie out here one of these years to see for yourself! A new adventure for the man who’s jumped from many things….
Good luck on Sat. w. the pottery sale, Laura! I adore those large clay jugs in the kiln of the faces with the large grins/teeth! This looks like a fun event – enjoy!
I’ll tell Ben that you admire his jugs! (That sounds wrong, somehow…) I think he makes coffee mugs in a similar style. Can’t wait to post some pics of the work next week!