I spent the weekend in Iola, Wisconsin population 1,195 this week with Michael Harbridge from Learn Fired Arts. The workshop was absolutely fantastic. I knew from his videos that Michael was super knowledgeable and a really nice guy, but he also has amazing project management skills to work us through a whole lot of techniques in a most efficient way. As someone who considers themselves pretty damn good at project management – that’s high praise from me. The workshop was Friday, Saturday, Sunday with full days (8-6) on the first two days and a half day (8-12) on Sunday. Unfortunately Delta moved my flights on Sunday so I ended up missing the last hour and a half on Sunday, but only ended up missing finishing the last two projects. I’m super bummed about missing the horse hair and naked raku, but I’m positive my pieces came out amazing. One of the amazing things is that we finished a piece on day 1. We started the day working on a bisque piece that at the end of the day we raku’d. I am incredibly happy with how this vase came out.




We used a stencil and glaze that had been mixed with silk screen medium on the piece. Here it is before it was fired.




I am absolutely in love with the jade gloss glaze that Michael sells.




We also did a low fire technique on some bisque pumpkins with the Mayco Cobblestone. It looks a bit of a mess before.




But then BAM! Gorgeous Pumpkin!




We also did a non fire technique on these vases with a new product that Michael doesn't have for sale quite yet. It was basically like finger painting and I had a lot of fun.




On Saturday we started playing with clay. I have the wide cone puzzling mold and the poinsettia leaves at home, but I hadn't had a chance to make the tree yet. This was the perfect opportunity! There are nearly 100 leaves on that tree. I can't wait for Michael to bisque and send it to me so that I can glaze.




On the left is the gravity defying leaf bowl that I made in a sphere puzzling mold. On the right is the witches hat that I went off script on. We were supposed to make a snowflake tree, but I already have one at home. Michael had been talking about witch hats and so I ended up making one :) I can't wait to glaze the leaf bowl. I think it's going to look awesome. I need this mold :)




There are a few more projects that I didn't take pictures of that I have to patiently wait for Michael to mail to me. Overall it was an amazing weekend and I definitely plan to go back in future years. Shoutout to Michael's wife Jeanine for catering the whole event with amazing meals.

The planter made it through! The planter made it through! Seriously, this is by far the biggest thing I've ever made and I was sure that it was going to fail somewhere in the process. Now to make another one! The next one is going to be the base for my next garden stack.
I love how the calla lillies came out. They're just so graceful. Clearly I was feeling the blue green vibes when I glazed. Three different glaze combinations with very similar results. Not a lot in this kiln because the planter took up so much room.

Coyote Peacock Green x3 Turquoise Lake x2 Dark Flux rim	I know no one will see the inside, but still so pretty
Clayscapes Garden Green x2 Cream dip	With Candles :)
Midnight Ceramics Sexy Mermaid	Amaco Wasabi x3 Seaweed x2
The mountains are a silk screen with one of the colors for earth (I didn't write it down) Amaco Glacier x3 all over; Iron Luster x2, Lustrous Jade, Oatmeal on the rim	Amaco Deep Firebrick x3 Mayco Night Moth x2
Amaco Snapdragon, Snow, and Cobalt Blue x3	Georgie's Cherry Fizz, Pistachio, and Purple Velvet x2
Amaco Oolong Gloss	Amaco Dark Green x3 Verte Luster x2
Mayco Eggplant x3 Shipwreck x2	Kentucky Mudworks Morning Glory x3 (Front)
Kentucky Mudworks Morning Glory x3 (Back)	Kentucky Mudworks Morning Glory x3 2167 clear over the heart(Inside)
Laguna 60 KY Mudworks Hydra x3 Mayco Light Flux	Izzy asked for a rainbow so a rainbow she got. all stroke and coats

The planter is done! It made it through to the end with no cracks (that I can see)! It is the biggest thing I've ever made. It easily takes up 2/3 of the kiln, but it's GORGEOUS!!!!!

The calla lilly candle holders also look amazing. The more I stare at this picture the more I realize that I have inadvertantly used 2 different glaze combos and achieved nearly the same colors. The planter has 2 glazes from Coyote - Turquoise Lake and Peacock Green with a little Mayco Dark Flux on the rim. The calla lillies have Clayscapes garden green with a little cream on the top.

I've been getting a square site setup and as a part of that I wanted to take better pictures of my pottery. Here is my first attempt! I'm still not happy with the light, but I think it's getting better. So many goodies in this kiln. More plates and bowls for my own personal cubbord that have already been through the dishwasher and are in their new spots.

There are a lot of mugs in this kiln. They're really split into two series. First, a series with my camping stamps from De La Designs. I'm just having so much fun with those. I'm also continuing to expand using vinyl resist from the Cricut. The black birds with the yellow liner is seriously one of my most favorite things I've ever made.

Izzy's rat is out of the kiln! She's thrilled with it. I have more of the pieces she made when she came to visit including my attept at a rainbow cup.

Vinyl Resist Mayco Tuxedo x3 Coyote Parakeet x3 I love how this mug turned out. It's exactly as I imagined it	Vinyl Resist Mayco Tuxedo x3 Coyote Parakeet x3
Laguna 60 Vinyl Resist Mayco Northern Woods x3 Light Flux	Bmix Vinyl Resist Mayco Northern Woods x3 Light Flux
Brown Bear Midnight Ceramics Sexy Mermaid x4 (or 5?) various stroke and coats	Brown Bear Mudworks Aurora x4 (or 5?) various stroke and coats
Laguna 60. Laguna Power Turquoise x3 Mayco Night Moth x2 Various Stroke and coats	Brown Bear Mayco Lemon Frost x3 Night Moth x2 various stroke and coats
Laguna 60 Mayco Pink Opal x3 Light Flux	Laguna 60 Amaco Downpour x3 Light Flux
Laguna 60 Coyote Oatmeal x3	Laguna 60 Coyote Oatmeal x3
Coyote Turquoise Lake x3 Amaco Seaweed x2	Brown Bear Clay Coyote Oasis x3 Amaco Seaweed x2
Amaco Mulberry x3 These are my new sandwhich plates - already in the cupboard!	Amaco Smoke x3 Mayco Hot Tamale on the birds
Grapes! This is an attempt at a companion to the lemon plates - it needs work, but I think I worked out the kinks. Mayco Designer Liner Black; Fruit of the Vine and Green Thumb	Brown Bear Clay. Amaco Honey Flux x3 Blue Rutile x2
Speedball Black wiped back Mayco Eggplant x3 Blue Hydrangea x2	Amaco Snow x2 These aren't done....stay tuned
Brown Bear Mayco Lemon Frost x3 Night Month x2	Inside Brown Bear Mayco Lemon Frost x3 Night Month x2
Amaco Jade x3 Mayco Enchanged Forest x2 This light doesn't really do this one justice, it looks like emeralds	Brown Bear Laguna Power Turquoise
Spectrum Bright Purple x3 This did not come out as I expected. Also I think needs to be thinner	Speedball Black wiped back Stroke and coats green thumb, java bean and camel Only disapointment in the kiln!! I did not go strong enough on the stroke and coats or wipe back enough
Amaco Lavender x3 Mayco Eggplant x3 Izzy's rat all done	Left to Right: Spectrum Nori Green, Coyote Fairy Rose, Spectrum Autumn Purple, Georgie's Scotch Pine, Coyote Magenta Sky, Coyote Amaethyst Notes: Fairy Rose needs less coats, Scotch Pine is spotty

Another sneak peak of the kiln. I've got a bunch of stuff to glaze and then a whole bisque (or two) to do as well. This kiln has some more pasta bowls for me as well as my continuing dish set. It also has a bunch of mugs with vinyl resist I'm really excited about.
The two pasta bowls are in this picture on the top. A while back I posted the GR Pottery form that Craig made me with the handle on it. It is to make these bowls. Going to make some more for others because they really are just the perfect size for a nice bowl of pasta, plus lost of corners to get stuff on your fork (or chopsticks). Also on the top is a white orb - that's not done yet! More to come on that in the coming weeks!