The Poinsettia is amazing! I glazed the star for it months ago and somehow didn't lose it and was able to just put it on top. I had a few leaves that had broken off that I fired separately on stilts, but I'm not sure that I need them at all.
I'm also really happy with the bowls that have all the different colors in them. This is a commission that I'll write more about soon. I wish I took more pictures along the way, but I failed to. I still have one more thing to do to these before they're done.
You might remember that I made this poinsettia back in December and I wasn't sure if it would be ready for the holidays. It didn't make it into the kiln before the end of the year, but I did glaze it months ago and it's just been sitting waiting to be glazed. As I was glazing over the weekend I knew I wasn't going to get to some of the bigger things I had in the bisque kiln and decided to put this in instead. I did have to bend the u loop on the top slightly because otherwise it wouldn't fit.
All I can say is WOW. The red is Coyote's Really Red and its gorgeous.
I glazed some of the Christmas ornaments and took a peek at those two. Loving the little wreaths with the cardinals!
I spent Friday and Saturday glazing, but did not finish. I got enough to get a kiln full, but then on Sunday I decided I wanted to make instead of glaze. I went out to the yard and collected some maple leaves and made maple leaf mugs and pitchers.
I didn't make all the mugs with the bird, but I did do a few. I think they are really cute, but may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Both of these need more shaping before they dry, but I think they're going to turn out well.
Just unloaded the bisque kiln and I'm hot! It's hot out, but also any time I load or unload the kiln I get hot. Last summer when it was hot I started glazing inside, but now its how I glaze. I love having the space of everything spread out on the tables. I'd love to have a permanent studio space that has something like this, but that's for the future.
There are a bunch of different things to be glazed.
I've done this enough times that I actually have a bit of a system at this point. On the table that's closer to the family room and faces the TV on the far left I have my brush cups (just out of frame) and then I setup all the mugs. I've started loading the kiln as I glaze and I almost always have mugs on the bottom shelf of my kiln.
In the middle of the table are the candle holders/cupcake stands. They've been ready to glaze for a while, but I was trying to decide how to glaze them. I think I've decided on some of the Georgie's Tye Die Glazes. On the right are some of the bigger items. I put these here because I have two dogs who like to run around sometimes and this is the most protected spot. I haven't lost anything yet, but they have knocked some things over.
I have a second table that's parallel to the first. I have this weird large space that's between my kitchen and the family room. Theoretically you could put a table there, but it would be annoying to always have to walk around it. Plus I have a room just off the kitchen that it fits better.
Anyway, on this table I have the Christmas ornaments I worked on up at the cabin and some more bird bath earring holders. Top left in this picture is something I'm really excited about that is a custom order. The black is the new Mayco engobe. More on this soon.
On the left of that table is plates and bowls. I had done the underglaze on the plates a while ago, but hadn't done the glazing.
My garden has just started to bloom so just some additional pictures to brighten your day. This is echinacea.
I love the colors of this lily.
I think I'm going to have to divide these red lilies this year. I don't remember when I planted them so lets go with 5+ years ago. It's probably past time to divide.
I am doing a prototype wine chiller in grape vine theme. I am guessing a bit on the dimensions so I may have to adjust. I made this slightly wider than my pitcher template to start with.
I had the idea when I was at the Michael Harbridge workshop a few weeks ago. I initially thought I'd use a puzzling mold, but Michael said there wasn't a mold that would work for that.
So I improvised and we will see if it works.
One more view to get the full 360.
While we were at the cabin I setup a mini clay studio. I decided to make some ornaments because they are small and easily transported home.
First up was this bird in a wreath. I added texture to the wreath later and I carved the bird a bit.
I saw an angel last year that had been in my head and played around with a few different versionf of them. This is one version. There is a hook in the back, but I'm still not sure how I'm going to glaze fire this one. That might be a design flaw.
Puppy cuteness in bed.