Raku Firing

Last week Devanie and Candace and I went to Kickwheel and did a Raku firing.
It was really good (for me anyway). I ended up with 17 pots. Most of which turned
out fine. I'm in the process of loading them up on my etsy shop.
Here are some pictures of the process:



You bring the glazed pots up to temperature in a special kiln. Once they are glowing
hot you grab each one with tongues and put them in a metal bucket with newspaper.
The smoke and fire create the varied colors in the glaze and the temperature shock
creates nice crackles in some glazes. Once they are done smoking we douse them in
cold water and they're done. It's very gratifying to see them finished in a relatively
short time as opposed to waiting for a day. We do Raku once or twice a year.
Just for fun and try out something different every once in a while.
More on that in a future post. I'm working on something really new for me at the
studio and so far I am super thrilled about it. I have a picture on my camera and
look at it every couple of hours... but I'm getting ahead of myself...

challenge yourself! - part two

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been trying to challenge myself
to take part in call for entries. So far I have entered three things, all of
which are a long shot, well, maybe except for one local one around the
subject of trees; I am very hopeful to be chosen for that one.
But the other ones are Lark's 500 vases and Ceramics Monthly Emerging
Artists. I can't tell you how exhausting I found it to get an artist statement,
appropriate pictures, prints, etc. ready to ship out.
Totally exhausting. Except for the local one I only managed to send them
out at the very last minute. The entries were not perfect in any way, but
I do have to acknowledge that it will probably be easier to enter other ones.
Since some steps just need to be fine-tuned. Won't have to start from scratch
again. I will get some professional pictures next month. That will help. Here
is a picture that I took and you can see how bad it is. Well, maybe when I
will show you a professional one next to it. Sadly, that was the best I was
capable of.

My next plan is to upload all my new Raku pots onto etsy to fill
up my sad little store and to - yet again- challenge myself once more to make
some two foot vases, coil-built. I pray for patience, patience, patience and great
care to make these vessels. Not just do it fast, fast, fast and sloppy, like I typically do it.

5 years ago...

... I gave birth to my beautiful boy Noah. I'm so glad he is in my life and has
made me laugh every day since then. Thank you! I love you... and want to eat you!

funny things they say...

Here is a new series I am going to add to this blog. Just so I can remember...
...the funny things they say:

Getting ready for bed and putting pjs on with the tweety birds:
"Mum, why are you not wearing your nipple straps?"

Eating some snack at the table with not so subtle noises emitting:
"Mum, my butt is snoring!"

badda bing!
you're welcome...

challenge yourself!

So, in the few subscriptions I have on my 'reader' list, there is one in particular that has been
challenging to keep up with. That is musing about mud. I don't know where the woman gets her information from, but it is incredible and so full of advice on what kind of competitions and such are out there in the ceramic world. Well, in an attempt to be more proactive and take the next step I am trying some of them. Tomorrow is the deadline for Lark Book's "500 Vases".
I took pictures today and need to put the finishing touches on my application tomorrow.
That is hard work. Mostly the mental challenge. All I want to do is work against what is best for me and plop into bed. It is a constant fight and pretty ridiculous. I am trying to have a positive mindset and ignore the negative blabber.
Wish me luck. Here is one of my submissions: