Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Dapper Mrs. Peanut

Dapper Mrs. Peanut
by Linda Starr

I couldn't be happier with Dapper Mrs. Peanut. She'll be in the Stirling Gallery show in Dunedin on Monday, January 3rd, along with a few others from this firing. I think the peanut family will be increasing in the near future. Lots of good results in this load including glazes, tiles, and sculptures. Here are a few pieces from the firing.

Toggle Button Vase
by Linda Starr


Musical Note Vase
by Linda Starr

Blue Butterfly Vase
by Linda Starr

I used a new clear on this and other pieces. Apparently the clear neutralizes some of the mason stained slip colors. I'll have to look at my greenware photo to see which colors.

Two Tea Bowls
by Linda Starr

Splat Bowl
by Linda Starr

Experimental large, splat slip bowl, non-functional due to the rough texture of the slips used, native Florida clay and others.

Tree with Welcoming Arms
by Linda Starr
(will be mounted in a shadow box)

Drifting Dots Vase
by Linda Starr

Shiny black is one of the hardest colors to photograph. The orange slip faded away, but I'll make more of these drifting dot vases and bowls with different colors in the near future. The same clear is over these two pieces so that is a consideration for mason color changes, but it does cover nicely.

Drifting Dots Bowl
by Linda Starr

I preheated this glaze load since it was so cold in the garage. The kiln started at 49 F, I heated the load 50 degrees for the first 175, then 25 up to 200, with a 30 minutes hold, then continued on with my regular firing. Except I bumped up my hold time at the top end to 20 minutes, twenty hours including the slow cool down. Overkill? Perhaps, but better safe than sorry.

I think I could bump up my top temperature a little more and decrease the top hold down to 15 minutes. But I didn't want to risk this firing because I wanted to use pieces from this load in the Stirling Gallery opening January 3rd. Back to work, I have sculptures to put together. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
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15 comments:

  1. Love those drifting dots.If you bump up your temp, it takes longer to get to the shorter hold.It would probably be a wash.If you try it use cones to compare.

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  2. Hi Dennis, thanks about the dots, wish they color had stayed true, oh well, I'll make more. I am using cones - but I see what you're saying about it taking longer, perhaps I'll give it a 25 minutes hold. I'm at about a soft Cone 6. One of the satin clear glazes I use doesn't melt as well at this temp, but I've been trying to thin the glaze a bit more and that is helping. As soon as I get a chance and the money I think I'll invest in a vent and that may give me a better firing.

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  3. lookin' good! wish i could see mrs. peanut in person!

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  4. Hi Michele, thanks, I couldn't have wished for her to come out any better, the color looks almost like a peanut, Ha. I almost hate to put her in the show next week, since they sell pieces off the gallery floor, rather, than using red dots, but then items have to be replenished which might mean more sales. I keep thinking it would be cool to have a couple of little peanuts next to her, like children and of course a Mr. Peanut, like you suggested.

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  5. These works are wonderful. Loved the blue Butterfly Vase.
    Wishing you a happy new year!

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  6. Hey Linda: These pieces are great! I look for updates on the peanut family.
    Have a wonderful new year!
    Cheers,
    ~Craig

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  7. Hi Elen Susan, thanks and welcome. I just wished the colors on the butterfly vase didn't fade. they were much brighter before the second firing. Happy new year to you.

    Hi Craig, thanks ever so much, I need more clay before I can make more peanuts. Happy New year to you too, stay warm up there.

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  8. You have been very busy and have much to show for your efforts. I really like Mr. Peanut and look forward to meeting his family. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  9. Hi Mary, thanks, glad you like Mrs. Peanut. I had high hopes for that one and really hate to put all my hopes in one piece, but this time it turned out ok. I really have been busy, I shouldn't have let all the work pile up, but I was busy making work. I keep saying I need to get more organized, perhaps in the new year.

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  10. Mrs. Peanut is gorgeous and all of these pieces turned out great! My fave is the tree plate. Best of luck at the show! Happy New Year!

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  11. Linda - this kiln load is gorgeous! Mrs Peanut is fabulous and I too love the dot bowl!!

    Happy New Year!
    cheers, best!
    linda

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  12. Hi Marguerite, thanks ever so mucy, Mrs. Peanut has really uplifted the holidays for me that's for sure. The tree will be a wall hanging I will mount in a black shadow box. It is a flat piece so not so good for a plate. Happy New Year to you, if I know you, you'll be dancing and eating gourmet food in the new year.

    Hi Linda, thanks for your comments, I am so lucky Mrs. Peanut came out and I am finally make some progress with the other pieces too; I hope to branch off on some of these in the new year. ideas. Happy New year to you.

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  13. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting in it.

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  14. TREE With Welcoming Arms is just FAB!! I love it Linda!

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  15. Hi Elen Susan, thanks, welcome to the blogging world, nice to meet you.

    Hi Cindy, thanks, I just have to figure out how to do the woodworking part now for the shadow box. Want to have it painted black and have the tree recessed inside. So much to learn and do and so little time.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment