Monday, December 22, 2014

Cheese Board and Bisque Firing

Being a cheese aficionado (why did I think it's spelled with an o for the first letter) and having been inspired by Michele's cheese stones some time ago, I decided to make a cheese board to test more of my fritted stains. The board is about eleven by nine inches. Of course that's before firing and it will shrink. After final firing I plan to attach rubber bumpers on the reverse and a leather cord to hang the cheese board. As I was making the cheese board I was thinking of making a ceramic cheese knife. 

Meanwhile I have a bisque load firing. On the top shelf is that large bowl I made recently. I finally remembered to load the horse sculpture I made a while ago. As I placed the horse on the shelf I was hoping the holes I made would be enough to keep it from blowing up. It's been so long since I made it I can't remember exactly what I did.

As I was loading the kiln disappoint struck. I dropped almost a full tray of buttons which I had rested on the edge of the kiln while I placed each one on a kiln shelf. A few buttons made it without breaking so at least I'll be able to see if the holes are large enough to thread through as buttons. Every firing is a gamble, a risk, a hope, and a prayer,  After paying our house taxes this week, our microwave broke and isn't fixable. That must be our lump of coal for the holiday. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

10 comments:

  1. Gorgeous cheese board! (Can imagine sage cheese, my latest fav, on it!) Sorry about those buttons, but you're so creative, I'm sure all will be put to good use. REALLY sorry about your microwave! Sometimes it seems never-ending, how one thing after another happens. But, wait -- that's three (buttons, micro and taxes) -- and time for good luck to return.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Linda, to you and yours.

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    1. Hi Kittie, thanks, some of them did make it though so we'll see if the holes are ok for thread after the next firing. Happy Holidays to you and yours as well.

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  2. The horse will probably come out fine. All is holy, nothing is holy...a proverb for potters.

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    1. Hi Barbara, thanks, well I just unloaded and everything turned out even the horse, but now I can't seem to see where the holes are so I don't plug them up with glaze; I may have to drill one on the bottom just to be sure.

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  3. Every step is the next opportunity to ruin something, I've always reminded myself.

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    1. Hi Joanne, thanks, of course there is always the opportunity for something wonderful as well.

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  4. Cheese boards and matching knives would be wonderful presents. And I hope you have had your last seasonal lump of coal.

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks, I am finally getting productive again, a bit late but never too late I guess.

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  5. Your cheese board is going to be beautiful. I had three crack in the glaze firing, awhile back. I learned to dry them slowly, but I had to learn the hard way.
    It seems like money always goes out the door in big bunches. After we bought our new tv our printer died... right after buying new ink (of course).

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    1. Hi MIchele, thanks, I am placing any large flat items on a bed of porcelain sand both in the bisque and in the glaze firing; it does really help when the pieces is shrinking and acts like ball bearings to ease the shrinkage gracefully. I don't know how these items know when something is new and then they break, it always seems to be that way.

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