The kiln is loaded for a bisque before breakfast and it's firing now. I wanted to get it started since I fire slow for the bisque. I didn't really have enough for a packed full load, but I needed to make some room in the drying cabinets. The green tile with the orange flowers is super thin, we shall see.
I'm anxious to see how some of the mugs and cups do in the firing; to see if my seams hold. I only made one angel now I wish I'd made more. She's holding a bowl, she must a potter angel. Oh, maybe I'll make more angels holding various pieces of pottery. Ha.
I bumped the roof of this cabin on the shelf above as I was taking it out and the side cracked off. I couldn't help but cry with all the work I put into it; it had dried so nicely. I'll have to make a few of these next time and then if one breaks it won't be so disappointing. When you only make one of something it seems a harder blow to take if it breaks. I may fire it next time anyway and see if I can glue the piece on.
Normally I use the self supporting cones. What are these type of cones for? They are thinner and don't have the base on the bottom. I seem to have gotten the wrong type several months ago and just noticed it now. Can I use them in a cone pack? Off to get my first cup of coffee, which I really need right now. I've got some pieces I finally got around to getting 'ready'; I'll take some photos soon, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
these are the kind that i use and i believe they are less expensive. just make your own cone pack out of clay, lining the cones up in order of temp. be sure to poke lots of holes in the clay base with a needle tool so that it doesn't explode in the kiln.
ReplyDeletehere is a link to some creative cone pack pics on my blog... typically they are just logs of clay
ReplyDeletehttp://meeshspottery.blogspot.com/2009/07/creative-cone-packs.html
A couple of weeks ago I blew a chunk off a 20 lb jar by firing it too soon.This can be a disappointing endeavor.Michele is totally correct. I would add, make a bunch of cone packs so they have time to dry out and you can just grab one when you need it.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, thanks, I think they probably are less expensive. I used to make the cone packs in school when I high fired, so I can make them now. thanks so much I'll check out your blog I am assuming they are the same style as I used to make in school.
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, thanks, I will make a bunch up in advance I know in school they never did and I always thought that risky and why not make up a bunch in advance and have them all ready, so that's what I'll do, thanks so much.
Oh Dennis, that is so sad a 20 pound jar, ugh. I feel your pain. I let my stuff dry so long it is ridiculus, well I don't make that much so it takes me forever to get enough to fire so that's why they get to dry for so long. So far so good. I can't believe folks who can fire in a week or even less than that - amazing, when I took that workshop with Meagan Chaney we fired in less than a week - she preheats for two hours. I don't preheat usually but fire slow for 12 hours.
ReplyDeleteOH, dang! We've all been there. Good cry and back to it! We potters are persistent! Soon, you'll have rainbows!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda!
ReplyDeleteSo, I am not the only one who crasch things. ;) It´s not funny.
I think I got a kiln like yours, 120 l?
Good luck.
Hi Patricia, thanks, like Gary says I am my own worst enemy.
ReplyDeleteHi Gudrun, thanks, no it really isn't funny is it. I am breaking too many things lately. My kiln is a Skutt 1218, shorter but wider so I can load more easily. I am really enjoying the automatic controller, I can do wonders with it.
Dennis is right... it's always good to have a bunch ready. that is always my plan but it just doesn't seem to happen!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteSo sad when... crunch... happens! The time that I most often have destroyed one of my pots is when loading the kiln (a top loader). It is so easy to knock a small, but vital, part off bone dry work, and it is really distressing at that stage after you've nursed it through all the drying. The pots that I don't destroy personally, are occasionally demolished by little Nigella Stopit (the cat).
I use the same cones as Michele and Dennis. I make up a large batch of them at a time and keep them on a top shelf in my studio where the clay that they are pushed into will get really nice and dry from the warmth of the fire. In the "bad old days" before I did this, I did have one cone set explode the first firing I ever did with my first wood fired kiln, and it threw little bits of clay all through the kiln.
Hi Michele, thanks, yes I will make up a bunch of these and store them in the drying cabinet.
ReplyDeleteHi Petere, thanks, this pieces I had to assemble and then slip paint with lots of different colors of slip. then make the door and windows and then the window sills and the door jams, then dry it ever so carefully and with the flat pieces I move them from one piece of wall board to another because it sometimes stays too dry under the flat piece. Bummer. I think in my high fire days the cone packs must have been exloding into tiny bits because many of my pieces wouldhave embedded particles in them, now that I think back on it and I could never figure out how they got there, They always made up the cone packs right before firing the kiln. I always asked them and they said well we candle for a long time and that dries them out. Not enough apparently. Ha. live and learn.
Oops should be Peter.
ReplyDeleteGo ahead and fire it, after all that work you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the pits to break something after all that work? Which is worse, having the kittys break stuff, or having only yourself to blame? Sometimes I feel I work to supply my guys with stuff to break!
Looking forward to seeing the results of your firing.
Hi Smartcat, thanks, yes I will repair it and fire it, no loss, but it really is the pits, I kept meaning to make a few more of these shrines, but went off on other tangents. Next time I'll make more, of course I keep saying that and then off again on something else. Luckily my cats have stayed away from most things, they are all older and sleep a good part of the day now so no problem. all the items are stored behind closet doors though, if I left them open those cats would be in there in a second wrecking havoc. this firing is just a bisque so I may not post till I get some glaze results, unless of course there is another tragedy - as everyone loves the tragedies as much can be learned from them. Ha.
ReplyDeleteIf only I had a dollar for every roof I have broken!
ReplyDeleteI don't cry, I just break more stuff haha!
Hi Tracey, thanks, well I sure do the same, but the crying must have come from my stupidity at taking it out of the cabinet for no reason since I had planned on once firing it anyway. Seems no matter how careful I am I break something. I did break an ornament, but just walked right over it no problem, but all the work of this one. I am sure your barns are the same trauma, the pieces with portions sticking out are precarious to the slightest knock till they are fired. Oh well, at least now I know I can make them again. When I first started working with clay I didn't think I could make the same thing twice.
ReplyDeleteOh yuck! Sorry about your roof, I hate when that happens. Also I did the same thing recently and purchased non self supporting cones.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. The slightest bump when it's greenware stage and it's all over. I'll never forget when my cat was the culprit. The jar was fired and I was going to deliver to the customer the next day. Crash.
ReplyDeleteHI Linda,
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I have had my last bisque almost all destroyed due to being too wet, (rushing) and lost plates and platters that were orders. I wanted to cry too. Hang in there, better luck to both of us on the next one.
nancy
So sad about the break. I admire your perserverance. I fear I would do more than cry but you just keep going forward. Way to go.
ReplyDeleteHi Denise, thanks, you know it may have been fortuitous that I purchased these by mistake since it will be less expensive to use them.
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa, thanks, yes the slightest bump and it is broken, oh that is even worse to have your cat break a piece ready for a customer. Ugh I feel for you on that one, mine isn't so bad.
Hi Nancy, thanks, a whole load, oh my goodness, I have nothing to cry about then at all, sometimes the cry is for other reasons from the unconscious though to good to get it out anyway. Better luck to you Nancy, so much time and work lost.
Hi Patti, thanks, I find it hard that you would so more than cry Patti you are such a good soul. I just keep going like sysiphus (not sure of the spelling but in mythology he pushed a rock up hill repeatedly only to have it fall back down again), Happy thanksgiving to you.