Today I made this pencil tower. It's about 20 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide. The top is removable so it will fit in my kiln. This post is part of Mud Colony what's happening in the studio.
I've left a small hole in the top of the lid to let the air escape. I may put a flag at the top after firing.
I have a bisque firing. Remember the piece I made too tall to fit in the kiln? I removed the top knot and it was still too tall even sitting on the floor of the kiln. I moved it around to several locations and the one closest to the peeps it just barely fit. Hopefully it will shrink before I close the lid. I broke the handle of the tower with the bird on top and when I was putting another piece in the kiln. Then I knocked against the tower with the dome lid and knocked the lip off the tower when I was taking out the bird handled piece. I removed the handle and lip, sanded them, and put the two pieces back in the kiln. All of the pieces in the kiln foreground are sitting on the bottom of the kiln with no shelf. I have a lot of towers in there. Hope they come out ok. Thanks for reading and for all your comments and encouragement.
the dilemma of the studio potter, having to put all your eggs in one basket to make a load! They will look great when they are finished and all together.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, thanks, yep there are a lot of eggs in this basket; I hope the towers make it, I do have a few more that aren't in the kiln.
ReplyDeleteWishing you good luck with this bisque firing. Will your towers shrink enough to sit in shelves for the final firing?
ReplyDeleteYour pencil tower reminded me of the story of Rapunzel.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! One of my problems is not having a kiln. Without a kiln, how can I make ceramics? Lol. Awful situation!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you know what you're doing. The kiln looks well packed to me. Women are really good at putting a lot of stuff in small spaces.
ReplyDeleteSorry about all the breakage but it seems like you're really good at figuring out how to fix stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished pieces.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, thanks, I have no idea if they will fit after bisque, I am not sure if the strip construction will shrink more or less than a regular piece we shall see.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Sparrow, thanks, you must have ESP because I was actually going to make a Rapunzel tower but then I decided to think about it some more before I make one.
Hi Gigi, thanks, look in the want ads and ask around, someone may be selling one used. Do you have craigslist in Hawaii? They usually have used kilns. Also there may be a studio that will fire your pieces for you. I have done that with mine before I had a kiln.
Hi Joanne, thanks, yes it is well packed. The problem with the greenware is it is extremely fragile till it is bisque fired. One tiny knock against a piece and it will break.
Hi Lori, thanks, fixing seams usually show so I have just broken the remaineder off, sanded them and left them as no handle, no bird, no lip pieces. Ha. We shall see.
Goodness, you have been busy. Interesting to see so much of your work at once. Must be frustrating to have accidents happen after all your work.
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Wow! That's a lot of towers! I'm looking forward to seeing them all together! Should be impressive!
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