Yesterday I was on pins and needles waiting to open up the bisque load of tall pots. Looks like all's well with tall pots. I decided to leave them in the kiln till I'm ready to glaze them because I don't have much room in the studio due to other work drying on the shelves. Now I'm wondering how to glaze several of these tall and narrow topped pieces. Gary keeps saying spray them but I've never sprayed glazes only dipped or brushed them. Not sure how I to spray inside a narrow pot; what do you think?
Meanwhile in the garden butterflies and bees seem to be in a feeding frenzy with the approach of colder weather. This poor golden butterfly, probably
great spangled fritillary, has a tattered wing but he can't let that deter him. He is probably storing enough energy to lay his eggs before he succumbs.
Bumble bees are gathering as much nectar as they can on late blooming plants.
This bumble bee fell asleep on the stevia he was so tired or perhaps the natural sweetness lulled him into a slumber. Sometimes I go out early in the morning and see a bee sleeping on a flower. They wait till the sun warms them up enough to fly away.
Last month silk worms defoliated my young crabapple. Later it put on blossoms perhaps thinking it was Spring again. Glad it survived the onslaught of the worms.
A hollyhock was fooled by the cooler weather, new blossoms bursting forth. Every day I can find much solace in nature. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order. - John Burroughs
Why not try spraying the glaze on a smaller piece just as an experiment?
ReplyDeleteHi Gigi, thanks, this is why I blog, my readers are so smart.
DeleteI've seen bees in a stupor, too, waiting for the sun to rise. It's like they have been caught out after dark and turned to stone.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, thanks, I don't think they can fly below a certain temperature.
DeleteHere's a gluten-free crepe suzette recipe for you Linda...via my blog in response to your comment. :)
ReplyDeleteGLUTEN-FREE CREPES SUZETTE
For the crepes:
4 large organic free-range eggs
3/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup sifted coconut flour
1 tablespoon buckwheat flour
1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
Optional: 1 teaspoon stevia
Pinch of salt
Cold-pressed coconut or extra virgin olive oil, for frying (or use a little butter if you prefer it)
For the orange sauce:
1 tablespoon coconut oil
200ml freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Optional: 1 teaspoon stevia
To make the crepes: Place eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk together with the almond milk. Add in the coconut and buckwheat flours, vanilla essence, stevia and salt, and whisk until well combined. Set aside, allowing the coconut flour to soak and absorb the liquid.
To make the orange sauce: In a small saucepan, bring all the orange sauce ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes (mine took quite a bit longer than that) to caramelise, stirring occasionally.
To cook the crepes: Heat a non-stick frypan over a moderately high heat and add a little coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil (personally I love a little dab of butter). Pour a little of the crepe mixture in (about half a cup), tilting the pan to create a thin round, even crepe. When bubbles start to appear across the crepe, carefully place a spatula under the crepe and flip to cook the other side (don’t worry if you get any tears – it won’t matter as you’ll be folding them anyway).
Assembly: Once all crepes are cooked, fold them in half and then in half again, arrange on serving plates and serve immediately with orange sauce. If serving for dessert, you might like to add a dollop of mascarpone or, if having for breakfast, try with some thick Greek yoghurt.
Hi Lee, thanks, oh what a jewel you are, thanks so very much.
DeleteYou're welcome, Linda. :)
DeleteNature is heart balm for me too.
ReplyDeleteI am really pleased your tall pots fired well - and looking forward to seeing them in their next incarnation.
Hi Sue, thanks, yes the next incarnation coming soon.
DeleteSpraying works fine if you just keep at it long enough to get a good thickness of glaze.
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, thanks, good to know, I think I need to practice on a pot I don't care about first.
ReplyDeleteA big hurrah for the successful firing. I would brush glaze on and save spraying for learning on test pots.
ReplyDeleteWe have flower bees up here. They look like small bumblebees and sleep in the throats of flowers or small cracks.
Hi Suzi, thanks, I was so relieved when I opened the kiln, we have those same small bees, they are so sweet and amazing.
DeleteYay! Now on to glazing them.
ReplyDeleteHi Lori, thanks, I really was sweating on this load, so happy it all turned out ok. next week for glazing.
DeleteLove looking into kilns! Very nice...It is hard to get enough glaze sprayed on to the inside with a narrow opening. I have poured inside, sprayed outside with good success. Spraying, as with brushing or dipping, just takes some practice to judge if it is thick enough. But as you say---practice on a pot you don't care about as much---
ReplyDeleteHi Charlene, thanks, dh was asking why didn't I think about the narrow opening when I was making it, he has no idea how things go in the studio, I just make it and it many times goes where it wants to in size of shape, then I have to use my brain cells to figure out the problems of loading or glazing, keeps my mind sharp I think. I will probably glaze as I usually do since I am familiar with those techniques and experiment at a later date.
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