One problem after another.

Another full working weekend. We are going to get my studio extension built.  Construction will start at the end of the month. My current studio will disintegrate on the 28th, and I will need to make and underglaze in my office after that. Glazing will be in the place where the studio has been. The kiln is also moving in, next to the kitchen. Mike is busy emptying the garage ready for construction; the back wall will be soon gone. Our house looks rather like storage rooms right now.

Empress, Mirror mirror and Red riding hood

So I'm working like crazy. From morning to night. All days of a week since the 4th January! I was trying to do three firing before the kiln moves in. but on the 17th, when I was going to start a bisque firing, Mike found the controller was not working. We have just changed elements over Christmas. It was posted to the manufacturer for repair next day, and it will be back on Tuesday. I might still just make three firings.

I check each iris with a torch if inside is fully covered. It is easily missed, 

Since then, I'm glazing 10 masks. Seven are done so far. Glazing masks is painfully slow process. There are so many details. More busy days ahead!

Some of smaller masks to be glazed. 

 

Glazing, firings and Kiln shelfies!

Once we were in September, we got very busy! It's a harvesting time. The hazel tree had a bumper crop this year. We have spent a long time harvesting and processing nuts and crab apples. That's almost finished now, thankfully. The fingers are sore and shoulders ache. 

As I haven't updated the glazing process recently, here are photos of the glazing and firings of this month. 

The Pacific in the morning sun 

Storm is on a commission for a lovely lady.  

First glaze-firing.

Storm is almost touching the top of the kiln! 

And look! She came out beautifully! But she would need another firing. 

Here is a peek into bisque-firing. Notice the Ostrich. :)

Ta-da!

Glazing starts on little ones. Pocket Friends pretend to be cupcakes! :D 

And I started the glaze-firing this morning. The kiln is full. Fingers crossed. Result tomorrow!

Origami, glazing and walk in the woods.

How was your weekend? I had a good one! Yesterday morning, my friend, Sandra, came over to learn how to make origami cranes for her art project. I haven't made cranes for a long time, but I soon remembered how to do. We had good laugh, too. I probably distracted her from origami by my perpetual chatting! Poor Sandra! She needed six cranes, but we made eight together. It was fun!

Origami

After that I worked hard. Since Thursday I had been preparing for glaze-firing.What exactly do I do, you might wonder. I paint underglaze, oxides and glazes on my sculptures. Then I wipe some of them and wax them to make resist, and repeat all painting again until I feel there would be enough depth in colours. It requires concentration and attention to details. Delicate parts are likely to be damaged during this process. I can't remember how many times I have almost cried! I held my breath and concentrated on dropping glaze with a cocktail stick on 2mm gap between hair part and face part. I was exhausted by six' o'clock, and slept before ten!

These three are going to be glaze-fired tomorrow.

Angel - on commission. The clients like the hair to be strawberry blonde.

The first boy to be glaze fired

Hair is very difficult to do a neat job! 

Today I finished preparing most of sculptures before lunchtime and loaded the kiln! How nice! Then I had my first half day off of the month! We went to the Blean woods for walk.

Blean woods

I like walking on unofficial footpaths at random, avoiding people. Then I can feel the woods!

Scabiosa

 There are lots of various mushrooms, green chestnuts and some scabiosa.

Oak

 The most beautiful things was the the green light coming through leaves.

Beautiful green light

There are decayed trees. They go back to the soil.  

Really big decayed tree

We had walked about an hour. The woods has a steep slope, and when we climbed to go back to parking, we were tired. But you don't need to pity on us. The apple tart Mike baked from windfall apples was waiting for us! Yummy! I was so happy to have married Mike! :D Happy autumn, everyone!

Mike's apple tart

******

'They went alone! Pearl and I were left behind! I wanted to chase squirrels! I'm sulking....'