From disaster to catastrophe, Mike observed

It has been a busy month so far, and no sign of slowing down yet. Bisque firing went well.

Bisque-firing top shelf

Bisque firing lower shelf

The glaze firing had mixed results. The clear glaze didn't flux, again. As a test, I dipped one spoon in a different clear glaze, which did well. So I am going to use the other clear glaze. It is frustrating when glazes don't do well in firings. I used to have fits when I used to make pots with glazes on!

Glaze-firing lower shelf

Tableware and all spoons didn't go well. Good news was that all animals were successful.  

Glaze-firing, top shelf

So that was Sunday lunch time. I also found Ice Baby, which should have been completed, didn't go well and has to be re-fired. So disappointing. Then I pulled myself together, and I started sanding the masks. Pieces of hair fell away as I touched them by mistake whilst sanding. Anytime that happened, I let a little shriek out. Mike in a next room, observed 'From disaster to catastrophe.' In the end, it took me a full two hours to repair the fallen bits. As I needed to fill the kiln, I made new spoons, too. This time, I painted black cats on them. That made me a bit cheerful! And all were re-bisque fired yesterday.

These hair is tricky! They tend to fall away with the slightest shock! 

The bisque firing went well, thankfully despite the cold weather. Now I am preparing for glaze-firing. Ceramics is such that it doesn't necessarily go as I planned. It makes me a very patient person.

Find Tapir! 

 

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!

Numerous firings and still more!

What a week! I'm battling through numerous firings, glazing and re-glazing. 11 hours a day is normal now. This time I have two large masks; each fills the kiln itself. Both will need refiring. This is causing delay and agony. Time is running out, and one of them probably wouldn't make it.

After the first glaze-firing

 More bisque-firing to do.

Lower shelf

Top shelf

They were so close to top!




Wolf got bisque-fired.

Then he went to glaze-firing.

His nose was also so close to top! 

After the first glaze-firing.

Another glaze-firing.

Wolf needs a repair, so he went to another bisque-firing. There are little birds around him!

Space is precious. There are little critters under him!

While I was in the long battle, Mike told me he saw beautiful anemone on the campus. I hope they will last long enough for me to see after the show. 

Working as if there were no tomorrow!

Happy Easter, everyone! Midori Takaki HQ has been unaffected by Easter! We have been working as if there were no tomorrow! I am not a morning person, but I start glazing before nine. That's tough. I work after eight in the evening. I feel so exhausted I collapse in bed before nine. That has been our Easter. Mike has been making display boards, making glazes for me and doing all other things that have to be done.

A week ago, the big head was bisque-fired. It was really tight.

 Then, back to back bisque-firing started.

Lower shelf

Top shelf

 In the meantime, I have made more. Here is Forest Girl-Spring.

Forest Girl

 Then another back to back bisque-firing. This time a Wolf. His nose is in the morning sunshine!

While the wolf was being cooked, I had to clean the studio tables to glaze all bisques. I'm having a bit of shortage of space here. The guest WC is already filled with my greenware!

Next day is back to back glaze-firing! 

Lower shelf

Top shelf

Today, the big head was glaze-fired. Tomorrow another back to back-firing with bisques. These will continue for a week or so!  Madness here! 

Firings and more firings - success and disaster

This week has been madness. I have done so many firings that I lost count! I have also been mainly glazing for 9-10 hours a day. It is quite tiring. Today was back to back firings. I unloaded the the kiln, first in the morning, and loaded for glaze-firing.

Monday morning- Glaze-firing. Are you ready? Start!

Tuesday - back to back firing. This is top shelf. 

These two didn't have space in the kiln. 

There were several whippets on the lower shelf. Ah-oh! This new batch of bronze glaze is disaster! It needs adjustment... and it needed more tests!

Yesterday - Because of potential loss of whippets, I had to quickly make more! So I also made three bunnies! :D

Anteater, masks and accessories! 

The first this morning, I unloaded the kiln. All are safe! 

Empress seems happy,too! 

Back to back! The kiln was loaded for glaze-firing. 

After this, I spent a half day to pack and send the orders today. One of them was a complicated one! I hope they travel safely

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Look at this brochure. My Hope is in it! I will be at Windsor Contemporary Art Fair, 8-9 Nov. PV is on the 7th. Invitations and more details are here.