Had my first successful glaze kiln a week or so ago!! Here's some photos.  

Then I went crazy and made so many things they didn't all fit in the kiln!  

This bisque firing went well too! Except the kiln elements finally bit the dust during this one. Would reach temperature and kept fluctuating near the end. Luckily was only 7 degrees from reaching cone 04 so these don't need to be refuted. Previously I had been doing come 06. New elements are on their way and then I'll have a bunch of beautiful pieces for sale 💕  

Glaze Kiln!

We ran the first glaze kiln last night!! Came across a couple problems but that was expected. Some glazes aren't done cookin or the right color but it ain't too bad 😉 I'll probably end up refiring the mugs just to see what happens! The wave mugs are supposed to be smooth and shiny, but they're textured & matte. And the black is supposed to be a pretty blue. We think it's because the kiln didn't get hot enough and we were ready for bed so we shut it down instead of waiting another few hours. Hopefully just because of how I loaded it but not sure. Got a lot to learn! 

First firing!

Loaded up my first / test firing today! I have no idea how it's going to go so we'll see but I'm pretty stoked 😊 Hopefully all goes well I'll be able to glaze them and do a glaze test firing soon 😍 

STUDIO!

It's been a while since I posted anything, sorry! I moved home for the summer and life got crazy with work and things. I had so many pots for sale I was basically sleeping with them all, so I sort of reluctantly did a 30% off sale and it almost wiped out my inventory! Thank you to everyone who purchased something, I can now move around my room. The money I made from the sale helped me pay for..... MY OWN STUDIO AT MY HOUSE! That's right, my own studio. It doesn't feel real, it's like a dream.  

I've also got a kiln that we just got hooked up on Saturday! Waiting on some parts to come in the mail, hopefully today, to give it a test run and to burn out all the dust and junk! I really hope to have it up and running ASAP. I bought some beaaautiful glazes and I can't wait to try them out. I'm also making more wave mugs!  

Praying to the kiln gods that the kiln doesn't need new elements and that everything goes at least semi smoothly. I'll keep ya updated on the status of the kiln, let's hope I have some new pots for sale soon! 

Great day to be an art major!

Today was an awesome day in my art classes. In my alternative photo processing class we did cyanotypes! Which I now may be obsessed with. Here's a photo of my favorite print from today! I'm in love. 

In the ceramics studio today, I did a TON of glazing and drew some waves on some things! 

The glaze kiln will be started Thursday so I'll have new pots to share Sunday or Monday! I can't wait. I tried a bunch of new glaze combinations this time. I'll post them ASAP!  

Partially loaded kiln  

Kiln Unloading & Website Updates!

Monday morning was aaaawesome because we unloaded the kiln! I had probably about half the kiln, oops. I seriously spend too much time in the studio, but why not? Who needs a social life? Just kidding, sorta. Anyways, here are some of my favorites that came out! 

Which leads me to a super exciting announcement, I opened a shop on the website!  Woohooooo, now my pieces will be easily available for browsing and purchasing. I also added the blog, a pottery care page, a review page, and I am working on a "How It's Made" page! I'm really excited about the how it's made page. It will give a ton of insight into what goes into making my work, from beginning to end. I just need to take photos for it and it'll be up. But first I need to find a time where no one else will be in the studio so the photos can be perfect! I'll keep you updated on that. 

That being said, head on over to my shop and check out what's there! Some of my favorites featured above are up for grabs!

Alternative Photo Processing Class

This semester I am in an alternative photo processing class which is only offered every few years. It's super fun! We're doing all kinds of crazy things. So far we've done photograms, chemigrams, sabattier  effect, made pinhole cameras & negatives with them, and made digital negatives of photos and scans. Today we worked on making negatives with the cliche verre technique. Which is basically painting or drawing on glass/any translucent surface. I used ink and glass today. Next class we are going to dye watercolor paper with natural juices (blueberry juice, coffee, beet juice, etc.), and through a process create an image using the paper, our negatives, and the Sun! The actual photo making process could take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks or more depending on the paper and how sunny it is. I'll be posting them when they're done but who knows when that will be! Here is my cliche verre negative I worked on in class today. 

We can scan these into the computer and negate them in Photoshop to see what they print would be like if they were a color negative. I didn't get the chance to scan mine during class because it was wet, but I was curious so I took a photo of the glass and put a negative filter on it.

It's pretty awesome! Thinking in the negative was an interesting challenge.

I am working on another one that I plan to use to make an actual image with. This cactus one will probably remain a digital negative.  

I also made some more mugs in ceramics class, just forgot to take a photo! I'm working on some new forms. I'm starting to enjoy the mug making process instead of dreading it like I used to, which is good news for anyone who may want a mug because I'll be making plenty!  

Long day in the studio!

Today was a longgg, productive day in the studio. 12-12 with a 2 hours break for dinner & grocery shopping.  

I trimmed a TON of bowls, 

Finally got my nesting bowl project to my satisfaction,  

Made some spoons and attached handles to a couple mugs, 

I thought I was done, but then I decided to throw. A lot. Again.  

I'm really stoked on the bigger bowl / platter in the second image. Also can't wait to start making a ton of mugs for this next project! 

I watched the kiln technician manage the kiln, trying to learn as much as I can while I'm still here! Fingers crossed we'll be able to unload Monday morning!! I'll be posting them ASAP 😊