First Place!
This is show season. Although, we participate in shows throughout the year, the fall is our busy time. And, this year, we have a full docket. Our most recent show was in Fayetteville at the International Folk Festival where A Bit Off Center won first place for quality of work and display! It was really an exciting surprise that was accompanied by a certificate and a...
Read MoreThe Autumnal Equinox
It is the first day of fall. I love the balance of the day – equal dark and equal light. It is also the start of my favorite time of year. After our bible study, I spent the day with family and friends. I cooked and we all watched football. I feel a bit guilty since I didn’t work in the studio at all. I had planned to make some bowls and maybe even some apple bakers. But the games were fun and a nap was needed. I will get back into the studio tomorrow after I am done celebrating the arrival of fall.
Read MoreFake Snow
Part of studio maintenance includes cleaning kiln shelves. This is a messy job and not one of my favorites. I use an angle grinder with a masonry blade to remove all the kiln wash which kicks up a ton of dust. I wear a face mask, ear plugs, and protective eye-ware; I also wear a bandanna around my hair to keep the dust out. It is quite the ordeal so I when I do scape shelves, I do all of them. Here’s my process: Get dressed in shelf scraping outfit Gather all the shelves Use angle grinder to remove all kiln wash and glaze If glaze has bled into the shelf, I grind it until it is completely gone Once the shelves are bare of kiln wash, I wipe them down with a large, moist sponge I allow the shelve to dry before applying a thin layer of kiln wash I apply a layer kiln wash and allow it to dry approximately 10 minutes I apply 2-3 layers of kiln wash I allow the shelves to dry completely (at least a day) before using them in a bisque fire I have been using Jeff Campana’s kiln wash recipe. The first few times, the kiln was was very thick and cracked quickly. This time, I thinned the kiln wash and sieved it before applying it to the shelves. So far, no cracks have...
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