Open House at Megan's

This coming Friday 6/28 from 10am-4pm, the talented Megan Wilcox is showcasing her adorable felt crafting kits with an Open House at her home. She asked if I'd like to display some of my pots as well. So generous of her to offer. Of course I want to be part! What fun!

Last Saturday in Balboa Park I added a bright pop of color to my booth with a colorful yellow and green chevron pattern floor mat, but no sooner had I put it down when Park Maintenance asked asked me to remove it. They were concerned it might kill the grass underneath. Of course I didn't want to risk killing the grass so I removed it. Wah! It looked so nice. Guess I'll have to save it for street fair events instead.

While waiting for the bisque to cool today I mixed up a larger batch of a new glaze. The first time I mixed this test glaze it came out great, the second time it was ugly, but I figured I must have messed up on the second try, and so I mixed it a third time! Luckily it was nice again the 3rd time. However, before I go hog-wild with it I'll glaze some small pieces. :) So, now it's time to get glazing - right after I unload the bisque. There's some new dark brown clay coming out of this bisque.... Glaze tests here I come!

New booth banner

I finally ordered a banner for my booth set up in Balboa Park. We are not allowed to advertise our business by name so I had to keep it to a generic description but I am happy with the results!

Also, I added another bookcase and turned the crates on their short sides to gain a little more height on the table display. It's slowly coming together....

By the way, I sold my first Ceramic tillandsia frame! The couple that bought it already own air plants and they selected my personal favorite - a small white ruffled frame with a gray medusa airplant. It was really quite a pretty combo. 

Some nice glazing results

I've had a chance to get some glazing done and some of the results have been quite nice. Here are a few I really like.

This is a commemorative mug designed per my sister's request

 for her 4-legged buddy Louie who passed away in April. "Good boy Louie" was a sweet dog!

(I just put this in the mail today. What are the chances she'll see it here first?  None to low - I hope!)

Grossmont clay.... not bad! Beer stein size.

Can you believe this is the same colorant used on the "Louie" mug above?!?

More Grossmont clay, wax and chrome red glaze! 

So, there's more work to be done. I'm putting decals on some pieces. Fingers crossed for the next decal firing. Some glazes came out a little bubbly in the last one. It may have fired a little too hot....

Memorial Day Weekend

Balboa Park was quite busy yesterday with the food festival! There was lots of traffic and I sold a few pots. Here's a quick shot of my booth. Breakdown was 1 1/2 hours (lots of pots to pack). Set up is a little faster, but there's still a lot of fiddling with the layout.

Also, some glaze results on the black clay. I'm liking this. Now to try it on something a little bigger....

Prism glaze pattern

The blue "Prism" glaze pattern is definitely coming out nice on the white clay!

 

Now to put it into production!

Ethnic Food Fair in Balboa Park this Sunday

The Houses of Hospitality in Balboa Park are hosting their  Ethnic Food Fair this Sunday 5/26 from 10-5. Check it out!

I'll be set up as well. In addition to some nice serving bowls and berry bowls from the electric kiln, I'll have a few pieces from the reduction firing for sale! So come have some yummy food and pick up a nice piece of pottery to enjoy at home! :)

Glazing, glazing, glazing

Yay! A friend called and told me that he has room in his up coming reduction firing. I'v got pile of larger pots that will get the reduction treatment. Lucky 13! I glazed yesterday and it took me 4 hours to glaze 13 pots. That's almost 20 minutes per pot! On the home front it is slow going glazing for the electric as well. Too many choices to make. Each pot is a new decision. Gotta streamline the process!

I'm throwing a few new glaze-layering tests into the kiln.  Chun & Sky Blue over black stain painted on bisque. I'll post results.