On Monday, I was really feeling the post firing flu. Headache, sore, sour stomach, all likely inspired by the lack of sleep and food over the weekend. I was definitely questioning why I do anything other than electric firings. But I was – not surprisingly – reminded today. As Blair Meerfeld says being a potter is having little Christmases everyday. Whether throwing a pot or opening a kiln, we get a present.
Today was the long awaited kiln opening. For those who have been following my trials and tribulations, you know that today was a long day coming, with lots of mis-communications and breaking kilns along the way.
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- Salt chamber
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- wood chamber
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- yummy salt
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- out of the wood chamber
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- My favorite pot
Traffic was awful with everyone traveling for the holidays. But the crew gathered about 9:30 to unload and clean the kiln. We were all happy with the results. In particular, the oribe dancing ewer pictured here is my favorite pot of the firing, followed by a naked basket form. In all, there were very few pots that I was unhappy with and only one pot that cracked. More pics can be seen on facebook.
Despite the difficulties in scheduling this firing, I am thrilled with the results and am already planning my return to Baltimore.
SPIRIT OF CLAY 