I’m getting ready to load the kiln for a Saturday firing. Keeping my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates. The cone packs are set up and the cart is loaded. Now I just need to get out there and load ‘er up!

Cone packs

Another semester has flown by and I haven’t updated my blog. Where did the time go!? I’m afraid it was lost in technology and global conflict, religion, technical writing and ethics.

The good news is that I have had some time to work in the studio this semester. I’ve been playing with surface decoration using bisque and wooden stamps, entirely on recycled clay. I filled the kiln for a bisque firing a couple of weeks ago, and am glazing pots now with the goal of firing before the end of April.

I am scheduled to show some work for the May First Friday Art Walk. I’ll post some pictures soon!

I’m recycling clay today. I recycle all of my trim scraps, as well as any clay that gets too dry to work with. I put it into a bucket and let it sit until bone dry. That doesn’t take long in the arid climate of northern Arizona. Here you can see a bucket of dry scraps, and some small slabs drying on the table for future recycling.

Once dry, I cover the scraps with water and let it sit for a day or two. Then, I mix it up in the bucket - it stays lumpy - then transfer small amounts to the blender, where I mix it until it is a slurry (slip). Doing it this way ensures an even mix. I mix clay bodies when I recycle and this technique blends them well.

When mixing is done, the slip is poured into a plaster bowl. The plaster pulls the extra moisture out and leaves a workable piece of clay. This batch should be ready to be worked tomorrow. Happy clay!

Last week, we were hit by what weather people are fondly referring to as the “Western Wallop” - a week long series of snow storms that dropped over 50 inches of snow! I cleared a couple feet of snow off the roof of the kiln house - twice!

The snow gave me some time to work in the studio. I’m getting the feel for the wheel again… it’s like riding a bike (thankfully). I started out with mugs because I wanted to break my body back in gently. No sense in tweaking my back when I’m just getting back into it.

I also did a few slab soap dishes - see the new fish stamps? I got the stamps at NCECA last spring, but this is the first time I’ve used them. I’m going to be doing a lot of fish-themed work in upcoming months.

So many ideas spinnin’ in my head…

To make a clean start in the new year, I reorganized my small studio space. For the past four years or so, the room has been arranged with everything around the outside, up against the walls. After the re-org, the table juts out into the center of the room. Surprisingly, the room seems bigger! There is a great energy, too.

My life is going through a lot of changes. I am taking four classes this semester to finish my bachelor’s degree. I quit my 40-hour/week job, and ended up with two part-time jobs, with fantastically flexible schedules. This all means that I won’t get as much time in the studio as anticipated until after mid-May. I’ve been going to school and working full-time for eight years; I’m putting my nose to the grindstone to finish up.