Whistle Creek: The Week in Review

Sunday, July 24, 2011

The Week in Review

It has been HOT in Ohio this week.I know it has been hot elsewhere too but that is easier for me to deal with.Sometimes I read Ang Wolford's blog just to hear about it being cold in Australia. Blondie and I have pretty much stayed inside out of the sun. I finally gave in and dug an old AC unit out of the basement and put it through the studio window.I didn't know if this thing would even run. I can't remember buying it and think it may have been a hand me down from the in laws in the 70's. I flipped the switch and God bless Sears and Roebuck it ran. (cue music) Heaven, I'm in heaven...It is so nice to have a comfortable workspace where things can dry. Humidity has been 80%+ outside so I was amazed that mugs I threw yesterday needed dipping in water before handles could be applied.

I also fired the new kiln last weekend. At the last minute I realized I was out of cones so I fired without them. Everything seemed to heat evenly and on schedule but I will put cones on each shelf next time too be sure. It was mostly refires and.... HERE COMES THE TIP LINDA ASKED FOR...I had a bunch of flat bottomed baking dishes I was refiring. Usually broad flat pieces are tough to refire because they are prone to cracking. I programmed the controller to limit cooling to 150 degrees per hour and all of the baking dishes came through unscathed. Happy Happy. I also got out some old jars of glaze to see if they were still good and they were so it was a pretty good firing. The other thing happening is I have been teaching kids classes this month. My Thursday girls( 2nd thru 4th grade) did a nice job on some pressed candy dishes so I put in a picture of them too. Thanks for stopping by.

4 comments:

Linda StarrJuly 24, 2011 at 6:57 PM
Thanks for the tip and those munchin ware plates are very cool as are the loosers.
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Tracey BroomeJuly 24, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Your munchkins are doing a fine job!I'm envious of that studio AC, hot as a kiln in mine!
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UnknownJuly 29, 2011 at 10:37 PM
I see you're liking Earthen Red. I do too. A tip - don't push the heat work much past a normal cone 6 firing. Bad things happen after that. (or can happen, like bloating).
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Dennis AllenJuly 30, 2011 at 7:26 AM
Thanks SC. I have used a couple of tons of it with no issues but I know I'm right at the limit with it. I also know someone who fast fires to 6 and gets some bloating. Slow and Easy Slow and Easy.....
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Why Whistle Creek

Whistle Creek is near the area where my ancestors settled in East Tennessee. It is about 6 miles west of I-75 and 8 miles south of Jellico.At various times the land was claimed by England, France, Spain, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky,Tennessee, the Union,the Confederacy, and the Cherokee.My family was there around 1800 and possibly before.My brothers and I still own the top of the mountain and it is still very rough country. I named my studio Whistle Creek in memory of the Allens who scraped their living from the earth and managed to keep it for two hundred years.

Bricks,Bricks, Bricks

I have two loads of kiln brick at home and one more to go. Weather permitting I will get some help from my newly retired brother and haul the rest home next week. I'm still early in the planning stages for the kiln. I haven't decided yet whether to make the firebox perpendicular to the arch a la John Theis managama and groundhog kilns or to place it parallel to the axis of the arch. I do know that with #2 three inch arch brick It will be a 3"6" sprung arch on top of low walls with a sunken firebox. If i can find a saw that will cut 41/2" I can rip some of the arch brick to fill in the ends of the courses and use the arch brick on edge to make 9" thick walls. Any input appreciated.

The Pitcher and the Nun

Yesterday a couple of sweet elderly ladies came into my booth and fell in love with the pitcher from the last woodfiring. (See last Blog entry) They said they wanted to give it as a wedding gift, then they said the fatal words-" Do you take Mastercard? " I replied-" No, but I want this piece to go to a good home and I believe that if I send it home with you, you will send me a check." They agreed and we exchanged info. It turned out they were nuns.Instead of mailing me a check, they brought back a check and some homemade candy a couple of hours later.It was nice to make the sale, but even nicer to send out a little faith in mankind and have a good deed returned.

Ohio Slip

More Spring Fair Prep....

Today was spent loading a bisque kiln with pots I have been throwing the last few weeks.They are made with a really nice red clay that a friend sold me when I couldn't get earthen red at Highwater. I should be able to glaze Monday and fire the whole load again next week. This is the only clay that I fire in the electric kilns but it gives a look that a lot of people like and I can fire economically. This plus pots on hand and pots I have been glazing for the gas kiln should be plenty for spring fair so now I can concentrate on the booth.

Spring Fair

The main project of the week was to try to finish throwing a batch of red clay that I have been working on so I can get the pots fired and glazed for the big Spring Fair sale that the Clay Alliance is holding on May 2. This is the big annual sales event for the club and I am very happly to be included this year but I do feel a little pressure to up my game and have a booth that doesn't look like a yard sale. Once I get the pots fired, I will have to spend some time focusing on display space and building some nice shelving. The sale is 11 to 4 at the corner of Madison and Woodburn ( DeSales Corner) Just take 71 to Edwards rd., Edwards to Madison, Right on Madison and you will be there in a few minutes. You will have a great time and get to meet 40 of the best potters and ceramicists in the region. More info at http://www.clayalliance.org/.

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