Irises and Yunomi

Life in the spring always seems to be a bit of a blurr.. I can't believe that it's been so long since I've posted last, or even read my favorite blogs. The flowers are in bloom here are the irises in front of the studio doing their iris thing.

Finally started throwing for the next firing. I pretty much used up all the wood in the last firing so it's been cutting, splitting and stacking, and this and a lot of that. Well blogging doesn't split the wood, so for now... Make good pots.

Bizen like clay body

There was a pleasant surprise at the back of the kiln. I've been looking at Bizen pottery and have been smitten with the straight forward and honesty of them. I have been working on a clay and firing to get that rich brown with a slight misty patina from the wood. Here is what I've come up with so far. It's not a traditional Bizen form, but I still like it. Make good pots.

Getting ready again

The shelves are cleaned and washed, ready again for the next firing. Using the energy from the last firing helps to lead into the next. It's a very good time to think about what pots to make, and what direction to go, how you will fire differently.

Wood is always important, and there never seems to be enough, cut, split and stacked. This stack is from a blue spruce that came from my front yard.

This is the oak and birch that come from the saw mill by St. Cloud. I've got about half cut of what will be needed for the next firing. Well it's been rainy so the wood is on hold... time to make some mugs. ~ Make Good Pots