Columns to fire

Here are two large columns that will be going into the wood fire. I think that they will catch the fire nicely. The weather is cooperating nicely and the firing is still on schedule. We all know how that can change very quickly.
Back to the kiln, good weather is a terrible thing to waste!

Spring Firing

It's been a long winter and not very good for blogging about woodfiring, as winter makes wood firing almost impossible here. Spring is finally springing and was able to get out to the kiln and start getting it ready for the spring fire. I had to shovel about 3 feet of snow and chip 3 inchs of ice off the path to get to the kiln, but here it is ready for the spring firing. Time to get the list!!

Shino yunomi

Here are a few yunomi that came out of the last firing, it's the typical wood ash on shino, a nice reliable combination. These and small bowls and cups are the real backbone of the firing. They pay for wood and clay etc. There is a storm headed this way today... so better get to it. Maybe 1-2 feet of snow and 20-60 MPH, we shall see if they are right about this. Make good pots!

Favorites from the fall firing

Here are a couple more favorites out of the fall firing. These are the pots that there never seem to be enough of and keep you coming back to wood firing.

More pots from the fall firing.

Here are some more pots from the fall firing. It's been so long since I have blogged that I almost forgot how to use this program... it's like falling of a bike... once you know how it's easy. The winter has hit Minnesota so there will be no more firing until spring... time to cut and stack wood and make pots for the spring. Have a good day and Make good pots!

Some pots from the fall 2009 firing

Here are some pots from the last firing.

Snow!!

Ahhh.. it snowed yesterday and will snow today... it looks like there is a chance that it may snow almost everyday next week. We will have to see about that, sometimes the weather man is right, sometimes not. I'm not going to post any photos of snow just yet, I'm sure that there will be plenty of chances in the months to come. The cool weather is great for cutting and splitting wood so it's chainsaw time.
Let's see where did I put the hockey mask and video camera...
Make good pots.

Plates and a jar

Here are a couple of plates that I made today. They have a very clay feeling to them. I want the pots to feel like they are very close to the clay pit, freshly dug and made right there, on the spot. They remind me of South Dakota where I grew up, where there was nothing between you and the clay, and for that matter not much else, besides me and the clay!

Here is a jar, I don't really know what to think about it, or where it's leading to. We'll have to see what happens with this idea. There is something there just can't seem to see the next step yet.

The beginning of the cycle

Just starting to get serious about the next firing. A few tokuri to get started while l take care of other things. It's always good to start with a clean plate, because the clay will take over. This will probably be a hot and sticky cone 12 firing. Igayaki and Shigaraki seem to be what is coming out on the wheel. Well have a good day... Make good pots!!

Breathing in... or out

The last few months have been the blogging equivalent of an out breath. One of those cycles that I'm beginning to recognize. Time to breath in and start blogging on the next New London Anagama firing. Many fresh ideas.... we will see what happens... good to blog again!!