Sorbet Cups & Caramel Plates
I am not officially back to work full-time, but I am going to ease back into my work as I can. I had said I was not going to do work the month of June, however, I have kiln firings to keep up with. Yesterday, my husband and my dad came over to the studio with me to help move my greenware pieces out to the garage so I could load them into the kiln to bisque. It took about an hour to get everything sanded for the firing, moved to the garage and loaded into the kiln. I was starting to feel a bit stressed about the work I needed to get done within my tight timeframe. It feels good to have that firing going.
Anyways, this little set came out of the kiln before Noah was born. It was originally a commissioned set. When they came out of the kiln, there were hardly any crystals that had formed and four out of the six bowls had broken. It was pretty upsetting to open the kiln and see that, but these pieces that survived have really grown on me. I love their caramel color and subtle turquoise crystals that sprouted occasionally. I am thinking of posting them for sale on Etsy because they are in great shape. The crystal formations were the only thing that didn’t come out as hoped. My favorite pieces are the little bowls. They are the perfect size for sorbet! (In fact, I made homemade lemon-berry sorbet which is in those little bowls. Very yummy!)
See, aren’t they a great size for sorbet? They also make a great rice bowl. I have since, remade this order and delivered it. They look a lot different, but they are the right glaze and what was originally desired. Maybe you will see these pieces on my Etsy shop soon. Poke around on there if you would like! I hope your weeks are off to a good start!
A Custom Dinner Set
This post is a special one for me. It is, because these pieces were my final commissioned order to complete and send out before the baby arrives (which could be any day now)! It feels like quite the accomplishment to get done. Yesterday I finished up some wet work in the studio and then cleaned up. I wanted to leave my work yesterday feeling like it wouldn’t matter if I happened to go into labor at any moment because I am ahead of myself and the projects I am currently working on are for me and can be done at my own pace. This particular commission has been a long time coming. This family has had to wait a while for their pieces because of kiln troubles, and then breakage during its final glaze firing. Very frustrating. They could not have been more gracious and patient as they waited. I am happy to hand deliver these to them on Sunday! Here is a peek at their order: 4 lunch plates, 2 mugs and 6 dessert/custard sized bowls all to be glazed in blues and greens (for the love of the beach)!
Glazing in Prussian
This weekend turned out to be a rather productive one in the studio. I am happy to say that I have officially completed my commissions, so I am ready for baby to come! I unloaded the kiln this weekend and was able to cut off all pedestals and grind down the bottoms of each pot for a smooth and finished look. (Only had two pieces break, so that was pretty good!) I will be posting about what fired in the kiln throughout the week, but I wanted to share with you a bowl that came out. As I continue to experiment with new colorants in my glaze recipes, I am always excited when they turn out successfully. This bowl was glazed in prussian crystalline. The exciting element used in this glaze is Nickel. Nickel is what helps give you turquoise crystals against a warm amber background. I really love the contrasting colors in this glaze and the way the amber tones turn a deep caramel color as it pools in the bottom of the bowl. I have used this glaze several times before in this past year, but it is not one that I have been glazing with consistently. Sometimes it doesn’t always come out the way I want it to. I still have some fine-tuning to do with this one, but for now, here is the bowl in prussian crystalline. You can find it available on my Etsy shop – click here.
Blooming Crystals
Spring is blooming all around and I love it! Buds are peeking out all over the trees and flowers are popping up everywhere. I am excited and eager for the warm days and cool nights to come and stay. My last two glaze firings have had quite a few pieces done in one of my favorite glazes: Rutile Crystalline. This glaze definitely reminds me of spring with its green and yellow tones. The way the crystals form during firing definitely makes me think of spring blossoms. This bowl was one of my pieces that recently came out of the kiln and I am so happy with it! It is a low profile bowl standing about 2.5 inches tall and 13 inches in diameter. It is a great shape and is right now looking great on my coffee table in the living room. This bowl will be on my Etsy shop soon!
Bowls Full of Crystals
Bowls are one of my favorite things to glaze! They are ideal for crystalline glazing, as are plates. Because this glaze runs and pools, bowls allow for larger crystal growth. Plus, they just invite you to look at them and peer inside when on display. Here are a few of my recent bowls.
Glazes like the rutile and ivory are especially great in bowls or on plates because you get a whole range of different colors. This one above is the ivory. The Rutile will break into greens, yellows, and peaches.
Hand-Crafted Pottery by Arryn 