Fresh Off the Kiln!

Here is the results after all pieces were fired. this weekend.  I will let the pictures do the talking because between Twitter, Facebook, etsy and threads I am beat!  Thank you for coming to take a look at my work.  Scroll down and check the previous two posts for the process.

Earthenware Pastel Spring Fling Heart

Earthenware Pastel Spring Fling Hearts

Earthenware Pastel Spring Fling Circle with Matte Glaze

Earthenware Pastel Spring Fling Oval with Matte Glaze

Earthenware Pastel Graffiti Heart in Matte Glaze

Miscellaneous Decals

Flower Iron Oxide Decal

Tree of Life Pendant with Iron Oxide Decal

What's To Do This Saturday

This is some of  the work I did last weekend, it's bisque fired and ready to be glazed.  Yesterday afternoon I spent wiping off dust the bisque pieces and later I applied the decals to these pendants.  Hopefully I can do two firings this weekend and show some stuff Monday or Tuesday.  I am in no rush ever to get stuff done pronto.  But will try,,,, :)  have a great weekend.

Black Clay, some with colored slip.

Decals

Back of pendants above, UG one coat for
translucent look.

A Quicky Post Work Done Sunday "Spring Fling" Pendants

Just wanted to show a sequence of the process of my most popular pendants which I named Spring Flings. I will spare you a picture of a blank slab of clay since there is not much to show.  These pictures were taken with my cell phone and the studio room is not very well lit so quality may not be best.

Slab prepared with undergalzes

Slab after pieces have been cut, I usually cut
them way closer but this was the second batch and I
was tired.

Pendants have been cut and are ready for cleaning
and making hole or attaching wire.

Pendants are cleaned, hole is made, and they are stamped
in the back with my initials.

Here is a shot of the first batch.  Slightly different as the
underglazes are darkened and there is no texture.  These were
just cut and await cleaning and holes.  Some of these I will
decorate with decals.

One last shot that didn't come out was the back of the pieces where it shows it colored in a matching glaze along with the side of the pendant.  These are in the kiln bisque firing right  now, so we'll see them next once they are glazed fired.

Working with Black Clay

I recently bought a bag of black clay just for the fun of it.  Glazes have different results when used on different clays.  I made a lot of pieces, but when it comes to the glazing part most likely I will only glaze half and see how they come out.  After I see the results I may change things in order to get maybe better results if by chance the first batch is a dud.  Below are some pictures I took with my phone, not the best but  you can see some work in progress.

And the picture on the left brings me to ask a question, do you like thin or thick pendants?  A lot of people think that because they are made of ceramics they are heavy.  And they are not, but I've noticed at some shows that people really take a look at them and sometimes just ignore the thick ones.  When I suggest they pick them up and feel how light they are it surprises them.  I think both thickness give the pieces different looks.  Thin is delicate maybe a softer look design on a necklace.  Thicker is bulky, earthy maybe more of a casual simple necklace with leather cord or swede.

What would you prefer to use in your work? Do you have a preference? Leave me a comment please and let me know what you think.

Spring is Upon Us Soon

Stoneware bird in speckled green glaze.

Stoneware bird in Yellow Maize glaze.

I realized today that this coming Sunday is Daylight Saving Time.  Days will be longer and it will get dark late in the day.  It is the best  time of the year for me here in So. California.  And this time around is even better because we have had a late winter with rain as recent as last week.  One gets spoiled by the beautiful weather we always have, and when we get that little cold or rain it is just not happy times for me.  So welcome Spring!

Aquamarine glaze on Porcelain with Decal decoration.

I've also realized that it has been about a month without a posting here since the giveaway.  Interestingly I had comments to approve,,,,? I never had that, it makes me think that i may have changed some settings on the blog last time I fiddled with settings or something.

Another thing is that  I had not touched clay since November.  I was just not finding my way with it since the Holidays, then New Year's, then the weather.  Always an excuse I guess.  But the last couple weeks I have been making new stuff.  Birds and other colorful items ready for spring.  My sales have been really great lately as well and for that I am thankful.  These are few pictures of the new stuff.

Stoneware Purple glaze pendant and beads.

Earthenware pendant with watercolor
type technique

Being excited about spring can only bring one better thing after it.... Summer!