November firing results

Well we did it. We ended up firing on Sunday afternoon. Started by digging a new pit. We eliminated the dung, salt logs, and saggars in this firing. We played with increasing the ratio of bananas, also played with baking soda vs salt. We also had several other "test" in this pit. Luckily we are just firing for a little stock so we did not need a big turnout. The baking soda did not produce or facilitate the colors as the salt did. The bananas did not do as they had in the past. The stoneware did not handle the firing as well as it had in the past. We will add the dung and salt logs back into the mix next spring. We have a few finishable pieces which I will post some of the pics later this week. On the bright side, the new pit design worked wonderfully, burned evenly and created a even bed of ash for the pots to finish in. We had a chance to bury pit #2 so it can return to the prairie landscape. And best of all the cows stayed away this time!

One more firing this fall

Well, we are going to do one more pit fire this fall. We are planning on Monday 11/2. The weather looks to cooperate, with only a slight chance of rain on Sunday. We were thinking about Saturday, but it rained almost all of Thursday, overnight, and chance of snow on Friday. That may make it a little damp to get into the pasture. We may even have help on Monday. A fellow potter from Luverne, MN is wanting to pit fire a couple pieces and we were happy to oblige. She may even venture out and partake in the fun. I guess you can say she is the guinea pig for a pit-firing seminar we are supposed to do next year. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out.

Well, here are the results of the recent wood firing. We reached cone 10 in about 9 hrs and maintained temp for another 12 or so. We had a great amount of ash on the pieces as you can see on the face cups. The sides are bare, there is a rutile wash over the face area. The vase is one of my favorite shinos, although it did not perform as normal, but still turned out okay. The house numbers did not get as much ash as i would have hoped, but it gives them a nice rustic look.

Wood Fire

Well it is that time of year again. About once a year We decide to play with some high fire work, I use the same clay body, but I do play with glazes. This year it is a wood fire, I participated in about 6-8 of these, various degrees of success. This year I am doing "snot cups" again, typically I have finished them in the gas kiln, but timing is right for the wood fire. I also have new house number tiles, and I did throw in one vase with a glaze i really like. Tomorrow it will be lit, and it will be my responsibility to watch it overnight. If things turn out I may post a couple pics in a few days.

Bemidji Community Arts Center

Well, spent between 12-13 hours in the minivan on Friday for a trip to Bemidji, MN. We went up to deliver some fresh pieces to the art center. It was really a beautiful drive and encourage anyone to hasn't driven there. We didn't spend much time there just straight up to the gallery and back, with a brief stop in Fargo for some Christmas shopping, and then back home. Yes Christmas shopping. Anyway here is the link to the art center in Bemidji.... www.bcac.wordpress.com

Representation in Omaha!

Up in Smoke Pottery now has great pit fired pottery and saggar fired pottery in Omaha, Nebraska! We have reached an agreement with White Crane Gallery in the Old Market District in Omaha. It is a awesome little shop in the passageway. If you are near Omaha, it is worth a visit.

Sidewalk Arts

Thanks for a great Sidewalk Arts. It was great to meet and chat with you. That concludes our festival schedule for this year. We now will decide where we will be next year, keep checking the blog for updates. We have a couple gallery things in the works, dates and details will be released as they are finalized.

Sidewalk Arts

The weatherman cannot make up his mind on what is going to be like so I guess I will bring my Weather Rock. Hope to see everyone this weekend in downtown Sioux Falls for Sidewalk Arts. Up in Smoke Pottery will be in booth 71, which will be just outside the east Pavilion doors unless that changes before we set up. Here's a couple pics of some of the recent work that we will have down there.

Up in Smoke in the News!

Just found a photo of me on the Rock County Star Hearld website from Art Rocks. It will be the 2nd photo from the left.

Here is the link:
http://www.star-herald.com/detail/19271.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=photos&town_id=

New Piece

We will have new pieces for the Sidewalk Arts next weekend. We have been playing with making tiles and framing them. I spent today making the frames, we are going with simple wide width frames much like the Craftsman style. The tiles I have done so far are 3" x 6" and a couple 3" x 3". The tiles turned out really neat, we may have a couple in our home to accent the walls. I might post a few pics when I get them completed, or you may just have to wait until Sept 12 to see them at Sidewalk Arts.