Fired up!

It seems like the last few months have just flown by. Now that it's fall it's time to fire kilns on a regular basis. October was the kick off to the firing season with the big event of Soulgama in Brush Prairie, WA. This was an amazing firing with terrific people and when we opened the kiln two weeks later we discovered outstanding results. I'll have pictures soon. Then this weekend was a much anticipated, but not entirely prepared for soda firing at MHCC with a couple good friends. We will open the kiln tomorrow and see how we did. Then on Wednesday another anagama firing in the minigama at MHCC. This firing is based on a visit by a Japanese artist named Nobu. Then it's back to preparing for another Soda firing and firing my own kiln, The Chicken Pot Pie, in December. O' the Joy!!!!

Ceramic Showcase is over and Mom has arrived. A small group of us set up the show for Friday...Stephen Mickey and the Soulbuds at MHCC Visual Arts Gallery. It looks great. Lots of amazing work and I'm so honored to be in the same room with all this talent. I think I'm still a bit tired from the Showcase weekend. During Ceramic Showcase I sucked it up and got some professional shots of some of my work. Above is one of the pieces. It was from my last firing at Soulgama in Brush Prairie, WA. I got some nice ash drips and crystals. Hope you can make it to the show.

Ceramic Showcase hitting the Roads

Well Look at That!!! Ceramic Showcase is hitting the roads to get the word out about the largest all ceramic show in the United States. Thank you Trimet. Which by the way is a great way to get to the show. The MAX stops right in front of the Oregon Convention Center.

Opened my Chicken Pot Pie kiln last night and once again got some nice results. We got come 12 down all over at 03:30 so we just went another hour and shut down at 16 hours. This was shorter then the other firings and we wanted to see the difference. I think it was just fine, not much a difference and got a whole bunch of salting effects, orange peel, and we didn't put any salt in the kiln. Strange, but they looked good so who cares.

Now, I'll head to Vancouver, WA and open the Soulgama kiln with the SoulBuds and see what pretty things we made there...so excited. Ted Ernst, Sandy Segna and Robin Hominiuk all fired last weekend at other kilns besides Soulgama too. We are all just bursting with ceramic energy.

Soulgama and a Happy Birthday

Another fantastic firing at Soulgama. Stephen Mickey always gathers a fantastic group of potters and this firing was no exception. The crew is an amazing community or maybe more of a family. We work together to load the kiln and fire it, but we laugh together, eat, drink, and maybe even share a few tears. One crew member described a feeling of Loving Kindness. Yes, it sure was that. Of course attention is placed on our work and the kiln, but there is so much more going on and I'm honored to be a part of it all.

My dear friend Sarah arranged cake and festivities for Sat. night since it was my 38th birthday. Maybe the best birthday ever. They sang me birthday wishes and Sarah made a marvelous chocolate cake. So much love and fun. I can't tell you how much I was touched and grateful to be surrounded by such a grand group of people. Thank you all soooooo much. In two weeks we will meet again and open the kiln and see what magic we created. Can't wait.

Pictured: Stephen Mickey, Jack Walsh, Ron Linn, Natalie Warrens. Brenda Scott feeding the fire. A sea of pots during loading, and a nice shot of Stephen Mickey laughing.