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!!!!

Mug Shot

This is the mug of my dreams. It's the reason I love wood-firing. It was right up front in the firebox during a 68 hour anagama firing. It has no glaze just layers and layers of melted wood ash and carbon trapping. It's funky and frosty and absolutely one of a kind. I'm in love.

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.

Pots

Since I've been posting so much about the kiln I thought I would just post a few actual pots today. Cheers!

Busy little potter

Well, I need to update this page, but I've had lots on my plate. I'm heading out tomorrow to fire an anagama style kiln that takes two days to load and 3 day and nights to fire. It's a ton of work, but so much fun and I get to work with an incredible crew of talented potters. To be honest, I go for the food. We have made progress on the kiln since the last posting and I will get those pictures up soon.

My first post

This morning is my first adventure into posting on my new blog. Really I'm considering this a photo gallery of pottery and wood-firing, but let's see where things go. I may enjoy this more then I think. I hope this will be a place that friends, family and friends I haven't met yet, can come and see the work I've been doing, maybe check out any shows or sales I have coming up and learn about the fantastic art of wood-fire and wood kilns.

I just participated in Painting with Fire the special exhibit at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts. The two pieces above were in that show. The pitcher is a great example of "spotted dog". This is one of the lucky results of wood-fire when crystals form on the surface. This baby is loaded with them. The bottles I call Three Cheers. They have some lovely flame marks, blushing and natural ash glaze.