Etsy Grand Opening

Well folks, I have started the great experiment.  I'm up and running on Etsy.

My shop name was supposed to be Glazed Over Expressions, but it ended up singular due to Etsy's limitations on length.  I have a relatively small selection up right now and hope to add more listings in the coming days. 

Pit Fire

This past February I was able to participate in my first ever pit fire.  Pit fires are so unpredictable.  I think that is part of what makes them so much fun.  Any piece you put in the fire you have to count as a loss.  Anything that comes out successfully is just a treasure from the ashes.

First Digital Kiln Firings

Ok, so I ran a bisque fire and a glaze fire with the digital controller.  It's a success and not...let me explain. 

Let's start with the bisque fire.  I didn't take any pictures.  No problems at all!  The firing went great and it was so much less stressful then firing with a traditional kiln sitter.  One benefit that I discovered which I hadn't even thought of before installation of my new controller, was that I could see the temperature read out as the kiln cooled.  That meant I could easily tell when it was safe to open the kiln.  Happy day!

Digital Kiln Conversion

How many hours have you spent watching to see when that little cone will melt and flip the switch on your kiln?  If you have a manual kiln sitter you know what I'm talking about.  With no indicator to tell you what the temperature is or how far the kiln still has to go, you check it every 5 minutes when you should be working on something else.  It's nerve wracking to say the least.

I hope to solve that problem, and a few others, on my kiln by converting it to a digital controller.  In addition to the actual, real-time feedback of the kiln temperature, I'll be able to program the kiln to increase temperature at a desired rate and hold for a designated period of time.  All this hopefully means better, more efficient firing.  Let's get started.

When I began researching this conversion I, of course, went online to see what information or tutorials I could find.  To be honest, I was disappointed with the lack of information on the subject.  Isn't everything supposed to be on the internet by now?   Maybe most people just upgrade their whole kiln.  That wasn't in my budget.  I bought a digital controller made by Olympic that is designed to replace the old kiln sitter.

Here is my lovely kiln before the conversion.  See the little gray box of the kiln sitter? That's what will be replaced. Well, sort of. you'll see.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Isn't the southeast supposed to be known for mild winters and almost tropical summers?  Sure could have fooled me this week.  School has been cancelled and the boys have been sledding!  You heard right, sledding!

I've had to bring my drying greenware into the house to keep it from freezing.  Have I mentioned that I'm ready for spring?

Stay warm out there folks,

Kerri

Just Getting Started

You know, sometimes getting started is the hardest part.  I have been on a potter's hiatus for about 12 years now.  I took a break to raise my boys.  Now they are big enough to care for themselves for the most part.  Sure I still make them dinner and fix their lunch in the morning, but the constant watching, nap time, "don't get into that!" time is over.  I don't regret a minute of it!

I feel so blessed that I now have the opportunity to start up a pottery studio again.  My space is small, but sufficient for now.  After all, all you need is a wheel and a kiln right?  Would you believe that I'm throwing on the wheel that I bought in the '90's?  I kept it all these years in hopes of being able to use it again.  The trickiest part of equipment to get was a kiln.  They are by no means inexpensive.  Well, mine is certainly not a thing of beauty.  It's a well used, old, Crusader kiln.  The best part was that it was FREE!  A very sweet friend gave it to me.  At this point I don't give a hoot what it looks like as long as it keeps working.

Getting things running in my studio has progressed in fits and starts over the last few months.  Having moved only a short time ago, there has been plenty of work in the house to keep me busy.  I have always underestimated how much time it takes to really "move in".  It's also winter and my studio doesn't have a heater...brrrr.  I can only work out there for short periods and then I need to come back into the house to warm up.  Most recently, I've had to deal with an injury.  I cut my thumb on my left hand and had to get four stitches.  Oh how I have taken opposable thumbs for granted! 

I look forward to sharing my potting adventure with you as I get my studio up and running.  Here's to warmer days and opposable thumbs!

Kerri