Spraying the Soda

 I get a lot of questions about how soda firing works. It's pretty simple, really: when the kiln reaches ^9, I spray a mixture of baking soda, washing soda, and water through ports built into the kiln wall for that purpose. The sodium in those compounds turns into a glaze on the ware (and everything else in the kiln.) I use draw rings - little loops of clay - to determine when I have sprayed enough soda into the kiln. Pulling the draw ring out through the spyhole is my favorite part of the process! Well, except for unloading. 

Check out the whole video (free!) for members at my Patreon page. (You can buy the post for $3 if you prefer, but it's free to become a member. )

Surprise Butter Dishes

So, you might have noticed that I'm a goofball. I used to try to pretend I'm not, that I am in fact a very serious artiste making very serious art, which you must take very seriously. Then I figured out that everyone is a goofball of one stripe or another.

Anyway, today's goofiness is: when I went out to grind kiln shelves (UGH) to be ready for the next firing, in the shed I discovered not one but two butter dishes I had forgotten existed from the last firing! Surprise!
Eventually I will take better photographs & list them in the shop, unless...one of you would like one? They're $60 ($54 for paid Patreon subscribers!), which includes shipping in the continental US. I was quite pleased with the toasty, speckly color. Butter dishes always go pretty fast, because I don't make many of them, so if you've been waiting, here's your chance. 🙂 Shoot me an email - info@finemesspottery.com - & I'll send you an invoice, or we can do Venmo.

October Shop Update!

I unloaded a great firing last week, so I'm super excited to update the shop this time. I've got mugs & sippers, a serving bowls & ikebana, even a coffee cone. Check out the new work at this link! If you see something you'd like to buy, consider subscribing to my Patreon at the Water tier - that comes with a coupon code for 10% off! 

Raku Season Winding Down

 

Technically, of course, there's no reason why raku season has to wind down; You can raku all winter, if you want. I don't want! I'm sort of a recreational raku firer, so it's fair weather or nothing for me. 

This firing was a little...interesting! There was barely enough propane, and no combustibles, but luckily one of the participants lives nearby & had a big bag of pine shavings in her garage - she keeps chickens. We also had three pieces stick to the kiln shelves, which is a thing that has never happened to me before. 

Otherwise a nice firing, though. I only had one piece in it, glazed with Laguna's Tutti Fruiti. 

It's vastly different - and better! - than the test tile at the link. That's raku for ya. 
 

So, that was last night. I spent today grinding, pricing,  packing pots as I sorted them for their various destinations. Hoping to have a shop update by Wednesday of next week; subscribe to my Patreon to get first access (& a discount code) when that happens. 
Thanks for reading! 

Before & After

 Just because I haven't done one in a while, and this was an especially nice firing. Note to self: 500 grams soda ash, 600 grams baking soda, 2 gallons of water. Three rounds of spray. (I did have quite a lot of solution left.)

These aren't the only variables, of course, but they are important ones. 

Today & the rest of the week will be grinding, sorting, pricing, packing, & delivery. Next week I'll photograph pots for the online shop & get those listed. Patreon subscribers at the Water tier & up get first access & discount codes! If you're shopping, the discount alone might pay for your subscription. 😊😊😊