Denice

In the late 60's my ceramics class did a Japanese Raku tea ceremony.   We didn't have a charcoal fire,  we used a small kiln.   The cups were made by hand with Raku clay just as they were in the ceremony in the 1500's.  They were taken out of the kiln red hot.   They sat and cooled down  to the point they could be dunked in  a bucket of water.  We didn't glaze them with a lead  glaze like the original ceremony.  They all survived even though everything was rushed,  it was only a hour class.  Denice

Still to cold to work in my studio,  by the time I got it warmed up the day would be over.   Our second cold blast in the last three weeks.  This one is colder but shorter, it suppose to get up to freezing temp by Sunday.   Denice

Thought I would let you know I found a doctor in my town,  only one doctor in a town of half of million that does SRT-IG radiation treatment.   All the other doctors want to slice open a flap and then do facial repair later.   I am to old for that and I don't heal well.  Insurance won't cover it but we can afford to pay for it.  Right now stuck at home too cold and icy to go out,  it is suppose to get down to -3 later this week.  Denice

Summer is ending and fall is on it's way.   Great weather to work out in the studio.  Finished remodeling the house a couple of weeks ago.  My sister from Sacramento  left today  after staying for a week.  Resting for a couple of days I am heading back to the studio.  Denice

We had our computer bite the dust on our trip to Galveston TX,  we paid the computer tech  $100 to unload our old files to the new one.   I had all of my glaze formulas printed out and in a binder in my studio,  my husband hadn't saved anything.    Denice

Ordered a new LL kiln today from  Neil.   He helped me decide  on the model that would work for me in my elderly years.   Great service and price.   Now I have to sell my old kilns and wait.      Denice

We need more information on the kiln to help you.   Do you know the brand,  is it manual or have a controller?    Denice

Ordered a new Paragon XL Caldera test kiln today.  My old kiln needs new elements again.   I need to have a controller on it to get accurate test firings.  By the time I have it rewired and add a controller I would have the price of a new kiln.  It will be the end of Sept.  when it shows up.   Already have a list of tests  piling up in my head.     Denice

Love your work,  I also make outdoor murals,  I have been using C5/6 clay lately.   I was wondering what temperature of clay you use and glazes.   I am laying out and working on the design with the tile lines on a landscape mural  right now.  This mural is bas relief like my last two murals.    Denice

Just thought I would let everyone know that I am still alive.   We had a tornado across the street from us last night.  It was turning east so it missed us but it did a lot of damage to a small town a mile from us.  Denice

Min I don't think I took any photos of the dishes,  I was working at my store 70 to 90 hours a week and made the dishes when I had a moment to spare.  My friend wanted a entire formal place setting so her daughter didn't have to eat off of plastic dishes at family dinners and holidays.   I made the entire formal place setting including cups and saucers,  they were mostly for looks.    I believe I made the soup bowl with no rest on it.  I can tell you that I had a lot more curve inward at the top edge and it curved further around.   The had rest was added to the lowest side of the curve.   A half round shape,  my friend wanted it so her daughter couldn't flip the dish when she laid her arm down.    She couldn't gently lower her arm.   Can the lady you are making it for try it out?   Denice

I hope you find a good job,  I have looked at two different pottery jobs in the past.  One paid by the piece,  it was mostly slab work.   The other was a job to make slip mold originals.  Neither of them paid a living wage  and required a lot of driving.   We don't have very many pottery factories in Kansas.  I am sure with all of the potteries in Stoke-on Trent you will find the perfect job.    Good luck.    Denice

Thank you for sending me the info on the E-Bay wheel, the man who bought my kick wheel was looking for one.  I imagine this one will go for a much higher price it is in Kansas City,   it has a big ceramics community.  The man who bought my wheel had just got a new job with the FBI in  Homeland Security.  He probably travels back and forth  to KC with his new job.   I'll let him know,  he might have a friend that wants one also.   The model of my wheel is a Brent C,  I can see how you would want a CX if you were a massive thrower.  Model C has plenty of power for me.    Denice

Mark I was wondering if you had ever used the Wonderbat system.   I tried it out today, and it didn't want to stay seated in the opening, kept moving up and down.  This is my first time throwing in about 2 years and I have never thrown much on a electric wheel.  The next pot I got out a regular  bat and didn't have any problems centering it.   Does the square need some clay underneath it?  The wheel I got off of E-Bay came with two sets,  it would be a shame not to use them.   By the way I sold my kickwheel so we were able to set up the Brent this weekend.   I also bought a 3 cu. ft. Blue Diamond kiln,  I paid $250 for it.   It has a manufacture date of 1969 on it but has never been used,  it also came with $100 worth of shelves and stilts.   My small Paragon finally bit the dust,  it is around the same age but it is well used.   I like having a kiln that size for special jobs.   Denice

Had my first MS relapse in 10 years Saturday the whole right side of my body went numb.  My hands still work  so I can still stumble out to my studio and still work.  I guess it doesn't take too much to make me happy.   Denice

Working on a replacement top for the bubbler fountain I made a few years ago.   My husband dropped it working on the pump system that had quit working.    Denice

Can't log in

My big skutt gave up last night, after 15 hours only made it to 2000 degrees, time to rewire ugh!

TJR I thought I would let you know they have moved the warning south of us. I'm not really worried about myself just everyone else. I have a basement to hide in some people have no where to go. A large tornado the other night north of Wichita was mostly in no mans land. But it took out three farms and killed 1500 cattle. All 3 families lost their lively hood, no one insures cattle. De...

Hi I have enjoyed your pug sculptures, I did portraiture sculpture for years. I wanted to tell you about SmartFlix.com you can rent educational DVD's they have quite a few pottery dvd's. I have never used them but I thought you should know about them. Denice

TJR That particular fountain is Cone 1 Majolica and low fire red terracotta that is fired to it's max temp. to make it vitrified and hold up to freezing weather. The spills and moldings are Cone 6, I worked on the low fire glaze and clay combination development for 6 months. I wanted it vitrified and not crazing which is what Majolica does. I have done 3-3' and 2-6' murals also w...

Hi PK what city are you near. I am from Wichita and there's another potter on this forum from Pittsburg. If you have more questions about setting up your studio you can e-mail me directly. I work in Cone 6 electric and could help you get started with it. Denice