Denice

I think resin work can be very  intense and deep with color but I will have to pass on it.   I have MS and my immune system thinks it is protecting me when I am around unusual smells,  it actually shuts down my lungs.     It can be anything from a strong cleaner,  bug spray,  spray paint,  mold, cat dander ect.   I carry a EPI pen with me but I usually just try to avoid situations that causes me problems.   I will have to check my bag of clay  and  see what brand I have,  it was my sculpture partner  favorite clay.   He was from a nearby tribe and mostly did southwestern sculptures  a lot of eagles and  cowboy and horses.  The slip I used was called a C5 Porcelain slip,  my supplier had it in black and white,  it was new on the market.   I'll have to look around and see what is new at my ceramics store these days.   Denice

I am also glad I bought my new kilns with the Genisis controllers.   I have fired the Paragon test kiln twice as much as the L&L  I am so happy to have controllers that manage the firing.   I don't have to worry about brain fog and forgetting to turn knobs and change the temp.   When I first decided to get new kilns  I wondered if someone my age should spend that kind of money on  kilns.   After I started using them I decided that is exactly what someone my age should do.   I have automated my house as much as I can,  why not the studio.   Denice

I think resin work can be very  intense and deep with color but I will have to pass on it.   I have MS and my immune system thinks it is protecting me when I am around unusual smells,  it actually shuts down my lungs.     It can be anything from a strong cleaner,  bug spray,  spray paint,  mold, cat dander ect.   I carry a EPI pen with me but I usually just try to avoid situations that causes me problems.   I will have to check my bag of clay  and  see what brand I have,  it was my sculpture partner  favorite clay.   He was from a nearby tribe and mostly did southwestern sculptures  a lot of eagles and  cowboy and horses.  The slip I used was called a C5 Porcelain slip,  my supplier had it in black and white,  it was new on the market.   I'll have to look around and see what is new at my ceramics store these days.   Denice

I have been watching the progress on your medallion,  can't wait  to see your finished medallion.   I worked with oil clay when I belonged to a sculpture group.   I made plaster molds off my pieces.   My son was into medieval times so I made him a chess set that was as close to medieval characters as my research revealed.   I use Cone 5 black and white slip to pour my molds with.  The only problem I had was that they broke easily,  I don't know if I poured them too thin or it wasn't a good clay for a seven year old boys chess set.  I still have the set and the molds,  I ought to dig them out and make a new set.   I have a block of  oil clay in my studio,  I split a order with the man who was the featured at Silver Dollar City  sculpture cabin every summer.  I enjoyed working with the oil clay,  my only problem was that the clay would get soft from my hands holding  the chess pieces while I worked.   When they got sticky I would put them in the refrigerator  and work on a different cooled  piece.   I am happy you are back to sculpting,  I should probably look around for victim and sculpt a bust of them.       Denice

I am also glad I bought my new kilns with the Genisis controllers.   I have fired the Paragon test kiln twice as much as the L&L  I am so happy to have controllers that manage the firing.   I don't have to worry about brain fog and forgetting to turn knobs and change the temp.   When I first decided to get new kilns  I wondered if someone my age should spend that kind of money on  kilns.   After I started using them I decided that is exactly what someone my age should do.   I have automated my house as much as I can,  why not the studio.   Denice

I have been watching the progress on your medallion,  can't wait  to see your finished medallion.   I worked with oil clay when I belonged to a sculpture group.   I made plaster molds off my pieces.   My son was into medieval times so I made him a chess set that was as close to medieval characters as my research revealed.   I use Cone 5 black and white slip to pour my molds with.  The only problem I had was that they broke easily,  I don't know if I poured them too thin or it wasn't a good clay for a seven year old boys chess set.  I still have the set and the molds,  I ought to dig them out and make a new set.   I have a block of  oil clay in my studio,  I split a order with the man who was the featured at Silver Dollar City  sculpture cabin every summer.  I enjoyed working with the oil clay,  my only problem was that the clay would get soft from my hands holding  the chess pieces while I worked.   When they got sticky I would put them in the refrigerator  and work on a different cooled  piece.   I am happy you are back to sculpting,  I should probably look around for victim and sculpt a bust of them.       Denice

I was told that the beautiful Chinese pots were very heavy,  the potters were more interested in the shape and design than the weight.    Denice

I was told that the beautiful Chinese pots were very heavy,  the potters were more interested in the shape and design than the weight.    Denice

I have made  ten exterior murals so far.   You need have the size of mural you want to make and then a design that works with it to start.   Your design need to have small,  medium and large pieces in it and a flow of color and design that will encourage the viewers eyes to follow.   I have made terracotta and C6 stoneware clay murals,   using a cone 6 hand building  clay will give you the best results.   I see you live in PA and have a lot of freezing weather,  your clay needs to vitrified and your glaze has a perfect fix.   Any crackle in the glaze will allow water to leak in  and freeze popping the glaze off.  This is a good time of the year to make some test tiles and lay them outside and let the ice and snow.   I made a two foot mural and  mortared it on a cement board and placed it in the yard to see how it would hold up.  It survived the winter so I knew I was set to make more murals.  I wouldn't recommend making a mural for a horizontal surface after several years the weather takes it toll on it.   I have made two ext floor murals that were on  porches.  The tile was a purchased one inch porcelain tile that holds up freezing condition and epoxy grout.  It was the grout that didn't hold up,  it popped out of the grooves and molded.   I will be glad to answer any questions you have.       Denice

I am glad you clarified where you got your Sunbrella fabric.  When I was a decorator I would use some Sunbrella fabric,  it was the same weight as regular fabric but had a waterproof treatment on it.  If this is awning fabric it is much more durable and heavier than retail Sunbrella.     Denice

I use the heavy canvas fabric that you can purchase with the slab roller,  I have one for light clay and the other for dark.  I also like the idea of the fabric backed vinyl,  I will have to dig through my husband's scrap box and see what he has.   We have been on a buy only what you really need binge for a couple of years.   We also have been donating truck loads  of stuff to the DAV,  I don't think he would give away upholstery scraps for his cars.  His mother died during COVID and we ended up with most of her treasures  in our basement.   We have enough for one more truck load  and I will be able to walk through my sewing room.    Denice

I use the heavy canvas fabric that you can purchase with the slab roller,  I have one for light clay and the other for dark.  I also like the idea of the fabric backed vinyl,  I will have to dig through my husband's scrap box and see what he has.   We have been on a buy only what you really need binge for a couple of years.   We also have been donating truck loads  of stuff to the DAV,  I don't think he would give away upholstery scraps for his cars.  His mother died during COVID and we ended up with most of her treasures  in our basement.   We have enough for one more truck load  and I will be able to walk through my sewing room.    Denice

I use the heavy canvas fabric that you can purchase with the slab roller,  I have one for light clay and the other for dark.  I also like the idea of the fabric backed vinyl,  I will have to dig through my husband's scrap box and see what he has.   We have been on a buy only what you really need binge for a couple of years.   We also have been donating truck loads  of stuff to the DAV,  I don't think he would give away upholstery scraps for his cars.  His mother died during COVID and we ended up with most of her treasures  in our basement.   We have enough for one more truck load  and I will be able to walk through my sewing room.    Denice

I have made  ten exterior murals so far.   You need have the size of mural you want to make and then a design that works with it to start.   Your design need to have small,  medium and large pieces in it and a flow of color and design that will encourage the viewers eyes to follow.   I have made terracotta and C6 stoneware clay murals,   using a cone 6 hand building  clay will give you the best results.   I see you live in PA and have a lot of freezing weather,  your clay needs to vitrified and your glaze has a perfect fix.   Any crackle in the glaze will allow water to leak in  and freeze popping the glaze off.  This is a good time of the year to make some test tiles and lay them outside and let the ice and snow.   I made a two foot mural and  mortared it on a cement board and placed it in the yard to see how it would hold up.  It survived the winter so I knew I was set to make more murals.  I wouldn't recommend making a mural for a horizontal surface after several years the weather takes it toll on it.   I have made two ext floor murals that were on  porches.  The tile was a purchased one inch porcelain tile that holds up freezing condition and epoxy grout.  It was the grout that didn't hold up,  it popped out of the grooves and molded.   I will be glad to answer any questions you have.       Denice

You will waste your time trying to get the bumps out.   Your time is better spent making a new tile,  you are a newbie each new piece will be better.    Before you do any firing you need to check the bottom of the shelf.   Has someone put kiln wash on it or does it have flakes of some exploded pot.   You can't use it safely again until it is ground and cleaned off,   it will damage anything fired below it.     Denice

You will waste your time trying to get the bumps out.   Your time is better spent making a new tile,  you are a newbie each new piece will be better.    Before you do any firing you need to check the bottom of the shelf.   Has someone put kiln wash on it or does it have flakes of some exploded pot.   You can't use it safely again until it is ground and cleaned off,   it will damage anything fired below it.     Denice

You will waste your time trying to get the bumps out.   Your time is better spent making a new tile,  you are a newbie each new piece will be better.    Before you do any firing you need to check the bottom of the shelf.   Has someone put kiln wash on it or does it have flakes of some exploded pot.   You can't use it safely again until it is ground and cleaned off,   it will damage anything fired below it.     Denice

When I was part of the Anazazi Research Group we were suppose to make brushes out of Yucca type plants.   You  had to chew on it to get the fine strings you needed.  The first yucca they decided to try was aloe vera,   I am allergic to aloe vera so I was excused from making a brush.   I tried using one that someone else had made,   Didn't go well,  I think something like a Century plant would work better.   Denice

When I was part of the Anazazi Research Group we were suppose to make brushes out of Yucca type plants.   You  had to chew on it to get the fine strings you needed.  The first yucca they decided to try was aloe vera,   I am allergic to aloe vera so I was excused from making a brush.   I tried using one that someone else had made,   Didn't go well,  I think something like a Century plant would work better.   Denice

When I was part of the Anazazi Research Group we were suppose to make brushes out of Yucca type plants.   You  had to chew on it to get the fine strings you needed.  The first yucca they decided to try was aloe vera,   I am allergic to aloe vera so I was excused from making a brush.   I tried using one that someone else had made,   Didn't go well,  I think something like a Century plant would work better.   Denice

I don't think you have been working in a dusty atmosphere long enough to do much damage.    When I started taking ceramic classes in the early 1970's  no one wore masks or gloves and the professors never talked about them and silicosis.  The studio was in a old football stadium from the early 1900s,  no windows,  no heat or air conditioning.   When clay was being mixed you couldn't even see there was so much dust.   Huge gas kilns were fired right next doors to the throwing room.   Most students weren't there eight hours a day like clay workers,  I am 71 and still here and don't have any lung problems and have been around other silicosis situations.   I worked as a dental technician for 6 year,  had exposure to different kinds of dust.   I live in Kansas wind and dust storms quite common.  I take all of the precautions in my studio now and have for years once I found out it was a problem.   You could have a doctor check things like your breathing capacity.  I have Multiple Sclerosis because of bad genes,  I always felt bad that everyone had to slow down for me.   Now that everyone is in there 70's they all have health problems and they are just as slow as I am.  You can't live your life in fear of what might happen,  you don't know  long your life will be.  We had a young friend killed a couple of years ago walking into work.  He was on his cellphone the guy who ran over him was on his cellphone.    You never know.     Denice

I don't think you have been working in a dusty atmosphere long enough to do much damage.    When I started taking ceramic classes in the early 1970's  no one wore masks or gloves and the professors never talked about them and silicosis.  The studio was in a old football stadium from the early 1900s,  no windows,  no heat or air conditioning.   When clay was being mixed you couldn't even see there was so much dust.   Huge gas kilns were fired right next doors to the throwing room.   Most students weren't there eight hours a day like clay workers,  I am 71 and still here and don't have any lung problems and have been around other silicosis situations.   I worked as a dental technician for 6 year,  had exposure to different kinds of dust.   I live in Kansas wind and dust storms quite common.  I take all of the precautions in my studio now and have for years once I found out it was a problem.   You could have a doctor check things like your breathing capacity.  I have Multiple Sclerosis because of bad genes,  I always felt bad that everyone had to slow down for me.   Now that everyone is in there 70's they all have health problems and they are just as slow as I am.  You can't live your life in fear of what might happen,  you don't know  long your life will be.  We had a young friend killed a couple of years ago walking into work.  He was on his cellphone the guy who ran over him was on his cellphone.    You never know.     Denice

I don't think you have been working in a dusty atmosphere long enough to do much damage.    When I started taking ceramic classes in the early 1970's  no one wore masks or gloves and the professors never talked about them and silicosis.  The studio was in a old football stadium from the early 1900s,  no windows,  no heat or air conditioning.   When clay was being mixed you couldn't even see there was so much dust.   Huge gas kilns were fired right next doors to the throwing room.   Most students weren't there eight hours a day like clay workers,  I am 71 and still here and don't have any lung problems and have been around other silicosis situations.   I worked as a dental technician for 6 year,  had exposure to different kinds of dust.   I live in Kansas wind and dust storms quite common.  I take all of the precautions in my studio now and have for years once I found out it was a problem.   You could have a doctor check things like your breathing capacity.  I have Multiple Sclerosis because of bad genes,  I always felt bad that everyone had to slow down for me.   Now that everyone is in there 70's they all have health problems and they are just as slow as I am.  You can't live your life in fear of what might happen,  you don't know  long your life will be.  We had a young friend killed a couple of years ago walking into work.  He was on his cellphone the guy who ran over him was on his cellphone.    You never know.     Denice

I don't think you have been working in a dusty atmosphere long enough to do much damage.    When I started taking ceramic classes in the early 1970's  no one wore masks or gloves and the professors never talked about them and silicosis.  The studio was in a old football stadium from the early 1900s,  no windows,  no heat or air conditioning.   When clay was being mixed you couldn't even see there was so much dust.   Huge gas kilns were fired right next doors to the throwing room.   Most students weren't there eight hours a day like clay workers,  I am 71 and still here and don't have any lung problems and have been around other silicosis situations.   I worked as a dental technician for 6 year,  had exposure to different kinds of dust.   I live in Kansas wind and dust storms quite common.  I take all of the precautions in my studio now and have for years once I found out it was a problem.   You could have a doctor check things like your breathing capacity.  I have Multiple Sclerosis because of bad genes,  I always felt bad that everyone had to slow down for me.   Now that everyone is in there 70's they all have health problems and they are just as slow as I am.  You can't live your life in fear of what might happen,  you don't know  long your life will be.  We had a young friend killed a couple of years ago walking into work.  He was on his cellphone the guy who ran over him was on his cellphone.    You never know.     Denice

I don't think you have been working in a dusty atmosphere long enough to do much damage.    When I started taking ceramic classes in the early 1970's  no one wore masks or gloves and the professors never talked about them and silicosis.  The studio was in a old football stadium from the early 1900s,  no windows,  no heat or air conditioning.   When clay was being mixed you couldn't even see there was so much dust.   Huge gas kilns were fired right next doors to the throwing room.   Most students weren't there eight hours a day like clay workers,  I am 71 and still here and don't have any lung problems and have been around other silicosis situations.   I worked as a dental technician for 6 year,  had exposure to different kinds of dust.   I live in Kansas wind and dust storms quite common.  I take all of the precautions in my studio now and have for years once I found out it was a problem.   You could have a doctor check things like your breathing capacity.  I have Multiple Sclerosis because of bad genes,  I always felt bad that everyone had to slow down for me.   Now that everyone is in there 70's they all have health problems and they are just as slow as I am.  You can't live your life in fear of what might happen,  you don't know  long your life will be.  We had a young friend killed a couple of years ago walking into work.  He was on his cellphone the guy who ran over him was on his cellphone.    You never know.     Denice