GEP

We had a xmas pair of chipmunks around the kiln for a spell this year.They liked the warmth of the chimney area where I have lots of  English dry pressed shelves stacked up from long ago
 

The language they gave you leaves a lot to be desired, in terms of clarity. 
“between 72 and 150 px” refers to “pixels per inch.” For a 4x6 inch image at 150 pixels per inch, resize your image to be 600 x 900 pixels. 
JPEG is the default file format for most digital cameras, so chances are you don’t need to change anything there. 
Photoshop is the most popular image editing software. The language they used sounds like they expect everyone to have it. But it’s not feasible for many people (very expensive and steep learning curve). If you have a Mac you can use Preview which comes for free on a Mac. I often use a free app called Image Size on my iPad which will do the resizing too. 

The language they gave you leaves a lot to be desired, in terms of clarity. 
“between 72 and 150 px” refers to “pixels per inch.” For a 4x6 inch image at 150 pixels per inch, resize your image to be 600 x 900 pixels. 
JPEG is the default file format for most digital cameras, so chances are you don’t need to change anything there. 
Photoshop is the most popular image editing software. The language they used sounds like they expect everyone to have it. But it’s not feasible for many people (very expensive and steep learning curve). If you have a Mac you can use Preview which comes for free on a Mac. I often use a free app called Image Size on my iPad which will do the resizing too. 

The language they gave you leaves a lot to be desired, in terms of clarity. 
“between 72 and 150 px” refers to “pixels per inch.” For a 4x6 inch image at 150 pixels per inch, resize your image to be 600 x 900 pixels. 
JPEG is the default file format for most digital cameras, so chances are you don’t need to change anything there. 
Photoshop is the most popular image editing software. The language they used sounds like they expect everyone to have it. But it’s not feasible for many people (very expensive and steep learning curve). If you have a Mac you can use Preview which comes for free on a Mac. I often use a free app called Image Size on my iPad which will do the resizing too. 

The language they gave you leaves a lot to be desired, in terms of clarity. 
“between 72 and 150 px” refers to “pixels per inch.” For a 4x6 inch image at 150 pixels per inch, resize your image to be 600 x 900 pixels. 
JPEG is the default file format for most digital cameras, so chances are you don’t need to change anything there. 
Photoshop is the most popular image editing software. The language they used sounds like they expect everyone to have it. But it’s not feasible for many people (very expensive and steep learning curve). If you have a Mac you can use Preview which comes for free on a Mac. I often use a free app called Image Size on my iPad which will do the resizing too. 

Ok if you read my post on buying back over $3500 new unused pottery from a horders estate sale for $450 then you know how starnge and rare that might be.
well lighning strikes again on that front
Today the day after Christmas at 4 pm I was bookkeeping on the desktop on a very rainy windy day. The phone rings and its the estate sale guy from 3 weeks ago. They found three more large boxes of my pottery and they need to get it gone. He says $100 for it all and you have to pick it up today. I had sanitized/reorganized my van on the only dry day Xmas afterr stuffing it full from taking xmas booth down xmas eve. I Jumped in and drove the 35 minutes back to that house. Last time it was jambed full-this time thay has a box moving trck and all that was left in the whole house was my pottery that they just found in 3 boxed in a hidden space in large kitchen under a counter back water area.  My guess is 1-2 k worth of stuff.I'll go thru it in a few days. Just like last time all new all still with sales tags on bottoms. I found out that this person bought my pots wrapped them and boxed them and put them away like xmas ornaments -all 5 k worth. She may have been my best customer-well its a toss up as another from the east coast who runs a private jet rental service may have her beat ? Hard to say as she bought dinnerware sets and lots of st=uff over time where as this lady bought it all in 3 years from one organic market before I quit them.
When I left the house a hour ago it was 100% empty of all contents-I drove home in disbelieve as Santa Extended xmas one more day at least to me
Merry xmas and Happy Holidays from Linda and Mark

Well after 43 years I packed up my last xmas pottery booth .
I flew a sign past 12 days telling customers I would not have this booth next year at xmas. Get my work in September at my only show I will be doing .
They where  not as happy about as I am to say the least but-they still have options
Its in same small town (15K population) only its 3rd weekend in Sept. I have build upo a huge following in those consecutive 43 years
I'm already supplying 8 local outlets as well , dropping off pottery about every 2-4 days at xmas as well.Since I was in my later 20s I have always had this booth in the same shopping center -in front of a large drug store (its changed these names all thru my years-value giant,payless, longs drugs, rite aid ,CVS)  In front of Safeway for 5 more years and then the past 12-15 years in front of locally owned pet store. The money has been great as has the customers but as I approach 70 its in my plan to slow it down and this xmas I put the booth away permanently (this booth is made just for this location) -not the sales racks but the lockable booth. I have a younger potter friend I'm, hoping to give the whole deal to if his health gets better. I offered it free of charge and would set him up in it if he is able next year or the following. I have permission from 4 property owners around town for signage in their years and I and pass it all on if and its a big if he can do it. I operate booth from 12-5 weekdays 11-5 Friday-sat sun. Those hours I learned from decades of messing with the best profitable hours. I also have sales help and have paid them well so they always wanted to come back-all the things you learn over time.
Next xmas eve I will not be packing up that booth or driving 30 times into town last few weeks before xmas. Yes less sales but thats the idea-that town sells my work in 3 locations year around anyway-not this huge selection but alot of choices. Its a new transition for me-iI think I made my last canister sets for example and now dinnerware will only be made to order small stuff like that. I'm cutting back on forms (no longer 35 ) My wrist will like this change as well as its not happy right now. I'm leaving that flying dog in the window behind now
Merry Christmas all
 

I am firing at cone 6 in an electric kiln. I make my own clay for many reasons. Most of the clay bodies available have way to much manganese and therefore very dark. Manganese makes a very cold dark brown and is poisonous. I was looking for a warm rich orange brown look. For that I chose iron magnetite. Also I found that the commercial blends do not have good glaze fit for my glazes. I also raw glaze (no bisque) and need a very tight body without any coarse materials in it like grog or fireclay that would absorb excess water to rapidly. I say this to warn you about why my claybody is formulated the way it is but it is a good starting point and one can add grog or substitute fireclay for the #6 tile.
Cone 6 stoneware
#6 Tile ..................24 lbs
Ball clay .............. 24 lbs
Goldart clay ..... 20 lbs
Redart clay ,,,,,,,,, 8 lbs
Flint ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 12 lbs
Feldspar ............ 12 lbs
Iron magnetite ...120 grams

Yes, I am firing in oxidation. Check first with your local supplier. Mine did not carry granular manganese, but I found several places that sell it online. I ended up buying it from Brackers.
https://shop.brackers.com/granular-manganese-60-80-mesh/

@DirtRoads About 10 years ago I was doing a lot of wholesale work and feeling overwhelmed by the workload. So I sat down with my accountant and said “I think I need an employee” with the intention of creating an EIN and a payroll system. But my trusty accountant said, without pausing at all “DON’T DO IT.” He said I would spend all of my time being a manager instead of a potter, I would make the same amount of money, and I would be a lot less happy. He told me to restructure my business so I could handle it by myself instead. I took his advice and started phasing out my wholesale accounts, and got rid of them completely in a year or two. And started doing more and better shows. Now I make fewer pots and a lot more money. And I’m much happier than I was. 
I figure he has 100+ clients, all self-employed and small businesses, and he has seen all of the mistakes that business owners make. It’s a common fallacy, that a bigger operation can make more money. And being a manager really sucks! It’s far more valuable to be selective and to say “no” to things that aren’t really productive. It’s great to have someone in my corner who has that kind of perspective. 

I get the whole range too, from “what is this made out of?” to “what cone and atmosphere?” I think my favorite customers are not necessarily the technically knowledgable, but the ones who care a great deal about home design and function, i.e. making their home into a space where they feel happy. 
Over the years, I have found that as I moved up into a higher tier of craft shows, I really don’t meet the clueless ones anymore. And the ones who don’t know much about ceramics are at least smart people in general and know how to ask intelligent questions. 
I also like to talk shop with other potters. They aren’t necessarily interested in buying, they want to learn. That’s fun for me too. 

A minivan is the best choice for me. It is big enough to do shows, and small enough to be a personal vehicle too. It’s also really comfortable for long road trips. It’s the best balance of cargo space, drivability, and gas mileage. If I’m at a downtown city show, I never have to worry about fitting into parking garages. I have a Toyota and it’s pretty low maintenance too. 

A minivan is the best choice for me. It is big enough to do shows, and small enough to be a personal vehicle too. It’s also really comfortable for long road trips. It’s the best balance of cargo space, drivability, and gas mileage. If I’m at a downtown city show, I never have to worry about fitting into parking garages. I have a Toyota and it’s pretty low maintenance too. 

A minivan is the best choice for me. It is big enough to do shows, and small enough to be a personal vehicle too. It’s also really comfortable for long road trips. It’s the best balance of cargo space, drivability, and gas mileage. If I’m at a downtown city show, I never have to worry about fitting into parking garages. I have a Toyota and it’s pretty low maintenance too. 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

A minivan is the best choice for me. It is big enough to do shows, and small enough to be a personal vehicle too. It’s also really comfortable for long road trips. It’s the best balance of cargo space, drivability, and gas mileage. If I’m at a downtown city show, I never have to worry about fitting into parking garages. I have a Toyota and it’s pretty low maintenance too. 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

Quieter than the vacuum cleaner method!
Looks good.

My husband uses some really strong magnets that he can turn on and off with the handle.  I am goi g to need to “borrow” one   
I have a thing for magnets in general and kinda mad that I didn’t think of this before.  
 
Genius I say!!

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart! 

I’ve been using neodymium magnets as glazing tools too, thanks to @Min suggesting this to me several years ago. Can confirm that this is a game changer! I have my inside magnet wrapped in fabric held on by a rubber band. The fabric helps cushion the magnet so it doesn’t disturb the liner glaze, and the rubber band “stem” is like a handle. My outside magnet has a big eye bolt as a handle. 
I’ve learned to keep them stored on two different shelves, otherwise they will seek each other out and stick together, and it takes a lot of strength to pry them apart!