May 27th, 2017

Pottery Update ..Week 11 ....Glazing my Log Vase.

I so enjoyed my pottery class this week , well I always do .
I had to glaze my log bud vase, ready for it's final firing.
So here it is. 
Looking very vibrant.
It won't look like this when it is fired and taken out of the kiln.
The bright rust color will turn in to a wood tree trunk color ..so a brown in various shades.
It was interesting and another learning curb.
When I rolled up the clay to make the log I had to roll it over scrunched up newspaper to keep it's shape.
The heat in the kiln burns up the newspaper. 
Therefor I had to turn the log upside down and shake out the ashes ..that was very interesting to me.
Then it had to be washed out a little and then a lot of dark brown glaze was poured in to the log center through the flower bud holes ...and swished around to coat the inside and help make it more waterproof.

This photo is before it was fired in the kiln.

The grass will be in a dark green and the flowers will be turquoise and a yellowish green

Here is my sweet turtle ...I placed wax underneath him so that if I dripped any glaze it will just burn off in the final firing in the kiln.
He will have a mottled dark green shell and his head and legs will be dark brown.

I so enjoyed making this unusual log flower bud vase ...I made it as when I am picking my Wildflowers sometimes there is a broken flower or one with a short stem ...now I will have a place to put them ...it will also look great with just the head of a lily, Zinnia etc ..

Now it sits on the shelf waiting for the final firing .
It may be a few weeks before there are enough items to put in the Kiln 
But I think it will be worth waiting ...don't you .
The incredible planter in the back was made by our Tutor and friend Faith.
She is amazing and so fast ..I doubt I will ever be that fast ...I am a little slow just like my turtle...ha! ha! 
I am going to have a go at making a planter like this for myself ...Faith believes I can make it.
So we will see ....
Her bird is also going to be blue ...not too sure what the walls of the houses are going to be ...
As you can see the glaze has flooded in to the windows ..making them dark.
I think it's going to be incredible when it comes out of the Kiln.
​The Jewelry pieces in the front are my friend Mary's ..she loves to make jewelry.

Thanks for popping in.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my Pottery glazing. 
I am as you can see now able to pick some of my Wild flowers.
That gives me joy.
I also purchased some seeds for unusual colored Cosmos flowers,
And some unusual Sunflowers ..more than 10 different varieties so the packet tells me.
So I will sow them today and hopefully will have some to enjoy through out the Summer.
I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday/Bank Holiday weekend 
We are going to have a lazy one except for mowing the lawn.
I will do that whilst Danny works on a little problem on his truck.
Otherwise we are going to stay away from the crowds and enjoy sitting on our decks and porches.
Watching the birds, chatting to the Raccoons and loving on our beloved cats.
Eating amazing food.
Fillet Mignon on the grill/BBQ and on Memorial Day hot dogs on the grill .
Lots of lovely healthy salad.
And finally going to watch the latest Star Wars movie on our television.

Happy Days to you all 

Janet