–unveiling

The day had come.  The weather was fair, the padded boxes were ready, and if the kiln fairies were willing, we would have a wonderful day.  It was kiln-unloading day.

Tracy and I often attempt to do impressions..something about working for quiet, concentrated hours, alongside one another.  We can’t help but think of Forest Gump with his line about “…never knowing what you’re gonna get when you open a box of chocolates…” as we open the kiln.  Of course, you’d have to say it with a slow, southern drawl, and like Forest–sort of in the back of your throat.  Some of our other favorite impressions include James Mason, bits from Monty Python, the endlessly fun character of James Kirk and lines from Seinfeld.  Tracy is very good with the Scottish brogue and Norwegian accents too.

Okay, enough about silly voices… Please allow me to share the most recent kiln opening with you.

In this load, we’ve got some color samples, some experiments with “cut-outs” and black slip, a crop of  “littles”, and what we consider our classics–the larger hand-pressed tile with raised lines.  Also, I’m interested in a dark brown clay body right now, called Black Mountain.   It is such a rough and porous clay that it gives the glazes a dark, impressionist look sometimes.

Stay tuned for more later.