Trimmed pots

I finished trimming my pots that I threw the other day.  Here they are.

 

Last night I threw another batch of pots and this afternoon I am working on some more.  I made some mugs and some bigger bowls.  I need to make a lot of stuff to fill up my kiln. 

Pots!

I started making some pottery tonight!  I just started with a few mugs and some small bowls.  We are going to the packer game tomorrow so I will not have a lot of time to trim and put handles on.  Check it out!

This is what I started with.  A bag of clay.

First pot!  It feels good to be making again.

I ended up with 8 mugs, 2 small vases, a ring holder, 5 small bowls, one medium bowl, and a bat of test tiles!  So that was a good night of work.  It was just weird to be able to take my time making pieces.  At work I make as many as I can as fast as I can.  So it was very relaxing and quiet.  Hopefully I will be back at the wheel again soon.

Curtains!

I finished my curtains yesterday!  I just need to get a little Velcro to attach the panels together.  I am all set to get making!  Yay!

Complete

I finished my test firing.  It took 7 and a half hours.  Tomorrow when it cools I will unload the shelves and I will be ready to fill it with work. 

I also finished one of my 3 panels for my curtains.  I only have a few stitches left in the other two panels.  My project for tomorrow night.  I did want to finish my curtains today but it was a beautiful day out.  I worked out in the garage picking up a few things and breaking down boxes that my equipment came in. 

ON!

I just started my test firing!!!  I have to go to cone 04.  Which will reach a temperature around 1900 degrees.  For the test firing you are supposed to load the kiln with just shelves. 

Now I have to get back to finishing my curtains while I wait for my kiln to finish. 

Safety First

Today I went and bought a fire extinguisher and smoke detector.  They are both placed in the garage by the kiln.

Homemade Curtain Track

Today I finished putting up my homemade curtain track.  The other day I was looking on the Internet for curtain tracking but it is kind of expensive so I decided to try to make my own for a lot less.  I am not going to open my curtains that often I just want to be able to open them if I need to.  So I did not want to spend that much money on them.  I probably spent about $20 on everything I needed to get the job done.  We have two little pipes that run down the ceiling in our basement so that caused a bit of an issue.  I had to make a ledge out of wood so that my curtain track would be low enough to pass by the pipes.  I then took some tubing and cut a slit from end to end.  I needed my curtain carriers to be able to slide back and forth. 

This is what I came up with......

         

Now I just have to sew my curtains!  That will be worked on tomorrow. 

Getting Closer

Today I got a lot accomplished. 

I finished my work table.  It has a layer of canvas on top so that clay does not stick to it. 

I painted the pipe from the electrician and my newly patched ceiling so that is all finished.

    

I also bought and hung two spot lights because there is not much light on that side of the room.  I placed one near the glaze area and one above the potter's wheel.  I might add one more light but we will see if two does the job.  This is what my studio looks like.  I have everything that I need to hang my curtains done I just have to sew my curtains.  Then I will be ready to start making some work!  I am really excited.  So with tomorrow off I think I will put up the curtain hardware and start sewing. 

Almost there!

I am getting closer!  I built another table for my shipping area and half way built my work table.  I would of finished it but I ran out of screws.  I need to run to the store today and get some screws so I can finish that project.   I also added a shelf to my glaze station table. 

  
I found fabric for my curtains! I was on my way to the fabric store and I went past Walmart and I thought maybe I should check it it out. I thought I was going to spend quite a bit of money on the curtains because I need 8 yards of fabric. But I got lucky at Walmart I found some not too heavy fabric for $2 a yard on their bargain shelf!!!

Also my neighbor touched up my ceiling so that is finished and I can paint it along with the tubing from the electrician.






I go back to work on Tuesday and I have some things I want to finish before I go back.  Hopefully I will be ready to rock and roll next week some time.  The curtain project will take some time to do but hopefully I can finish those next week.