Martin Howard on sun 10 feb 02
My Dutch friend, Cor Duynker, has been with me for 5 weeks and is now in The
Potteries, up north, for a few days before going back to Holland. He has
made lots of mugs and other ware in my pottery. I've mainly kept out and
done all the administrative work that had been piling up!! Tax return
completed on time!
He threw some lovely leather hard mugs, slipped them dark blue and wanted to
Once Fire them. So I directed him to my once fire clear glaze (lots of kitty
litter in it!).
But it was far too thick and dense as I had not used it for some time and
had not left sufficient space for the necessary amount of water.
In the kiln and has gone all lumpy causing the blue slip to be hidden by a
semi opaque mucky light blue crawling glaze. Ugly!
But the form of the pots are good and I would like to save them.
What would the gurus suggest in this situation?
My idea is to really water down the glaze and fire again, giving it over an
hours soak at top temperature. Or is that just a waste of time?
The former firing was rather too much a cone 3 rather than my preferred 2,
just touching 3.
Incidentally, it has been a very good experience to have someone else come
and use the Pottery. I hope someone else will want to come this time next
year. It certainly helps me take some time off to do other necessary things.
It involved interesting discussions at mealtimes, playing chess in the
evening and generally, having another claybud around, was great fun.
Cor has helped me refine various ideas and projects for the future. That
cross fertilisation of ideas is very valuable to both. I would
recommend it to anyone. Cor has also given me a high standard of order and
cleanliness to live up to! Highly recommended.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 8th February 2002
| |
|
