It’s their first time really trick or treating around a neighborhood so it should be interesting.

The kiln was still pretty hot this morning…still glowing when I peeked through the top spy. There are a lot of shelves and a lot of pots in there so hopefully I’ll be able to unload sometime late tomorrow.

First stop…the grandparent’s house then off to a friends house to start looking for candy.

I had gotten the kiln about halfway loaded when I went inside to take a break and watch Obama’s 30 minute ad.  I’ve heard it all before and have been a supporter for a while but sometimes when he speaks…..chills baby, chills.  That clip from the 2004 keynote speech at the DNC…still unbelievable.

Back to pots….here is the back half loaded.

Thank goodness for plate setters.  I got these a few years back when Michael McCarthy, Mark Shapiro and I split an order to cut down on freight costs.  I don’t make plates too often but when I do these things are priceless.

Even more plate setters….and a gently raised lip of a pitcher is just about perfect for a sprung arch kiln…don’t you think?   As much as I seem to dread loading…if I can get that first shelf done it becomes a pretty fun game.  Unfortunately…when loading the reduction kiln the pots just look so bland all covered with glaze.

Well..off to catch the tail end of The Daily Show and wait to turn up the kiln a few more times tonight.

Pilots are on.  Time to wait for some turn-ups.

Photos of loading coming soon.

Almost everything for this firing is glazed and I’ve started to load.  Should have the pilots burning in the not too distant future which means I’ll be able to get this thing fired off tomorrow.

Big buckets of glaze are the best…the best!

An apprentice. 

I’ve had some interns over the summer a few years back but never quite figured out how to make that work well.  Right now though, I would love someone waxing the feet of bowls and getting some glazes prepped so when I get back from this little computer/coffee break I could get in there and glaze.  

Also…my floor might be a little cleaner.

Perhaps when I get to Austin I’ll have figured things out well enough to have some help in the studio and not have it be the hindrance it has been in the past.  Maybe with 3 kids now my studio time could be more efficient with some help.  

Of course, the problem is that I can be a little bit of a control freak.  Just ask anyone who has tried to cook in my kitchen…right Abigail?

I have piles of bisque piling up and I’ve been writing about glazing for about a week…time to get to work.  

I just got back from carpool where I did my best to convince three 4 year old girls that The Shins were perfect music to listen for driving.  It didn’t work.  I was able to avoid listening to the “Barbie Girl” song.  That is a small consolation because I we had to..had to…had to listen to Hannah Montana.  They’re 4!  Ale has never even seen Hannah Montana but apparently it’s the best song in the world.  

Here’s the last of the fresh work.  I’m trying to get everything dry so I can load a bisque today but these are still pretty damp and I’m not in Austin yet.  They’ll probably just miss this glaze firing.  

Here’s a large white-stoneware platter…about 20 inches. This picture makes me want to fire salt and soda again…right now.  I love how this looks at this moment.  The white clay will still look great with a celadon but it might be time to start testing some clear glazes.

Well…time to get the indie rock fired up in the studio and forget all about little Hannah Montana!