Friday 9 March 2012

Fired and finished

Frank lighting the kiln


Well I'm glad that's done - it's been hard work and long hours leading up to that firing.

Luke called me during the day to say that Eric the cat wasn't well, so I had to leave the kiln in Frank's capable kiln gauntlets and rush home to take poor Eric to the vets. The vet just called a minute ago and he didn't make it, so it's going to be a sad house here this evening.

The firing seemed to go well - we finished stoking just after ten o'clock in the evening, although by the time we'd clammed the kiln up with wet clay and tidied around, it was approaching midnight that we finally all went our separate ways.

Here's the obligatory post-firing sofa photograph of yesterday's team. The chap on the left of the picture is Dave Smith, who is a brilliant glass artist and designer(take a look at his site and you'll be astonished at the quality of his work). He's just designed the artwork for John Mayer's latest album.

Now we have to wait until Saturday and keep our fingers crossed that there are some good pots hidden away in that chamber.



Here's a haphazard little film of the day.

11 comments:

James H said...

Fingers crossed for Saturday. Are there any candlesticks in there :) - as if!!!!! ;-)

Sorry to hear about Eric :(

gz said...

Firing together is just right.It is good fun and less nerve-racking!
I'm glad I don't have to wait so long to open my kiln-another hour or so...and I hope to fire again on Saturday!!

Aren't Muscovy Ducks sociable- I miss mine

Dennis Allen said...

The story of a boy and his multi purpose gas burner.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure there is some beauties' in there. You had great help.

Anna M. Branner said...

You are a good Dad! So sorry to hear about Eric.

Fingers crossed you have some extra beauties in there!

Joe Troncale said...

Sorry about your cat.
Good luck with the kiln opening!
I checked out Dave's website and some of is work and all I could say were expletives of astonishment! What an artisan!!
I posted it on Facebook for my friends and relatives to see...
Amazing...

Ron said...

Hey Doug, So Sorry to hear about sweet Eric. He'll be missed I know.
I'm sure you are happy to have this firing all done. Lots of pots in there. Look forward to the unloading.

Jane W said...

oh dear, sorry to hear about Eric, these pets .... so sad ....
fingers crossed for the opening
lovely film, you are getting very good - parallel career???

Anonymous said...

John Mayer approached Dave Smith for his album cover? Wonderful! I wonder how that happened.

ang design said...

oh no! dear eric he was so much fun..:(( what happened.? he will be missed
you and your buds on a couch the supreme end of firing shot..hope it turns out all brilliantly

Mark Hodgkinson said...

That's a Fantastic Photo of you all together! It sure looks like your all having a happy time firing that kiln!

Cheers to all.