salt kiln firing

My foreman! Grey cat on a little grey Fergie.

He supervised my shelf cleaning at friends' salt kiln

receding light

Mynydd Llangynidr at about 7.15 am, last Thursday morning and this morning.

Last week was cold and frosty, today was warm and mild.

Add the fact that it is half term holiday in Wales and you get a half-decent day at the market.

We're all hoping that it is half-term elsewhere next week and we'll still be busier!!

recession

Sheep sales are down, so my bill-paying job ends after next week, until the Spring.

Which could mean May 2011.

I need to make the Right Pots and get them selling in the Right Place.

Or find a Patron of the Arts.

Or win the Lottery.

Self Employed Tax Credit will do for 3 months, if it still exists. The government seems to want more self employed people- then we are not on the statistics that they don't want. So it might still exist....for a while.

A rich husband is also an alternative.

I had the offer.

I prefer Mountain Man. I love him.

We are Us.

glazing

Proper planning started for the next salt firing yesterday.
Kiln shelves sorted for cleaning and new batwash.

I came home and mixed more of our basic Shino glaze, I need to make some slip with AT ball clay and do some glazing today.

Also some throwing....and garden tidying and digging if not too wet....also the house is untidy and not sorted and Daughter would like to come and stay in December.........

Meanwhile The Carpenter is assisting The Oily One put a different engine in The Wizzard's car....over in Derbyshire. I hope they do finish it today, otherwise there will be even less progress here.

galleries

Off to a business meeting again at Taste of Enterprise-

Then delivering candlepots, candlelamps and two reindeer to Form in Blaenafon, then half a dozen espresso cups and saucers to Llantarnam Grange in Cwmbran.

Llantarnam Grange chose quite a few pots on Monday as well and I discovered that they also stock the World Heritage Centre in Blaenafon.
So my work is spreading.

Panic reigned last night as we realized that the closing date for submissions to "Earth and Fire" in Rufford (Craft Potters Association exhibition) for the Associate members' stand is THIS Friday.....which means getting things on CD as well...The Carpenter is liasing with Daughter.

I really need to learn to use the Carpenter's camera. Yet another thing to do.

pots!

Well cooked! (cones 8,9,10)

Two for the price of one?!

candle lamps
espresso cups
English Translation!!
Mini jugs

I'm quite pleased with this firing. It did use more gas (Propane) but 4am start was cold and the rest of the morning wasn't a lot warmer. Plus the fact that the kiln was a fairly solid pack!

a week's pics

Keeping this bit dry....
up on Twmbarlwm
Looking over the River Usk to the old Art College in Newport. A beautiful building with marvellous light-at least it will be swanky apartments instead of being demolished
Tide vs River. Tide winning
Autumnal colour

Dappled cow for dappled sun
A youngster with a smart Winter coat on the way
Ploughing
More ploughing!