Wood

Unless you've wood fired before it's hard to imagine the actual amount of work involved.  I've had customers ask me how long it takes to make that mug.  So where to start?  With mixing the clay, or mixing glazes?  How about the wood?  Today we finished stacking 4 cords of wood - it's taken a few days, we're old - and then we'll have to split the remaining wood and stack it.  Each firing takes about one cord - picked up one piece at a time and put into the kiln - no wonder arms and hands are tired at the end of even a relatively short firing!

Kiln shed is almost full.  Outside pallets are crammed full.

Waiting to be split and stacked.  The biggest pieces are 12 - 14 inches across.

Pot Shots

Here are a few pots from the June firing.  Better late than ...

Ash glazed nesting bowls

Bare and near bare jugs from the front of the kiln.

Red Shino Nesting Bowls

Red Shino Covered Dish

Temmoku Teapot

Tea dust temmoku oil bottles.

Ash glazed tea pot.

Red Shino tea pot.

Ash glazed tea pot.

Summer Market

The summer market has started in the middle of a heat wave.  We're all trying to stay in the shade and keep the ice water coming.   I love going to the market and just wanted to share with you some of the amazing things made by the people who sell here.

Stephen, the Spice Guy, who mixes all his own spices from recipes he's collected during his travels.

Mirielle of Skimmerhorn Alpacas spinning Alpaca wool.

Skeins of alpaca/merino wool blend with photos of the critters they come from.

Beautiful lavender products from Wynndel Lavender.

Paper Garden bees wax candles.

Pots and doorknobs and fibre art from Andrea at Blue Moon Pottery & Fibre.

Fresh vegetable and herbs from many vendors.

Kootenay Country Craft Distillery - Artisanal Spirits - Gin & Vodka - made from grain grown in the Creston Valley.