Ash Glaze Results & New Slipware Jugs

I was looking forward to opening the kiln this morning,

unlike last week when I spent the night worrying.

I had some nice big jugs and the next phase of the Ash Glaze.

This 4lb jug just hits the spot for me
and this Tall green jug was something new for me.

This is the Ash Glaze fired at 1095 oc with a 15 minuet soak

if you click on the picture you get a better view of the glaze

which I think looks tasty in the parts where it is on thicker.

This is the outside of the bowl direct onto the red clay.

and the same glaze on top of my green slip the one on the left as you look at them is the Ash Glaze the one on the right my normal glaze on the same slip.

Time to decide what to make?

Ash Glaze

The one on the left is my second attempt at making a glaze from the ash's from the Horse Chestnut trees at Barrington Court.

It's only 33% Ash so does that count as an Ash Glaze?

It gives a nice colour to the bare clay with some light speckeling.

I'm going to try adding some colour as well.

New Pots and New Stamp

When I did the Christmas fayre at the Barrington Village Hall

I had a very long discussion with one of our Villagers who felt very strongly

that I should have a stamp on my pots showing it was made in Barrington.

To be Honest it has been something I have been trying to avoid

My point of view being that it's a bit "Touristy".

But Now that I'm at Barrington Court it would appear that people like to buy things

either as presents or for themselves that will remind them of their day in Barrington.

So here we go ( what do you think ? )
I found a rubber stamp maker that knew their stuff and suggested I have them made from
polymer what ever that is.
anyway it turned up and it's almost like a metal very firm and easy to press into leather hard clay.
I've had a smaller one done for the bottom of the egg cups.
Here is a selection from today's Kiln opening.

This Jug is in some way a bit of a homage to Mr Doug Fitch
it's about 13" tall . In lots of ways it's all wrong
the shape isn't sexy, like Doug's ones and it's made with a smooth refined clay

unlike Doug's, so in more ways than not it's a very poor attempt.
It's destined to sit in the Window of our local Pub, so after a few drinks it might look OK .

Oh and my second Ash Glaze Trial came out OK but I forgot to take a picture of it.

Does it still count as an ash glaze if it's only got 33% Ash in it ?

Slipware Jug Handles

I have been making some large Jugs with 6lbs of clay they are about 12" tall

and I have taken the opportunity to try different handle finishes.

I was going to write that,

I'm still not sure if I should use one handle design for all of my pots as a type of trade mark handle, but as I'm sat here thinking about it I don't think so.

Different shape pots require different handle fixings.

So that just puts this post to bed really because I was going to ask for your advise.

still I'm sure you might have some comment on this subject.

More Glazed Pots

More pots from today's Firing

The one I spent all night worrying about !

This 2 pint Green Jug was my favorite from today's Firing and it sold today

Just like the Honey jug from last weeks firing that was my favorite and also sold on the same day it came out of the kiln.
Here is the rest of the family
That look like they are about to walk some where.

The new batch of glaze is a dream come true.

This little 1/2 pint tankard in the black slip

and this is the first Ash Glaze Test

50% Standard Borax Frit 50% Ash

I just thought I would try a simple recipe first

it was worth a try.

New Glazes in a busy week

I've had such a busy week this week, collecting and sieving the ash for a glaze

I borrowed one of these big soil sieves to get through the bulk of it.
I got a good close look at Burrow Hill this week when I delivered
the 10 Tankards to Burrow Hill Cider.

and I spent all day Wednesday making up new batches of Glaze, then doing the usual thing of having to glaze a whole kiln load without testing it first.

I've been worrying about it all night so I got up early this morning

and popped down the workshop to open the kiln.

This is a new 1/2 pint tankard in the new batch of Glaze.

More pics later.

On Fire this Morning

I woke up this morning full of Ideas and energy

I was in the workshop by 8am having walked the dog

and by 9.30 I had made these four 6lb jugs each about 12" tall

The last straight one is about 14"

I love it when you feel on fire when your at the wheel.

had to pop back home to sort out some stuff but I'll be back in the Workshop within the hour.

Collecting the Ash

I have started collecting the Ash from the Horse Chestnut trees for some glaze experiments

according to "clay and glazes for the potter" there is little value in trying to use Ash in a glaze in temperatures less than stoneware.

But that's not the point, this is all about creating something good out of a bad thing.

Something that people can relate to and respond to years after the trees have gone.

and I like a challenge!.

One of my customers bought this bowl in for me and I am to make two more like it.
I just liked this view when I took Cadbury for his walk in the afternoon.

I have been working on this yesterday its about 17" tall

and a number of visitors have commented upon it.

I had two customers pay me a very high compliment yesterday, I was talking to another couple when I over heard this other chap say to his wife

" Oh yes it is very similar, the same beautiful shapes"

I had to ask them " similar to what ?"

"some pottery we bought years ago in Devon"

"where was that ?"

"Shebbear"

" Oh Clive Bowen"

"Yes that's the chap"

" He's one of my Hero's"

" well we love his work and we love your work as well".

That kind of thing can make a chaps day.

Trouble with my alarm clock

Just for Fun !

New Slipware pots: two

I unloaded the electric kiln Yesterday and had some nice effects

That I was used to gaining in the Gas Kiln.
This two pint jug I particularly liked I felt it just summed up my work and what I like best about slipware, "simple yet elegant"

Someone else must of agreed with me because the first customer of the day Bought it.

This Jug has some of the nice fire flashing you would expect from a Gas or wood firing

but is created by placing other glazed pots as close as I can.

a 13" wide Pancheon

and one with a lip

Ten Pints of Cider

I had set myself the task of making 1oo egg cups today

as you can see I got to 38 and and then thought

"sod it I'll just make one great big one".

Wood Ash - Glaze Recipe Required

Following the demise of the 43 Horse Chestnut trees on the Barrington Court estate

I felt it would only be right and proper to try and make some Ash Glazes

from the piles of Ash now cooling down.

The trouble is as far as I am aware all the Ash Glaze recipe's I know are for Stoneware Glazes.

This is where you come in my fellow Potters.

Now is the time to scramble for your old recipe books if any one has a recipe

for an Ash glaze that fires to 1100 oc, I would love to give it a go.

If not I may be in the possession of a very large quantity of Horse Chestnut Ash.

Barrington Chain Saw Massacre

Over the past week the sound of Chain Saws has been ringing around Barrington Court.

some 40 Horse Chestnut Trees have been taken down due to Disease.

A very sad sight Indeed, I found it hard to make anything on Thursday morning

I just kept making cups of Coffee and standing outside watching the workmen.
This is the tree outside my workshop.

and this was my first sight on Thursday morning.

This is all that is left of the tree out side my workshop.

I was beginning to get to know the wild life living in the tree, the six squirrels that play around in the morning, the crows in the afternoon and the small owl at dusk.

Building a Customer Base

Ron made a comment on my blog yesterday about building a customer base.

Such a good comment that I stole it for the title of this post.

After my first day and no sales I was feeling confused, not because I think everyone should love what I make and instantly want to buy it, that's not the way the world works and I'm fully aware of that.

But the whole day felt strange, all the time and hard work I had put in over the past months seemed to have come to nothing and on the Sunday morning I was hesitant about going back to the workshop.

But as they say in the Movies " Tomorrow is another Day".

So Sunday morning and I approached the day from a different angle in my head.

This is my workshop and if people want to come and have a look that's fine I just have to get on with what I want to make. Listen to what I want to listen to on the radio and just get on with stuff.

What a difference I was more relaxed and more Myself and I had a great bunch

of visitors 50 plus at least and I sold 7 pots, this was the start of

"Building My Customer Base"

What was also nice was the realisation that I had regained my Patience.

When I was a teenager as seen in the above picture, I was the most patient person you could have met at the time, but over the years I had lost that.

Today I had a lady come in the workshop with a young 9 year old girl who asked me every question you could ever be asked in one day, they were good questions as well like

"how hot does the kiln get ?" 1100 oc I replied " is that hotter than the Sun ?".

just lovely stuff .

But I gave her all the time in the world and really enjoyed it.

My faith in Mankind has temporarily been restored and in Myself and I have started to build My Customer Base.

"Thanks Ron"