Leduc Pottery Club

Let's see if this is a good place for us to communicate about the Pottery Club events.  We could let people know things like when a kiln is going to be loaded/unloaded, when classes are happening, dates of special events like the sale, raku firing or woodfire, if you'll be there on the weekend and would like some company, or ...

Just a few updates:
- the last glaze load has been unloaded (I think by Helene!). Some nice looking pieces! I think that the load included all the plates and trays that had been glazed, so if you're waiting for those, they are ready for pick-up.
- we probably have enough for another glaze load - if Karen gets her stuff finished! I should have time to load it on Tuesday evening, so if someone can do the turn-ups we can get it going then. That way it can be unloaded by the weekend, just in time for it to wrapped up and placed under the tree!
- today I placed an on-line order for the "Mastering Cone 6 Glazes" book. It is not easy to find and when I was looking for information about it, it was clear that this is THE cone 6 glazing book. It is where we got the raspberry and slate glazes from. The book authors have a website (www.masteringglazes.com) that has some good information on application etc.

Today (Tuesday) was a slow day at the club. Kristi, Helene and I were there for most of the evening and then Karen finally arrived at about 10:00.

Kristi had a great night on the wheel - she was IN THE GROOVE and has several pieces to show for it, including a funky pitcher. We also did some more glazing and then loaded a glaze load into the kiln. Depending on schedules, it may get fired tomorrow morning and then be ready for unloading on Friday/Saturday. By then we will probably have another load ready to be fired, so if you have any items ready to be glazed, stop by and finish them up. Then we can finish off one more kiln load full before Christmas, and I guess if there is still another load full, we can probably do that too! That should get us all caught up so that we can fire more regularly in the new year.

Karen and Helene were talking about mixing up some new glazes (maybe tomorrow), if we have the needed ingredients.

So, you can see that things are really moving along. If you want to continue your classes and membership in the new year, make sure you add your name to class lists in 'the book' that is usually laying around on the counter.

Wednesday Update: the kiln ran today and should be cool enough to unload on Friday, so if there is something you want, drop by on the weekend. You may have to unload the kiln first! I think there is enough stuff to run the kiln again, so hopefully run through another load soon.

Here is a picture of our first glaze load in the new kiln! Some 'interesting' variations on one of the new glazes, but I think we have it figured out now. Good thing we have such a smart teacher.

We loaded another glaze load tonight and fired up the kiln. Not sure how long it takes, but hopefully it works as good as the first one. When loading the kiln I realized that we had made quite a bit of large stuff this session - good work fellow potters. But it would be nice to have a few more small things to fill in those little spots in the kiln.

We also loaded another bisque load and Julie will turn it on tomorrow when the glaze load is finished. I think she said it runs for 14 hours, so it is possible that if you want to glaze things on Thursday evening, and load the kiln then we could have one more firing before the sale.

The Sale: meet at 9:00 AM on Saturday so that we can set up for the sale beginning at 10:00. All members are asked to bring some things to sell and some food to share. The sale runs from 10 till 2. See you then, if not before!

Time for another posting!

Kiln progress: Karen got her helpful husband to replace the plug-in part of the cord (I'm sure it has a more technical name!), and Kristi carried in a bunch of other official looking bits and pieces. So, I think we must be getting close!

Lots of pieces are ready for bisquing, ready for glazing and ready for final firing. It will be exciting to try some of our new glazes in our new kiln.

Remember that our sale is going to be on December 9 and it would be great if everyone had a few (or a lot of) pieces to put in. The potter and club split the profits 50/50. Feel free to use any of the recycled clay (for free) for sale pieces. Bowls and cups are always good sellers.

If you're interested, I received an invitation to the "High Level Potters and Friends Pottery Sale" on December 2 from 10:00 till 4:00 at the Strathcona Community League (10139-87 Ave). I went last year and there was come interesting stuff - 4 potters, 1 painter and other assorted 'artsy-fartsies.' Also, the Edmonton Potter's Guild is holding their annual sale on November 25 from 10:00-3:00 at the downtown library. Be there early if you want to see or buy the good stuff! Free entry, but bring a Food Bank donation.

Keep playing in the mud.

Another week is here. Another bisque load has been unloaded - some neat looking stuff! Hopefully we get the kiln working soon as we have lots of things to glaze.

I've been impressed with creativity of the handbuilt things that people have been doing. I didn't used to like handbuilding (well, truthfully I never really did it and just thought I didn't like it!), but lately have been quite enjoying it. It is a nice change of pace from the work on the wheel.

This week in the mail I received a flyer from Red Deer College about a "Pottery Tour of England and Wales" that they are running this spring/summer (June 17-July 1). Any takers??? The cost (not including airfare) is $5175! Have a look at their website for more information - the link is to the left and look under "continuing education" then "general programming" then "study tours" or copy and paste this link: http://www.rdc.ab.ca/continuingeducation/study_tours/pottery_tour.html

I added some new links to the left of sites of potters or studios visited on the study tour. Enjoy!

If you are able to view this blog, please leave a comment so I know I am not just writing to myself :)

See you next week!

Now that the November is here we can start thinking about Christmas - well, everyone except Karen who is boycotting the holiday season this year.

Lots of interesting pieces are being created, particularly by those people doing handbuilding. Very imaginative platters, plates and various other vessels. Also some cool altered shapes that began on the wheel! Although Julie tells us not to get too attached to anything until its totally finished, I can hardly wait to see what they all look like when they are glazed - maybe with some of our new glazes in our new kiln.

A reminder to all that our Christmas Sale is coming up in early December, so get busy producing so that we can make some money for the club.

See you next week, if not before.