Time passes swiftly, then slowly, then just passes

I can’t write quickly enough to keep up with all that is flashing by as though I am riding a speeding train looking out the window trying to focus on what is flashing by. Every now and then I am able to focus on a post, a tile in the wall, a tree that becomes a blur and almost instantly vanishes. In this wash of color, emotion, sky, sand I revisit what was a year ago. It seems so far and yet, like it just happened.  Below is the creative process I was in- creating Gail’s memorial, saying good bye, inviting others in, letting the grief out. Similarly in my own life I would need to learn letting others in, letting the grief out and saying good bye in other ways. And full circle it goes as another pass on the spiral.

loading it up!

Loaded up the kiln last night with a plethora of new votive and intention bowls. Some tests of new glaze combinations as well as some new soup bowls for at home as well. I’ll be firing the puppy up on Monday after the big kiln finishes firing so I can use some of the shelves. It isn’t often both are firing. Here are some shots from my phone of some of the steps in the process. Not only is divining form a process, so is envisioning the glaze outcome and how to get it to what you want it to be. Somehow it’s never simple!

A few freshly thrown pieces from the wheel

Once the pieces reach what's called a 'leather hard' stage, they can be safely flipped over and the bottom trimmed to have a foot or be a rounded bottom.

Waxing the bottom of the pot helps to save glaze waste. It's also helpful for waxing between glazing steps which is what I do on my vessel lips. I apply one or several glazes on the lip or elsewhere on the pot. Applying the wax cause the further glazing to repel from it therefore not tainting the first applied layers of the glaze.