On this below-freezing day here on the West Coast it’s a perfect day to finish off some stoneware pots and think about posting some photos of my recent glaze firing of earthenware.

Just over a week ago just two Raiders, Mina and Michelle, joined me for a work day. As it turned out their few plates just helped me to fill my kiln for a glaze firing of all my January work. I’ll show you their work first and then make another blog about my jugbirds and bowls.

As my guests busied themselves with underglazes and slab plates I was throwing some more yunomi with stoneware clay to add to my selection for an upcoming soda firing.

Mina chose two of her favourite large round platters, using a new jar of violet underglaze for one and black for the background of the other. These will be used for serving food.

Michelle painted one of the frying-pan square plates, making the underside rather more jolly than the top! You never really know how strong the colour contrast will be. She also painted a lunch plate in black with a surprise in the middle, and a tiny triangular dish.

Her daughter Tamara sent me a photo of one of her remarkable big platters in use at a party. Nice!

The ladies took me out to lunch at Port Moody’s excellent ‘Original’s’ Mexican restaurant. It is two blocks from our house, on Clarke street and is our closest eatery. The food was delicious and took me back to the flavours and smells of Puerto Vallarta. They have had some crockery made back in Mexico especially for this restaurant and I must say that the Mexican coffee in a latte was perfect! Thank you Mina and Michelle for a treat!