It was worth the wait! Alan came out with me to Abbotsford for the kiln opening and most of today’s photos were taken by him. Sadly Nora’s daughter Isla developed a strep throat so Nora couldn’t join us. I’ve brought her pieces home and she’ll get them soon.

The photos into the kiln show three stages of the opening. They’re useful for us to have a record of what was where so that we can choose what would suit each pot next time. Top front was not very salted, bottom back got lots. Dave’s tall vases, with Helmer and then sprayed with other slips, are lovely. Herman was happy with his little stoppered oil or vinegar pourers and with his impressed bowls. Gorgeous colours!

Nora experimented with some plates and bowls. She will probably want to spray some of her pieces with slips next time as the bare clay wound up rather white. The refired spotted mugs are much livelier. It seems that something about salt firing makes plates warp.

After all the pieces were set on the workshop tables we spent a while comparing effects and we all have more ideas to experiment with next time.

I am very happy with my results. My ten pieces made with Rod’s Bod are awfully dark so I just won’t use that again. The grog and dark-firing body just don’t suit what I’m aiming for. There is one little vase that has a little too much glass on one side but all others have the orange peel and colour I like.

As mentioned in the blog about the firing, we used 28 lbs of salt and it would appear that that is enough. Interestingly we chose not to dip the burritos in water before inserting them and there seems not to be any problem with that.

So now we’ll plan for another salt firing in the Fall. Herman says we can do that whenever we like as it doesn’t interfere with the firing of his students’ work. That is done in the vast 40-yr-old gas kiln nearby.

Al took good photos of many of my pieces, especially the jugbirds, so you can see the good colours and surfaces we achieved. I only included one Rod’s Bod piece so that you can see how it looks. The others are here in my studio, as well as some mugs, little cappuccino cups and some bowls. Pop in to visit if you’d like to see what salting does.

https://picasaweb.google.com/112208740085943894765/NewSaltPotsJuly2013?noredirect=1

At least one jugbird is off to Europe and I must check with Circle Craft and the Gallery of BC Ceramics to see what they’d like.

Now, after all the excitement of the last week I must get back to assembling more earthenware jugbirds. I hope you enjoy reading my account of it all.