My kiln was finally cool enough to open yesterday morning and I’m pleased that all the plates and jugbirds look delicious. The loon’s lid fits nicely and didn’t get stuck in the firing.

Now I have a couple of weeks to get eighteen pieces of my work carefully packed and mailed to Jonathon’s Gallery in London, Ontario. I already have half a dozen fine soda and salt-fired pots on hand.. good thing as there isn’t a chance to make new work so soon. While the earthenware pots were firing I started some new stoneware work so that I can join TriCity Potters in our firing in early October.

The just-completed earthenware jugbirds are all intended for Jonathon and Brian in Ontario so I selected birds that are seen there (suggested by cousin Dennise, thank you). There’s a Cardinal, one of my regulars just because he’s a fine colour, and a Pileated Woodpecker because they are found here and back East. These guys are all roughly 5″ tall.

Apart from those I made a Baltimore Oriole and researched a Blue Bird. The latter is quite turquoise but I hope is recognizable to Ontarians. Here is an illustration alongside him.

A new and fiddly-to-paint fellow is the Blue Jay. We don’t see those here, instead seeing Stellar’s Jays and Whisky Jacks.

Dennise mentioned a Loon and of course I needed to make one. My born-in-Canada mother was fond of their calls. But the Loon doesn’t lend itself to being a jug and I have made some odd Loon vessels before.. but where to fill them? A hole in the back isn’t perfect, but I thought that with a lid the bird could become a teapot. I have enjoyed designing, assembling and painting him and I’m told that he is clearly a Loon. Does it pour? will be asked. Yes, but not very well. He is honestly more decorative than functional but the goal is to make you smile.

There is also a Jolly Green Jugbird, just because I like green.

Tomorrow’s job is to make final selections and start packing.

I’ll post photos of some of the plates that helped to fill the kiln in my next blog.