Frigid

We are in frigid weather this week.  I think today's high was like 12°F.  Just cold outside.   But not my studio.  It hit 85°F.  I can tell you these old steam furnace works too well. Sun was very strong, and felt so good today.



 

 

 

 

 

 

I finished repairing the kiln. Patching split bricks were not easy.  I am afraid I did not wet bricks enough.  I probably need to go back to repair or replace these bricks later.  Now, I am wondering how these repairs would affect a firing.  Will find out by early next week.

Kiln maintenance

The first firing of 2013 is in the book.  It was overall good firing, though I am noticing a small piece fused on the edge of the pot recently.  I vacuumed the kiln before the firing, and had lost couple pieces this way.  I checked the inside the kiln, and found the firebrick near the target brick looked chunky.

 

I decided to repair. Bricks are not mortared, but was not easy to pull out.  I wound up using the drill and chisel to chip away.  Many bricks are split into two sideways, so the front face came off, but the rest of the brick were still there.  As if the interior of the brick were burned, and the outer side of the brick looked new.   I finished putting in new bricks today.  I will fill the gap with fiberglass and mortar some loose pieces tomorrow.

New year.

January 8th, already. As my mother-in-law passed last summer,  I am skipping New Year's greetings. This is more like Japanese thing, I think.

I am back to the studio since January 2nd. I have not come up new items for this year yet, maybe dinner plates.  I do not usually bring the dinner plates to shows, but maybe.  I bought the plate setter last year, and can use them.  Do you have any idea what I should make?



 

 

Chimney upclose

Last week, guys were tearing down lots antennas used for wireless company from the roof.  I got a chance to go up the roof to check the chimney. It looks good after 7 years.  The way doves are flying over, I thought a mess on the roof, but quite contrary, it was very clean and no sign of the doves.



2012 is finally winding down.  Etsy got very busy right after the Thanksgiving, and my basement became the shipping center. Pieces of corrugated boxes were every corner of the basement until tonight.  Almost a time to reset and restocking my inventories and sending out the applications for the summer shows. Yes, mugs week...

Happy holidays!

Teapot 50

[caption id="attachment_2289" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="Teapot 50"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2290" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="Teapot 49"][/caption]

I started making one of a kind teapot in early 2011 inspired by Fong Choo's teapots.  Now, finally I made fifty.  It was great exercise, to imagine new shapes as well as learning construction. It did sell well. It also saved many greenwares.  A time spent building a teapot gave enough time to dry freshly thrown pieces to cover with plastics before leaving the studio. I felt a bit of limitation with using mostly two glazes toward the end.  Now first 50 was done, should I go on or make something else?

All teapots are here.

Snow on the horizon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been cold November, but not much of snow. I have been busy stocking the Etsy store and am getting ready for the studio open house and sale on December 8 & 9.  This is going to be my fifth open studio.  So far I had four glaze firings in last 30 days, and plan to two more in a week.  I am so tired....

Kitsune Udon

Have  you had your favorite snack sudden disappeared from a store shelf?

I was frantically looking for the Sppporo Ichiban Kitsune Udon early this year, then found it was discontinued.  I have been eating this more than 10 years. This instant noodle was my frequent midnight snack.  I gave up and forgot about it until recently.  Outside is getting cold, and I miss eating the noodle at night.  Then, hit me. Just make one myself.  Udon noodle is made of flower and water with a bit of salt.  I mixed up them with the food processor and made a noodle with the pasta machine.  I purchased the Inarino-moto, which is seasoned fried tofu used for sushi.  It came 16 pieces or so, I separated with a parchment paper, and put in the freezer. So, I can enjoy 16 snacks.  The boodle is cooked in boiling water for 4-5 minutes, while I make the soup.  Boil 1.25 cup of water, a pinch of salt, a pinch of dashi, and 1 table spoon of soy sauce and 1/2 table spoon of mirin. Add sliced scallions and an egg. It was very easy, and very close to that instant noodle.