I’m whipped!  I spent Saturday morning and afternoon glazing my cone 10 work and then loading the 30 cu. ft. gas Cooper kiln at the Colorado Potter’s Guild.  On Sunday morning, before the sun was up, I was back at the guild helping to fire the kiln.  Based on previous logs, we expected it to take about 12 hours for the kiln to fire; however, our firing took 14 hours.  I didn’t get home till after 8pm.  Not everyone who had work in the kiln stayed for the entire firing, but I stuck it out since I want to be able to fire it myself some day and gain a little independence.  If I keep up my momentum, I could even fill it up with my work one day. 

Willow Connery managed the firing and I feel more confident that I will be able to do it myself someday.  I think the guild requires that you fire 3 times with someone else, before being able to do it alone. I think that’s fair, since I’m new to cone 10 reduction firings in a gas kiln.  One could really screw up the glazes if proper reduction isn’t accomplished.  That would be unfortunate for a new member to start off on the wrong foot if I messed up a bunch of other people’s work.

My daughter is still home sick – and this morning, I felt the twinge of a sore throat.  I’m rushing out today to get some Emergen-C.

Have a great week,

~Cynthia