They turned out pretty well, for the most part.  The first pic shows about 80% of the kiln load.

Three of the bowls below were newly glazed, one was re-fired.  Can you tell which is which?

If we didn’t already know, we couldn’t have figured it out, either.  Thumbs up for the results!

Re-firing, if you haven’t guessed, is when we put another layer of glaze over the existing fired clay piece and fire it at a slightly higher temperature than it was originally fired.  There is a risk of glazes running or an explosion, so you have to know whether the glaze stays put or tends to run as a rule.

Fairly new glaze that turned out very nicely on these white sconces.

Newly glazed, in case you are wondering.

This little sconce, on the other hand, had first been fired in the raku kiln.  It was a sort-of metalic silver color which Dauna didn’t like a’tal.  Since she prefers sconces to be somewhat pretty….  she thought this might look nice re-glazed (or at least be no less wasted than the rather ugly self it had been).

That’s Dauna’s philosophy, by the way:  If it doesn’t turn out the first time, try again.  If it turns out, great!  If not, it becomes a pot for potted plants, catch-all dish, or yard art.

Another beautiful piece first raku fired then re-fired.

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Once in a while, the result isn’t quite what we’d like….

This piece went in with a glaze that was pitted as if it hadn’t reached temperature (at cone 5).  At cone 6, it came out just as pitted, but with new, large bubbles in the clay body itself.  It looked as though it should have exploded, but it didn’t, nor did the glaze smooth out the way we thought it would have.

It’s ironic that the Federal Aid had to be attached to the bill to send more money to Iraq… You’d think it would be more important to save lives and property at home than to support a, um, WAR.

…and you can bet who got the bulk of the money….

….it wasn’t the people with homes under water.

What a mess….

Some pics that the national news might not show:

I’ve also put together a video with more pics, and explanations of their location that are of better quality than on youtube. Right click on the link and download the video file, then double click and let your media player play it. Iowa Flood around the Kisers

For more information on the situation at the University of Iowa, they have a link to information– lots of photos.

When I have time, I’ll add a video here that will play automatically.

Next, we’ll add some new pottery to the shopping cart. The functional stoneware, votive holders, and bowls. Dauna does love making those beautiful bowls…

That glaze is wild — and works out every single time. Gotta get those bowls on up here!

Time for another Raku, too. Marty has sold nearly all of it. Problem is, it has been so darned cold…

One more month, then we’ll start cranking it out again.

But, people can actually see some new work, and even buy something. Wow.

The aromatic art will take more time to add, as that requires getting back into creating and distributing the aromas. But no worries, that will happen when it is time.