TESTING THE NEW BEAD RACK

Pictured below is the new bead rack. I am beginning to get requests for beads, and am trying to work the kinks out. Because the clay shrinks as it dries, this bead is a bit tight on the rod. It might shrink more in the firing, so I am only testing one, just in case I have to break it off the rod. The beads have to be either fired on a rod or stilted when glazed, because the glaze will fuse to anything it touches. Well, the timer is going off and I must go change the kiln setting. Hopefully I will get all this painted before the week-end. Til next time...

(Judy, I haven't forgotten you...making progress...photos soon.)

LOADING THE KILN

Once the wind died down, it was beautiful outside today here in the Texas panhandle. After school, I worked in my backyard for a couple of hours, then finished some custom name buttons I am making for a customer and loaded the kiln for the bisque firing. This photo shows the bottom layer in the kiln. Greenware can be stacked in the bisque firing if there is no glaze on it. There are a few pieces in this batch that have glaze.