I am the Firestarter...

I have totally been listening to WAY too much Prodigy lately. Remember that great late 90's techno band? I was out garage sale-ing a few weeks ago and found the CD. They were selling the gem for only $1! I had to snatch it up and it is currently residing in tray 3 of the CD player in my car. Pantera and Metallica are in slots 1 and 2, respectively.

At the studio tonight I hit the jackpot, many many of my pieces came out of the glaze fire. I did an alchemy request on etsy a few months back for a flower vase, and made another:



Made from white porcelaineous stoneware clay. A close-up of the flower:



I glazed in a shiny white, and thin maybe a tiny green plant would be a striking contrast to the plainess of the glaze. Maybe a mound of moss even, in a rich deep green.

My other favorite would be the birdhouse:



I etched a leaf pattern in the clay before handbuilding the cylinder. I used a floral cookie cutter to cut out the opening. I even smoothed the edges, in the off chance I actually put it outside for a bird to inhabit. While the base was drying, I rolled out a slab of clay, and cut many leaves out, smoothing the edges with plastic(great trick)and adding vein details. I inverted a bowl on the table, and started building my first layer of leaves, like a peak. Then I added layer upon ayer, around and around, until it was the size I wanted.



I also added a loop to the top and let dry for awhile, then slipped the whole thing together. After bisque firing, I glazed the roof with red to brown, and the bottom clear. All in all, please with the results.

And an example of the soapdishes my family will be getting for Christmas, along with handmade soap:



I've been glazing a lot with teal lately, it is just such a happy color.