My title here refers to firing # 8 and the election of my great friend Bea Paolucci who will soon be sworn in as our newest member of city council!
Congratulations, Bea! and congratulations to me (if I am allowed), the firing was terrific! Far superior to the previous seven with great heat and color. 12 lbs. of salt in the first chamber (for the first time ever) gave the pots a silky rich surface without going to glassy. My camera does no justice to the pots color-wise…you’ll have to trust me. The second chamber had a number of gems, but one big problem that only reared it’s ugly head at this juncture. Getting the proper reduction in the first chamber put carbon on a significant # of pots in the second chamber and resulted in slips blistering. I think I know how to cure that (thanks, Toff!) and I also need to cut back the reduction in #2 or else make some clay/slip changes. Still, I am very pleased with this result and I’ll write more about it soon…I’m still feeling worn out and we’ve got receptions at LibertyTown two nights running for our patron show. I’m looking forward to some lazier days!
