Resin - Keys

Was over on the Beaducation site and saw them working resin keys - Since I had some keys - I made some molds  (two part silicone) , thought why not give it a try-  I'll bring home some graphite tomorrow and use that to give them a realistic look - I'll these red prototypes out Monday morning  and post a pic when I get home - I overfilled but I can file them down so they have the cool intricate openings.

Finished Ceramics for today

New items out of the kiln today - horse heads and faces - and put another batch in later today and just waiting for them to cool

Enamel Station

As always moving things around - built a new wall to hold my enamels - 1x4 shelves so that there is only one row of colours - no longer digging to the back - the wall is actually 4 x8 ft one side has my shelves for the enamels (less used enamels towards the top- you cant see them above the light in this pic) and the other has my wall mounted findings bins - its on wheels so I can easily move it around the  shop if I ever have to - I can torch my enamel beads or create my copper enamelling for kiln firing at this station- picking up my stainless steel table cover that will cover the complete table

Finished Fish - Ceramics

I did some painting (color) and glazing Sunday night and set the kiln - Firing was complete Monday morning and they looked great - - their size is about 3" long and depending on the fish about 1-1/2 to 3 inches tall .  Not small but a nice size for a pendant -  I glued a bale on a couple Monday night and I am wearing one today just to try it out for wear. I painted and glazed some of the amphora faces last night so I'll have to wait till I get home today to check them out  - had some new paints I wanted to try and see how they turned out.  tonight is more amphora faces, maybe some horse amphora and maybe some of my flat faces.

Ceramic Kiln- Paragon Home Artist Kiln

For those of you who want to do ceramics  but on a small scale -(glass, pmc etc.. - not just ceramics)  Paragon has a small fiber kiln that is wonderful for making small items - I love it - easy to use etc.  with the Sentry kiln sitter - pre set for cone firing (just key in which cone etc.. for firing low fire clay and low fire stains, and paints) Totally easy to use and portable - small and 120v  - details here :   http://www.paragonweb.com/HOME_ARTIST_120.cfm

Just Playing around

/Finished the last of the ceramic firing but now I have to make beads and other items I need for the fall shows.

Playing with Resin as usual - making of all things a mix of items, fish, faces, disks and raspberries - just having fun

Toooooo Hot to play

It has been so hot here in Ontario that I just could not stay inside my studio - although I have been moving things around and building things.  close to finishing and putting in the final changes to tables and clearing out areas that I needed to finish .  If it would just cool off enough
Monday I cleaned my ceramic faces, horses and amphora faces and put them in the kiln last night - it was hot but I wasn't going to stay in the studio too long.  Just long enough to vent kiln for first hour (takes about 8 hours to fire) seems all went well as when I went in this morning it had completed in 7.29 hours but it was still at 550 degrees F so by the time I get home it should be cool enough to see if everything fired ok - then its painting and glazing time and a refire - I hope to do some by tomorrow night - I'll post pics of the fired pieces

I just want to do some glass since my vent is in and I ave two oxy cons set up to work with (so I dont have to buy any Oxy right now )

The corner  that needed to cleaned is done but now I have to rearrange my tables and create a wall to hang some of my bins from for my findings and take down two work tables I no longer need
will give me more room to set up and walk around