This kiln load is a little bit of everything. There are new ideas, Halloween prep, experiments, and a few pieces that surprised me in the best ways.
I’m especially excited about the crochet goblet. I’ve been looking for a glaze that really emphasizes the texture of the crocheted surface, and this one absolutely delivered. The way the glaze breaks over the raised texture is exactly what I was hoping for. It makes all those little details stand out and gives the piece so much dimension.
I’m also officially gearing up for Halloween! There are some one-of-a-kind Halloween mugs in this firing, each with its own fun saying and personality. I love making these because they’re a chance to be a little silly and create pieces that feel completely different from my everyday functional work.
Then there are the ugly sweater ornaments, which might be my favorite kind of holiday ridiculousness.
And finally, there’s an experiment in here for a “What Am I Feeling?” magnet set. These turned out absolutely adorable! They did have a few weird crawling issues with the glaze, so they aren’t quite perfect, but sometimes the experiments that go a little sideways are the ones that teach you the most. I’m definitely going to keep playing with this idea.
So, this firing may be a mismatched collection of things, but that’s what makes opening the kiln so much fun. You never quite know which experiment is going to become the next thing you love.
I made a couple of star 3D ornaments a couple of years ago and wanted to make a few more. While doing that I found the dreidel cutters I got on sale last year after the holidays and decided to do those as well. Making these is pretty easy. For every ornament you cut 2 of the shape then cut one of those in half. After that it's just a matter of slipping and scoring the halves onto either side.
I have wanted a couch for the cabin for the longest time. The problem was finding one that was reasonably priced, and then there’s always the fear of an animal destroying it (especially mice).
I found this one on Wayfair and watched it for a while until it went on super sale for the summer. It was less than $300, and it works perfectly in the space! It is a little short, especially for Craig since he’s so tall, but otherwise, I’m really happy with it.
The dogs were a little wary of it at first, but by the end of the weekend, they were happily enjoying it too. I’m really excited about this little cabin upgrade!