Whew! Mad dash to the holidays! I need a rest. This kiln finished just in time for my last show which was cutting it a little close for the customer order for the show. It all worked out though.

I do believe this is the most mugs I've ever had in the kiln at the same time - 33! They took up two shelves and then some.

I lost one of the two napkin holders I made in the bisque. I don't think my join on the bottom was good enough and it cracked. In the new year I think I'm going to try to see if I change the design some to not have it be 3 independent pieces. I really love how this one came out though, and the leaf weight is gorgeous.

This is the first time I've made a globe without any bark pieces. It's the same, but also really different. I don't know which version I like more.

As I was finishing making for the year I had some extra clay which I made a few more santa gnome plates because the two I made were the first two holiday plates I sold. I also took the opportunity to make more santa crab ornaments because those have been super popular.

Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale, Jack o Lantern, Sunkissed, Just Froggy, Fruit of the Vine 2167 Clear	Backside! Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale, Jack o Lantern, Sunkissed, Just Froggy, Fruit of the Vine 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale, Jack o Lantern, Sunkissed, Just Froggy, Fruit of the Vine 2167 Clear Inside Amaco Sky x2	This was a refire because I was clumsy and broke one of the leaves. I added some glaze to the top and I don't think you can even tell.
Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Green Opal x3 Mayco Sour Apple, Silver Lining, Tuxedo, Carribean Blue, Hot Tamale, Cotton Tail, Melon Choly 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 clear
Laguna 60 Opulence Emerald x3 Amaco Snow x3, Hot Tamale x2 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 Amaco Storm x3 Amaco Snow x3, Hot Tamale x2 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Various Colors for Earth Color Strokes Kentucky Mudworks Seaside x3	Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale, Cotton Tail, Melon Choly, Tuxedo All x2 Amaco Snapdragon x2 rim 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Mayco Just Froggy, Wine about it, Grape Expectations all x2 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 clear
Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 clear	Laguna 60 black ug wiped back Mayco Hot Tamale x2 2167 clear

This might be the most mugs I've ever glazed at once. In addition to the few on the top here, there are 2 full shelves of mugs inside. My kiln shelves are nearly cleared. I had a couple of extra blanks made in case I had an issue with a custom order and my mennorah that just didn't fit.

I feel like I haven't taken a breath since some time in November. I'm completely unprepared for the holidays, but I am prepared for my last show of the year the Brandywine Festival of the Arts this weekend. I have what is my last kiln load of the year cooling now. Tonight I will get everything packed and tomorrow is setup. On Monday I plan on doing basically nothing for a whole day, just rest. Anyone who knows me is laughing at that statement as I'm very bad at just sitting still.

I have been meaning to make more of these bird on a wire mugs for months, but just never got around to it. Also the last of the Hannukah dishes in here and then a whole lot of crabs since I was nearly out of all things crabs.

Mayco Tuxedo x2, Mayco Frosted Lemon c3	Colors for Earth Bright Violet Laurel Green 2167 Clear Mayco Lavender Mist x3
Laguna 60 Black ug wiped back The baloons are all various Colors for Earth Color Strokes with 2167 clear over them Kentucky Mudworks Seaside x3	This is my test mug for the show! Laguna 60 Amaco Snow x3 Mayco Hot Tamale x2 2167 clear Amaco Storm x3
Amaco Lagoon x3 Snow Accents	Amaco Deep Sea x3 Seaweed accents
Amaco Smoke x3	Mayco Norse Blue x3 Sandstone x2 Light Flux in the middle
Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Mayco black ug wiped back Hot Tamale x2 2167 Clear	Colors for Earth Bright Violet Laurel Green 2167 Clear
Colors for Earth Bright Violet Laurel Green 2167 Clear	Glaze Test Left was Mayco Green UG and Right is Just Froggy 2167 clear over it The ug stayed put but had a weird texture, the just froggy blurred just a little

The kiln wasn't quit cool enough yesterday for my normal blog post, but it is cool enough now. I have at least one more to run this week before the Brandywine Festival of the Arts this weekend. It sounds like it's going to be really cold in this area over the weekend so what better way to spend it than indoors with some fantastic artists.

This kiln has the last of the lavender work I made a while back plus a whole lot of crabs. Also on this top shelf is my tester mug for the Brandywine show that I am making for Rob who runs the show. I'm really excited with how it looks in the peek. Now to glaze a bunch more!

The trees are fantastic!! I am going to need to drill a few holes where glaze ran on the smaller tree, but it's so awesome anyway. I'm experimenting with some new crab things in this kiln to satisfy the people who feel the need to tell me that Maryland crabs are blue and not red. I'm not going to stop making the red crabs, but wanted to have an alternative. I think I'm narrowing in on an option.

Unsure what this clay is as I made it at a workshop Clayscapes Oribe dipped dipped Bottom is Mayco black ug wiped back 2167 clear	Opulence Sea Spray x3
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back Inside: Amaco Sky x2 Top and bottom bark: Mayco Rootbeer x2 Leaves: Mayco Hot Tamale, Jack o Lantern, Sunkissed, Just Froggy, 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back Inside: Midnight Ceramics Sexy Mermaid x2 Top and bottom bark: Mayco Rootbeer x2 Leaves: Mayco Hot Tamale, Jack o Lantern, Sunkissed, Just Froggy, 2167 Clear
Opulence Emerald x3 Kentucky Mudworks Sunflower x2	Amaco Deep Sea x3 Amaco Seaweed swipes
Colors For Earth Color Concentrates Bright Violet Laurel Green 2167 Clear Mayco Lavender Mist x3	Left: Opulence Sea Spray x3 Right: Spectrum Bougainvillea x2
Opulence Sea Spray x3 Mayco Carribean Blue over crab Hot Tamale on pinchers	Amaco Deep Sea x3 Amaco Seaweed on the middle
Opulence Sea Spray x2	Spectrum Bougainvillea x2
Opulence Sea Spray x2 Mayco Carribean Blue over crab Hot Tamale on pinchers	Mayco Norse Blue x3 Mayco Sandstone x2 Mayco Light Flux Sweeps
Refire: the purple was funky texture so I added another coat	Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG Wiped Back Mayco Hot Tamale x2 Norse Blue x3 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG Wiped Back Mayco Tuxedo, Cotton Tail, Carribean Blue, Silver Lining, Sour Apple Mayco Green Opal x3 2167 Clear	Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG Wiped Back Mayco Green Opal x3 Blue Hydrangia x2 2167 Clear
Laguna 60 Mayco Red Glass x2, White GLoss x2, Sour Apple x2