Cups And Cupcakes

It wasn't the happiest kiln-firing ever - the top of the kiln was far cooler than I wanted - but we still got some happy first project results. In the next week I should have photos of everything in the gallery.

by Kevin Zhou

by Michelle Auyeung

by Melissa Aten

by Sarah Wang

by Allison Brumbaugh

by Ben Stratton

The leaves I tried - fail. But I also made some 'cupcakes' that show promise (that's what they remind me of, anyway), á la Dick Lehman's method of giving pieces wood-fired characteristics in a gas kiln. I used a shino glaze and then sprinkled on some wood ash, soda ash and borax, with a couple granules of copper sulfate and cobalt sulfate for color. Some toppled into each other during the firing and stuck together - I'll have to get a better handle on my balancing act.

"Cupcakes" ready to be fired

A finished cup