After being glazed, my pieces were ready for their second and final round in the kiln. The kiln is so deep that to place the medallions at the bottom, I had to fold over the edge with my head and shoulders in the depths. The next day, the firing was complete. Once the temperature in the kiln had dropped to 170°F (the top temperature reached is 2000°F), Patty and I ventured out into the kiln room. She assured me that I would return to the studio either smiling or crying, depending on how many had survived the firing. I got ready to open the kiln…and peered in…. And saw……
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Ceramic Art in an Old Schoolhouse
Patty’s studio is in a 19th century one-room schoolhouse located on Cambria’s Main Street. The cream colored clapboard, red trim, and bell tower (the original 1880’s bell still resides up there) might as well be right out of a Little House on the Prairie novel, and arriving each morning is like going on jaunt back in time. Today was my third day of decorating forms, and with 40 pieces completed, I am getting very used to having clay-covered hands. About decorating: Patty specializes in etched ceramics. Remember those Scratch-Art sets from elementary school, how you would scrape off the rubbery layer on a piece of board to reveal the colors…
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From Los Angeles to Glasgow
First read Pamela’s post “Strangers on a Train” (so that you know who Andy is :-)) Thursday, July 19, 2012 Dear Andy, Thank you so much for your letter! Keeping the postal service going is a most enjoyable endeavor, since it involves writing long letters (and purchasing interesting stamps; I’ve put two of my favorite on this envelope). I wish I could send a little California weather along with this letter to you in dreich (that really is a wonderful word!) Scotland. In fact, our summer’s been a bit long in coming too. Our “June gloom” disappeared towards the end of June then reappeared in July. We have now, however,…
