Happy V-day (ceramics- lots of pics)!

[cmeon]

I *just* pulled these out of the kiln at midnight last night- nothing like cutting it close (ha- not a huge deal, but, the kids wanted to give their teachers hearts today).

Big heart rattles (the kind of sound like rainsticks- they have a bunch of little clay balls in them).


Their backs

Quick phone pics of the two my kids picked (same size as previously pic'd 5)



These are tiny ones- the mold I printed for these is 100% at this size, 150% at the larger size. You can probably get a feel for the sizes by the boards- it's a bench we made from 2x4s.


These don't make as pretty a sound- there's just not enough air space in them. But, they're so fun to make because they're so tiny!


Some heart dishes- one is from a drape mold I printed, the other two are from a push mold I printed.


These aren't valentine-y, and nothing fancy (mostly just horizontal glaze testers)- but, I'm taking pictures for the molds and texture rollers I designed:








And of course, these tiny guys (what happens when whatever show I'm watching isn't over and I have just a bit of clay left)

[aprilsails]

Absolutely Amazing!

[cinderbella]

Omg those owls! ❤️❤️

It's all so gorgeous - do you sell your pieces?

[cottoncandy]

I LOVE these. This really makes my want to get a kiln. How did you get started in ceramics? I’ve taken some classes and really enjoy it but I don’t have any sort of set up to do it on my own. All my favorite hobbies require so much equipment (lost wax casting, ceramics, etc.), but I would love to be able to do something creative from home.

[cmeon]

Feb 14, 2018 15:40:43 GMT -5 cinderbella said:

Omg those owls! ❤️❤️

It's all so gorgeous - do you sell your pieces?

Not... yet. I'm in the giving stuff away mode- LOL. Thank you so much for the compliment!!

[cmeon]

Feb 14, 2018 16:00:27 GMT -5 cottoncandy said:

I LOVE these. This really makes my want to get a kiln. How did you get started in ceramics? I’ve taken some classes and really enjoy it but I don’t have any sort of set up to do it on my own. All my favorite hobbies require so much equipment (lost wax casting, ceramics, etc.), but I would love to be able to do something creative from home.

Thank you!! I learned to do this the same way I learn anything else (which isn't necessarily the right way for anyone else- LOL)- by making a lot of crappy to questionable quality things until I figure it out.

An older lady who made ceramic dolls listed my young/in good condition kiln on CL and we grabbed it. It's definitely a hobby sized kiln (Olympic 1414E), but, not TOO tiny, young enough to not have lead contamination (a big concern with used kilns if you want to make food safe things), with a digital controller. It came with a ton of kiln furniture, various stilts, a new set of elements (haven't needed yet), and a stand- it was a great deal. She also threw in some ceramic dolls for my then 5yo DD- ha!

Youtube is great- there's a tutorial for these there- by Jamie Meador (she's got a lot of great hand building tutorials). I'm on a few FB groups with good information/video guides- and I've used some good books over the years (my library has a bunch).

I have a wheel that I'm still working on learning- part of the problem is that I just really like hand-building, so it's hard to devote the time!

GL!

[drloretta]

Those are awesome! You are so talented. I especially love the hexagons

[shamrockshake]

These are amazing. The owls! I die

[Michelle]

I would like to claim dibs on cmeon for christmas exchange and I hope heart shaped bell ornaments will be involved.

[cmeon]

Feb 16, 2018 1:13:49 GMT -5 Michelle said:

I would like to claim dibs on cmeon for christmas exchange and I hope heart shaped bell ornaments will be involved.

You better play this year, then.

I'm working on some egg bells now- Easter coming up and all! LOL

[Michelle]

Feb 16, 2018 15:04:44 GMT -5 cmeon said:

Feb 16, 2018 1:13:49 GMT -5 Michelle said:

I would like to claim dibs on cmeon for christmas exchange and I hope heart shaped bell ornaments will be involved.

You better play this year, then.

I'm working on some egg bells now- Easter coming up and all! LOL

I have 2 issues with actually participating:

1) I sometimes vent on CEP about work and my husband so I don't want to share my name, even though some people may have figured it out if they cared to look up details I have shared.
2) Moreso I am swamped in November, so if I made something it'd have to be between now and August and would not be personal to the recipient at all. :\

[cmeon]

Feb 16, 2018 18:54:37 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Feb 16, 2018 15:04:44 GMT -5 cmeon said:

You better play this year, then.

I'm working on some egg bells now- Easter coming up and all! LOL

I have 2 issues with actually participating:

1) I sometimes vent on CEP about work and my husband so I don't want to share my name, even though some people may have figured it out if they cared to look up details I have shared.
2) Moreso I am swamped in November, so if I made something it'd have to be between now and August and would not be personal to the recipient at all. :\

I get it, I really do. FWIW, we have such a tight little group these days- and I'm sure a less than "random" pairing could be arranged in your case (if it would make you feel comfortable). I feel like there were a few years where I didn't even list my name, let alone my address, until someone asked- LOL, but, that's mostly laziness.

See how you feel when we're closer! I think we'll try to arrange it earlier this year, we were pretty late- it "usually" starts in October!

[shortcake2675]

Now that I know to do it, I’ll be on it. I can do it as earlier! I waited too long for someone else to do it this year.

[shortcake2675]

Also, cmeon, I love the stuff you’ve been making. My husband built an mini assay furnace... wonder if I could use that as a kiln, lol.

[cmeon]

Feb 17, 2018 2:03:54 GMT -5 shortcake2675 said:

Also, cmeon , I love the stuff you’ve been making. My husband built an mini assay furnace... wonder if I could use that as a kiln, lol.

I'm intrigued- what's he doing with it? If it gets hot enough (I assume it does!) for a sustained period of time, and in a controlled manner, I don't see why not! Is it gas powered?

But, I'll point out that if he can build a furnace, he can definitely build a nice kiln.

[shortcake2675]

He was melting ore samples from his mining claim. Unfortunately, that’s on hold for a bit longer.

[cmeon]

Feb 17, 2018 17:27:12 GMT -5 shortcake2675 said:

He was melting ore samples from his mining claim. Unfortunately, that’s on hold for a bit longer.

"Just smelting ore samples from his mine claim in this furnace he built", like it's everyday stuff. <3

[shortcake2675]

Feb 17, 2018 19:55:19 GMT -5 cmeon said:

Feb 17, 2018 17:27:12 GMT -5 shortcake2675 said:

He was melting ore samples from his mining claim. Unfortunately, that’s on hold for a bit longer.

"Just smelting ore samples from his mine claim in this furnace he built", like it's everyday stuff. <3

In my world, it is. Lol.

[tacokick]

Love it all! Jealous of anyone who gets to have them!

[justinlove]

You are amazing!!! You rocked the teacher gifts!

[cmeon]

Feb 23, 2018 14:28:19 GMT -5 justinlove said:

You are amazing!!! You rocked the teacher gifts!

Hey there, stranger! Thank you- and it's always so nice to see you pop by!

[ellebebold]

All lovely!