DW’s started a business to make “built” and molded tiles – that’s why the little kiln house, and all the garden pix this summer (nature studies)
Plaster blocks are cast around a model, then the pieces picked out – this will be an 8×8″. Clay later gets hammered in, allowed to shrink away, dried, and then fired.
Pumpkin and corn
Okra and an okra leaf
View Image
Prototype of a “built”, or fabricated tils
View Image
Oldest kid’s sculpting down there, too.
View Image
Forrest – all kinda’ proud
Edited 10/31/2007 12:53 pm by McDesign
Replies
Plaster mould? Do you spray it with a release agent before pounding in the clay?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
No - the porous plaster (unsealed) sucks the moisture out of the clay, which shrinks slightly, and pops out.
So she reads!
Forrest
I think I see an alligator with big choppers in there! How old is the clay artist?
Nice work,
Dustin
Nine at the time, I think. I can barely see some of the fine detail - she uses a pin!
Forrest
The daughter's pieces of art was what I meant, but you can show off the wife's too when she is ready
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Edited 10/31/2007 9:07 pm ET by Piffin
Nearly ready to fire; hand-built jellyfish and okra from her plaster mold
View Image
View Image
Forrest - darned impressed
Edited 11/28/2007 9:20 pm by McDesign
Wow, those look fantastic!!!
Keep them coming.
Thanks!, says DW.
Here's the latest; drying now for a couple weeks before bisque (first) firing. Shells are individually molded in plaster molds she made from actual shells from the actual beach, then applied to an oversized field tile that will shrink to a 6x6.
View Image
Forrest
Edited 1/23/2008 9:27 pm by McDesign
Very cool. Those are called press molds.yea you guessed it you press clay into them. Another easy and interesting way is a slip mold.Same molds you gust pour liquid clay in. More shrinkage but other possibilities to.Like miking glaze or other colorants right into the clay. Lots of ways to go.
Just a thought.
Excellent work. Nice job making the plaster molds too.
Is she making some standard sizes so you can incorporate some into the next bath or kitchen your build?
Even one tile with a custom McDesign logo on a kitchern back splash?
They all should be standard sizes - 4x4, 6x6, 8x8. Here's tonight's corn & pumpkin (post #1) unveiling -
View Image
View Image
Note how DW's left thumbnail is painted just down to the band-aid line - kids - can't get 'em to do a good job
Forrest -
Edited 1/30/2008 9:07 pm ET by McDesign
Beautiful!
What did she use for the square base (tile) pattern when she poured the plaster mold?
oldfred
She hand-rolled and cut it, 'cuz her husband won't cut her a pattern piece, she says . . .
Forrest
Everyone's got shoes but the shoemaker's kids........
and wife ;)
Please tell her my wife is impressed (me too) DW taught art 25 yrs and did quite a bit of clay work with her kids. (no molds ) She's also a Master Gardener - thinks your wife's tiles are really cool.edited to correct spelling - twice
Edited 1/30/2008 9:55 pm ET by oldfred
Edited 1/30/2008 9:58 pm ET by oldfred
Forrest
these are some of the finest tiles I've seen in a long time your wife should be very proud of her work it is a pleasure to see that you are not the only craftsperson in the family. From the looks of those tiles I think she will be very sucessful in her business venture . I wish I had the patience to do that
ZeeyaView Image
Thanks tons! I'm in the kitchen on BT; she's downstairs - had to go check on her. These are getting ready to fire -View Image
Forrest
Edited 2/10/2008 10:50 pm ET by McDesign
Out of the kiln this morning - cool!
View Image
Forrest - amazed, even
Edited 2/25/2008 12:59 pm ET by McDesign
Since she already has a kilm why not move on to glass slumping as well.
That can mean another very lucrative addition to her business.
After seeing some of the small glass tiles at a local supplier, I'm totaly wowed by it (and the cost).
Some really neat stuff out there, but it takes talented people to produce it.
Your wife fits the catagory to the tee.
I have a friend who does some serious stained glass for a living and he's been struggling with slumping. Even with glass specific kilns.
So I think it's kind of tough.
There are specific cooling periods and firing cycles, better do some research first.
DW has a small glass kilm also. She hasn't been slumping that long, but so far her begining work looks terrific. She also does some killer stained glass work, better than some I have seen at art exhibits.
One of the traits that makes her good is being a perfectionist. It drives me nuts sometime, but it also makes me a better craftsman, and her work is exceptional for someone with very little formal training.
Side track alert..
Did ja get my check?
We'll hook up when the weather calms down OK?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Hey! This thread is about tiles.
Not Gen-tiles.
Forrest
Send me a half dozen of them squid or jelly fish tiles and I'll quit side jacking the thread..LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
yep, I owe you a ten spot.
I'm growin mushrooms tween my toes,.. it's soggy wet here
You don't owe me anything..and I won't take anything from you so there!
Just got back from a barn blowdown in Mt. Sterling, man O man it was snowing sideways and and nasty..I did score a nice barn tho' Some assembly required..LOL
took a pic with my cell phone, lemme see if this works.
View Image
Whooops..gotta shrink that raw image I see..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Edited 2/27/2008 3:50 pm ET by Sphere
wow,
cell phone huh,
kentucky huh
snow huh ?
42 today with the sun out and no snow on the groundMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Yeh, it was a white out at times today and 20 at best. Don't worry, it heads your way after here..LOL
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Tell Ms McDesign wow! She's good. Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy,
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
Didja get the instructions with this deal?
Joe H
There is no doubt she does exceptional work. As someone who spent the better part of a decade doing simaler work, I'm very impressed.
One of things I like is her freedom and creative approach to clay. I was immersed in production, sort of lost it's attraction at the end of the day.
So I moved on and now I'm a happy amateur again.
Those - are- COOL!
Dude, your whole family is amazing..I bow.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
those tile look like they be hard on the feet. gives a new defination to non slip shower.my spelling is not bad, my keyboard is covered with dirt and I cant see the keys.
No silly they are Dish tiles, that is a tile of Calimari..the next tile has the spaghetti.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Forrest
I showed DW your photo gallery about your Dw's tile business start up very cool and so well done she really liked the tile with the corn my fav was the jelly fish and what looked like peppers & okra
When does the business open and will it be a store or an online business
ZeeyaView Image
We're experimenting with EBay now - probably be online for a while - need to see what the market's interested in.
DW got with my daughter's 5th-grade class and they made (18) 4x4 impressed nature-themed tiles. They get fired tomorrow, and I'll build a low coffee table from old barn wood. Table gets auctioned off at the big yearly school fundraiser.
Forrest
Forrest
Have you considered Etsy?
http://www.etsy.com
Seems to be the place for crafty folks. Lots of play in the blogosphere and you can set up a storefront.
Ron
DW says thanks! She's going to spend some time there, fer shere.
Forrest
This was a fun little evening project, especially to do it concurrently with the smooth, rivited aluminum of the fan shroud! Wood is 100+ heart pine from my stash; just brass-brushed and WB poly - I like the look, and it feels good to touch. Kreg jig and biscuits; hide all the cut edges; fight the joints tight.
We're making this table for our school's fund-raising auction. DW got the kids in one class to make (18) tiles 4x4, impressed with various natural things like acorns and ferns. Table gets a 3x6 grid of them on 1/2" Hardi in the top recess tonight.
View Image
Forrest
Edited 3/2/2008 6:59 pm ET by McDesign
updated pic?
jt8
"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy" --Leo F. Buscaglia
Soon - tiles are ready; DW's supposed to stick 'em down soon. Will post.
Forrest
Here's the kid tiles laid out -View Image
Here's the blue crab that came out of the mold moments ago - the top claw was added as a separate piece -View Image
Here's some of DW's early work, way back maybe this time last year -View Image
Forrest
Edited 3/6/2008 9:30 pm ET by McDesign
She got better! Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy,
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
Okay - DW grouted last night 'til after midnight - she really likes to shape the joints every inch. Much better than my work ("He's fast, but he sure is inaccurate!").
View Image
School auction is this weekend - hope somebody likes it!
Forrest
Edited 3/10/2008 12:54 pm ET by McDesign
That turned out real well. I'm sure it will be popular at the auction.
jt8
"A single rose can be my garden...a single friend, my world." --Leo Buscaglia
Auction and dinner wasn't too well attended - it was last night, in a pavilion, after all the weird weather in Atlanta Friday night and the doorknob hail yesterday afternoon.
But, we were really pleased to hear it went for $480.00, and not to a parent - some local business owner, we think.
Still not too good on an hourly basis! Luckily, it counts toward our required parent service hours for the school.
Forrest
Nice stuff, hope I get to see more.
How 'bout this?
Giant octopus in the studio - on 6x6s. All but two slide apart
View Image
View ImageForrest
Edited 3/28/2008 11:33 pm ET by McDesign
Needed a sucker close-up -
View Image
Forrest
Edited 3/28/2008 11:34 pm ET by McDesign
Excellent, Thumbs up to the wife.
DW finished up; now will slowly dry for 3-4 weeks before firing.
View Image
View Image
Forrest
Edited 3/30/2008 9:33 pm ET by McDesign
Had to call my wife over to see this. Really cool stuff, 3-4 weeks and than you fire them, and than you mail them to me? :) I'd like to place an order for other sea creatures, starfish, seahorse, sandollar, flounder, and even the much misunderstood horseshoe crab, a Jersey favorite.
DW says thanks for the support! She welcomes orders; MIL is from/in Southern MD on the Chesepeake, do DW's got oysters and blue crabs going, too. Drawn to the sea, she is.
Read your quote on your profile; maybe you'd like a carp?
Forrest - Want her to do a squid tile taking down one of her sailboat tiles
I did a number of homes for ceramic artists at one point. In two of them the owners made 4" or so sq., glazed tiles to use as corner blocks in place of the wooden "bulls eyes" at the corners of door and window trim. We epoxied them to wooden blocks to give the depth we needed. Added a lot of color and a unique look to the houses. DW's work would be perfect for that ! I wanted to make it a "signature" of our work in future houses but couldn't convince some owners of the idea so we stuck with unique and unusual pull out cutting boards for that . In another house I arranged for one of the artists to get hired to hand make tiles for a wood stove surround.
He created a scene that mimicked the view out the front windows of the house. Trees, field, and a creek flowing down through it. Whole thing was probably 10' long and 32" high, set in a band the bottom of which was about 3' off the floor.
All unglazed tile and each one hand incised to create the picture. Awesome looking when it was done. It was a really fun group of clients to work with.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
DW might get a kick out of this. One of the artists I built for made a trophy for each guy on the crew that worked on her house. This one was mine, the gold ribbon in marked out just like a tape measure. Blue ribbon in inscribed "Blue Ribbon Boss'
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Thanks for the PM - interesting!- DW is honored - considering her options.
Here are some more coastal in-progress -
Bisque-fired; preparatory to glazing - blue crab and oysters -View Image
Oysters, blue crab, and eel grass mural - under way -
View Image
View Image
Forrest
Edited 4/21/2008 10:30 pm ET by McDesign
I started subscribing to Coastal Living years ago for the sole purpose of keeping my focus during the winter months. That being the purchase of a beach house. I have seen so many products featured there with high price tags and thought they were nothing more than overpriced junk. Your wifes work, on the other hand is true art, something I'm sure will take off with a little exposure in the right markets. Let me know what you want to do about my offer.
Good Luck, either way.
Kevin
Hows LBI Doc????
-Lou C
Good, I just got back a few minutes ago. I go down for a 1/2 day on Tuesday, I have evening hours at the office. Township is making me put in a curb, so I'm digging the trench for that, forming up Thursday and pouring either later Thursday afternoon or Saturday. Porch is all done, have to tear out old floor inside and put in subfloor and 3/4" hardwood. Than I get my final for the CO. I'll start a new permit for the roof, which Seeyou (Grant) is doing, coming up from Kentucky to help. Standing seam, copper clad stainless steel. I'll also remove the beadboard interior walls, insulate and sheetrock. Than I'll use it and put in 1/2 days during the summer so I can spend time with kids at the beach. I've attached some pics.
Thanks for asking!
Kevin
Hey - just to get things back on track - she's still figuring yer proposal - seems like a good idea . . .
Fresh from the kiln at lunch - still warm!
Sailboats -View Image
Crabby guy -View Image
Same guy with more oblique light -
View Image
Okra -View Image
She's still learning about glazes and temperatures - really happy with these.
Forrest
Edited 5/8/2008 8:39 pm ET by McDesign
That is some of the coolest stuff I've seen in a long time! I really want to help you guys, I know there's a market for the tiles on my island. Whatever you guys want to do is fine by me, but I would be more than willing to walk them into some of the tile places down here and see if I can get some orders for you.
My only concern would be the fragility of the pieces as someone else pointed out earlier on in this thread. You guys are probably better at knowing what other questions the tile store would have regarding the product.
Keep me posted.
Kevin
Ahh.
Do you have some favorite horseshoe crab pix you could share?
Forrest
caught a thrasher shark once while on a tuna trip. Took 6 guys over an hour to land it, I'll dig out the pics and send them.
Just to point out that DW doesn't just get her hands dirty in clay. She whipped up this '20s flapper dress (designed it, too) last night and this morning from some old silk from her fabric hoard. Was for a Girl Scout fashion show this afternoon.
View Image
Forrest
Edited 5/18/2008 6:53 pm ET by McDesign
how old's your daughter ;) haha lol
there's no need to reinvent the wrench
More fresh from the kiln today - last is a bad pic of some good stuff headed your way this week.
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
Forrest
Edited 6/2/2008 12:48 pm ET by McDesign
These are cool up close - impressions from wild grape in the yard.
View Image
Forrest
Edited 6/2/2008 1:00 pm ET by McDesign
Don't suppose this is one of your creations?
View Image
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Vehicles-Trailers_Race-Cars-Not-Street-Legal__Hand-made-bike-powered-fathers-day-dream-gift-LOOK_W0QQitemZ160242658777QQddnZOtherQ20VehiclesQ20Q26Q20TrailersQQadnZRaceQ20CarsQ20Q28NotQ20StreetQ20LegalQ29QQddiZ2828QQadiZ2792QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160242658777jt8
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate-- Thornton Wilder
Cool!
I brought the kids over.
I immediately noticed the Lucas/Kinsler fuel injection setup on the car; like on Can-Am McLarens way back when
View Image
Forrest
All I could think when I saw the close-up of the grape leaves was zygote... thanks <G>Very neat looking stuff. If dogs run free, then what must be,
Must be, and that is all.
True love can make a blade of grass
Stand up straight and tall.
In harmony with the cosmic sea,
True love needs no company,
It can cure the soul, it can make it whole,
If dogs run free.
Way Cool !
View Image
Chuck S.live, work, build, ...better with wood
Now I know where you got your wonderful sense of design and art from. You married it.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
More stuff out of the kiln tonight -
Mermaids, fall vegetables, and okra
View Image
These sets (6x6 and 8x8) still get another firing for a clear crackle glaze
View Image
View Image
Forrest
Edited 9/3/2008 9:49 pm ET by McDesign
First real "show". She was surprised how well she did; just a church bazaar.
View Image
View Image
View Image
Forrest - looking forward to being supported in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed
Edited 10/20/2008 7:32 pm ET by McDesign
how about a couple of close up shots of her work?
Nicely done.
She's really getting good!A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
<<<<looking forward to being supported in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed>>>
did we have the same dad ?....that advice sounds awful familiarMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Okay! here's an experiment! No minimum! Corn and pumpkin and okra! Were $35 in the last show! Get yours now!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=170275993327
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=170275992491
Forrest - shameless
Cal - yours aren't for sale - and will be coming!
Forrest, your killing me!Okra's nice, but I want that octopus, blueclaw, etc. when are they going on ebay.:)KevinPS starting the shower at the beach house this winter, new tile shower, neoangle type. I'd love to include some of your wife's tiles, just tell me how much and to whom.
Okay - she posted some she has for sale in the classified thread - she's also firing more to replace what's been sold. Any tile could be done in any color you might want.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=112338.1
Forrest
Hey Forrest,Still interested, I'll get back to you. I just wanted to acknowledge your post. Octopus, while probably worth it, is money better spent elsewhere.ThanksKevin
Forrest,
As long as you remember, it's like money in the bank.
Bad analogy.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Nice work!
Is she making her own glazes?
The first one looks very similar one I played around with
for a while. It was a cone 6 glaze that came out very different if
you reduced it. If you haven't tried it, the results could be interesting.
The second one has very nice crystal formations. Hard to do
from scratch.
Not making my own yet... someday. The Okra is a Mayco malachite that does turn out very different at different cones. The other is a Mayco too.
Thanks for looking.
L.
Nice work!
I spent a few years on the craft circuit, rarely saw work
as well done as yours.
Good luck on your endeavors.
Thanks, that means a lot, being so new at this and all.
Now I'm noodleing out the marketing thing. Amazingly, you can't just make cool stuff, you have to sell it.
Laura
Hey - good news - DW just placed 75 of her botanical Christmas ornaments at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens gift shop. Should be super exposure!
Forrest
Always nice when a hobby can pay for itself!
jt8
The creative individual has the capacity to free himself from the web of social pressures in which the rest of us are caught. He is capable of questioning the assumptions that the rest of us accept. -- John Gardner
Sweet!
Sounds like a good venue.
Forrest...not trying to be critical AT ALL, but this is my field of expertise:The display needs to get vertical; hanging things should hang. View the display from 20' away - you have to draw people in from that distance. Things that move attract customers...mobiles? rotating rack? Fabric for setting a mood; some inclined planes to hold the murals; some actual sea shells and pumpkins to add color, provide texture and reference; fall garland wrapped around the metal parts of the pop-up are a good trick to frame your booth. ~Splinty, on tap as a craft booth consultant
Edited 11/4/2008 10:14 pm by splintergroupie
Super! I'll pass it on when she struggles awake.
Thanks tons -
Forrest
Thank you sooo much! I was unhappy with the display, as we got the tables the day before and made the wall at about midnight, had an out-of-town guest and kids' stuff. When the day was over, I was whooped.
If anything else occures to you, I'd love the input.
Thanks,
Laura
Here's moments ago - a commisioned work - baby sea turtles trudge to the sea, see?
View Image
View Image
Forrest
Edited 11/5/2008 9:48 pm ET by McDesign
Looks really cool
How'd you get the turtles to hold still long enough for the plaster to set up?
It's actually stoneware clay and you just use super glue. ;)
Laura - playing in the mud
Edited 11/5/2008 10:48 pm ET by TileGal
Absolutely beautiful. I love your work, and when I win the lottery and can have a bathroom that is JUST for me, we will be in touch! Of course, if that doesn't happen, then I will call you in 15 years when my youngest is in college and I don't have to worry about children snapping off a delicate tentacle or lovely claw.
Baby turtles out of the kiln last night! Lots of agonizing over how the glaze color would turn out - she was pleased!
View Image
Client came this morning; loved it; and PAID!
Forrest - they'll be food on the table toNITE!
Edited 1/15/2009 9:16 pm ET by McDesign
The pokey one bringing up the rear!
View Image
Forrest
Edited 1/15/2009 9:21 pm ET by McDesign
Way to go, Mrs. Forrest!
ps don't let him have any of that windfall for the hotrod.... those cars SMELL money!A La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.
Special tile for those with special needs... I think you and she have cornered a niche market that has promise.... Mini Max and Laguna are companies that have doing that same thing for years, except with band saws, and other big ticket equipment.
Did you ever look into the "Carve Right" machines sold by Sears and Rockler to do some of that work? Just wondering.
Bill
Edited 1/15/2009 9:58 pm ET by BilljustBill
beautiful!
Nice!! Real nice!!
Runnerguy
Thank you - seeing that lovely art work has made my day.
Your wife is very, very talented.
Very cool.
I wonder if taking classes and using a school kiln would be a good way to start off learning and making custom tiles?
Is business by word of mouth or internet advertising/
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
DW's one of the "featured artists" tonight at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens - and it's a beer fest night! I just got this cellphone pic back.
The wooden frames are Ipe' from a deck project, longleaf heart pine from old barn siding, and Jatoba from Home Depot peg board shipping pallets (from Argentina, apparently).
View Image
View Image
Forrest - looking forward to being married to a famous artist
Edited 10/15/2009 5:18 pm ET by McDesign
Wow, what a great venue for some great work ! Wish I were just a little bit closer.
Tell your bride congratulations for me ! Shoot, take her to the Varsity when it's over tonight. Might as well go for the whole cultural experience !
Greg
cool!
"Forrest - looking forward to being married to a famous artist"Her fame won't make you any better at marriage... she's already worth more than the best you have to give.Congratulate her for us, please.PS Nice FrameA La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.
And then, today, the local church bazaar - turned out cold and rainy.
View Image
View Image
View Image
Yeah, the framing IS great
Forrest
Edited 10/17/2009 6:28 pm ET by McDesign
One more - here you can really see the 3-D-ee-ness.
View Image
Forrest
Edited 10/17/2009 6:32 pm ET by McDesign
so is that the hering that broke? if it is you sure couldn't tell it.
the frames are nice
yes - that is the heron that broke - I had to convince her to show it.
Forrest
uh oh, you wrote "church"...
don't you know the rules about political threads?
I hate that this will now be pushed to the Tavern.Great Work by The McForrest Team!A La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.
Edited 10/22/2009 7:48 am by Hackinatit
Way cool. Come on over to Tucson, the weather for the art shows is always great!
The crab and eel grass one, her most time-consuming one so far, went for $870 - made the sitting in the drizzle worth it!
Forrest
And how much did the frame for it bring you? ;-)
Life is Good
I got to sleep wit the artist
As the ad's say ... "Priceless"
Life is Good
We have friends here who do the art show circuit in the SW. I went to Durango last year with an artist friend and it was quite an experience. It helps when something sells! Husband does stained glass and did several shows last year. It is a long and demanding process when one has to sit all day for 2 or 3 days. Glad it sold.........
Tile Gal & Forrest
Beautiful & creative art . Happy to know all the hard work has paid off or at least has started to . Continued success.
Zeeya
Ps check this artist work he only does tile murals you may find it interesting
http://paullewingtile.com/View Image
Those crabs are way cool.
can't wait!
AWESOME!
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Nice stuff!!! Send some over to dockelly he could use them at the beach.
-Lou
How do you keep the claws from breaking off?
jt8
Most married couples, even though they love each other very much in theory, tend to view each other in practice as large teeming flaw colonies, the result being that they get on each other's nerves and regularly erupt into vicious emotional shouting matches over such issues as toaster settings. -- Dave Barry
Umm - she's thinking, like a teapot spout and stuff - not for hanging your washcloth on in the shower, or for floor tile?
Just sort of working along . . .
Forrest (DW proxy)
Did you ever post the crab/eel grass pic when finished?
Not finished yet - she's got the baby sea turtle comission taking time now.
Forrest
That's amazing, why didn't I check this thread out earlier!!
Can you hold the laser level while I shave?
Where do I place a order?
DW has a question - she can hit cone 2 in ten hours (cut off with the sitter cone). that's as long as she's let it run.
How long should it take her admittedly antique kiln (rated at cone 6), to hit cone 6? Is it even reasonable? New elements are $44 each, but she wants to make sure we need them.
Forrest
Do you mean 06 or 6
I think you mean 6
Cone 6 is stoneware, a very common range to fire to.
Assuming you have a relatively "normal" electric Kiln
you shouldn't have to many problems. Should take somewhere from 6-12 hours depending on Kiln
You will wear out your elements faster, but that's what they are for
right.
Wait I reread your question-
Ten hour for cone 2 is a long time. By "normal" kiln I mean- electric elements in walls (Hopefully in floor and ceiling)four inches of firebrick and perhaps extra insulation wrapped around that. Either a "Kiln Sitter"- device with three pins you place a pyrometric cone in.
or
Electronic "Kiln Sitter" - program firing cycle into touch pad. If it's anything like that you either need elements or insulation
or both.
<four inches of firebrick and perhaps extra insulation wrapped around that.>
Aah - Skutt was/is normally 2-1/2"; now they have 3" as an option.
Would this insulation work as a wrap (leaving the mechanical controller and peepholes uncovered)?
It's foil-faced ceramic wool, IIRC. I think I got it 15 years ago to wrap a chimney.
View Image
Forrest
Edited 3/8/2008 10:25 pm ET by McDesign
I honestly don't know if that is rated for the temps.
Some research is probably in order.
I would stick a piece in the kiln and test fire, see how it performs. One question I have is how large is your kiln?
that can effect the firing time.
Most likely you have a 36-100 cu. ft.
then I think yours is taking too long.
Here is a link for some insulation (Bailey makes some of the
best kiln shelves etc.) http://www.baileypottery.com/kilns/kilnmaterials.htm#Fiber
Edited 3/9/2008 1:49 pm ET by Henley
Forrest
here are 3 links they will save a lot of blah blah blah and the info is good. Any other ?? I'll be glad to help you might also do a test fire with or without tiles in the kiln, take three strips of clay and slightly push cones with several different cone values in each strip and place them at three levels in the kiln but where you can see them through the peep holes then set it for cone 6 or what ever cone you are looking to achieve and then check about once an hour and see where the different value cones bend and how long it takes for each that will give you a bench mark against the chart links I've enclosed you'll also know if the kiln is giving even temp throughout or or is hotter or cooler at top, middle or bottom.
http://www.ortonceramic.com/resources/pdf/wall_chart_horiz.pdf
http://www.kickwheel.com/Firingchart.html
http://www.bigceramicstore.com/Information/ConeChart.html
ZeeyaView Image
I put new elements in last week; knocked a couple hours or so off the firing times, so far. Some guy in OR that used to work for Skutt custom winds them.
DW asks - have you ever used Mayco "Elements" line? She's having a hard time getting the colors to match the chips - like a muddy brown instead of stormy blue - just tiny spots of blue coming thru in a few places.
Forrest
Forrest
A couple of questions
What temp did you bisque at
what temp did you fire glaze at
How many coats of glaze on the bisqued piece
the answers to my questions will I think give me the answers to yours but I'm going to tell you what I think is going on but would still like to know what you did
if you bisque fire at cone 04 then you need at least 3 coats of glaze and then fire that at cone 06 (see image attached it should look like the one below)
View ImageSTORMY BLUE AT CONE 06
View Image STORMY BLUE AT CONE 6
Now if you should fire it at cone 6 you will lose some of the blue and get a tan or brownish color but that all depends aon how much glaze is on the piece (also see other photo of cone 6 firing above)
Hopefully this helps but I think you could save yourself a lot of trouble if you make some small say 2' x 2" pieces not flat but upright and give them some dimension and number them then glaze and fire them at different cones or at the cone you want to use also vary the amount of glaze and note it on a piece of paper with the number on the piece
as you can see on the cone 6 piece as the glaze melts it runs out of the crevices leaving less there and so it will turn tan or brownish
sorry to be so long winded but I'm trying to cover it best I can anything else I can do give a shout on BT or e mail me off line right now I'm in FL but going north tomorrow afternoon but will get back to you soon as plane lands
ZeeyaView Image
Thanks so much - DW is now thinking she's been way too stingy with the glaze - formerly a decorative painter; lots of light coats in previous types of work.
Gonna' formulate a complete response and e-mail you later.
Forrest
Yeah it sounds like an over/under fires issue.
If your using a "Cone Sitter" you have to learn to finesses it
to the exact temp.
If your using a computer control it still needs to be calibrated. Also those new coils could run ramp up faster ( although I doubt
that would mess it up).
Thanks - she is using a cone sitter. She's going to make more test plaques. New coils probably are ramping up faster - less heat soak time, I guess.
Forrest
I am the proud owner of a $7000.00 ashtray , I show it to everyone that comes by to visit, sometimes more than once!----------Thats all I have to show for my oldest sons first semester at college in n.c. JUST BEFORE he switched majors three times at four differant schools , he also made it in potterey class ,heck I don't even smoke.
I'm the father of a surfer ,a headhunter yuppie, a teenage gamer, a wanna be fireman-astronaut- brickmason, and a fairy princess/ nurse who wants to make babies feel better.
You sir McD. and myself have a lot of work cut out for ourselves.
Ohh buy the way !them are some killer lookin tiles.
You need to post us some close ups of a few of those pieces so we can give her a "Hoo-rah"!
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
all kinda' proud
As ya should be. Keep them coming.
What's next? Fixed to tiles and glazed?
My brother took a pottery class in college 30 years ago. The way it worked back then was you paid for the class and then could make whatever you wanted and didn't have to pay for materials.
He started making flower pots and found he could sell them for $10 - $20 apiece.
This was back when a case of beer was $4
Anyway, he worked evenings, mornings, weekends etc making as many flower pots as he could.
Made some pretty good $$ for a broke college kid.
^^^^^^
busier than a pair of jumper cables at a redneck funeral
My brother took a pottery class in college 30 years ago. The way it worked back then was you paid for the class and then could make whatever you wanted and didn't have to pay for materials.
When I was in college I took pottery class at night so I could have access to the wheels and kilns - that was the only way that anybody I knew was going to get anything for X-mas back then!
We just moved and I found an old box of stuff I made, maybe I can save a few bucks this Christmas as well.......
Doug
Looks like a neat idea. Keep us updated with the results.
Eastern IL Univ produces a show called Heartland Highways, and your dw's clay work is the stuff they like to show. I don't have a clear PBS signal, so I watch the show on RFDTV. They wander through IN, IL, MO finding folks with unusual hobbies or small town type stuff. Basically featuring local 'color'.
They did a segment on a lady near here who makes clay buildings. If you have a high speed connection, you can view the episode online. I think the clay lady's segment was 5-10 mins. You can also download the episode (29 meg).
Episode 511:
http://www.weiu.net/shows/heartland/schedule.htm
The clay lady is the first segment, about 1min50secs into the program.
jt8
"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." --Voltaire
Wow.
And here I thought all you needed for starting mold, was a piece of bread and some time...
;o)
When it rains, it snows.
Hey Forest, I love what Mrs. Forest has been doing and have been watching this thread. Can you post finished pic's of the ones you post which are green and ready for fire? Like the sea ones, crabs, octopuss, sea shells, jelly fish, etc.....
Really interested to see how they turn out.
Thanks.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
-Truman Capote
Edited 4/27/2008 9:17 am ET by jarhead2
Thanks!
We're getting new kiln elements Tuesday - one fatigued and broke; seemed best to get a set. Plan to fire Wed, Thurs, and Friday, she says.
Forrest
Awesome! Can't wait. Tighten up and get that thing going! I can see what she means about you doing nothing around there! LOL
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
keep us posted, I think they look great now, can't wait to see the finished product!
Hey Forrest, I'm too lazy to go search. Got those pics handy of your bike parts creations? I seem to remember one was a recumbent bike.
jt8
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate-- Thornton Wilder