Bottles to Beads in Review

In retrospect I did not blog well from Tanzania. Neema Crafts is a very successful development initiative and with continued good management it will continue to do the good work well. Volunteering there was challenging, thought provoking, and a source of personal growth. I've never been in a work environment quite similar to it, and the people there are full of life and joy. Don't let the deaf waiters at the cafe fool you - they'll talk your ears (and eyes) off if you'll let them.
I uploaded a few photos depicting the kiln construction and general bead-making process here.

Kiln

We've been working on the kiln a lot this week.
As Hosea said, "Imepinda kama nyoka," but I think she'll stand.
Also, I've included a picture of some of the kiln-formed beads the Bottles-to-Beads workshop has produced.

Cool Bike

By the way, Black Fish Pottery is on the road again--this time by means of a pretty Cool Bike. Well, kind of a piece of junk really, but she gets me around.

Working on the Kiln

We've started working on the kiln and I took just a few photos of it. When it's done, hopefully the oil-drip burners will be able to run off used motor oil, hopefully eliminating the need for firewood. In this picture Jeremia and Hosea are working on the kiln.
Here is a detail of the metal plates where the oil willl be burned.

Kiln Plans.

Been drawing up some kiln plans for Neema Crafts. It's a small oil drip kiln for low-temperature firing purposes. It has to be able to melt down soft glass (bottle glass) in molds for making beads. To make the holes in the beads, the guys at Neema take the beads out while they're hot and soft, and punch holes in them with awls.

Coral Cup

Ah, matey! Dredged up something from the bottom of the ocean have we?
After the salt firing, some of the thinner threads of slip-coated fiberglass either burnt, melted, or dissolved away.
Worth trying again? Definitely.

Celadon and Tenmoku Dinner Set

A dinnerware set I finished recently.
The glaze combination is an iron-rich Tenmoku Glaze applied over an Iron-Blue Celadon glaze. The celadon recipe I used was Elain Coleman's recipe as published in Ceramics Monthly.
If you click on the picture it will take you to my Flickr photos, where there are more pictures available for viewing and download.

Triaxial Blend

Finally, a published glaze test.
Interested in using natural materials, I've been experimenting with wood ash and clay from a local creek, and a feldspar (Canadian Nepheline Syenite).
My greatest surprise was in the tile in the bottom right corner, which had the largest percentage of nepheline syenite.
To see a larger image , click on the picture.

Here is a second set of tests. Click to see a larger version of the image. Sanders Celadon is a recipe borrowed from Ash Glazes by Phil Rogers
-Paul Christensen

Work in Progress

Sculptural Mug
Cup thrown with fiberglass wedged into cone 10 B-Mix,
fiberglass cloth dipped in slip and applied to exterior of form, various slips and engobes applied when leather hard.

Upcoming Glaze Tests

Currently working with glaze tests using local red clay and wood ash, fired to cone 10 in reduction.
Will post photos after the firing.