Sephardic Jews invited back to Spain after 500 years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21631427

I think this could be a blessing for Spain !

I hope so...

Some images from my studio today ...

Iron oxide wash 

Applied with hake brush

Teapot waxed and dipped waiting sponge off

Set up of kiln pack on table

Pots in process of decoration etc

Iron and cobalt pigments + various brushes

Simple plant motif - cobalt

Fleck motif - cobalt

DL foxglove motif - cobalt

A toast !

"Champagne to our real friends ...
And real pain to our sham friends !"

New Auction

http://wp.simonleachpottery.com/

Opening the kiln...

As I had not fired the kiln for some months, glaze fired I mean, I was aware that this firing might not be quite on target. That I would need this firing to zero in my sights as it were on the glazes and placement in the kiln of the pots.
I did not place my better pots in the kiln !  wise move yes!
First I should say that the kiln was a wee bit too hot.
The tenmoku was applies a little too thin so it came out rather too brown and the ilmenite decoration did not show up !
The Shinos some were good some were poor in my opinion. I applied them too thick in general, so perhaps a slightly hotter kiln was actually good for them anyway !
Some images below of some of the pots and more images to come ....
We keep practicing !

SL

Gas kiln firing

Started at 4.30pm and finished at midnight, had a 15 min oxidising soak at the end.....

Reducing into collector - pottery door open !

image showing collector pipe

another angle

yet another

twin weedburners

Opening the kiln around lunch time.

Feb 26

Spent the day loading the kiln with individual pots ( not repeats).
Glazing, waxing, decorating .....
Propane torching pots to get them dry.
Placing them on the wood stove....
Experimenting with a few glaze combinations.
Managed to get the kiln lit by 4.30pm so looks like a latish night !
At 5 pm hairy legs came with a delivery from Abrams Books !!
My book has finally been printed and we have a copy to peruse !
Pretty impressive I think and all for sale for $20 on Amazon !
Wow that's a bargain !
I yes I forgot to mention we  have a new "keep practicing" Tea shirt !
See that on my website but I'll put a picture here as well.

All for now .....