BOC Open House Today!

I have participated in the Beads of Clay Open Studio in the past but things are a little different this time around...for this event I'm going to participate as a static poster instead of having multiple posts throughout the afternoon. Don't you worry, there is still the chance to enter to win but instead of having you bounce to and from my post you can read at your leisure.

Entries for the random drawing for this floral lagoon lentil bead will be closed at midnight PST on March 6th. Just comment on the post for your chance (make sure you leave me an email address to contact you!).As an extra bonus for everyone who stops by during the event, I am offering a 15% discount off everything on my website during the open house. Just enter the code spring11 at checkout and your discount will be calculated automatically. Don't delay, this offer ends at midnight and there's only one of most items available!

So without further ado, I will share a little new work with you as well as some new studio developments...

Actually first, something old...well it's new to me but clearly has some miles on it! Talk about serendipity, when I selected the electrician to wire my new big daddy kiln I had no idea that it would turn out that his wife used to dabble in ceramics...and he had an old potter's wheel in his backyard that he was very motivated to get rid of! It certainly needs some cleaning and it's not high tech by any stretch of the imagination but it works, the belts are in good shape and it was FREE!

The new is the shiny digital fantabulous kiln that is now wired into that big honkin' power box on the wall! Part of the reason I chose to do the static post today for the open house is so that I'm not distracted while doing the inaugural firing with it. Here it is this morning all vacuumed out and empty...
Loaded with a freshly "kiln wash" covered shelves so things don't stick and ruin the shelf surface and orton cones that bend at particular temperatures so I can check that the temperature is correct (you can't trust the digital readout or firing by time, only the bend of the cones will truly tell you what temperature your kiln has reached).

Now some recent work since it's going to take me a while to fill that big space! (luckily I still have my baby kiln that is good for small, quick firings)

I finally included some more loopy linky circles in a firing again...
These zinnia connectors have received a little press lately...Lorelei used one in my lagoon glaze for a necklace in the new book Wire Style 2!


Since this is our spring event, what do I love about spring? Well, living in Southern California I have the benefit of seeing things like this most of the year... but nothing beats the return of full blooms in the spring! Enjoy the studio tours, don't forget to comment for your chance to win and swing by the BOC blog for a chance at a big batch of goodies from all the participants!