Omg it's been too long

So I have not been around for awhile , been trying to redefine my art, find a new direction, and I did. You can find my work now at http://www.christianbaileyceramics.com and find my work at my Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristianBCeramics And I hope to not be so long in between blog posts again. Time to get this self promotion thing underway.

See I haven't abandoned you blogosphere.

Okay so it's been a while I admit it.  But I haven't been twiddling my thumbs I swear, you can even ask my thumbs.  I was contacted by St. Stanislaus to create a series of trophies for their invitational regatta (sailing competition for landlubbers)  and I said yes.  How could I say no, the guy who asked is a coworker and keeps my technical issues to a minimum at school and i don't want to not use my computer for grades.  That would be them up top.  Also have donated a work to ASC Ribbons of Change in Hattiesburg I think this makes year number 8 that I have donated to this fabulous cause, so if your a Hattiesburgian or just happen to be there or want to make a trip there October 15th would be a great night to do it.  http://www.121havenhouse.org/FlyerRoC%202011.pdf yep there be the link. and that would be kiln gods below.   Have a great one and remember clay doesn't get real hard to you get it real hot.

Giddy giddy gi...

So the kiln ran like a champ, just the way a kiln is suppose to do.  It was so awesomely nice not to have to go out and turn dials for the kiln every 2 hours give or take and even more awesome that I could tell what temperature it was with a glance at the digital readout. 

Computer controlled kilns its good for what ails ya.  Everything survived the kiln but with the starting of my real job as an art teacher this week, I haven't been able to do anything but look at the pretty pots.  However tomorrow that is all to change, I will spend the time mixing some glazes, glazing some pots and loading up my brand new to me computer controlled kiln and even get in some rakuing.  Then hopefully on Monday morning when I have to deal with kids I will have a new giant coffee mug to at least keep me semi sane. 

Till next time keep your hands muddy and burn some dirt.

Power, power and more power.

I kind of feel like Tim Allen's character on Home Improvement right now.  They came out and plugged my studio into that big electrical cord on the road and all I have to say is omg.  I have spent the last 4 years running my shop off of a 40 amp 220 volt line from my house, yes not exactly ideal especially when running my small kiln was all I could do, no wheel throwing, no welding nothing when running the kiln.  And now....hee hee, I now have 200 amp service straight to the shop..More power, ugh ugh ugh..or however you spell happy grunting sounds.

 So to test out this new power my electrician and I decided to turn the 8.0 cubic ft kiln, the small 2 cubic ft kiln, the 4 foot shop fan, all the lights and the wheel all at the same time and it ran like a dream.  Can you say AWESOME?  I can and was even chanting it. 

 Well you say what have you done with all that power?  I will tell you... nothing until 4:30 today when I finally finished loading my big kiln and turned her on.  It was so nice to just keep putting more and more pieces in there, I have gone from 8 firings to 1.  Now we get to see how long it will take for the kiln to fire and how much power it will use to figure out the power usage, which we all know equals money output, but I do believe that the electrical cost per piece should drop significantly thus increasing profit.  Yes I said profit because one day it would be nice to make my living just from my artwork.  Fingers crossed yes one day it shall happen.

That's all I have to ramble about today, no need even to think about going fishing.