Sad Trombone Raku

Some work, small vases mainly, from the recent raku firing, with a bit of photo editing.

Why edit the photo?

Because the high-fire underglazes washed out in the raku firing and in person look more like this:

(Sad trombone.)

I wanted them to look more like this:

But instead they look more like this:

And like this:

Sad trombone.

Those are all high-fire underglazes on white slip over Laguna's B-3 clay, which is normally a very dark brown. (In raku, with white crackle over it, it goes very bronzy.) Actually though, it's because of the B-3 clay that these are even raku'd. In a higher firing (cone 5 1/2 or 6) they tend to crack if they're only glazed on one side.

This (overexposed photo of a) small plate, made with some scrap calico clay to test out new stamps, is one of Dave's favorites from the firing.

This little ocarina is a collaboration between me and Dave:

That photo does not do it justice. There were other pieces--I think we fired fourteen or so altogether--but these are mine. (Dave did a bunch of other ocarinas.)

The Day

Man, I could not sleep last night for anything. I read, sure. I read and read and read and read. I finished the book of Haruki Murakami short stories (Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman) that I've been in the thick of for the last couple of days. I blew through a book called The First Time which is about writers, athletes, and other celebrities' early sexual experiences. (And, yikes.) (Which is a complete review of the book actually, because did you know that infidelity is, along with hydrogen and stupidity, one of the most common things in the universe? Who raised you people? Jeez. Learn some self-control already. And stop blaming biology, thanks.) And then I started a third book, The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston. Finally, around 8:00 a.m., just as Dave was waking up, I managed to fall asleep.

I had the strangest dreams.

I slept until 11:45 or so then had to get up. We had lunch at Anapurna Chai House, swung by the post office to mail Dave's passport renewal forms, and then I went and waited while Dave got a haircut. We spent a few hours at the studio after that.

There was rain.

We're home now. Dave is making dinner (Brussels' sprouts, some kind of potato dish, Quorn cutlets, and gravy). I'm about ready to fall asleep though.

Yawn.