I completed my 6 hour stoking shift at the Highlander wood kiln last evening. Turned into a rainy one. Opening the kiln next Sunday. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #highlanderwoodkiln #woodfiring #ligonierpa

The Highlander wood kiln was loaded today and the firing started. I go back over tomorrow evening at 6 for my six hour stoking shift. Unloading next week. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #highlanderwoodkiln #woodfiring #mtlebanonpa

Wadding the pots for this weekend's Highlander wood firing. It's a mixture of EPK, fire clay, alumina, steel cut oats and a little yellow iron oxide for color (and because I have a ton of the stuff). #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #woodfiring #highlanderwoodkiln #wadding #mtlebanonpa

Glazing day. Hoping to get in a ^6 oxidation firing this week. Will include a number of re-fires, some with crystalline glaze. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #cone6glazing #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

An assortment of crystalline glazed pots from the recent firing. It was the most successful of the 3 ^10 firings I've done. I used the same aqua glaze as the last firing but added manganese dioxide to vary the color. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #crystallineglaze #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

Some screenshots from yesterday's crystalline glaze firing. Several segments and hold times. Opening it up later this morning. Fingers crossed. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #crystallineglazefiring #mtlebanonpa #skuttkiln

Used the atomizer to apply flashing slip onto the exterior of the pots going into the upcoming Highlander Wood Kiln firing. I'll glaze the interiors tomorrow & then apply the wadding. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #sprayingglaze #stoneware #flashingslip #atomizer #breakfastbowl #atomizer

Glazed these using my crystalline glaze. Tweaked the batch in the bucket to get a different color. Used a spray application. Glaze thickness is important; thinner application results in more crystals. We'll see. #thistleglenpottery #crystallineglaze #pottersonbluesky #mtlebanonpa #stoneware

Just unloaded the bisque kiln - teapot, vases, oil cruets bowls, footed-slab fruit dish, plates, pasta bowls, flower pot & tumblers. Both ^6 & ^10 stoneware clay bodies. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #bisqueware #skuttkiln #mtlebanonpa #standardceramics

Bisque firing today. Some ^10 and some ^6 stoneware clay pieces. A couple of glaze firings in the electric kiln just a couple of weeks away. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #bisquefiring #mtlebanonpa #skuttkiln #stoneware

No Kings Mt. Lebanon, PA

Some faceted ^10 stoneware pots almost ready to bisque fire. Center piece is a flower pot, the others vases. Likely will use what's left of my crystalline glaze on them. I've tweaked that glaze to get a different color than last time. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #facetedclay #mtlebanonpa

The almost finished teapot. Still gotta sand around the base of the spout to lessen the "bulge" at the joint. Handle opening may be a bit too large & the strap handle a bit too large in diameter. Gonna live with it for a while. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #teapot #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

New teapot in the works! White stoneware from Standard Ceramics in Carnegie, PA. Not sure whether I'll do one more crystalline glazing or go with conventional glazing. Food for thought. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #teapot #stoneware #standardceramicsclay #cone10clay #mtlebanonpa

I'm donating these 4 stoneware pieces to a local silent auction fund raiser. Three were wood-fired (not the oval baker) in my old Bourry-box kiln. The sake set rests on a walnut presentation tray. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #uusunnyhillsilentauction #woodfiredpots #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

Some pots from my recent ^10 oxidation firing - mugs, serving bowl & footed slab fruit dish. These glazes were also used in my former wood & gas kilns. I was pleased to see they turn out well in the electric kiln. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #cone10oxidationfiring #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

These 4 pieces were originally wood fired but had too much crusty ash around the rim (and other areas) so I re-fired them in the electric kiln along with the crystalline glazed pots. I'm pleased with the results. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #woodfired #refires #electrickiln #mtlebanonpa

The ^10 crystalline glazed pots. I used guidance provided by BrennaDeeCeramics in her webinar. I'll likely tweak the remaining crystalline glaze to get a different color and do one more firing before finishing this pursuit. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #crystallineglaze #cone10 #mtlebanonpa

Torching off the sacrificial pedestal on a crystalline glazed pot. It will next go into a sodium bisulfate bath for 4 hours to enhance the crystals. Bottoms will be ground smooth. Individual pot photos to come. #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #crystallineglaze #cone10oxidation #mtlebanonpa

Did a ^10 crystalline glaze firing - pots look pretty good. Torched off the sacrificial pedestals. Put pots into a sodium bisulfate bath for 4 hours. Grinding bottoms smooth tomorrow. Photos to follow. #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #crystallineglaze #porcelain #oxidationfiring #mtlebanonpa

Some mugs from the recent ^6 oxidation firing (the orange cup was done as a request from a friend). A couple of new glazes were used and will need more investigation. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #cone6oxidation #mugs #stoneware #mtlebanon

The oil bottles from the recent ^6 oxidation firing. I did a lot of layering with the glazes, both dipping and spraying. Used a firing schedule with a slow cool and two holds. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #cone6oxidation #skuttkiln #oilbottles #mtlebanon

Glued (mixture of Elmers/EPK/alumina) sacrificial pedestal rings onto the bottoms of the bisqued pots on which I'll be using crystalline glaze. I'll brush on a stoneware slip around the joint between the pot and the ring to create a better seal. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #mtlebanonpa

I'm in the process of glazing the 18 bowls I'll be donating to the local Empty Bowls event. These pots were dipped in a base glaze yesterday. Today I brush applied some wax resist. Tomorrow I will apply a second, complimentary liner glaze. #thistleglenpottery #emptybowls #waxresist #mtlebanonpa

Weather gods finally cooperating! Rolled my kiln outside & loaded it for a bisque firing. Air temp is still a bit colder than I'd like but there is no precip in the forecast. I typically bisque to Cone 04 or 05. Today it's 06 to reduce the duration a bit to end before the colder night time temps...

Hardly any room in the workshop to accommodate these freshly thrown bowls but I’m going a bit stir crazy waiting for better weather to fire the kiln (outdoors). #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #stoneware #bowls #mtlebanonpa

Workshop a bit crowded these days as I await better weather to fire the kiln outdoors. Got greenware ready to bisque fire; glazing (and wax resisting) & in some cases re-glazing some ^6 and ^10 pots for electric & wood firings. #thistleglenpottery #pottersonbluesky #glazing #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

Porcelain teapot. Foam wedges provide support until the clay stiffens enough to not slump. Hope to use a crystalline glaze on this one, or just woodfire it. #pottersonbluesky #thistleglenpottery #teapot #standardceramicsclay #porcelain #mtlebanonpa

My. Lebanon, PA this afternoon… #mtlebanonpa #anti-ICE #nokings #antifa

This morning here in Pittsburgh...

My wife and I joined a group of like minded souls this morning at a gathering outside the ICE facility in Pittsburgh...

Here they are! Total of 16. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #emptybowls #cone6stoneware #recycledclay #mtlebanonpa

Ready to crank out some bowls for the upcoming Pittsburgh Empty Bowls event organized by Just Harvest & the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank; on 15 March at Rodef Shalom Congregation. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #emptybowls #stoneware #cone6clay #standardceramicsclay #recycledclay

Bisque mishaps! Air bubble in 1 of 4 plates. Now it's a crater & a set of 3! A blend of stoneware & wild porcelain resulted in a crevice along a joint. I should have known, as that porcelain clay body has been a problem from the day I bought it. Lessons learned. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery

Just fired up the kiln outside for a bisque firing. Pots have been lying around for a while and are quite dry so it’s gonna be a fast one. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #standardceramicsclay #biscuitfiring #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

Been taking a break from making pottery. Just finished sweeping/mopping/vacuuming the workshop. Recent pots have air dried sufficiently and as I fire my kiln outdoors, I'm waiting for a couple of rain/snow free days to do a bisque firing. #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #stoneware #mtlebanonpa

Wishing you all the best on this Winter Solstice (Yule). Have a happy and healthy holiday season and in the new year... #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #wintersolstice #yule

Making pots in the workshop this morning. Looking out through the window/screen into the backyard it looks like the snowfall yesterday brought about 5-6" of the white stuff. Gotta replenish those bird feeders! #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #mtlebanonpa #birdfeeders #snowfall

Me and my Keeks basking in the winter sunlight. #mycat #keekles #mtlebanonpa #crawfordhorne

Put up the outside lights today. Season's greetings y'all and let it snow! #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #mtlebanonpa #seasonsgreetings

Finished the teapot today. I like the strap handle above the spout for extra support when pouring. Made a couple of small teacups to accompany it. A few more pieces and I should have enough for a bisque firing. #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #teapot #stoneware #porcelain #mtlebanonpa

Haven't made a teapot since moving to Mt. Lebanon 2 years ago. This one is a blend of ^10 stoneware & porcelain. Don't know if it will go into the wood kiln or electric kiln. We'll see how it looks after bisque firing. #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #teapot #stoneware #porcelain #mtlebanonpa

So here’s the footed free-form slab I’m working on. Now dry enough to stand upright. After bisque firing I will consider glaze options. Thinking about a cone 10 glaze combination that suggests movement… #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #clayslabs #stoneware #fruitplate #mtlebanonpa

Wishing all who celebrate, a happy and safe Thanksgiving... #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #mtlebanonpa #thanksgiving #christmascactus

Working on a free-form footed slab centerpiece or fruit dish. Mix of stoneware/porcelain. Custom made patterned roller stamp. When adequately dried, I'll set it on the three feet to expose the pattern & I'll smooth the edge. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #clayslabs #rollerstamp #mtlebanonpa

Altered bowls of various sizes. Some a porcelain/stoneware blend, others a porcelain/wild porcelain (Starworks) blend. I prefer bowls that are slightly altered with 3 finger swipes. These are ^10 clay and will go into a future wood kiln firing. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #bowls #cone10

Our Keekles forced to wear the cone of shame after getting some stitches…#thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #cats #coneofshame

Made some mugs from recycled ^6 stoneware scraps. A variety of forms and sizes. They’ll go into the bisque kiln when I have a full load of pots to fire. #thistleglenpottery #pottersofbluesky #recycledclay #cone6clay #mugs #mtlebanonpa #stoneware

Made some olive oil bottles, 3 with handles, in ^6 recycled clay. I'll continue to make stuff with both ^6 and ^10 clay until I have a kiln load to bisque fire, hopefully by the end of the month. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #recycledclay #stoneware #oilbottles #oilcruets #mtlebanonpa

A number of herb strippers drying before going into the bisque kiln. They’ve been popular at local farmers markets. #pottersofbluesky #thistleglenpottery #stoneware #herbstrippers #cone6stoneware #farmersmarkets