Monday, September 28, 2009

Glaze Mixing Combinations and Kiln Firings

I would like to introduce some of my new fall colors here very soon...
But first, here is a bit of background of how I use commercial glazes to mix them to get special color combinations...
Above is the first step: line blending of 5 glazes.
Basically you take a test tile (this one is a 4" square) with my CS texture in my Porcelain Clay.
And you run each glaze vertically down the tile, then horizontally across.
About 2-3 coats of each glaze in each direction.
Fire in kiln to maturing temperature, let cool, then take notes on which combinations have potential for use...
NOTE: Horizontal vs Vertical positioning of tile will give different glaze results due to glaze movement down the tile and interaction with texture. Use this to your advantage!

Here I've got my test tile, my notes, measuring cups, marked for even ratios of glazes (I use water to fill and measure each one), rubber gloves, sharpie marker, and of course: glazes.

Here I've used my Sharpie to mark the cups with the glaze codes I'm mixing, then I make up a code of my own: such as 1A, 1B, 1C, etc and take notes. You can see in the picture above how some glazes just sit in layers.

So you've got to mix them up thoroughly...
Make sure to wipe excess glaze off into it's container, then clean your brush thoroughly.

NOTE: if you constantly wash your glaze brush off in your sink, you are going to clog your sink. So I recommend a cup of water to rinse your brushes in. Then in a day or two after the water has separated from the heavier glaze particles, you can slowly pour off the water, and let the glaze particles dry, then dispose of properly (I've got a friend that uses the dried glaze for a liner glaze, so it doesn't go to waste). These glazes all fire to the same temperature range!!!

So here are all my new glazes waiting to be put onto pendants to see how they interact with my textures and being fired on a vertical surface (see kiln loaded pictures below).

I work in batches. One glaze and a bunch of pendants. And small plastic food container cups (not ever used for food in my studio) to sort the pieces for each glaze.

Above is how I like to work - paint the front of the pieces with multiple coats - work according to shape and size, then flip over and glaze the backs. I then clean out each bead hole and go back to touch it up. So it is important to keep the pieces grouped within their glaze group until they are absolutely ready for the kiln.

This glazing part is where I can zone out for hours...
I think I must've been a painter in a former life, if that actually happens, because I love to paint!

This is my kiln room set up with rolling tables and temporary iPod for glaze kiln loading.
It can take upwards of three hours to load a kiln with all the pieces you see in the black tray to the right of this photo.

Ok - better shot of the black tray with "to be loaded" pieces. And my nichrome wire hooks - three gauges of wire, multiple size hooks all on my rolling table (which according to my Grandma Neal was the old butcher block used in my grandfather's restaurant to wheel out and serve and slice the prime rib at table side). Don't worry though - that was like 35+ years ago... and it sat in her garage or barn in her old farmhouse for most of that time... That was until I got my hands on it... It's a perfect fit between the kiln, wall, and myself when I'm loading the kiln. Then it wheels out when I clear the room for a firing...

This is the bottom layer of my "papa bear" kiln being loaded. See what I mean about the Vertical surface? The pieces are all hung vertically in the kiln, so the glaze runs down the piece and interacts with the textures instead of just sitting on the piece and puddling on the Horizontal flat surface if it were glazed only on one side (like one of my buttons or cabochons).

Bottom shelf bead trees are full, next level of shelves are being loaded...

Bottom shelf ate up a bunch of the larger pieces, and some small ones... Still a lot to go though. The little ones take so much longer to load and they like to jump off hooks often. Temperamental little buggers they can be! Especially when they like to land on the shelf below.

Here is the upper shelves loaded to the max. It takes a VERY steady and patient hand to load a kiln like this. I find that I can only do this in the mornings without any distractions. So everyone in the family knows if they call, and Dave says I'm loading a kiln, they won't hear from me for hours... and no, I won't just quick get the phone... Gotta love that man for fielding calls and doorbell rings like that for me!

And here it is folks - my moment of pure delight - an empty black box!

Then it's up to the kiln and weather to decide the final outcome of the pieces.
Which is why opening up a glaze kiln is often described as "Christmas Day"...
It's like getting a ton of tiny little gifts all at once if all goes well...

The next posts will contain some of the fired results of these test glazes, the names some people have picked, and a chance for your input to name one or more of them (I get to pick which names I like the best, and which ones have a code that will work in my catalog system). If I pick your glaze name, you get $50 to spend via my online shopping cart!

And I'll announce the names of the people that suggested names via Bead Fest Wire (May 2009) and Bead Fest Philly (August 2009) that won $50 gift certificates to the Marsha Neal Studio online shopping cart.

I wanted to have a big to do on here, but have decided I liked the names I got already for the bulk of the glazes from these two shows, and there are a few I'm stumped on and would like extra input from you all...

And time is running out for me because I'm trying to update my 2010 pendant catalog, Marsha Neal Studio website and need names and codes for the new glazes ASAP...

So let's see how this week goes and if I can get the pictures posted of the new glazes!
Check back soon!!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Bird Pendants and Glaze Mixing Finds...

I feel like I'm getting a lot done today...
And all while having allergies and a slight sinus infection which means I'm walking around feeling like my head is in a bubble...

I've glazed pieces...
I've loaded and am firing a kiln...
Taken pictures of the garden, cropped and posted them on my garden blog...
Updated Etsy with some of my Chickadee and Dark Eyed Junco Pendants...
Updated my FaceBook page, which has been "glitchy" today...
Eaten a Bobbie from Capriotti's along with a small bag of Salt and Vinegar Kettle Cooked Chips (oh, am I regretting those chips now - pregnancy indigestion is not fun!)

And now Riley is happy and fed and he is beckoning me to take a nap...
It's a lot of work to digest that thanksgiving meal on a roll...

So here are some images I've taken recently...

The above picture is when I was measuring and mixing 2 glazes to come up with a new glaze color palette for this fall.
I love that stuff like this just happens...
It's like a natural flow in the studio...
When you are in the zone...

My little drawing of a Chickadee (front side)...
on one of my porcelain decal pendants
(new porcelain blank from Bisque Bead Supply!!!)

And of course, the back side...
Can't leave off it's tail, poor thing!
This back side always makes the bead ladies giggle with delight...
And yes, all of the larger pendants with these birds have a back side tail...
Smaller ones may not (I usually double side the small ones with one of each bird).

And the Dark Eyed Junco...
We should be seeing them arrive at our feeders sometime in the next month or so...
They arrive just before the cold weather starts to settle in...

And the Chickadee again on a round pendant.

And with that...
I'm off for an afternoon nap before picking up Chloe from school...

I think we are going to have some outdoor activities this afternoon including filling up our bird feeders, collecting seeds, blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and visits from the neighborhood kids (they like to hang out with us for some reason... must be fun or something!)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

FaceBook 75 Fans Winner

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I wanted to quick post to show you guys what I gave away this morning to a lucky winner that is a "fan" of Marsha Neal Studio on FaceBook.

For every 75 fans, I'll be giving away a grouping of something random (will include something I make) that I pick out of my beading supplies.
See the side bar to the right if you want to become a fan for the next drawing...

This set of Porcelain Shards with my Dark Celadon Glaze,
Fairy Ribbon and Vintaj wire and ear wires was my choice for the first drawing.
I thought that giving away some shards would give someone a little something extra...
Like incentive to enter my September Blog Challenge:
"What did you make with my shard pieces?"


And here is how this morning's drawing went down...
This was supposed to be Thursday evening,
But things just went down a different path until now...
And you've got to go with the flow sometimes...

Um... Chloe... When you are finished raiding Daddy's cereal,
Can you please help me pick a winner?

I was considering putting a marshmallow from the cereal into the "hat" to get her to participate. But luckily after she and dad were done eating, she went right to it...

Thank you for just picking one... Well done!!!

And we have a winner - the #1 commenter on my 75 fans drawing post
Via the Face Book Marsha Neal Studio page...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Cool Clay Friend - Jenny Davies-Reazor

Ok, so I am really enjoying having SO many cool friends in my life...
And I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Jenny...
Often referred to as my "Clay Sister" (between the two of us - it's an understanding)...

You can find out more about her through her blog:

We had lunch today - very yummy Indian Food buffet
And I must admit...
Every time we hang out together, it's like we feed off of each other's energy...
It's so cool!

I think it is one of those relationships where we both bring a lot of different stuff to the table and also have a lot of common interests...
And yet, quite different...

Anyway - today at lunch we talked about some of the new pendant pieces that she is working on and I CAN'T WAIT to see them all glazed and fired up!

IMG_0234.jpg

I'm sure they will be magnificent...

She has some craft shows coming up this weekend and a few after that too...
So if you are looking for some interesting stuff to see, try to get to one of her shows and check out her tiles, shrines and new pendants!

Friday, September 11, 2009

September Blog Challenge: What did you make with my Shard PIeces?

Over the last month or so I have blogged about these new "shard" pieces that I've been making.

So now it's time for the challenge:
WHAT DID YOU MAKE WITH MY SHARD PIECES???

I have created a flickr account for you to upload your images for this challenge:

I do believe that you do have to have log into your "yahoo" account to see pictures on flickr and to join the group to upload your images.

Any images of work you have made with Marsha Neal Studio items are welcome to be added to the group photo pool...


SEPTEMBER BLOG CHALLENGE DETAILS:

1. Must have done something creative to any of my shard pieces (jewelry, mixed media, collage, etc).
2. Deadline to upload photos is Midnight (EST) on Saturday, October 17, 2009.
***Deadline Extended to October 29, 2009***
3. Winner will be picked by random lottery (by Chloe's hand) on Sunday, October 18, 2009 and will be announced here with a link to your blog, website or Etsy site.
***Winner Will Be Picked on October 30, 2009***
4. Winner will receive above recognition AND a $50 retail gift certificate to be used through either:
or

****EXTRA****
If you purchase any of my shards from my Etsy Shop before October 9, 2009 you can get free USPS First Class shipping on your order by mentioning how you found out about this:
Marsha Neal Studio Blog...
FaceBook...
Marsha Neal Studio Website...
Someone's blog linked to this one...
Etc...

For example, you would put in the message section of the order:
Marsha Neal Studio Blog = Free Shipping

This means too that if you add something to the order with the shards by October 9, 2009, that ships for free too!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

My Friend Kelly

I think I must have some of the coolest beady friends around...

Check out my friend Kelly's Blog:


This is one of her new pieces that she is working on for a challenge with some other artists.
Her blog has lots of details and pictures - so enjoy...

I must admit that she is one of the funniest, most entertaining and tell you as she thinks it is kind of friends to have... (that's the best kind of friend - oh, and she loves Chocolate like I do!)

She and I hit it off right away when we were taking our PMC Certification class years ago in Massachusetts.
We just happened to be sitting at the same table and it was magic...
Quite loud and funny stories kind of magic...
I just attached right onto her!

When I was doing a lot more shows and we would split our booth,
We would always joke that you could find our booth because it would be the loudest one in the show...
And it usually was...

AND she is teaching some classes this fall!
So sign up and don't miss out!!!

She is such a generous teacher and her classes are NEVER DULL...
With a woman like Kelly holding the reigns, how could they ever be?

I absolutely love her work!
And love Kelly as a dear friend...

Just thought I'd give her a little shout out since I enjoy reading her blog and being inspired by it almost daily...

Hope you are enjoying your time too...

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Pendants and Silks and Scarves on SALE - Oh, My!!!

40 % off retail pricing (I've marked the items down already in the shop...)
Sale runs today, September 3, 2009 through Monday, September 7, 2009.
All items will ship on Tuesday via USPS Priority Mail for $5 for all your items.

I will combine multiple orders to save on shipping... but it won't be until the sale is over.

My friend Mary Harding is also having a 40% off her Etsy Shop too!

There are 10 strands within each bundle and retail at $30 on sale for $18!!!
Each strand is approximately 42" long each and are color fast (won't bleed or fade)...
I'm starting out with at least 10 of each bundle color, but don't know how long they will last.
If you buy 5 or more bundles, they become $17 each!


And I've quick looked through my stock of 96" long scarves (super long and soft - t-shirt material) to see which ones I have multiples of...
I want to be able to make new ones for this fall, so stock up on these!
They are awesome as gifts for the holidays or just to a good friend this fall to let them know you are thinking about them...
They are perfect for wearing when it's just a bit chilly outside...
Or in mid winter when it gets a bit chilly inside too...
Ok, and for those of you perpetually cold people - use inside in the summer when the AC has you freezing out...
The scarves retail at $22 each, but are on sale for $13 each!


This is my Hibiscus Flower $18 retail pendant in a new fall color: Dusty Denim.
Catalog Code: HF-M-DUDE
Sorry for the blurry picture - it's what I have at my fingertips with one of my favorite new colors...
My website hasn't been updated yet with the new colors, but it is the works...
This particular piece may not be available in my Etsy Shop, but I'm working on getting some of the new fall glaze color pieces up there this weekend - just as a little something extra special for you all!!!
In the Etsy Shop (sorry, no MarshaNealStudio.com orders qualify for this one)
As I get some loaded, the pendant prices will be:
$18 large textured retail = $10 on sale
$14 med textured retail = $8 on sale
$20 sm pendant pair sets retail = $12 on sale



And last, but not least...
And not related to the Etsy Shop sale...
But brand new news...
We just found out that our baby #2 - Riley...
(Pictured here at 12 weeks, currently at 21 weeks...)
Is a BOY!!!

We're super excited!!!
Need to buy little boy things now, so shop, shop, shop this weekend on my Etsy shop!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Etsy Shop Sale for Labor Day Weekend!!!

I'm in the mood for a sale!!!


Thanks to my friend Mary Harding today for the inspiration...
She is having an Etsy Shop Sale too!!!
See her blog, website, and Etsy shop for details...

And I think the cooler weather is putting me in the mood to clear out some stuff...

40% off retail pricing on everything currently in my Etsy Shop...
Sale runs from 12 Noon EST on Thursday, September 3, 2009
Through Monday, September 7, 2009.

All items sold will ship on Tuesday, September 8 so I can combine multiple items from orders...

I will be working on uploading new items to Etsy so the shop has new stuff by tomorrow!
And if things are going well, I may put up even more... through the sale...

Have fun shopping - and I appreciate all your support!

Oh, and yes, some of the profits from this sale will start hitting the bank for the room that I want to have dedicated to "My Mom Pattie" at Tri-State Bird Rescue here in DE.
My goal is to raise between $2,000 to $5,000 for the room dedication!

So happy shopping!!!
And really... THANK YOU!!!

Here are some price breakdowns of 40% off:
Retail $50 will become $30
Retail $30 will become $18
Retail $25 will become $15
Retail $20 will become $12