The Sanding Worked!!!

I am SO elated! Overwhelmed with a load of work to get done - but elated that a little sanding (cleaning off oxidation and residue) of the cone sensor and cone holder arms that were sticking and not letting the kiln shut off - is all that my little Olympic Babydoll Kiln needed to get back to firing properly (thank you Annie S. for reminding me that needs to be done - pshew!)

So the pics show an overfired (stuck) cone melt. And a properly fired cone. The others are pre-firing, the kiln setter with backup timer showing that the cone shut off the kiln (& that I timed it pretty darn close too), and the post glaze firing...

Kiln Issues Not Fun

Know how you plan on doing something "quick" and just assuming things will come out just right because you've done it hundreds of tunes before?

Well, two times this week I have fired my little kiln and two times it has over fired. Not to the complete meltdown point - but to the "oh man, these are not the colors I was looking for" point...

The thing that really stinks is I have to glaze & fire these pieces for a third time. All. Over. Again. I hope I have enough stock...

At least some are still really good looking and OOAK.

Now to glaze again, and fire in another kiln until I fix the little one...

Step By Step Wire Jewelry How To...

I'm SO excited to have written my first magazine how to article - thanks Denise Peck!!!

More later - just wanted to share since I have it right here - in my hands (grab your copy soon!)

Click HERE to buy shards so you can make you own!

Want me to make you a pair?

You've got two choices:

1. Pick a pair of shards from my Etsy shop and comment that you want them made into trapeze earrings & I will send you the paypal invoice for the difference.

OR

2. Check out my Jewelry section of my Shop where you can pick your color choice from these porcelain clay twirl shards - which were used in the magazine, or the porcelain clay spiral shards.

Marsha Neal Studio Clay Twirl Shard Trapeze Earring (oxidized sterling shown)

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Clay Twirls

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Spiral Shards

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Marsha Neal Studio, LLC

Handmade porcelain and chocolate clay beads, pendants, shards,

and other art objects. Working in clay since 1997 and started making

beads in 2002.

Little Sets...

I am almost finished - glazing hundreds of tiny pairs for earrings....

This is the last of the destash sale. Today is kiln load #1, then more glazing and firings to happen. Then I am done with pendants for a while (at least until the heat of summer).

They had taken over both sides of my slab roller & the neighboring table...

Then it was down to one side and a bit of the other half...

This is what remains to be completed (above)...

Seems like SO much work for just a few little pieces - but little pieces take the longest...

And this is where I will begin my morning (right after getting the kids up & to school).

Almost Finished...

Even though the DeStash sale is done online, there is still SO much work for me to do.

I've got over 200 transactions and numerous convos to follow up with...

I spent the last two days getting organized and ready to tackle the sorting of the beads.

Happily they were all sorted into these trays by this morning.

I even got through adding in the "bonus - free" 1 medium pendant for every 5 destash iems into everyone's trays. I really enjoyed that part - getting to pick out little goodies for everyone...

I've got at least 5 pages of notes.

To do, don't forget, add this, make that, credit this, bill that...

I really can't wait until all of these orders are shipped out and arrive safety at their destinations.

My goal is to get them packed up and out the door Monday or Tuesday.

Let's hope all goes as planned.

Thank you everyone for your continued support of my work!

I can't wait to see what you make with all this stuff!