One finished vessel and a few more prior to copper additions...

Speckled green gloss

Spirit fired 3 times......

Spirit and turquoise raku....

Raku......wow!!!!

loading the kiln

up to temperature.....

Pretty hot stuff....and Dan!!!

Tranfered to ash.....

.....just a few sparks.....once placed into the ash, the pots were covered and sealed into the stell bin, then I had to play the waiting game......

Definitely worth the wait...I love these results and couldn't wait to get started with the copper....

I'm now going to be kept busy finishing off......watch this space!!!!

Wearable pieces using the same materials and methodology

Also from paperclay I set about making multiple pieces imprinted with small pieces of crocheted cotton. Having experimented with stoneware as well as earthenware.....I found that for these pieces the only difference with the differing clays was down to which glazes I chose to use. Following the bisque firing I chose to try out another new toy......Recently I invested in a microwave kiln and bought some raku glazes to play with...these pieces lent themselves to this form of glazing very well. The results were amazing and diverse as well as being quick..... Here are just a few of the results after I have started to assemble them with copper wire

The top sample has been glazed with Cobalt oxide then a turquoise raku glaze on white earthenware whilst the bottom one is just the turquoise glaze on stoneware

.....the middle sample in this picture is the same turquoise glaze but then reduced which gives a very metallic finish ......I really like raku  : ) and I really like the diversity that can be achieved with the same glaze.

Making a mould

This bell shaped vessel was thrown by a friend to my specifications and original drawings. Once it was completed and biscuit fired I coated it with wax and made a plaster mould.

It was a bit awkward to get the original pot out of the plaster but I was very happy with the resulting mould and proceeded to make a series of pieces. With the idea being that I will 

 create a series of vessels from the original form...linked by the mould but all taking on different forms, the spaces created will then be stitched with copper once glazed......

Fingers x....I have made 8 pieces in the hopes that I will get at least 4 perfect finished vessels, allowing for any disasters that may occur!!!!

.....here are a few 

I have used white earthenware paper clay and porcelain paperclay. The resulting pieces are very light. 

Degree Work...getting started

This is me loading my new kiln in my new workshop...the garage actually!!! The kiln is second hand but I was extremely lucky to get it for Christmas from my parents....I love being a mature student who still get toys for presents....Its been a learning curve and I've had few hiccups with firing but thankfully I have it under control now. These pieces form part of a series of 8 vessels I have created so far.... using moulds I made from origional thown vessels.