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thrift store mug

updated mon 28 mar 05

 

Kate Johnson on sat 26 mar 05


For those who asked about my bargain inspiration, it's the last three photos
at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/graphicartepsi/album?.dir=bbb8 Yum...

Best--
Kate Johnson
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/

Art, History, Nature and More at Cathy Johnson's Cafepress--
http://www.cafepress.com/cathy_johnson/

Graphics/Fine Arts Press--
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/

Deeclay@AOL.COM on sat 26 mar 05


Hi Kate:
Loved your slide show.
I have a question. How do you fire your mochaware?
I have fired mine to cone 10 reduction and the mocha seems to burn out when
I put clear over it. I can fire at home to cone 6 electric. I love the
designs and don't want to loose them in the firing.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Finally over bronchitis after NCECA. Guess the hot muggy Miami weather is
better for me than cold in Baltimore.

Diane from Sunny Miami

Kate Johnson on sat 26 mar 05


Hi Diane, and thank you!

> Hi Kate:
> Loved your slide show.

That's basically my version of the how-to-make-a-mug thing--so I can show
potential buyers that this isn't exactly a 10 minutes job.

> I have a question. How do you fire your mochaware?

I work almost exclusively with earthenware, so pretty low-fire in an
electric kiln. That's not really the answer, though...

> I have fired mine to cone 10 reduction and the mocha seems to burn out
> when
> I put clear over it.

I don't believe that's a problem of the firing temp but of the nature of the
beast. Almost everyone I know that works with mocha has the same problem,
no matter WHAT temp they're using...it's more the glaze you use over the
bisqued mocha than the temperature, in other words.

I can fire at home to cone 6 electric. I love the
> designs and don't want to loose them in the firing.
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I asked that same question not too long ago! And truthfully, I'm still not
satisfied with my own mocha, I lose some, too. I've recently seen some
gorgeous stuff that was done _without_ a finishing glaze over the mocha
area, otherwise it's possible we just need a thicker glaze that doesn't move
as much. Check the archives for suggestions people gave me...I'm still sort
of pushing that rock uphill.

As you may have noticed in my Yahoo album, I experimented with a bit of gum
in the mocha tea, as well as a wee bit of clay and even spit, on the theory
that perhaps "they" used what came out of the spittoon (thanks for the
suggestion, Lili.) The gum seemed to work best. Cobalt kept its shape
better than Manganese under the clear glaze, too. You STILL lose some
though. (HOW DOES DON CARPENTIER *DO* IT?!?!?)

Bonnie Staffel, Lili Krakowski, Trish Messenger and several others and I are
all working to solve this same problem, using a variety of clay bodies and
firing temperatures, so don't feel bad, you're not alone. (If any of you
old timers are sitting there thinking "I know the answer to this one," feel
free to jump in there. VINCE??) (Er. That's not to suggest Vince is
old. I suspect I've got a few years on him...)

>
> Finally over bronchitis after NCECA. Guess the hot muggy Miami weather
> is
> better for me than cold in Baltimore.

Glad you feel better!

Best--
Kate Johnson
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/

Art, History, Nature and More at Cathy Johnson's Cafepress--
http://www.cafepress.com/cathy_johnson/

Graphics/Fine Arts Press--
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/

Russel Fouts on mon 28 mar 05


Kate>

>> For those who asked about my bargain inspiration, it's the last three
photos at
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/graphicartepsi/album?.dir=bbb8 Yum... <<

Where did you say you picked up that mug, what state? And it said NR on the
bottom.

I think that mug was made by Doug Browe and Jan Hoyman at New Richmond when
they were still living in Michigan (they live in Ukiah, Ca now). The
decoration and colors look correct but I don't remember anything that big.

I worked with them after I left school. If you want, I can contact them by
email (although Doug isn't much of a writer) ;-)

Here's their current link, They're still making slip ware but a much
different style.

When I worked there the "bread and butter pot" was a loosely thrown wine
brick (wine cooler) that they were making for various wineries in the Fen
Valley (Fenville, Mi). I have a friend still in Michigan who is an antiques
dealer, he received two of them in an estate sale and gave me one when I
visited last year. I keep it in my studio, a nice memory.

Russel




Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
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