As well as trying to prepare work for Christmas, I've enrolled in a Raku course. A traditional Japanese firing technique that involves intense thermal shock - work gets taken from the kiln at 1000 degrees. Two options - magic happens, or things break. I've experienced both and the magic keeps me coming back after the breaks. These pieces have been burnished (rubbed with a smooth stone) and will be fired in an electric kiln at about 900 degrees before being decorated ready for the raku kiln.
