The Warwick Pottery Newsletter - September 2024

It's September, baby! We're in the full swing of fall and loving every minute of it! Our students are eagerly working away in anticipation of our upcoming show. In this month's newsletter, we're issuing a reminder regarding our upcoming show, sharing an article on the use of kiln cookies, and featuring a special digital booklet written by our very own, Marilyn B. Dale! Keep reading to see what's been going on in September. - Marilyn

Protecting Our Kiln Shelves: Introducing... Kiln Cookies!

As we continue crafting beautiful pieces, we've encountered a pressing issue requiring immediate attention. We've been losing kiln shelves due to glaze runoff. Understandably, we want our glaze to cover the entire wall of the piece, but this has led to a ceramic crisis! It is also true that sometimes the glaze runs down the side of the pot, off the pot, and onto the kiln shelf, even after leaving more than enough space- and we don’t expect that result! I can’t even pretend to understand it. Perhaps we should be making kiln gods like the ancient potters did! Fear not, industrious potters! We've found a solution to this problem, and it's simpler than you think! Starting immediately, we're introducing Kiln Cookies – that you make—-small clay tiles that will save our kiln shelves from glaze damage. I hope. What are Kiln Cookies? Kiln Cookies are flat clay tiles that you'll create to attach to the bottom of your pieces. They'll protect our kiln shelves from glaze runoff and will be returned to you. How to Make Kiln Cookies 1. Roll out a slab of clay using a slab roller or rolling pin. 2. Measure the bottom of your piece to determine the size and shape of your cookie. 3. Cut out your tile to the desired dimension, leaving about 1/8-1/4 inch of clearance around the piece. The cookie should be a little smaller than the bottom of your piece. 4. Bisque your kiln tiles and mark them with your name or initials in the Clay. 5. After glazing your piece, attach your bisque cookie using Elmer's glue, which will burn off during firing. Tips and Reminders *For flat bottoms, make the cookie slightly smaller than your piece. *For footed pieces, make the cookie the same size as the footing, especially when glaze is applied inside the foot. By following these simple steps, we can prevent kiln shelf damage and ensure our pieces are returned in pristine condition. You are in charge! Make cookies when you want the glaze lower on your piece than the recommended full 1/4 inch. Let's work together to protect our kiln shelves!