Earth and Fire Pottery

12/09/2021

I just finished replacing five kiln bricks in my electric kiln. It was much easier than i thought it would be. The five bricks had the middle section missing, where they would support the electric elements. The elements do not heat up fully when they don't have the support of the brick that they need. They got broken because i am a terrible element taker-outer. Then job took about 16 hours total, and consisted of taking all the outer hardware off, like handles and the latches that hold the top section to the bottom. and so forth. The control box had to come off and all the elements disconnected. Then loosen the aluminum skin, take out two rows of elements, and then reversing the process. I had to carve a new peephole in too. Then reversed the process, and try it out. All the elements got hot. yes!

14/06/2020

This morning was rearranging the furniture day at the classroom. Several of my students, Karon, Annie, and Maile came to help. We did some cleaning up, and we put all the wheels around the outside of the room, all 5 feet apart, and put the big hand building table in the middle. We have been closed since mid march, and it looks like it will be at least July or maybe August before we can open again. We still have some work to do, being finishing re-doing the wiring for the wheels, put a new window in the back so the swamp cooler air can move better, hook up the new sink, and clean up in general. Everyone said the room looks bigger now! Here is a picture!

11/06/2020

working on the website these days. Since the coronavirus showed up, the number of shows that I do on a regular basis have dwindled to zero. Shows in August and beyond are hopeful, but the fall may bring more virus.
Thank goodness I don't depend on them for all my income, but they are a good part of it, and I like doing shows and meeting people, and getting new ideas from them. Since everything is shifting around us, I looks like the internet is going to provide an opportunity to reach people and perhaps take the place of some shows.
I have partnered with Wix, an internet provider, and they are hosting webinars that teach you how to make a good site, and reach people. they work one on one with you too. They want you to succeed, so they will. It you are unhappy with your provider, i recommend Wix.
I am making improvements in my site, and when i do, facebook ads are the next step. Also, taking advantage of internet stores will be a future step. There are a lot of them out there apparently.
so thanks to all of you for your support. and be safe.

02/06/2020

today i am getting ready to go to town to ship a few sauerkraut crocks, and did my production work this morning so i wouldn't have to do it when i got back. pictured is a kombucha crock under construction. It's the base, upon which over the next few days the rest of the walls get put on. Also pictured is a 2 gallon sauerkraut crock under construction, a special order. going to be hot today, around 90, and tomorrow too. then cooler for the rest of the week. I think we are in for a hot summer. So i am cleaning around the cabin, a 30 foot perimeter. The day is filled!

31/05/2020

Working on four kombucha tea crocks today, as well as finishing up a 2 gallon sauerkraut crock. Unloaded the kiln, and pruned branches back from the cabin. 10 feet min.
Forgot to mention yesterday that if you wanted to order a sauerkraut crock, or something else, visit my website
www.earthandfirepottery.net Also, recovering from a really bad case of poison oak. right arm non fuctional last Sunday and Monday, much better today!!

Find beautiful hand made functional pottery by a Master Potter. Sauerkraut crocks, mugs, butter dishes and more.

30/05/2020

Sauerkraut is actually very easy to make. At it's most basic form, it is cabbage and salt. You can add anything else to it. You cut up the sauerkraut into pieces, as large or small as you want, and put it in a bowl. Sprinkle salt all over it, and massage the salt all over the cabbage. then put the salted cabbage in the crock, and push down on it with your fist. Not too hard, just push down on it. The water in the cabbage will be expelled, and start covering the cabbage mix. If the cabbage is fresh, within a few minutes the cabbage mix will be covered by the liquid. The engine to make the ferment is in the cabbage, lactic acid bacteria, and will start the ferment going. Put the ceramic weights on top of the mix, which will hold the cabbage below the top of the liquid. Put the top on, and put water in the 'moat'. This will help keep bacteria in the air from getting into the mixture. Bacteria in the air is what turns human food and liquid bad. Set your timer for three weeks, come back and enjoy. I like mine at three weeks, it's crunchy and very much sauerkraut. yum. You can make kimche too, which is cabbage and salt, ginger, onions and garlic and hot peppers or something to make it hot. hot is optional. my favorite kimche is cucumber kimche, which is not hot at all. I make crocks in the half gallon size, which will fit 2-3 medium cabbages, and a gallon size, which will fit 4-6 cabbages. And I ship everywhere!

28/05/2020

well, here we are in May in the midst of the corona virus epidemic, and a lot of artists are looking for ways to change their business models to meet current conditions. I am no exception. This page will be used to post current work and provide you an opportunity to purchase pots from me and add to your collection if you have one. I am in the process of expanding my web page, earthandfirepottery.net, using Wix as my internet provider. I must say i am very impressed by them. They are always there to help, and are only too happy to do so. If you need a company to use for your website, try Wix.
Here is a pic of a sauerkraut crock I make. I make two sizes, gallon and half gallon. they come with weights, and make the most scrumptious batches of sauerkraut imaginable.
Stay tuned to this page for updates, and thank you!!

19/12/2019

back now from the Willits Christmas Crafts Fair, and it was a good one as usual. the folks there are very friendly, and I sold a lot of pots as usual.
now back to the studio, and cleaning is a huge priority for the rest of the month. The rush to get ready for upcoming shows and the sheer volume of pots that have to be made left cleaning in the dust, so to speak. Also, the electrical elements that run the kiln last about a year before they wear out and the firings take longer and longer, so the last week of the year is devoted to replacing the elements and doing any other maintenance that is required, like re gluing some of the fire brick that has broken over the course of the year. Also, shelves need to be scraped,glaze ground off and another coat of kiln wash put on, see photo for kiln was being applied. Also, I have some orders that need to be taken care of, as well as my standing orders.

11/12/2019

getting ready for one of my favorite crafts fairs, the Willits Christmas Crafts fair, in Willits Ca. Willits is a small town, nestled in the woods north of Ukiah, just east of Fort Bragg. A picturesque place, small and kinda hip. One of the things i like about it is that i get to see my artist friends from the area that i don't get to see very often anymore. When i taught at Mendocino College in Ukiah, I saw them alot. Since i have stopped teaching, and work in the studio an hour away, I don't get over there anymore.
As for the show itself, it a nice mix of artists, with some really fine musicians playing all weekend, Christmas tunes and tunes of their own. My both is next to the stage. I like that. So if you are in the area, drop on in and say howdy! will have pictures to share next week. The photo shows mugs going into the kiln to be fired.