Hooray!

Bruce the crucible furnace is back up and running. It ended up being down for 4 days while I let it cool, replace the elements and then heat it back up. All went well and I am back to producing like mad, stocking up for summer!!

Thanks for all of the encouragement and concern!

Bruce is down, I repeat, Bruce is down.....

Welp....It has happened.
 After 5 smooth months of up-and-running-ness, Bruce the crucible furnace is down.  Woke up, got my coffee, went out to the studio to make some tumblers and I saw it. The temperature on the furnace was about 20 degrees lees than it was supposed to be. "Hmmm" was my first thought. "Crap" was my second thought. Naturally the night before I had gotten a pre-paid order for a set of 4 tumblers. (Thanks JacQ!!) Not to mention I had just loaded Bruce to the rim with a new batch of glass. Good timing for sure, however the timing could definitely be worse. It is relatively slow right now and although it is my peak production season.... well it could be worse. So, I did the only thing I could do. I emptied all of the glass out of the crucible, in hopes it will not crack on the way down or back up....fingers crossed. Now I am trying to bring the temp down as slowly as possible. I was happy to see that the heating elements still have a bit of life in them yet! Lets hope they can get the temp down slowly enough so I don't have to order a new crucible.
Sigh.
One of the many joys of owning/operating ones own studio. Again, if this is the worst thing I have to complain about right now in my life....I consider myself the luckiest person on Earth.

Keep your fingers crossed for Bruce!

2012 Update

Photo By Steve Mitchell

What a winter it has been. I have been busy making tumblers, lots and lots of tumblers. I have been trying to keep a certain number of tumblers in stock and naturally the more I make the more I sell. Makes it difficult to make anything else besides tumblers. If that is all I have to complain about I consider myself the luckiest person on Earth!

Photo by Steve Mitchell

  I have also been busy planning my Summer. Thanks to the folks at Northwest Festival Guide I have had an easy job. the hardest part has been remembering that I am simply one person and can only produce so much. Never the less I have secured a booth at Seattle Pride 2012 the weekend of June 23rd (Hooray!) and have my eye on a few more festivals in the fall. I will also be participating in local farmers markets and looking in to attending some in Western Washington.

 Most recently I had the privilege to meet Missy LeDuc at the Mazama Store. She agreed to give my tumblers some space on the shelves. I think it will be a great outlet for my work and am grateful for the chance. Check out the Mazama store website at  The Mazama Store The baguettes are a favorite.

Enough blogging! I have to get back to work!!