Another day in the city yesterday. Actually I went in Sunday evening. While we were in town last Friday our g'boy asked to spend the weekend with us so since I had to come in on Monday anyway we brought him home with us. Hence the going in on Sunday to get him home for school. He's 14 and I guess it won't be long before he won't look forward to spending time with us out here. Or maybe not. Once he can drive, maybe he'll come out more often.
My reason for being in the city yesterday was to set up the first panel of this job...again. This is the fourth time to do it. The first time, it didn't fuse and slump completely. The second time, it cracked on the way up and although it healed itself, visually, it looked like it was cracked. We think the ultra cold weather at the time had something to do with it so for the next panel we slowed the firing schedule down again and got two successful panels. Back to the first of the three and it cracked on the way up again, healed itself again, but still looked like it was cracked. We have no idea why it cracked this time especially since we got two good panels with that firing schedule. So, a fourth try. This time though, I altered the design. Took out one of the elements hopefully to relieve any stress that the fiber paper might have been causing this one panel to crack. The design still looks good, still balanced and I don't think the clients will notice the difference. Also slowing the firing schedule even more.
Usually, when we spend the night in the city, we all go...me, Marc and the cat. This time though, only I went so I had the rare night alone. I had company though, my daughter's dog and cat came and hung out with me (they live next door to the city house) and while I was eating my dinner of left-overs I had brought with me, she came in with a cupcake for me. I love my girl.
So now, I'm waiting once again to see if we are through with this job.
I got a call yesterday from one of the galleries that show our work inviting us to participate in an upcoming show themed around creatures. So while I wait on the news about this panel I will be working on some designs of small, affordable things for the show. I've got about six weeks to get them done.
Here's hoping the 4th time's the charm on this panel.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I would like a cupcake, but I've been eating Girl Scout cookies, so that would probably be overkill :)
What a pain! I hope the minor change solved the problem, so you don't have to do and redo over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIt must be awfully costly in materials and time to have to keep redoing this panel. I sure hope it works for you this time. Good luck with that, and with the upcoming show. I'm curious to see which critters you'll represent.
ReplyDeleteYou had some good things happen then ... the call requesting you participate in a show, very nice. And of course, a cupcake :)
ReplyDeleteThe invitation for the show is a nice touch. Good luck with this project.
ReplyDeleteFinger toes and all else crossed for you Ellen
ReplyDeleteI am hoping on the 4th panel and the show - sounds great.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a wonderful daughter you have - bet she was glad to have Momma close for a night.
Good luck my friend. Sending good thoughts your way.
Hope it all works out well and your hard work will be successful.
ReplyDeleteHope that fixes the problem. The show sounds great and the cupcake, too.
ReplyDeletethe glass stresses just like we do. steven
ReplyDeleteThat's not much time to get things ready for a show! You must be a miracle worker!
ReplyDeleteThis post evokes so much peace. One would think that the frustration of having to do and redo a job would bring some frustration into the words, but no, it isn't there and that is so grand.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is because you have such a wonderful family. Everyone all the way to the grand-puppy and grand-kitty sounds wonderful.
I'm glad you had a bit of me time. I don't know about you, but I need those moments every once in a while.
How poetic: fuse and slump.
ReplyDeleteMay I use it?
:-)