The little baby on the left is the newest addition to our family... she's probably about 3 months old and maybe a mix of Jack Russell and chihuahua - we got her from a local pet shop that just changed owners and went from being a puppy mill shop to one that rescues from the high kill shelters and sells only the best of the best that would have otherwise be euthanized.  We love her (she comes home Wednesday) and visit her at the shop every day... (she's recovering from her being spayed and getting over a little case of kennel cough) but tomorrow we get to bring her home... she does not have a name yet... so suggestions are welcome (post them in the comments!)  The little baby on the right was adopted as well... these two are super close friends (they really love each other!) and I am sure they're going to miss each other... but they're both on their way to loving homes... and our little one gets to share the home with Wink and Willow!!! 

The results of this firing - the two knitted forms in the back slumped drastically... (too hot?  too heavy?) - but the vase in front fired beautifully!  there were a few other pieces in this firing that turned out well, and 3 that completely dissolved... it's all a big experiment for me and while I'm frustrated a bit, I'm learning the limits of the processes as I develop this series... the only thing I wish I could change (I can handle disspointment) is that the semester is almost over and for the summer there will be no access to a kiln... I might have to prep and take home some of the materials so that during the summer I can make some pieces and get them ready for firing right away this coming fall...  so that's the news.  I'll put up photos of completed pieces as I get them on etsy or gift them ... here's one that is a gift:

I threw this little bowl for my Biology professor (who is also a Post Doctoral Researcher at Cedars Sinai) - as a thank you for the letter of recommendation she wrote for me - she took the time and it is really appreciated - so I wanted to make her something.  This bowl has my saying (outside) "One day we will look back and wonder" (inside) "What life was like before the cure" - it's my hommage to diseases in general, but specifically cancer (which took my dad and is in the process of challenging a number of close friends and relatives) -- it's also the saying that will be incorporated in a sweater I'm designing... (soon, you'll see!)

Lastly, here's a closeup of the inside of another student's (Nico) shell - she had glazed it pink and didn't like it... so she put a type of glaze called "luster" on top and it crackled (awesome!) - fired it - then put another iridescent glaze on top of THAT... the shells have been going on for the entire semester - they're about 30" across and gorgeous!  I want to use this mixture on something - I love the crazing!!!

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