Thursday, June 4, 2009

How many kilns are too many?



Do you remember these? They are early experiments with copper and bronze clay. I actually really liked working with the raw material but it's clear that my tiny kiln is not up to snuff when it comes to the demanding firing schedule they require. So I held my breath, counted to 10, and clicked the add to shopping cart and bought one of these.


It was the free shipping that pushed me over the edge. Seriously. Not to mention the really lovely people at New Mexico Clay. I've bought supplies from them for several years. I love them. You actually get to talk to real people and if you order something from them and they have a question, they phone you. An actual real person phones you and clears things up. How much better does it get?
So in a couple of days, I'm going to be in digital, programmable heaven. But the real question here is " are 4 kilns too many?" I fear I have one of those collector mental disorders. You know, like the harmless lonely old woman on the block who has 50 cats. Where will it go? When I am old and lonely will I be talking to 50 kilns?
Meanwhile, as I ponder this, I am waiting for yet another storm to roll through. My early warning system, Bob, tucked his tail between his legs, and headed for the closet about an hour ago. I'm thinking we are probably about 30 minutes off another big one.

18 comments:

Katie said...

So...instead of a crazy cat lady, you will be the krazy kiln lady? That's quite the mental image...

I bet you guys do get some real fun storms out there - you are in tornado alley, after all...If you see the storm chasers zooming by, run for cover!

SummersStudio said...

Hey there Katie! Do you know the the storm chaser blog? It's fab. They are the people who do the show on the Discovery channel. They were regretting just today not coming to W TX for the super cells. Got one rumbling thru right now.

stregata said...

Hey LeAnn,
I hope you are alright and there wasn't too much of a storm? I follow a storm chaser's blog and I know they are up in Kansas and bored...
Your new kiln looks fabulous. I don't think 4 kilns qualifies you for extreme collecting yet. When you have kilns to sit on instead of dining room chairs, then I will start to worry!! LOL
I am already excited to see what will come out of this kiln!

SummersStudio said...

Renate, I found that storm chaser blog from you! It is fabulous. I'll keep the dining room chairs thing in mind. Now if I could only find the dining room table.

Ruth Trowbridge said...

My first visit here and I had a wonderful time, thank you. You are so funny, your writing compelling and your work is truly an art form. Yea it does sound pretty thick, but wow when you got it! Peace for all

Katie said...

I checked the storm chaser's blog this morning - looks like they are having a really slow season...Good for the people in tornado alley, even if it's not so good for them...I wonder if they are still going to have a show on Discovery this year? Even if it's a boring season?

mairedodd said...

okay, so really... the cat lady has a kind of smelly house (she can't help it - there are 50 cats!)... the kiln lady will have an overabundance of beauty, color and ideas! not such a bad way to grow old! :0)

Marie Cramp said...

You go girl! If you need it, you need it right? I love your stuff, I am planning on getting a couple things when I have a little cash. This recession has killed my budget :( I lost my job, so my sole income right now is my jewelry. Thems are the breaks I guess. I just have to have some though, so keep an eye out...

Marie

Unknown said...

how could 4 kilns possibly be too many? they are helping feed a wonderful addiction! are you adding a new circuit/fuse to handle the extra electrical usage?

I have an early storm warning system, too. Maggie shakes & shivers if she hears thunder 50 miles away. 60 lbs of fear just shaking under my desk. poor scaredy hounds!

SummersStudio said...

Katie, when you live in Tornado Alley a boring weather year is good. I'd even watch boring!

Mary Jane, that's a good point about the smelly house!

Marie, sorry about the job. It has just become too common. In the city where my daughter lives, 6,000 Cessna employees got laid off over night. There are no jobs there now. Good luck with the jewelry though. We'll all get through this.

SueBeads said...

I think the real question should be, how many kilns are enough!!!! I would love to buy another kiln - right now I can work a half-day and my kiln is full. Sometimes it's even less depending on the bead size, etc.! Have fun with it!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

LeAnn, my philosophy, for what it's worth, is that you can never have too many tools. A kiln is a tool, right. A + B = never too many kilns! I had a separate 20 amp socket and breaker circuit installed for mine recently, nothing spoils your day quite like an interrupted program on your kiln!

SummersStudio said...

Ah, Sue and Lynn I like the thinking here.

Sue, you need another kiln!

Lynn, when we moved here I had everything in the studio put on a seperate circuit and dedicated kiln sockets. I have had a few disasters with inadequate wiring in the past.

Lucid Moon Studio said...

Not fair...I don't even have 1 kiln!! lol. Well, if you ever decide to get rid of one of your old kilns...haha. I would love to get one for PMC someday. The copper and bronze clay you've been working with looks really fun too. Maybe Santa will be good to me this year...

Stay safe with the storms...we've been getting them too, but not much lightning or tornados...just lots of rain!! It's raining right now...I'm never going to get good photos taken of my jewelry projects if this keeps up! Ugh.

Rosanne said...

Its always been my belief that you can't have too much of anything! A new kiln! So when are we gonna see these new creations?
My husband and I have always wanted to join up with the storm chasers, one of these summers we will.
Loving my nephew here in Arizona...105 degrees and sweating!

thecolorofdreams said...

I love everything in your shop! I hope that with the new kiln you can make a lot more pieces. It is always hard to use a big chunk of money to buy a big item like that, but you are helping the economy!

SummersStudio said...

My goodness, but who would have thought that a new kiln would have generated this many comments. Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Barbara Lewis said...

Can you have too many kilns?!!! I'm firing my little Paragon as we speak. I had some red glazed beads that had been sitting around. A little too much red. Put some enamels on them with some bronze luster. We'll see what comes out of the kiln. Keep your fingers crossed!!!