My Kiln Shed

Building a NEW Kiln Shed

My former kiln shed blew down in a storm this past spring so I have been in the process of building a new one on a shoestring budget.  Step 1 started in Nevada in April.  My sister had a shed she no longer needed so my son and husband dismantled it and I moved the pieces back to our home in Colorado.  Spring winds and a reluctant husband to reassemble the shed put this project on hold.

Fall arrived and the reconstruction of my shed began.  WOW reassembling a shed can be quite complicated and getting the framework square (we were missing a few pieces) a major complication.

 

We had to prop the sides of shed up with tables, etc. until the top rail went on.  There were no wind free days for our construction but at least only gentle winds. Our building took several days to complete – the bottom frame was hardest but once the sides went up it got much easier.

Next we assembled the roof frame and had friends help us set the frame on the sides.

John and I put the roof on next.

Almost Done!

The doors are on; my kiln is inside along with my workbench, storage cabinets and shelves, etc.  Now I am ready to fire a load of pottery.

Christmas Ornament Give Away

Have you checked out PACountryCrafts blog?  Lindsay has made some incredible ornaments - my favorite is her skiing snowman.  She is having a giveaway promotion for an ornament on her blog now - go check it out and you might win!  She is at  www.pacountrycrafts.blogspot.com
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I MADE A LIGHT BOX

MAKING A LIGHT BOX

I decided that my photography needed a boost and perhaps a light box was the answer.  Making the light box was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. First I bought a box at Wal-Mart.  My pieces are not large so got a medium box.  

The first steps to make my box were to tape the back (bottom of the box) and then to cut the flaps from the front (top of box.

Next I made a slit at the back of the top and then cut out openings on the top and both sides.  I wanted my box to be all white so painted the inside.  To cover the side and top openings I used a almost sheer linen that was white.

To finish my light box I put three pieces of fabric thru the slit, first a white, then a blue and finally mauve.  I now have a choice of backgrounds and easy to change.  The fabric is long enough to drape over the top on top of each other when not in use and if it is the bottom fabric not being used it can lay in light box under the selected fabric.

Having this new light box has made picture taking for my ETSY shop a breeze and I am finally getting the results I wanted.

Here are a few results

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84678913/small-raku-vase-with-red-orange

and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84580982/handcrafted-brown-stoneware-bowl-for