Kiln unloading no 74 - 7 favorite pieces from my latest firing

Welcome to kiln opening number 74. I number my kiln firings and host an Earthie award show about it right here. 

(I want to share with you the 7 best pieces or groups of pieces the kiln gave me. I affectionately think of these picks as "Earthies" awards. (Earth=clay). At the end of the post I am going to declare the Kiln Winner. I have declared a kiln winner ever since my very first glaze firing. The Kiln Winner is the ceramic piece that makes me the most exited to pull from that kiln firing.) 

To build on the excitement, here are the 7 categories:

1. 1. Noted glaze
2. 2. Knows its shape
3. 3. Pattern pot
4. 4. Flexing texture
5. 5. Favorite newcomer
6. 6. Stacks or groups
7. 7. Honorable mention

From this group of nominees I pick my favorite: the Kiln Winner. Here we go. 

This time the noted glaze is a nice matte beige glaze. It interacts wonderfully with the tan clay in that it makes a heathered appearance, which I quite enjoy. 

Then we have a ripple vase, a form I really like. Here I made one in a bit wider, squattier size and what is not to love?

Noted glaze

Knows its shape

The pattern pot is a re-visit of my fern leaf platter. First time seen here. That platter never made it to the store because of the way the glaze fit the slip. I have since then tested and re-formulated extensively and I now have a fern platter that does everything I want it to do. I put it in my Christmas sale and it was torn off the shelf very quickly. You can expect a few more of this kind of platter in 2025.

Here I re-visited some straight sided fluting, something I have not done in a while, but it is definitely here to stay. Here I made a little fluted pot for a dish scrubber. So sweet to have next to your sink, don't you think?

Pattern pot

Flexing texture

I changed the design on my incense holders ever-so-slightly. I made it indent in the middle and made the flange a bit taller, so it is easier to grab and move. 

And another set of fluted bowls. Here they stack in a nice set of two. So tactile, so good. Love how the fluting is catching the light.

Favorite newcomer

Stacks or groups

This time, honorable mention is for this set of acorns. These acorns are hollow and you often tell me, and I agree, that they are just the right size for holding. Here is a new color way from this year: a nice golden color with large black specks. This one has fast become a favorite, although it has not de-throned the most popular one: the red one (not pictured = sold out again)

Those were my seven most favorite pieces that I got from kiln 74. As always, you know there can only be one winner. 

Honorable mention

It is of course the fern platter! This was a huge goal of mine this year, to get this fern and leaf pattern platters dialed in and I am so happy that I have a big check mark next this one. This makes me so excited to make more platters in 2025.

Here is the whole 74 family all together! Woot, woot!