ユアン クレイグ的 陶芸生活


Thank you for visiting my blog.
This blog about my husband, Euan Craig, who is an Australian potter in Japan; about his works, making process, our life style and our family.   

Mika



20 June 2012

Test Firing!!


Sorry to keep you all waiting!
Here are details of the Test Firing .



June 8th,

Finished all the production work,
Started packing the kiln for the test firing.

It looked like rain,
so we have to finish packing the kiln before the rain.


Euan has got IGUSA straw from our neighbourhood TATAMI shop in TAKUMI NO SATO, Craft village,  Minakami.



We wrapped them very carefully.
Each step in the process has made us happy.

Euan looks very excited and happy!

He could not help whistling
and telling jokes of course. (^-^)













Euan will fire the kiln tomorrow.

We have finally come to this point.



















June 9th,

Our friend prepared  offerings to the Fire God.

We prayed for the success of the kiln firing .


Euan lit the fire in the kiln at last.

I think our cat, Jiji, was also hoping for success.

It was pouring with rain.




It was a very good reduction firing.



Our friend, Raku, who has helped us since last year, also helped with the firing.


Thank you, Raku.






Euan watched the flame in the fire box.

He adjusted the wood stoking pattern throughout the firing, the kiln temperature seemed to climb smoothly.

The flame looked like it was alive.

This kiln was made from the old bricks from the ruined kiln in Tochigi.
This kiln was rebuilt and reborn.








The flame from the chimney looked like a Phoenix.

The kiln seemed happy to be reborn, too.


The kiln temperature reached 1305℃, the seger cone 10 was completely down, the firing finished 10minutes before the scheduled 14 hours.

Every body cheered!
(apologies to our neighbours....)




He sealed the fire mouth, blocked the blow hole, closed the damper. Then it was time to wait.




Well done, Euan!
It was a fantastic firing. 

I can't wait for the opening!









June 12th,

Euan opened the kiln door.

The flashing is beautiful!
The dragon stamp looks very good!










There are very few losses from this firing.
The results are wonderful.






The kiln is a success!


Now, Euan starts to make pots for the first firing exhibition.














We have waited for this moment a long time.


Euan put aside his career for the sake of his family, and he has worked very hard.
Thank you, Euan.


And it is with the help of many friends that we have come this far.
Thank you all.


Our children worked very hard, too.
Each of the kids has done their best to help while adjusting to the new environment and a new life.
Thank you kids!
Love you all!!



Euan is able to restart as potter in Minakami at last.


 
Thank you.
 

5 June 2012

Euan Craig Kiln !


The kiln is finished!!







We brought all the old bricks from the ruined kiln in Tochigi.
Then we have cleaned, cut and ground them.

Euan also changed the kiln design a little.



He interlocked the chimney and body of kiln this time,
so it prevents shaking from the chimney base.

He has also connected the kiln frame and the foundations with bolts
to prevent shaking and moving the kiln in an earthquake.
He has drawn on his experience.

We have rebuilt the improved kiln stronger.





Now he is making pots for test firing the kiln as a potter.
He has put aside carpentry for a while.


He has not made pots on the wheel for a long time, months.......
He looks very happy.







It was a very long way to come here.
It is still a long way to go.

We could not come have this far without support from many people and friends.
Thank you very much from my heart













It was Euan's birthday on May 22.
It is the year of dragon this year, and he is a dragon.
We saw the ring of the solar eclipse the day before his birthday, like a present from god.

Now the kiln is finished, he has started making pots......

I'm really looking forward to Euan's future works.






Happy birthday, Euan.



6 May 2012

Spring Mashiko Pottery Festival !




Spring Mashiko Pottery Festival will start from April 28th Sat.
to May 6th Sun.


Euan will set up his Tent
at "Tohboh Mashiyama"on Jonai-zaka street.

Please drop by his shop.
He is looking forward to seeing you.
You can see his smile there♪

















The kiln building progress is taking lots of time.
Euan is using bricks from his old kiln,
we have to clean, cut and grind bricks.....







The kiln certainly came closer to being finishd step by step.
We are all looking forward to seeing the new kiln.

5 April 2012

Building the roof of the kiln shed !

I can show you the process the building kiln shed roof at last.






We can start to build the kiln now !


















Thank you Raku, Lee, Jean and my kids.

23 February 2012

Mashiko Potters Recovery Exhibition


Euan has a group exhibition at Tokyo American Club Frederick Harris Gallery
from 27th February.

This Exhibition is the first step for re-starting for Euan from here, Minakami.

It is still a struggle for him as a potter who does not have his own kiln yet......
Once he build his kiln, everything will start to move forward, he is making plans for the first kiln exhibition.




*******************************************************************************


Mashiko Potters Recovery Exhibition
 02/27/2012(mon) -- 03/25/2012(sun)
Open daily 11:00am - 9:00pm
Open till 5:30pm on 03/25

Tokyo American Club
Frederick Harris Gallery (B1F)

2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8649
Tel: 03-4588-0381



*******************************************************************************













15 January 2012

The Kiln foundation is started !!

I wanted to write about fixing our house with friends,
but I have news to tell you first.....

The foundation work for the kiln, which was scheduled to start at the end of last year but was delayed by snow, started on January 11th!

We seemed to have waited for a long time.
A very long time....
Learning the lessons of the earthquake,
the foundations this time are designed to support the seven tonne weight of the kiln,
and brace the kiln with an iron frame as before.
Euan has changed the kiln design to be more earthquake resistant.
(I'll tell you more about that when he starts construction!)
There was much lost in the earthquake, but we also learned a great deal and had the heart warming support of many people.

The courage to move forward, the strength to continue.

To all of you, our heartfelt thanks.
Putting the family's safety and welfare first, Euan can now finally start to concentrate on his real job, being a potter.

You can see Euan overflowing with joy♪

Congratulations, Euan.
And always, thank you.
He has a group exhibition scheduled for late February, and must make new work before then, fitting the kiln building in the schedule as well.

I am worried about when he can build the kiln, but if necessary he can pobably borrow the "Euan" kiln at the Mashiko Tougei Club.

Whatever happens, we will move forward, one step at a time.

 


1 January 2012

Happy New Year


Happy New Year!

I wish you much happiness  in this coming year.
There were so many things that happened to many people last year. Enough to change your life values....

There were times when it was very hard and uncertain, even for us, whether we would be able to overcome these things and to move forwards.


But at the same time, we received much encouragement, support, and help and many warm thoughts for us.
Thank you very much.

We walk forwards one step at a time.

My elder sister, Emiko, sent us a New Year card, with these word,
" Let's have a good year.
We can create our own future."
Thank you.



Let's have a good year!