Ceramics on Cortes Island, British Columbia - Born in the Netherlands, Ester Strijbos went on a world trip after finishing her studies (Graphic Design). She made her final move to Canada in 2001 to enjoy the beauty of nature and the vastness of space. A year later she was introduced to clay, and immediately realized it would make a huge impact on her life.

Wednesday

Kiln

I never realized that all these power outages could be in my advantage. After too many happening in a row, we were running out of time to get our stuff ready for Christmas. I wasn’t going to use my own kiln anymore until after Christmas, because after all the disasters it was just too much of a gamble. But now I had too.

So I filled up my kiln and started the slowest firing EVER. After the cone started to bend I put it on medium and let it have a soak until I had to leave for the market. And guess what. Everything turned out beautifully. No pinholes, crazing or strange colours. Everything came out the way it was suppose to be.

I cannot believe it. Now I can go away on my holiday and feel a bit better again about the kiln that I purchased almost a year ago. Now I won’t think about it for the whole time I am away, trying to figure it out.

I am sure the next time I fire it will give me some more grief. But at least I’ll start 2006 with the thought that the kiln might be saved from a trip to the dump.