Monday, April 9, 2012

snap, crackle, & STOP

Of Friday or Saturday I opened my kiln to a total disappointment.  I knew I was testing, but I'd hoped to have some pieces I could use, and I didn't count on it being so bad that it would bring me close to tears.  Most of this work had been previously fired, to a low-ish ^6 (that's in the high 2100 to low 2200 F range) and I had a lot of problems with glaze fit.  I glazed a bunch more work, including some porcelain that I hadn't tried in the little kiln, and fired it again to a hotter ^6 (that's pronounced Cone 6, by the way, and I took it to the 2260 F range).  Still, it was crackle city.  Can you see it in this cup?  The crackles in the bottom?  The ones that will trap the honey and the tea from your hot cuppa and grow bacteria?  I'm trying it again at ^7 (almost 2300F) later this week when my cones come in.

This is a platter I made just for me, and the entire thing is a fine map of crackles.  Both the cup and the platter are a new-to-me clay (the glaze is one I used and liked well enough to buy a gallon of).  I'm out of the clay and won't buy more of it.  I'd love to rescue both the dozen cups I made and the platter- the cups because they're pre-sold and the platter, because, well, I'd like to use it.  All told, this is two weeks' worth of work that is potentially lost.

I've moved on to another stoneware and ordered several more white and clear glazes to keep testing.  All this to say that I'm feeling perpetually behind.  Glad that I'm not signed up for any events or sales or markets.  But I have some custom dinner orders that I'm sitting on, and I'd like to get them out the door.

I would like to address one thing- so many of my customers were kind and understanding to the absolute utmost degree when I told them that their orders would be delayed further.  I had one negative experience out of the whole lot, which shook me pretty badly.  It was downright venomous, and I think it was due to a miscommunication that made me feel defensive and then downright shocked.  I try hard to accommodate all kinds of requests and try to send out my best work.  I think that *most* people who have handmade businesses try their very best to please their customers.  They all have feelings that are easily bruised by unfair, or, even if fair, harsh, criticism.  This just to say that we should all (me included) remember that we're dealing with people who have lives and families and feelings and we never know what's going on in their lives- illness, failed work, failed relationships.  I'm stepping off my soapbox, but I was accused of gross misrepresentation and unprofessionalism, and it hurt.   I'm mostly over it, but I wanted to address it for my own learning, as much as anyone else's.

I had a lovely Easter, and hope your Spring holidays were wonderful, as well.  See you again soon.

9 comments:

Wylie said...

I'm so sorry you had such a mean response from a customer, really uncalled for. Your work is beautiful, and you are extremely professional and creative and don't deserve such treatment! Let it roll right off your back! xxxoooo

Debbie W the clayer ecourse buddy said...

So sorry to hear about your bad customer experience.I know putting your wares out in the open is putting your heart on your sleeve.

Interesting to me that is happened during Easter. Forgive and shake it off.

I can't see the crackles in the pictures... but wanted to aske about going to a higher temp... Are you expecting them to heal at ^7? Was the it the Bmix clay that Diana recommended? will you add more glaze before re-firing? I have been using the Amaco HF zinc-free clear. it is really beautiful.

bridgmanpottery said...

Hi, Debbie, you're spot on about Easter. Forgive, move on.

I am hoping for a better glaze fit at ^7. This was another stoneware- loafer's glory. I've used b-mix for years and it's behaved wonderfully with all of my commercial glazes, just not wonderfully with drying! I think that Amaco is one of the ones I ordered. This was Spectrum, which has been good on almost everything I've put it on except this particular stoneware, because everything stoneware that I put clear on was a mess.

Melissa Rohrer said...

Sorry to hear of your bad experience with the one customer. There's an incredible amount of trouble shooting that goes with making pottery. Many people know little about the process and are used to buying commercially made stuff that's sitting on a shelf waiting for them.

Janet said...

Oh Melissa-- it hurts me to think you were the recipient of such hurtful words. You convey such a sense of commitment to your work and your art that it seems somewhat hard to imagine that others would not see that. I am sorry for your pain and the sting it has caused. You are a professional and an artist, as well as a generous human being. Please keep that in your head and your heart.

bridgmanpottery said...

Janet, thanks for your kindness. It really helps. Now if my clay and glazes will just cooperate, I'll be back to rights!

Laura Matthews said...

I pop in every so often - I just love your work and can't wait to see more!

rebecca said...

grrrr!! what frustration! sorry and i hope it all rights itself soon. you're a trooper for persevering and seeking out the best for your work. you have a choice, you know, and the one you made was brave and shows you believe in yourself when it comes to customers and your work.

bridgmanpottery said...

Laura and Rebecca, thank you so much!