testing testing

testing testing!
Its all very complicated putting text onto ceramic cups, and I usually put the text on when its raw clay and then fire it, so that when I add the glaze the text doesnt run. But here we are to test this new technique of mixing the stain with the underglaze and putting it onto a bisque fired cup.
Will it work or not?
Lets see . . . .

have your message put on one of the cups!

To have your message about learning in Footscray placed on one of these cups:

 text Debbie on 0424479475, 

email:

debbieqadri@hotmail.com, 

or post on the message in a cup facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/messageinacup/

more cups ready to glaze and go into second firing

More cups came out of the bisque firing and sit here in the photo ready to be glazed. I reckon they are in the kiln now as I am writing this. They will be fired up to about 1260 degrees celcius.

message in a cup, out of bisque firing and ready for glaze

aren't the blues lovely, still they are not how they will be after glazing, but they are certainly blue!

Its very exciting as these will be ready to place in Footscray soon!

the latest decorated cups

Here are some of the latest decorated cups.
I have been experimenting with making blue coloured clays and then layering them with the recycled stoneware clay I usually use and some porcelain.

They don't look much now.
well that is the magic of ceramics,
that you have a go at something but you don't know what it will look like when its fired.
Its always a surprise when you open the kiln!

I think this cup has stoneware, blue stoneware, porcelain and blue porcelain coils and then a dark blue stain decoration on it.
should be very yummy when it finally emerges from the kiln.

This one is very subtle and we wont be able to see the results till its fired. I have added a little of the alice blue underglaze with some coloured stain

Oh Naughty!!! this photo sneaked in. It is a cup made on the normal recycled stoneware clay and decorated.

can you see the coils of different clays?

well this one is coils of different clays and then porcelain collaged bits over the top. It will be interesting to see what happens in the kiln. the porcelain may not like the stoneware clay underneath ( they might shrink at different rates) and then Pop Off!

Message in a Cup

Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.

http://messageinacup.blogspot.com.au/

Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.

Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

the latest decorated cups

Here are some of the latest decorated cups.
I have been experimenting with making blue coloured clays and then layering them with the recycled stoneware clay I usually use and some porcelain.

They don't look much now.
well that is the magic of ceramics,
that you have a go at something but you don't know what it will look like when its fired.
Its always a surprise when you open the kiln!

I think this cup has stoneware, blue stoneware, porcelain and blue porcelain coils and then a dark blue stain decoration on it.
should be very yummy when it finally emerges from the kiln.

This one is very subtle and we wont be able to see the results till its fired. I have added a little of the alice blue underglaze with some coloured stain

Oh Naughty!!! this photo sneaked in. It is a cup made on the normal recycled stoneware clay and decorated.

can you see the coils of different clays?

well this one is coils of different clays and then porcelain collaged bits over the top. It will be interesting to see what happens in the kiln. the porcelain may not like the stoneware clay underneath ( they might shrink at different rates) and then Pop Off!

Message in a cup

Messages and stories of Learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during Blu-scray events to be found by people and taken home. 

BluScray is a collaboration between Victoria University and Maribyrnong City Council

 as part of Footscray University Town and the VU Centenary

https://www.vu.edu.au/footscray-university-town/bluscray-blue-footscray

cups in firing line

well the process of firing is a process of waiting and travelling and loading the kiln and unloading and glazing and reloading the kiln and firing and unloading and travelling. But whilst some are in the spare room drying, others are in the kiln having their bisque firing and others have been glazed and are waiting on the shelf for their glaze firing and then they will be travelling to Footscray to be placed!

having been made drying a little before painting . . . . 

having been made, being painted white inside for the text and blue outside

being decorated with underglaze colours, stains and scraffito techniques.

cups placed into the kiln for the bisque firing

having been bisque fired!
we begin to see the real inkling of the blues.

being glazed with stoneware clear glaze.

waiting on the shelf to be glaze fired

Message in a cup

Messages and stories of Learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during Blu-scray events to be found by people and taken home. 

BluScray is a collaboration between Victoria University and Maribyrnong City Council

 as part of Footscray University Town and the VU Centenary

https://www.vu.edu.au/footscray-university-town/bluscray-blue-footscray

writing in the text

Today I wrote in some of the text from the messages that I gathered on thursday night at the Bluscray Photograph competition. I wrote the text onto the dried cups using cobalt oxide mixed with a little bit of blue underglaze which should help stop it smudging. What a beautiful blue-sky!

Message in a cup

Messages and stories of Learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during Blu-scray events to be found by people and taken home. 

BluScray is a collaboration between Victoria University and Maribyrnong City Council

 as part of Footscray University Town and the VU Centenary

https://www.vu.edu.au/footscray-university-town/bluscray-blue-footscray