Join us Saturday, May 4th from 9 to 4 for our open house. Pots from the 14th firing will be available for purchase. We look forward to meeting you. 
3710 Garfield Rd. Smithsburg, Md 21783. Hope to see you there!

With lots of help from friends, many students of mine, the kiln has really started to become a reality. I have finished the arch brickwork and most recently, the two arches that will become the entrance to the ware chamber through the base of the chimney (see images.)

The new kiln is really starting to take shape. I am in the middle of building temporary wooden arch forms for the bricks to rest on while they are unsupported. I'm hopeing to fire by the end of October, still a ton of things to get to...

Is winter over yet? I have been outside every chance I get, even if I can only get one or two boards up on the shed. Check out some new images of my progress. I'll be setting footers and laying the first bricks as soon as the ground will let me!

Over the last three weekends, with a lot of help, I have gotten the kiln shed nearly finished. A few odds and ends remain, but I will be pouring footers and leveling blocks for the kiln's foundation in the coming weeks. The sides of the shed will remain open to accommodate stacks of wood, and the roof is split to allow smoke to escape. 

Things are really beginning to happen! 

In the past week I ordered custom trusses for the kiln shed, and dug out footers and the firebox area with a backhoe for the kiln itself. With the fundraiser going as well as it has, I have budgeted for a 30'x30' pole shed to house the kiln with plans to add extensions to house additional wood in the future. As soon as the shed is completed I can begin to lay brick and stack wood for the first firing.

Even with these major developments, I'm still and a little shy of my 'Buy A Brick' goal of $9000. If you were ever thinking about contributing, even a little, now is the time. your donation will go a long way towards my ever growing list of needed materials. Please take a minute to check out the details on the donation page.

So far, my kiln building fundraiser has been a huge success. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement if you have already made an investment. If you haven't, and would still like to, there is plenty of time. Just check out the "Buy A Brick" page for all the details. 

Here are a few updates...

The first major step towards construction happen the last week in July. I hired a local contractor that was grading our neighbors driveway to dig out the foundation. The kiln will be located directly behind the existing studio building.

I have begun to play with the layout of the kiln footprint and shelf spacing. This image is of what the back of the kiln will look like. Courses of bricks will continue upward and in until the dome is complete. A flue system will be incorporated into the brickwork shown that empties into the chimney.

The wood pile is growing! As word has gotten out about the new kiln, I have been making many trips to pick up all kinds of wood. This pile will be split and burned during the first firing.

Here are a two new pots made during my surface decoration class at The Little Pottery Shop in Frederick. Slip work has proven to be very fun, and very popular!

Chelsea and I have officially purchased a home in Smithsburg, MD. Sitting on 5.5 acres, a large shed, that will become my studio and retail space, is a short walk from the house.  I am eager begin construction a wood kiln to fire my new work. 

Please consider contributing to my 'Buy a Brick' fundraiser to help raise funds for the rest of the materials need to finish the shed and kiln. Your contribution is more like an investment as you will receive a certificate for the total value that you can exchange for my pottery. Check out all of the details and rewards HERE