Well this is the coldest it has been so far in the morning in the house. We still haven't turned the heat on yet. Not bad for October 19th in New England. I have gotten to the point where I have just accepted the cold. I just wear more clothes and that's that. My fingers and nose are usually pretty chilly to the touch, but I found these great gauntlets at a fair the other day, and they are great for wearing around the house and out. I only wish I could work in them in the studio. Ooh, that gives me an idea. What if I were to make some of these out of Neoprene? I might be onto something. I am now beginning to wonder whether we might be able to make it until the end of November without turning the heat on. As long as the inside of the house stays above 50-55 it will be tolerable with a few layers on and could conceivable save us hundreds of dollars in fuel this year. I'm so glad that we pre-bought fuel when it was like 3.50 a gallon, now that the price is plummeting and we could get it cheaper now. Oh well. It's always a risk. I think it's suspicious that the price is dropping so dramatically right before the election, but hey, I would make a good conspiracy theorist. So I am also wondering what the temperature is that is truly fuel economical to keep the thermostat on. I usually keep in arount 70 during the winter except at night when I turn it down to 55 or 60. What is that magic number where you will see a significant change in how much the furnace needs to run? There has to be an equlibrium somewhere. I'm thinking somewhere in the 50's. If anyone is a scientist out there let me know.
Here are a few of the things I like from the firing. I really like these three glaze designs, but they only really work on simple forms, and forms where you can see the inside and outside of the pot at the same time. I don't know, a lot to think about.
10 comments:
mornin'..deborah, yes, i am a scientist and the official best number to set the thermostat on is 67, and plaid socks keep heat in better than argyles.....your welcome.
Wish I had something profound to say on your glazing dilemma, but I guess I'll agree with everyone else and say stick to it! I think that your work is developing nicely and I know you will get your glaze application and firing figured out soon!
You are much heartier than I am! I don't think I could take temps in the 50s in my house. I guess that's why I live in the south :)
67! somehow I don't think that's the official heat saving temp. Sounds a little more like a speed limit. It's gotta be lower than that. But I will try the plaid socks.
Thanks Ben. I'm still thinking about it.
I've heard 68, but I also think the utility companies brainwash us on what temp to set - here it's the summer number we have to worry about adjusting. Used to be - set it at 78 now they say 82.
I used 1/3 less electric this summer compared to last summer because my West side trees are getting big enough to shade the house, but my bill went up more then $75 each month because the rates increased siginficantly. We are still reeling from our summer ac bills.
Right now I am hoping for cooler weather. It got up to 88 here yesterday and a low of 48 or so. I did get out my down comforter and a quilt to be ready. I think we lower our thermostat pretty low at night in winter, but I read if you go too low it costs much more energy to bring the temp back up again especially in colder climates.
Good luck with your glazing.
Have you considered moving south? Whew - 50's in the house is chilly.
I do like your glaze technique/designs. I can see where it would take a tremendous amount of time and I would be just as devastated if things didn't turn out the way I had intended. But I have also noticed how much you have learned in just the short time I've been reading your blog. I've seen your work progress & hope that you decide to continue.
It's cold here too! 50s happen regularly here inside since I use a wood stove and it's burned out and cold by the time I wake up in the morning. I do have a kerosene heater, but prices for that is out the roof, so I'm hoping to just work off of wood this year, but it's cold in this room where I type. I have to redirect the wood stove heat with fans depending on whatever room I'm in. I broke down today and built a fire when it was 50 inside and put on my thermals! Now I know there is no turning back! Brrr...
Yikes. Today it was 53 when we woke up and never reached higher than 59. I was hurting and so did the layer thing. I have these black silk underlongjohn things and put those on under my other layers. I spent the day in a winter hat and my gauntlets in the house. Thank god we left the house for a few hours. We checked out winter blankets but they are sooooo expensive. I am trying to decide if the comfort and savings in fuel is worth the cost. I'll have to turn the furnace on when my grandson comes next time I think. But then hopefully off again until we can't take it anymore. today was close.
By winter, I meant electric.
I should add that all the pots I had out back with water in them were frozen solid. So I'm not being too much of a whiny-girl.
wow, you're brave.... anywho back to the pieces you described I agree with your observation and cup forms are sooo cool they fit in your hands and are so personal, I like all....well thought out...
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