How  our pottery is made.

       At Cascadia Stoneware we produce our work using a number of production methods.  We throw pots on the wheel, extrude handles, and soap dishes, slab build platters and some bowls, slip cast and press other items. 

       After a piece is formed it is partially dried and then trimmed and cleaned with a damp sponge.  Once completely dry it is bisc fired to 1,860 degrees, then cooled.  Every piece must then be washed off and stamped and is either dipped in hot paraffin or has to have wax painted on the bottom to resist the glaze.  Once the wax has cured, each piece is dipped in a base glaze, (we mix our own glazes) and then dried again before it is dipped in a second over glaze.  After drying yet again, decoration is applied using brushes, slip bottles or both.  Because each piece is glazed by hand no two are ever exactly alike. 

       The bottoms of the pots are then sponged off completely so they won't stick to the kiln shelves.  The kiln is strategically loaded to accommodate air flow and the hot and cold spots.  The kiln is 'candled' over night to cook off extra moisture and then fired all the next day (10 hours) to cone 12 (2,400 degrees). At that temperature the clay itself becomes vitrified into a very hard and dense stone like material, 17% smaller than the original piece.  The kiln cools down and the next afternoon can be unloaded.

       Finally we sand the bottoms of each piece and they are done.  Quite often it can take more than a month for an individual piece to make it all the way through the process.  Our studio is always full of pottery in all stages of production.  

Clay is cut into weight-size pieces to then be formed into balls.	Balls are formed.	Some balls are ram pressed.
Others are thrown on the wheel.	Some shapes are slip-cast.	Each piece must then be, trimmed, and cleaned.
This is a freshly made ram press mold which has compressed steaming air coming out of it.	Various stages of the process all occur at the same time.	Next, the greenware is bisc fired.
The bisc ware must now be cleaned and sanded before glazing.	Our stamp is placed on the bottom and wax is applied.	We are now ready to glaze.
Jeff hand mixes all our  glazes.	We remix the glaze after we have dipped each boards' pottery pieces, to prevent settling.	Test for specific gravity to assure we have the  correct amount of water so  the glaze is the right thickness.
Then the glazes are ready to use	The pieces are dipped in the base glaze for the  underlying color.	Then the decorative glazes are added. These pieces will be Midnight Blue.
These pieces will be Lavender Sunset.	They are now ready to be loaded in the kiln.	The shelves are prepared.
The inside of the kiln is made of ceramic fiber and clay pegs.	The high fire kiln is ready.	The loading process begins.
Half way there.	Cones are placed strategically as temperature gages for Jeff.	The shelves are loaded and ready.
Time to fire the kiln.	The kiln is fired at 2,400 degrees.	Jeff checks the cones to determine the temperature.
The firing is done, the kiln cooled to about 400 degrees. the door is opened and the cart pulled out.	After cooling for a few more hours the kiln is unloaded, and the bottom of each piece is sanded.	The pottery is finally ready to be sold.

About our product:

       Our primary focus is on function, but we try to emphasize the fun in function with our bright energetic glazes.  We are well known for our glassy baking glaze combinations that are rich in color and depth.  Each piece we make is 100% lead free and can be used in the oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer.

       We make a complete line of kitchen wares, everything from dinnerware, bread bakers, and colanders to utensil jars and turkey platters.  We also carry other household items such as lotion and soap bottles to vases.  Some of our best sellers are: baking dishes, mugs, soup mugs, chip-n-dip trays, sushi trays, platters and bowls of all sizes and shapes.

       Our personal standard for quality craftsmanship is very high and our customers appreciate the attention to detail.  Because of this we have been in business for 10 years and sell our pottery in over 120 galleries and shops across the country.