www.cascadiastoneware.com

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 bisque 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, and then it is dried again before it is dipped in a second over glaze. (Jeff creates all his own glazes.) 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.	The clay that's left over is then recycled by running it through a pugmill.

Out of the pugmill the clay is then reformed into balls & used again.	Some balls are thrown on the wheel.	Some balls are ram pressed.

Some shapes are slip-cast.	Jeff creating a ram press mold.	This is a freshly made ram press mold which has compressed steaming air coming out of it.

Stirring the slip clay for casting.	Jeff creates his slip cast mold	Lifting a mug from a cast mold.

Each piece now called greenware must then be, trimmed, and cleaned.	Various stages of the process all occur at the same time.	The greenware is loaded then fired in a bisque kiln. It is now somewhat hardened.

The bisque ware must now be cleaned and sanded before glazing.	Our stamp is placed on the bottom and wax is applied as well so it won't stick to the kiln shelf.	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.	We paint on some designs in a contrasting glaze.

We squirt on another color.	Then the decorative glazes have been 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. The Jeff makes the 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.

Another successful load with the help of our two dogs Bubby & Lea.	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.

Special orders are also created and sold.	Stretching the skin on a special order for a drum.	Cutting the Drum top free.

Creating new packaging material from old.

Beautiful, Unique and FunctionalHandcrafted in Deming, Washington