This past month has been full of movement at Creek Road Pottery. From firing and unloading the gas kiln to setting up at the hometown show in Susquehanna, there’s been a steady rhythm of making, sharing, and rebuilding. Below are a few reflections from the studio, the field, and the fairgrounds, where pots met people and stories found their place.
Back from the Hometown Show
It was a nice little show to be a part of back home for Susquehanna Hometown Days. Even if I didn’t sell one pot, just showing up to Renolads Park would have been worth it. The park, built where the old train shops used to be, is now a beautiful space for community events. Going back home with the pots and sharing the work with folks who care felt like more than a sale. It was a contribution to something ongoing, something real. Sharing and building community happened not just through the art, but also in conversations, stories, music, and the simple act of being together. It reminded me that even after storms, floods, or setbacks, with the right attitude and a little help from others, we can make something good again.
The storm a few weeks before this hometown event really hit our county hard. Trees came down, roads flooded, and power was out for days. People stepped up to help—clearing trees, checking on neighbors, sharing meals. By the time the festival rolled around, things felt somewhat back to normal. I was lucky to be set up by the food and the local breweries. The smell of fair food filled the air, and there was a steady breeze that kept things from getting too hot. As I set up, I helped another vendor keep her tent from blowing away. That simple act felt like part of a larger theme—everyone pitching in, showing up, making it work together.
Lessons from the Kiln
After the show, I came back to a batch of pots that had been fired in the gas kiln. We threw them quick, speed dried them, bisque fired, glazed, and ran them through a glaze fire—all in just a few days. I knew I was pushing it, but the results were worth it. Mugs came out with rich texture from the rasp work, and the glazes settled into those grooves in ways I hoped for. The top of the kiln fired hot, as expected, and I overfired slightly to help the lower shelves hit temp. I pulled a few beautiful seafoam greens and rutile purples from this load, and a few mugs I had worried about came out better than expected. There’s always a sigh of relief when a rushed load still turns out.
Of course, not everything came out perfect. I ran some test pots through an old kiln to see if waterlogged pieces could be refired. They exploded. It was a mess, but it confirmed what I suspected—refiring wet pots is a gamble. I vacuumed up shards and learned what not to do next time. The main kiln held strong though, and I now have a few more shelves worth of mugs and planters ready for upcoming shows. It reminded me that taking risks is part of the process. Some loads break, some succeed, and either way, we learn and move forward.
Progress on the Wood Kiln
The wood kiln project is also moving along. My dad brought me a load of wood from a tree that came down, and it will be good starter wood for preheating the chamber. We’ve begun separating out the arch bricks after they got mixed up, and I’ve been trying to figure out which bricks go where. It’s slow going but steady. The chimney section is nearly ready, and I’ve been planning out how to install the dampers for airflow control. Working on the kiln in the open air, without a shed, makes the process feel exposed but grounded. Every choice shows, every effort matters.
The design is coming together in pieces. I may adjust the brick layout to slide in a shelf as a damper, and the firebox is finally shaped out. It is not fast, and it is not without its setbacks, but it is satisfying work. These kiln builds always take more time than expected, especially when done right. I keep thinking of how this project, like the pots themselves, takes patience, attention, and sometimes doing things over. The best part is, when it’s finished, it will serve not just me, but others who join for firings and events.
Until Next Time
That’s all for now. The pots are fired, the show was a success in all the ways that matter, and the kiln is inching toward being done. If you’re nearby and want to visit, or join for a firing, keep an eye out for future updates. Until then, thanks for following the journey and for supporting Creek Road Pottery. Your encouragement and curiosity keep this little studio moving forward, one pot at a time.
Alford Wayman
Connect with Creek Road Pottery LLC
Website | Shop | Blue Sky | Instagram | Facebook | Newsletter
