I just added a new button at the top of the sidebar so you can subscribe to the site feeds from this blog, using your favorite method! That way, you'll automatically know when I update the blog and you'll be able to read the latest news and information, tips and tricks, and new product releases.
I added PDFs of the AMACO Glaze Color Charts and Spectrum Glaze Color Charts for online viewing or downloading. These are great for people who want to look at all of the colors in a series at once or print out something for later reference. Please keep in mind that color pictures of glazes are not as accurate as making a test tile of the glaze yourself. Different computer monitors and color printers can also affect the accuracy of the glaze colors.
I'll be adding Laguna glaze color chart PDFs next, along with a few miscellaneous files. Then I might try to tackle MSDS for clays and chemicals. That's a huge job, though, with a lot of typing and coding.
Our web tech, Phil, is responsible for all the macho web site coding in cold fusion and maintaining the technical aspects of our product database and the really techie-geeky things like that. The look-and-feel, as well as the content, is primarily my responsibility (along with Cindy, who helps out more than I can even thank her for). My web skills are entirely self-taught over the past couple of years. It's kind of been on a need-to-know basis. I recently upgraded my web software to the latest version (Dreamweaver and Fireworks, for those who care). Fiddling around with certain files helps me to learn the new tricks and tips of the new software. I started off small, and Phil and I joked about how I had taken over a little of the driving of the web site. As I progressed, so did the joke. After I took the next baby step of changing a design or two on the web site, I called Phil and joked that I used to just drive the Chevette, but I had upgraded to driving a Honda. Later on, I called Phil to ask him about how to do another trick. After he explained it to me, he told me he had just given me the keys to the Porsche.
Well, I've been speeding along in the Porsche for the past couple of days. For most of you, it's probably not a big deal - or even very noticable. But for me, it's a huge step. I've been adjusting the graphics of the site template. For example, we used to have a series of pottery-related pictures at the top of the page. I've changed that to a clay-colored texture background. Overall they are very small changes, but I have been learning a lot that will help me make bigger changes that are going to increase content and functionality of the site as I continue working.
Shimpo has made some cosmetic design changes to their ConeArt kilns, so we need to sell the "old style" kilns. We have very special clearance sale prices on the models we still have in stock - the 1822BX and the 2327BX. I'll be sending out an e-Newsletter featuring these kilns as well as some other special deals on selected items within the week. If you don't get one, please add your name to our email newsletter list.
The Vent-A-Kiln section of the web site was in desperate need of a little TLC, so I spent some time on that today. I've added tons of information, pictures, and even PDF spec sheets.
First of all, I apologize for the length of my last post. I get a little carried away when it comes to computer stuff! :-)
I'm back to updating and enhancing the web site. Today I added more pictures to the Large Studio Equipement section, under the Carts subcategory. I also added the Thomas Stuart Universal Stand (shown above left), the Universal Ware Cart, and all the optional stuff. It is a very cool setup that can be upgraded as you need to or as you can afford it. The ware boards for the system can be ordered separately and are super thin and super light yet also super strong - very functional with or without the Universal Stand system. Besides the Universal Stand, I also added pictures for the Alpine ware carts and Laguna Ware carts. I already had pictures for Brent carts and North Star carts online. Enjoy!
Laguna spent nearly two years developing and testing a special new Cone 5 - 6 range porcelain they call "Frost." The responses during the testing included several comments like, "super white, super translucent and throws like a dream!"
Laguna is putting out a lot of magazine ads this summer to announce their new clay. We will be ordering a bunch at the end of this month, which should arrive sometime in the second week of August. Pre-order this clay now to reserve some for yourself!
I spent a little time today uploading a couple of item pictures I had overlooked in the past. The new pics are mostly in the Miscellaneous Tools section - things like rolling pins, thickness strips, and the Lil Chizler (shown at right), plus most of the Laguna banding wheel pictures (for some reason I don't have pictures of the 12" diameter banding wheels - have to take pictures soon). I also updated the prices on some of the miscellaneous tools - minor price increase on a couple and a few actually decreased in price!
It was a busy day at work today (although Saturdays are almost always busy), but it is so much fun to see both beginners and experienced potters so excited about their art. Some of the customers were downright giddy and mentioned it's like being a kid in a toy store. It's days like this that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside because I'm not the only one "infected" by the pottery bug! Have a great weekend and make lots of pots!
Updating the web site with extra information and adding new products seems like a never-ending process. Every once in a while, we start carrying a new product and for some reason I completely miss adding it to our web site. That's what happened with the new AMACO bright reds, oranges, and yellow Velvet Underglazes. I really thought I had added them to the web site, but I was talking on the phone to a customer about them yesterday and realized I hadn't. Big oops! So, that's what I've been working on today. While I was getting the new colors added, I decided to also add extra information about them that is very helpful to tons of potters. I made the short description of the glazes (viewable from the list of multiple items) easier to understand and the long description (viewable when you click on the item link or thumbnail picture) now includes the glaze series description text from the AMACO catalog, as well as a couple of comments that Bracker's thinks are important.
In addition to that, I created a new page that includes the full description plus the color variation chart that describes how the Velvets look when you fire them hotter than Cone 06 to 04. A link to this chart is available in each Velvet Underglaze item long description or you can view it now by clicking on this blog entry link.
Technically, I'm still working on updating the Velvets. By the time on this posting, I've updated all of the pints and about half of the 2 ounce jars. I should be finished with the rest of the 2 ounce jars by the end of the day. Enjoy!
P.S. The glaze chip in this entry is the new AMACO V 387 Bright Red, fired at Cone 05 on a white earthenware clay body.
