Kenneth Lives!

The relay for Kenneth arrived today and I fitted it, revved the kiln up, held my breath and was elated to find that Kenneth is working again! Yeah!

And in answer to your question, Sue, fitting a new relay is really easy. The longest part of the process is unscrewing/replacing the dozen screws on the base of the kiln to get to the workings. Aside from that it's just a logical process of moving the wires carefully from the old relay across to the new one. I call Robin at Electric Kilns whenever I need a relay or if I'm having kiln trauma and he is always so amazingly helpful.

So anyway, with Kenneth in full working order I was able to make a few beads. Not many because by the time I'd mended the kiln and had a celebratory bacon sandwich it was afternoon and also the conservatory was 31°C (sudden sunshine-a-rama today) and I was wilting a bit. So the small set that I do have ready are those pretty 'Ballerina' ones up there. Soft pink (CiM Desert Pink if you're interested) and grey. Very '80s, don't you think?

I will be making beads all weekend to make up for what I haven't been able to do in the past couple of days so do check in over the weekend to see what glass creations I come up with. Then I'm reckoning that I'll be selling said beads on either Sunday or Monday night.

Stay with me, Kenneth!

I have no beads to show you. There I was today making beads when all of a sudden I noticed that something was amiss with Kenneth, my kiln. He was losing heat. I turned the kiln off and on again (works with many things) and he started heating up again but after a few minutes his temperature dropped. At this point I removed my iPod earphones to listen to his relay which wasn't doing its normal clicking on and off. Funny - the click of the kiln becomes white noise after a while but you soon notice when something isn't right about it.

Swearing followed and a slight panic set in. Then I remembered that last week Kenneth was displaying symptoms of a dodgy relay but I must have blocked it out because I didn't want him to be ill. More curse words fell out of my mouth as I realised that no more beadmaking action would be taking place today. There is also the fear that this might be more than a broken relay but the problems are pretty much the same as when Kenneth's relay went last time so I have everything crossed that he'll be okay. I've ordered a new relay and that should be here in the next couple of days and then I'm hoping that once I've fitted it it'll all be alright.

I'm trying not to get lairy about this. I've made a rice pudding to calm me. Pudding is good. Pudding always helps. Not going to get stressed .....

So no beads for a couple of days, people. Pants!

Productive day

I know I've had a good beadmaking day when there are more mandrels in the kiln than there are in the water jug! Cooking away in Kenneth are a whole load of going-to-be Luminobeads. They just need cleaning and etching tomorrow and then I'll post photos.

Kiln For Sale

If you're a new beadmaker or if you're thinking of taking up lampwork then you may be interested to know that I've just put Anthony, my old Chili Pepper bead annealing kiln, up for auction on eBay. I used this kiln for about the first year of my beadmaking and then I upgraded to my current kiln. Anthony (can you figure out why he's called that?) has been sitting on a shelf for about two years or so. He's a great kiln - shiny red and specifically designed for annealing beads. I bought him from the States and I had to buy a transformer to make him work over here and that transformer is included in the auction. I've just replaced the Chili Pepper's relay and the kiln is in full working order. Runs like a dream. Please click here if you'd like to take a look at the auction.

'Cinnamon' & 'Freshmint' Spanglentils

More etched lentils. These have enamels on them which etch to a lovely silky finish. Very strokeable beads, these!

I had a major panic the other day - Kenneth the kiln got sick! I think he may have secretly been a bit miffed about me taking a week off and then waltzing back into the shed like I'd never been away. He stopped heating up and that's a slight problem where beadmaking is concerned!

After emergency investigative kiln surgery and a couple of telephone conversations to kiln oracle Robin at Paragon Kilns it was decided that Kenneth's relay had broken. Kenneth's relay has now been replaced and I'm pleased to say that he is working once again. Huzzah! A huge thank you to Robin for his expert advice, help and superb customer service.