WA-HC's First Artisan's Tech Session, May 21, 2026

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 A small, but excited group of WA-HC members participated in our first, but not last, Artisan's Tech Session on May 21. 

Those in attendance included Kaye Kovacs, Lynn Clemons, Jim and Robin Swernoff and Meg and Fred Fleischmann.  A guest from our sister MG3 club, Connie Rizzo, was also able to attend.  

The Fleichmanns and Swernoffs drove their Big Healeys so Bernie launched Fred and Jim off on the Dick Brown Memorial Drive.  This is primarily County Highway I meandering through the hillsides and Fox River valley from New Berlin to west of Mukwanago.  The boys ended their drive at The Dockside restaurant on Lake Beulah for some lunch and libations!

For our artisans, Teri provided an overview of the saggar, horsehair and feather pottery firing techniques and the steps to follow in preparing and firing the pottery.  Different appearances and colors are obtained by the use of feathers, horsehair, ferric acid, copper or cobalt sulfate and organic materials like spanish and sea mosses, wood shavings, coffee grounds and pistachio nut shells. 

Two participants chose to do the feather technique while others ventured into the saggar.  After preparations, the pots were loaded into the gas-fired kiln, then heated to 1400F.  This took nearly an hour so there was plenty of time to relax around the table, drink rhubarb lemon-aid, nibble on snacks and share stories.  The weather was a very comfortable 75 degrees and a beautiful day for the event.  

Once the pots were up to temperature and removed from the kiln, the feather and horsehair were applied directly to the hot pots to create the chosen designs.  The saggar pots were quickly transferred to small cans loaded with magazine paper (the Healey Marque, of course!)  which ignited upon contact with the hot pots.  The cans are closed up with their lids and a smoky environment engulfs the pots.  After cooling, the pots are cleaned and waxed to bring out the colors.  

Things wrapped up by 5:00 pm.  All in all, our artisans were pleased with their results and all had an enjoyable afternoon.