This weekend I tried a pit firing of a small batch of stoneware "Spirit" pet urns.  Each time I have done a pit firing the weather has been different...this time it was during one of our first cold and snowy snaps of this winter season.

I was nervous at first that the fire would not be hot enough or long lasting to create the wonderful smokey patterns that typically form on these pieces.

But, two days later, the pit was still hot and doing its work.  I unearthed each urn carefully, finding each with wonderfully different patterns and hues.  Several had cloudy mists of red, purple, and gold, while others had ghostly patterns of fern leaflets I collected this weekend.

The heat and smoke produced different patterns all around the surface of each urn, so that there are wonderful non-repeating patterns.

Look for a selection of these spirit pet urns on my website for sale.  Each is a particularly unique creation, each a perfect memorial to a beloved pet.