THE STORY OF HOW I MET
FREDDIE MERCURY

 I got a gas kiln because it made sense. An electric kiln was not the right option for me. After Hurricane Dorian we didn’t have power for 467 days and even when power was available it was unreliable. That’s island life for you, love it or leave it. I knew I needed a gas kiln. What I didn’t know was how I was going to get one on an island hit by a Category 7 Hurricane, so I asked the universe for help. I reached out to everyone I knew on my personal Facebook account. I asked for help finding a gas kiln for sale or possibly two old electric ones which I would convert to gas. The post went viral quickly. It was my most shared post ever because so many people wanted to help me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and hope. I believed with all my heart that I would find a kiln. By the way, I had never fired a kiln before. Not electric or gas. Nada. A few days after my post went viral, I received a message from a new friend saying she knew a woman who knew a woman who had a gas kiln here on the island. She lived close by on a part of the island that was not completely destroyed by the hurricane. She had a brand new Olympic Kiln, the perfect size for me to start out with. I was ecstatic!  I called my long-time friend and mentor Jean Hardy to tell her the good news. She said, “you manifested the shit out of that kiln” and she was right I did! I had been dreaming of this day for over twenty years and it was finally here. I bought my first kiln. It was one of the happiest days of my life, the other being the day I married my husband. 

The love story between me and my gas kiln is one for the books. We are in a committed relationship. It's been a bumpy journey and has had its ups and downs but we are now in a really good place. My gas kiln is named after Freddie Mercury because when I load the kiln I always sing a part of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. This started because before I pick up any one of my pieces I always ask permission. It's a ritual that centers me, helps me to slow down and to focus. I say “mother may I….”.  One day I started singing "mother ohhhhh ohhh, life has just begun….” and it clicked! My kiln’s name is Freddie Mercury. It was one of those “aha” moments! 

I originally wanted to put Freddie under the house, but my husband was afraid I would blow up our home. Considering our home had just survived Hurricane Dorian, I agreed with him. We built my kiln its own house in our backyard under our mango tree with wood we salvaged from the hurricane. Right now, fire about four times a month. Using a gas kiln is a special skill within itself. Nowadays many potters use electric over gas because it is more convenient. With a gas kiln, you have to control the temperature manually, if you go over or under temperature you can ruin your work.  During the firing, I check the kiln every 30 minutes and slowly increase the flame until it reaches the goal temperature.  I fire to 2232℉. This process takes approximately 12 hours give or take. I remember the first time I fired I was a nervous wreck. I was so scared my work was going to explode in the kiln. Luckily, my mentor Pete Johnston was there to help me and we figured it out together. The more I fire my kiln, the better our relationship gets and the more confident I become. In the near future, I plan on buying another larger gas kiln so I can make pieces that take up lots of kiln space such as plates and bowls. I love my kiln but she’s on the small side. It is a dream of mine to build a wood-fired kiln hopefully with my students at the Little Harbour Education Center. Ceramics for me is like climbing a beautiful mountain. The journey is half the fun and the view from the top is amazing.