I’m headed back to Pilchuck!

Detail of the stone surface. I used recycled furnace glass, so the backside has a nice layer of devit that I am excited to learn to polish away!

Thanks to Pilchuck for offering me this class, I’m heading back to the hill to take a cold-working workshop with Celeste Wilson and Curtis Duffy! I’m very excited for this class, as I want to focus on complex surface refinement and learning efficient workflows.

I’m bringing a set of test blanks with distinct devitrification, and “stone” and “skin” textures (all of which refer to projects we have completed so far in 2026). The aim is to explore how different cold-working approaches—grinding, smoothing stages, and polishing—interact with these surfaces. I want to understand where texture begins to break down, what can be preserved, and how different finishes (matte, satin, full polish) translate visually and tactically. This will directly inform how we present finishing options for commissioned work, supported by some physical samples.

I’m also bringing a goblet that is thicker than usual. I want to figure out the quickest way to cut away the excess glass and finish the rim cleanly—finding a process that is efficient without sacrificing clarity or control. The goal is to land on a workflow that makes pieces like this viable to produce, so the time we put in still aligns with what a client can reasonably pay.

Overall, this is about building an internal map between texture, process, and outcome—understanding what is possible, what options we can realistically offer, and how to handle these finishes in-house in a way that is efficient and reliable. The aim is to find approaches that respect both the material and the timeline, so neither the process drags on nor the investment—on either side—starts to feel strained.

I’m going to try to blog everyday. :-)