If you're reading this you are probably wondering why the heck I'd be discontinuing such a popular glaze. Well.. there are a few reasons, but first a lil trip down memory lane.
Moonlit Moss first came to be in summer of 2019. I was just getting into clay again for the first time in 9 years. I had NO idea what I was doing, but I was doing it. Now..the first two Moonlit Moss mugs have these silly single finger handles which I thought were totally rad. They are kinda silly looking to me now, but I was so very proud of what I had created. I tried adding a photo of one of the mugs here, but it was HUGE and idk how to edit blog formatting sooo..
Back to the why.. the glazes I use to create the Moonlit Moss glaze are commercial glazes. Most people start with them. They are ready-mixed and formulated to be user friendly. But as I learned maybe they aren’t so consistent after all.. and they can be reformulated without notice 🤔 hmmm. During the pandemic the global supply chain went into chaos.. I'm sure you remember hahah. Some raw materials for glazes and clays became unavailable. Suppliers made changes. But more often than not, as a consumer of these products I wasn't aware something changed until I got the glaze in my hand. There it was.. a sticker across the lid.. "new formula!"
It can be a bit unsettling holding an old jar that is red in it's raw state, and the reformulated version is gray. "They are the same! Don't worry!!" I know raw materials are natural and will have variation.. but was it just the colorant they changed? or was it a deeper chemical change? Would this new glaze fit my clay the same? (SO many questions.. I'll spare you hahah). Luckily, I didn't have any major issues with most of the glazes I use.. well except one in Moonlit Moss, hence why we're here. It made me really wonder.. what exactly did they change and why? (and how the heck can I get out of this anxiety producing system of random switcharoos hahah)
So how does this affect Moonlit Moss? The darkest green in Moonlit Moss contains copper as a colorant. I know this because the label states there is copper, other than that I don't know what its made of (ok I also know its lead free!). I know high levels of copper can fire dark or oxidize in the gold fire. (SUCH A BUMMER because some of the most gorgeous glazes are copper based.. I may have to make some things without gold just for the beauty that is a copper based glaze.) Unfortunately, this means the darker half of Moonlit Moss comes out of the kiln with a dark hazy coating after the gold firing now. It's not permanent in this case, but it does mean I get to buff each and every mug with a polishing cloth. IT'S TIRING YALL 😩 But I'll do it one last time.. just for youuu 😘
See, if I was making the glaze myself.. I could adjust the colorants. I would know what changed from batch to batch!! That's the beauty of learning glaze chemistry and mixing my own glazes. I'm definitely just dipping my toe in the vast amount of knowledge there is to learn, but I'm beyond excited to see where this goes 🤓 I'm not sure if I'll ever create another green ombre glaze to replace Moonlit Moss.. but I am forever grateful for numerous successful shop updates featuring this glaze. In many ways this glaze gave me the confidence to forge my way forward on an ever evolving journey. It was the first time I realized my dream was coming true 5 years ago.
To honor this chapter's closing, I want to give this glaze the greatest last run. Nearly every design I've ever made in Moonlit Moss is available during this final pre-order. I hope you have enjoyed it's earthy beauty. Thank you for reading and thank you for your endless support!
-chryssa
If you liked this blog or just want to support me I'd gladly accept a coffee! (buymeacoffee) It's just a cute little "tip the artist" concept - no pressure but always appreciated! 🥰