i found a giant leaf on the side of the road ... its stalk had been run over ... all the other leaves were standing tall ... and this was on the ground .... so i felt ok taking/stealing/rescuing it for a higher purpose. i carried it about two miles home.

 i rolled it into clay... then trimmed it ... then made a nest of towels and dry-cleaning bags for it to rest in ....

rolling the leaf took a lot out of it ... i'd been hoping to use it for multiple platters but discovered one was all it could manage.

i babysat it. i went down to my basement studio and visited it often .... to make sure it didn't crack ... it was doing great .... 

i measured twice to make sure it would fit into my kiln .... i knew i was cutting it close! 

and then the magic moment of opening the kiln .... oh! no! .... it had exploded. likely because it was not bone dry .... i thought it was! wah!!

 i did not do my usual kiln happy dance!