I became curious about foundry furnaces to melt and pour metal into molds. I don’t own a furnace or crucibles, but I googled and found Backyard Metal Casting . com. There’s always cool people doing cool things!
My daughter is interested in pouring brass to make pins for her sorority, featuring their Alpha Gamma Delta crest and greek letters. Or some bookends (Royal Dalton stoneware) re-created in brass, with squirrels which are her sorority’s symbol.
Heck, people could buy a commercial metal melting furnace from Mifco or foundry101 and make Talking Moose hood ornaments, which people don’t know they like yet.
February 8, 2014 update. Some useful videos. How to make Fire Clay crucibles.