I See Floor!

A clean stock room! Yeah!

I can see my floor once again in my stock room!

On Friday morning I had to gather up some boxes and foam and wrapping paper in order to prepare the little first holy communion box for transport and hand delivery on Saturday (today). I was so disgusted by the condition of the stock room and annoyed that I didn't have what I needed at my fingertips that I just started ripping out EVERYTHING in that room!

It took the entire day to clean and organize my stuff, but it was so worth it! It feels great to be able to walk inside that room and not trip or not have to tip toe over junk on the floor. I even put up shelves on the one wall (left hand side, not in the picture) and gave my resin stock more room. I had actually forgotten about a few of the pieces I had! I'm excited to maybe finish the one little pony whose face I shaved off. I forgot all about her!

Well, the communion party is today and unfortunately I won't get to see the recipients face when they open up the china painted box. All presents will go in a pile at the party and will be opened later. Seeing people's faces when they receive these china boxes is the best part. Perhaps I'll get word that it was received well later in the week.

Mush

Porcelain Painted Box


Mush...

That about sums up my wheel throwing this evening. Everything I did turned into mush. I think I may need a break from the wheel for a few days. I am happy to say that I was able to trim up almost all the vessels I threw the other day. I'm centering (for trimming) much better now. I even made a little tea cup for my son. He watched me trim it and thought it was cool to watch the wheel going round and round.

We are coming up to another busy weekend here. One of the events is a first holy communion party. We decided it might be best to make a gift and then add a beautiful store bought rosary to the gift.

Inside box

It took about two weeks to china paint this piece. The most difficult part of this box? The little girl's name. Took me over an hour to get it just so. Write it down, view it, shake head, wipe and repeat. That name in particular is tricky. So many loops! Hard with a crow quill on porcelain.

Finishing Up

HA Arab commission in dappled grey

I haven't been too chatty this week. I'm really just busy finishing up a couple of deadlines and working on the commissions left in the studio. I know I've put them off for my pottery wheel long enough. I was always more disciplined than I have been recently. I can only say that I love how it feels to be working on the wheel. It's very mediative for me and relaxing. It's also wonderful to create art in a matter of 15 minutes or less.

This was probably my most favorite vessel from the "Mother's Day" batch. It unfortunately cracked when I pulled it out of the kiln for the horsehair process. I heard it pop twice and saw the crack running up along the edge. A most disheartening sight and sound. I've decided not to use this technique on any of the low fire clay vessels I've created. I'll use it only on the stoneware and porcelain pieces. I suspect these clays can handle the changes in temp. much better.

Horsehair vessel

But as you can see I am still working on horses. I'm scheduled to paint a Fraley "Sucre". I can see her in bloody shoulder and will most likely have her in my hands by the weekend. Lynn always ships so promptly. I love that. I also managed to snag a Scarlett. I promised myself that I would cool it on resins, but since my studio is fairly clean of unwanted resins for now and the urge to paint one of these lady's hit me recently I decided to jump on the email when it came through from Tumlinson.
I'm thinking roan perhaps?

Hopefully somewhere in all these color decisions and new pieces I'll get the urge to finish up a few pieces I started like my second Smittyn resin and, of course, the Stormwatch. Unfortunately for all resins involved I have to physically pass my wheel in order to get to my work station. LOL

There Is Something....

Horse hair tea cup

There is something utterly dreamy about the smell of a horse. I suppose you have to be a horse fanatic to understand. I've had a hunk of horsehair in my posession for a while now. Smelling it from time to time is just something I love to do because it reminds me of my trips down to the barn. On a really down day that smell can even take me as far back as when I was nine just waiting for my neighbors to arrive to feed their horses.

Today I got to experience its smell in a new fashion...burning on a hot piece of pottery. With tongs in hand and saftey gloves I dove into my little kiln, plucked out a porcelain teacup and began adding hair. The smell was atrocious, but the result was fabulous. I'm now totally dying to try this technique on more pottery.

Well, tomorrow it's back to the grind for me. I let myself wander enough here with my pottery and dreamy smells. If I dont get things mailed out and a few projects completed customers will be coming after me with pitchforks. And you know, I wouldn't blame them in the least.

Here...just occupied

Rice bowl in blue and brown

I'm here. I've just been a bit occupied with family and with clay. There were several days where I logged on but just didn't have the urge to participate any where or answer emails. I suppose I needed a break from all things technical cause it sure felt good to be alone at my pottery wheel these past few days.

The cutest little fingers

The other day I even felt the urge to get really muddy, or rather dirty, and plopped my hands right in with my son's and finger painted with him. My once bare studio walls are now alive with colorful paintings of little hands and squiggly lines. It was great to get lost in that childhood activity.

I've also been on a roll with the clay work. The pieces felt great when I was making them and they don't seem half bad on film either. I'm very happy with my progress. I was never able to make such nice vessels when I was taking a ceramics class in college.

Well, its late and sleep is all I can think of now. I'll leave you with quite a few shots of my most recent pottery pieces. Enjoy!


~Newest Pottery Pieces~


Sake set



Tall vase...too tall for my kiln actually.

Larger vessel

A geometric style vase

Just completed tonight

Coffee mugs waiting for glaze

The "love" vase

Nerve Grinding

Tree Hackers

The studio and house has been plagued with an awful sound. A grinding buzz of tree being sawed. The most wretched and nerve grinding sound I can think of next to a dentist's drill. My heart actually races with panic when I hear trees being cut. I have never liked it and hate it even more now that I am living in a city that seems pretty treeless as compared to my beloved PA woods.

NYC's "Million trees" campaign is apparently alive and strong. One million is a pretty large number. Lord only knows where they put A MILLION trees! It certainly wasn't on our block. They actually chopped our trees up so terrible they are ridiculous to look at. They hit the old oak down the block today and the pretty little cherry blossom.

The Pac Man Peg tree. Ridiculous!

Perhaps I'm just in a bad mood. I can see how clipping a tree in the city would be beneficial to the cars and telephone wires. There are, however, several areas in Brooklyn that never get the buzz saw. The telephone wires and cars do just fine. Actually, the cars and houses look much better with such pretty trees about. Oh, and wires are hidden. So aesthetically pleasing.

But again, I'm sure I'm just in a bad mood. After all, my mold for the China Buffet show isn't dry yet and my deadline on that is looming. My porcelain bowls took 12 hours to fire and look wonky and rough. And the cherry on top is that I have to re shoot this JAH cover of which I have no desire since my vision was Alborozo on the beach in all his glory.

They want more "story." Not sure how to give more story. I firmly believe that gorgeous Eberl mold on the beach, the waves crashing ever so slightly was the story. I firmly believe less is more in some instances. And in this instance collectors just want to see the horse. Put him in the ultimate fantasy setting every little gal dreams of (on the beach) and you have a bombshell cover. I mean, even *I* was clamoring to get a mold of him and when he arrived I totally had to go to the beach and play with him. (Yes, I still play...you have to otherwise you will grow old!) Well, I got him, but he hasn't come without a price. Being grumpy has been the worst part of his price tag. >:(

Joyful Package

Your garbage is my treasure

Joy! My typesetting letters finally arrived today. Snagged them off eBay. Initially I was worried they would be cruddy 'cause you just never know what you might receive when you buy from new sellers. I was delighted to find that they are not only in excellent condition, but are the perfect size for my clay work. They are exactly what I was looking for.

I dropped everything once the package came and started making new pendants. First one made? One that says, "I love mom!" ....of course. Can't wait to show it off all shiny and glazed.