Sunday Inspirations

Grab a box and fill it for a dollar!
Sundays find me snooping about at the local flea market for inspirations. No matter how hard I try I just can't resist the call to visit the Garden Drive In. There is always something to find and one vendor in particular is my personal favorite for a constant supply of enticing items for my craft projects. She's cheap too. Fill a box for a $1! Now THAT's my kind of craft deal!

This weekend found me once again at the flea market scouring for specific items for the new showcase/store front I'll be selling from. This store front was all I seemed to talk about all weekend to friends visiting from up state NY. It's great to talk to other artistic friends about these kinds of things because ideas flow and brain storming is generally a very productive thing. My mind is in overload at the moment.

Was on the hunt for tea cups.
Could NOT resist this one!

Unwanted tea cups become pretty candles.

Of course what project wouldn't be complete
without some hearts showing up?

But so did a smilie face! LMOL

Finding these chunks was so odd that I spared both from
the double boiler and put them in my china cabinet.

Last Week.....

Holy FIRE Batman!!!
My brother in law lit the cake...
....he has a healthy sense of humor!

Last week enjoying my 30's. On Saturday the big 4 0. The week will be spend scrambling to get wares ready for the fair on Saturday and Sunday. Because I'll be busy with that affair we decided to hold birthday celebrations for me yesterday. I am tickled with the gifts of new glaze from Georgies and a new book. There were also some lovely "girly" goodies like perfume and a much needed "spa day" complete with deep tissue massage! Ahhh....I am so looking forward to that!

Now....a big scramble to the studio to get stuff done.

A Great Night

Raffle donation #17 full of goodies

It was a great night! The Golf/Fall Outing dinner was fun and full of many participants, many of which were women who were tempted by my luminaries and candle donation. I peeked inside bag #17 and found a plethora of raffle tickets. Of course, the Victoria's Secret raffle bag was overflowing, but hay, they have had more time brand imprinting than Danza Ceramics. LOL

It really was a successful night for my little ceramics studio. There were many positive comments and compliments about the luminaries. One comment that was reiterated throughout the night was, "I never knew you made such items." I was happy to hear the comment repeated because my whole goal was to get people within my community more aware of what I do. It was highly suggested by the Christmas Fair organizer that I participate in the Christmas Fair this year because apparently there is nothing like what I make at that fair and she felt my work would be gobbled up. I like the sound of that and am looking into the fair. Honestly, it sounded like she wanted a commitment last night which made me feel very good. If I can have enough ceramic pieces by early December I may just set up shop for a day at the Christmas fair. If anything, it would be an interesting experiment into seeing what people like and what they dislike in my ceramics. It may also be a crash course in lots of hurt feelings too.

I have to admit that the best part of the night was dancing with my son. He LOVES to dance and even though they had background music playing it wasn't a "dancing" kind of night. To a 3 1/2 year old though, if they hear music and if they see open space near a podium it's a dance party! And when your little boy askes, "Mommy, can you dance with me?" you forget that you are the ONLY adult moving your body on the floor of a non dance party and you just enjoy the moment with your little one cause the sense that such moments are fleeting are strong. At one point, I got a flash forward to his wedding day and what a tougher dance that might be for me.

The weekend is just starting. I have both my boys here for the entire weekend and it started fantastically last night. I got to sleep in late today and am having breakfast made for me by hubby. Mmm...did someone whisper the word diet out there? Yeah...forget that this weekend! So have a wonderful weekend out there everyone! I'll see ya on Monday!

Unfinished Projects in 2008

Currently for sale with
"way back in the day" reserve. Link.

Today the heat was on when I woke up. It's been very chilly. I believe we may just zip past fall and get right into winter in a few weeks. Sunday we started to really feel the weather change and I had a huge burst of energy that day. Later in the evening I used that energy to take inventory of unfinished projects for 2008. The largest unfinished project was the Sleepy LIttle Mouse project.

Mice colored and ready for some
scratching out with a razor

I had almost forgotten I had seven more little ones in bisque waiting for color. I am very happy to report that turning on the airbrush to color these last little ones was actually a happy event! I really enjoyed it. I will confess that I stayed within the brown family on these seven though. Their first coats of color were fired and then glossed. Even though I used brown in some fashion on them they all look completely different. That is good for a run like this, but very bad for an OF china run. I may have to rethink my OF china run on the rat sculpture "Listen".

I suppose that is ok and I believe OOAK are more favored and I can totally see the rat sculpture having greater appeal if each piece created is completely different. This too was another project, when I took inventory, that had been pushed on the side. This one though hadn't gotten lost in the clutter.

Rat with proposed mold lines

It was gently placed on the side because I am really undecided about the mold lines I've made. I can't seem to "see" where they need to go and I'm trying to plan the casting out on a multiple piece mold when I've only ever made a three part mold. This one is gonna be a learnin' thing. So, I just did my best with the knowledge I've gain and with the help I have received in talking with other mold makers in the model horse industry. I've taken in their words, advice and thoughts on the matter and I've let their words sink in. I've given the sinkin' enough time and now its time to just "do" and that is my main project for the rest of the week.

Porcelain candle holder
glowing in the dark

My other project is completion of the fall outting donation. The teapot I was hoping to donate is cracked and out. A luminary is in and if I can find some fine holiday scented candles at Bed, Bath and Beyond this week, I will be thrilled. My donation will actually look fairly good sitting on the raffle table I think. Above is a photo of how the English porcelain looks when there is a candle inside it. Don't you love that glow?