Tizzy Thursday

Exploring sugar syrup and
china paints on porcelain paper weights

I'm in a tizzy today. The list of to-do's is long. I'm slowly getting through my list of graphics projects and housechores (like laundry...boo hiss) that I need to accomplish before tomorrow and before our big "pumpkin picking" weekend. I am totally gearing up for the Fall/Golf Outing tomorrow. I'll be sure to get a photograph of my donation all boxed up. I rushed it off to the committee head and felt my heart sink as he took it. I hate when pieces make me feel that way. I am excited, however, to see how it is received by members of community. If my heart sank to see it leave my possession chances are people are going to enjoy it.

But, onward to the list, which I won't bore you with, but I will tell you that last on the list for me to enjoy a nice glass of California cabernet while I slowly look at my new Wine Enthusiast mag. I am looking forward to this quiet time tonight cause today has, so far, been a major whirlwind!

What To Write?

Bisque Pixie getting china painted

When I woke this morning I was a bit out of sorts. Late nights this week and a bit of yard work preparing for the winter months made me groggy and uncertain as to what to talk about today. Some days the blog just writes itself, but this morning all I had was the fact that I was able to find the confidence to pick up my beloved Pixie bisque and add a bit more china paints to her last night. The use of lavender oil in my paints has proven very successful all around.

The rest of the morning found me running about to Bed Bath and Beyond for candles for the outing donation that needs to be finished and presented to the committee TONIGHT!!! EEEk!!! To get me through the rest of the busy day I chucked in the cart a box of pumpkin spice coffee. Oooh, I will tell you it is delightful and I'm on JOLT mode right now. LOL

I also found myself at Old Navy cause my studio (and hangin' out) duds have seen their last days. I believe Old Navy's clothes have shrunk! I am the same size I have been for about 4 years now and none of their jeans fit me and their sweats barely cover areas that should be covered on a 38 year old! I have come to detest the word "low rise". I quickly found my positive energy draining as I continued on in this store. There is nothing more damaging to my creative high like clothing shopping. I DETEST it, but some days you do need to buy new duds. My longing for those Catholic school days and a simple uniform were strong. That got me to thinking that doctor scrubs (they have some nifty styled one for the ladies) might be in order. I'm now looking into it.

Porcelain Artist Mag arrived today

Coming home to find mail waiting for me gave lots of blog fodder. I was giddy to find that my interview with the Porcelain Artists Magazine came out really lovely. It is a fully colored production that has weight that I could show off to the family and have them understand what I do when I'm in the studio. I hope you dont mind...I'm gonna take a spell to brag a bit. It really felt great to see these pieces in the mag along side other china painters from all over the world. Ok, I admit it.... I'm beaming this afternoon.

Interview with Porcelain Artists

They totally included the little mice!

Before my head gets way too big here I'll just end with a photo of the latest glazed candy dish. I LOVE how the glazes meet to form little circles in that one area on the inside. Now, if I can only remember WHAT glazes I used!

earthenware candy dish

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?

Happy St. Francis Day

Father blessing the animals

Today is the feast of St. Francis. A day where we remember our patron saint of animals and we give God thanks for the animals that comfort us, the animals that help us and the animals that sacrifice their bodies as food for us. It is one of my favorite feast days in my religion because I love animals. Our church loves them too and invites all pet owners to bring their animals to the church steps for a special blessing. This year there were many dogs, guinea pigs, a parrot and even one little itty bitty turtle that came to be blessed.

Toby (who is displaying
his best "dainty hand")
and Odin before leaving.


We have so many animals in our household, but this year I decided to have my two beloved ratties Toby and Odin blessed. I have grown so attached to these two animals in our household that it seemed fitting to take them. Both rats are approximately 1 1/2 years old which, by rattie standards, is "getting up in years". I know most will be reading this entry with disgust and it will send a shiver down your spine. I respect that. If you can, just think of them like a really large hamster with a really long tail. The best way I can describe the appeal for these animals is that they are like having the best attributes of a dog and a cat all rolled up in one and when you bond it is really strong.

This is probably one of my most favorite prayers. So it is fitting I include it today. Have a wonderful day and be sure you hug all your pets today.

~THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS~

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

Game Over

"Game over man! Game over!"
I give.

So the teapot wasn't anywhere near being dry last night when I checked it, but everything looked great. I woke this morning to find a good portion of the upper part dry. The lower portion of the spout, to my dismay, was displaying a nice large crack. I was, and still am, speechless and disappointed beyond words.

The offending crack

I am besides myself and I know that some days you just have to give into projects cause no matter how hard you battle with them, you will always wind up the loser. I started this project for presentation two months in advance of the due date. The first teapot has earned an honored spot on the "learning shelf" in the studio. The second one came out even better than the first and I took my time adding the pieces, but I guess I didn't adhere them well enough? Something went wrong because I shouldn't be staring at a crack at the bottom of the spout.

There is no time to make another so I suppose I can try and put together an interesting raffle package with some of the fine English porcelain luminaries I have been creating. Pair one nice one up with a handful of Yankee candles and I might have something formidable for this event.

I'm disappointed to say the least cause the porcelain bowl, although pretty, doesn't have that WAM factor I was hoping for. I could also just not donate and sulk. I think for today I will allow myself to sulk just a bit. Perhaps spending some time working on a sm might make me feel better too.

Therapy for a bad day

I'll end on a positive note today. I am happy to tell you that the second (and last) batch of Halloween mice came out of the kiln looking really cute. The candy corn mouse is my favorite from this batch.

New Halloween mice fresh from the kiln
Please join my NEWS GROUP for sales info
Going on sale tonight

I'd also like to mention that I have placed one of the fully painted lidded boxes I finished this week up at auction. This piece can be personalized to suit the buyer's needs. Full photos are also being shown on the auction site and I like the way they came out. Very feminine and pretty.

Currently at auction

A Quick Peek In

A peek at the china painting desk

Today, a quick peek at my china painting desk. It's messy and filled with little button boxes and lidded boxes galore. I'm exploring mice, scrolls and roses. The kiln started cooking up the new mice very early this morning and I'm off to package up the last of the sold button box mice and hopefully get them to the PO today.

Slowly building color on lids

After this morning's kiln firing the new Halloween Button Boxes should be finished and ready to go to new homes. I've decided not to repeat the previous costumes so this next batch of mice are all unique. I'll give proper notice to their sale. So stay tuned. LIttle trick-or-treaters are coming!

Mice and China

New Halloween Mice Designs

Mice and china seem to be a very good mix for me. Not only am I enjoying this romp with the subject of mice, I am loving the fact that each piece I create is set in stone, or, rather, it is set in china. It's permanent and won't be ruined by air, or water or non archival paper or bad paints. It will last until the piece is broken.

I am exploring some new areas of china painting including scrolling. I haven't had much success with making scrolls with a brush so I turned to the crow quill. I was able to produce some fairly decent scrolling on this green box with the pen. Hopefully the scrolling and red paints survive the kiln.

Decorative box

All these pieces will be for sale so please be sure to stay tuned here or to my news group.