New Work ...Finally!

 Back in October, shortly after returning from summer vacation, I got busy in my studio throwing and building with clay. I needed to fill up my kiln quickly so I get some promised work out. Above are some greenware pieces drying, waiting to go into the bisque firing.

 Above and below are some bisqued pieces awaiting their oxide treatment and/or glazing before going into the glaze load.

 I was anxious to get into the sewing room as well so I pierced holes in lots of pots so I'd have to add some stitching!

 Below is my latest pine needle piece. I'm pleased with how it turned out - just as I'd hoped! (often not the case especially with a first)

 Below is another stitched-on piece. I used Genya cord, a non-leather cord.

 And this one didn't get to the sewing room. I'd planned to add weaving above the top of the vase but my husband liked it just as it is so I asked the advice of my art buddies from Odd Tuesday and they agreed, it was finished just the way it is. Oh it was a lot of cleaning and wiping to make sure no glaze filled in those holes but I'm glad I went for it. I'd like to explore this form more with its multiple holes.

Some of the pieces from my last kiln load have made their way to my Etsy shop. Others are sitting about waiting for their fate...... 

Should I not post before Thanksgiving I want to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving if you are celebrating the American Thanksgiving Holiday next Thursday. If you are not, I wish a wonderful spring or fall, where ever you may be!

Fall Classes Begin Next Week!

If you have been wanting to get into some clay and you live in South Florida, classes begin next week in Boca Raton. I am teaching the Tuesday and Thursday classes and Marilyn teaches the Monday and Wednesday classes. Although the Mon/Wed classes are titled wheel classes and the Tues/Thurs classes are titled hand-building, we both teach wheel and hand-building so you can simply choose the day of the week that works for you.

Classes are in the mornings, 9:30 to 12:30 but you are welcome to stay for the rest of the afternoon and early evening if you wish. The studio is also available for you to use whenever the building is open as long as it is not during another class time.

We welcome all levels of experience from the total beginner to the very experienced. We have beginners to accomplished artists on our rosters. Because this is not for credit what you work on is up to you. If you want an assignment we'll offer you one, if you have your own projects in mind we'll help you accomplish them.

Come by for a visit and see the studio space and learn more about what we offer. Email me if you'd like more information before you drop by. ceramics classe, pottery classes, 

New Surface Design Group in South Florida!

An initial start-up meeting will be on Saturday, September 28th,     1 pm at Stitchcraft, 399 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. I'm hoping to get there for this meeting! If you live in the area I hope you'll attend.

Above are photos I played with in Photoshop some years back when I still had a working Photoshop program. At the very top is one of my fiber studies with petals and yarns,  stitched to a thin sheet of copper. Below is public art at the Palm Beach airport in Florida. From a distance I thought it was clay but when I blew up my photos I realized I was wrong. It is a beautiful installation. 

The Making of an Opening

Over at Tangled Textiles we are revealing our 'Opens', our most recent challenge. This is how my Open went ......

 After much consideration I decided to go literal with 'Open' as I had often considered cutting into a quilt to reveal an inner quilt. So I started with a piece of paper to see if my idea had any hope. I had been stuck on what my opening would reveal until I was taking apart the beautiful bouquet a friend had brought me, all with flowers and greenery from her garden and yard.

  I laid out the various flowers and greenery. Not finding any fine tuille I settled for a heavier piece of netting but decided it would be too much to add the stitching as I normally would do, so simply used some iron-on to keep it all in place. I was happy with the subtle effect the layer of netting added.

 More testing .... how to keep the opening open .... a few clay buttons should work....

  The outer fabric is one I had bought a few years simply because I liked the fabric. It was so different and looked hand-dyed. I drew the stitching lines around where I would sew and then cut the openings. You need to look closely to see the white chalk lines.

 Sewn and cut below....

 More testing but it didn't pass ..... the fabric would be too limp to give the effect I wanted.

  So I decided to make the opening fabric double sided with batting in between ... an actual quilt, how about that?! Below is the finished piece

  I finally decided not to add a facing or binding but rather I crocheted a cotton yarn trim and stitched it to the edge. It seemed to go with the organic feel I was aiming for

 To see the the other "Open" reveals head over to Tangled Textiles. They'll be posted throughout the day and perhaps into tomorrow?

Summer Sunprints

Summer vacation time is perfect for sun printing. This summer I've learned that one of my favorite effects come from the wrinkling of the fabric as it creates valleys and ridges of light and dark. Also the tiny dried pine needles that pile up everywhere create wonderful little prints.

 I've found that I like using a big brush ... just get that paint on quickly!

  Although I continue to use man-made items like buttons and nails I'm still partial to the organics.

Hoping you're having sunny days!

Traveling Textures

I tried taking photos through the window as we traveled in a van along the highway.

Of course I quickly found that my camera wasn't fast enough to catch a still shot through the side window.

But I was super pleased with the blurred images, not sure what I'll use them for yet but if I ever get Photoshop on my computer again they look like they have lots of potential.....