What's Been Happening in the Clay Studio

There really is truth to the saying that time goes by quicker each year as this year is already flying by. But I have been in the clay a bit ..... this isn't my usual bowl shape but I wanted to experiment with my new wiggle wire and I am very happy with this bottom. I love turning over a pot to find a nice surprise.



I also returned to one of my glazes that I found using Ron and John's Glossy Base from Mastering Cone Six Glazes. A few years ago I decided I wanted something minty green but brighter than the one in their book. I wanted to stick to a couple bases so chose one of their bases to work with as I was already using it in their Variegated Blue. From several different test tiles I chose this one and have been very happy with how it looks and works on my clay.

Here's another little dish with a surprise bottom or maybe not-so-surprise as you can see it peeking up on the edges.

 Below is a much larger serving platter that I made using Gail Kendall's faux foot technique. A clip from her video is available at Ceramic Arts Daily, here.

Here's another little dish, great for olives, using Gail's faux foot.

 

I dug out my old basket weaving supplies to try some rim weaving on some bowls. I made several of these years ago but discovered I didn't have a single one left so searched through old photos to see if I could find one to remind me how I had done it. I discovered it was like riding a bike, but with the help of some old basket patterns to help me with the rim pattern.

 

Here's my bowl with the round reed waiting for it's weaving..... and here I go....

And finally finished .... 

 I've also had some fun making a few new beer vessels. I dug out my stamps to announce 'BEER TIME' which it is almost that now.......

 Happy creating... in the clay, the fiber, the kitchen or where ever you create!

Reveal Day at Tangled Textiles

I finished my "Blue" quilt for the Tangled Textiles challenge! I ended up taking the literal approach to 'blue' and dug out all the blue fabrics I could find, sorted them into various piles.....

 

I chose a few that I liked together and added a couple of accents pieces.

 

I decided I wanted to so some fabric weaving so played with my tablet sketchbook feature doing various 'cuts' and finally cut a simple pattern from paper and cut my pieces for weaving....

 

Pieces woven together....

 

I liked that they created pot-like images but they also created fish-like images ..... hmm, which way to go?

   

Final direction could come later, for now on with the quilting. I used machine patterns for the edge stitching along the 'seams' and then free motion quilting for the squares. I'm enjoying the much needed practice I get with these challenges!

 

Now for the embellishments.... so many decisions, but I decided that I would add some clay pieces ... but which ones and where?

 

 A fish? At the bottom or the top?

 Pots with embellishments?

 

 

 

The pot direction won and I decided to put the buttons in the lower area where I felt the center of interest was. After sewing them in place I'm not sure I made the right decision. Perhaps I should leave it without embellishment....

 

But for now here is my finished "Woven Blues"..... 

 

Thanks Beverly for another fun challenge! To see the rest of the blue quilts head over to Tangled Textiles. More will be posted throughout the day and possibly into tomorrow.

As this is my first blog post of 2013 I want to wish everyone a happy New Year, hope you're having a wonderful year! I'll get caught up yet!

Last Kiln Load of the Year!

I managed to get my last glaze firing of the year done in time for the FAU Potters Guild Holiday Show and Sale. We had our opening tonight. Here's one of my new pieces that made it to the show. I originally thought I would glaze the inside of this vessel but as I was building it I decided it needed a fabric lining so that's what I added after it was fired.

I was also happy with this new tray design. I'm glad I got a photo before I packed up for the show as it already has a new home.

The show has a wonderful mix of functional, decorative and sculpture work. If you enjoy ceramics and have the opportunity, stop by and visit the Ritter Gallery at the Boca Raton campus on Friday or Saturday, 10am -5 pm.

Have a great weekend!

Why Did I Wait So Long?!

When I first saw a video showing the Gelli pad I was impressed and thought it would be such fun to create some fabric and paper print with the pad but I put off buying one, thinking I had way too much to work on without making mono-prints. Well I finally ordered a Gelli Pad last week and last night I tried it out.

 Above is the very first Gelli print I pulled. I didn't put the paint on very heavy and only made one pass through the paint with a rope-on-a-toilet-roll stamp. I love the little snowflake-like spots the pad creates when there is not much paint. Below is print number two.

 Below is print number three; I had to try the famous bubble wrap print.

 Then bubble wrap over many other prints trying to get some subtle color.

  After my first few prints I quickly sent an email to my Odd Tuesday group saying everyone needed to get one and that I was bringing my pad to play with today at our get together.

 Below is my clean-up paper that I rolled my brayer on after each use.

 More bubble wrap.....

 Three different pulls.....

 Below yarn laid over the pad and printed over several other pulls.

 Above and below some postcards I made. Above has regular stamping done with eraser stamps. Below was many different pulls until I had the eery look. Then I cut and glued parts back onto the card.

 I found an easy 'rake' tool can be made from cutting into one of those annoying styrofoam trays from the supermarkets. I wish they didn't use them but because they aren't recyclable here I keep them so they do make good tools.

 And finally I discovered that you can fill in those white patches nicely with watercolours. I used Derwitt Inktense pencils, that I received from Karen over at Rabbits Eat Quilts.

I'm looking forward to lots more experimenting and planning to create some fabric or papers to use in a quilt. Have you tried this pad out? Or have you been doing some other fun experimenting?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing You a very Happy Thanksgiving or a simply wonderful thankful day, wherever you may be!

 I'll be making Nicolas and Cleo their cookie treats today!

FAU Fine Arts Festival

I'm sure you'd agree that November is just buzzing by! My month started out with the FAU Fine Arts Festival. It was fun to display both my clay and fiber work in one show!

 

 

It was great to catch up with FAU friends whom I only see a few times a year. I was lucky to be next to John McCoy (who was my ceramics professor when I was a student at FAU) so Amelia and I had lots of visiting time. John is having his holiday show and sale on December 15 and 16 at his place in West Palm Beach. You'll be able to see and purchase work by John, Nena Escobar, Courtney Paige, Brian Kovachek and Justin Lambert. I'll post more info as the date gets closer or just ask if you'd like me to email you more info.

 There were three other clay people from FAU at the festival. Sandi was just down the hall from me but far enough away we didn't have much visiting time and I'm sad to say I didn't get any photos of her work and she had a wonderful collection of clay, books and photos! You'll be able to see her clay work at the FAU Potter's Guild show coming up in December.

Joan Carew will also be at the FAU Potters' Guild Show ..... and I'm sorry the photos I took upstairs were done early in the morning with only my tablet, no flash but Joan's work still looks fabulous even with my poor photography .....

It was great to meet a fellow Etsy clay artist who went to FAU and drove down from Tampa ..... sorry to say I didn't get back upstairs to take better photos once the light was better but you can see Judy Freeman's fun work at her blog and etsy shop ....

One more sorry ... I don't have other photos to share but an artist whose work I've admired for years was set up outside in his tent. Kevin Kichar creates fabulous, fun, colorful art and his process of creating his paper is fascinating. If you get a chance check it out.

 I'll finish the November catch up another time .... right now it's on to the weekend! Hope you have a good one!