Postcard Project

Yesterday I received this beautiful postcard in the mail! It is hand painted by Gretchen Markle of British Columbia. She started her Postcard Project almost one year ago and will mail out a postcard to anyone who signs up. She asks that you send a postcard (handmade or commercial) back to her with a statement of why you like to receive real mail. You have until the end of May to join. Check out the details here at her site.

I have just written my postcard and it will go into the mail today ..... I'm not a painter like Grtechen but I wanted to send a handmade card so decided on tea wrappers since having a cup of tea is part of the joy of receiving mail.

Why do you like to receive real mail? Or NOT receive real mail as Gretchen gives that option! I'd love to hear but so would Gretchen .... go ahead and sign up!

(oops, glad I took a photo of my postcard reply as I see I left out a word ... I've fixed it now on my real card and it hasn't put me over the 50 word limit!)

Remnants

Yesterday was reveal day over at Tangled Textiles. Brigitte had given us 'Remnants' as our inspiration and of course I had to take this one literally considering how many of those I have piled in crates in the sewing room. I decided to use some upholstery samples and the idea of upholstery rolls in the fabric store as my beginning. I did a quick sketch to start me off....

Initial arrangement of remnants of course was changed many times before stitching.....

I made hang-tags by fusing used coffee filters on both sides of fusible batting. then tied in place with embroidery thread. Rather than a literal price on each tag I experimented with a few of the stitches on my sewing machine.

I machine quilted the red background but decided to leave the bolts just stitched in place with a blanket stitch so they have a little more outward body. Rather than a binding or facing I chose to use some of that fun eyelash yard around the edges. I've found that a little diagonal cut across the corners of my quilts make attaching the yarn easier. Without that cut I find the corners tend to stick through the yarn. 

This was another fun challenge and I'm now motivated to try and find time to get into my sewing room..it's a challenge!

Stitched Rabbit?

No additions of petals, seeds or yarns were added to the fabric in this piece. It is just plain old cotton fabric, but it is one of my favorite hand-dyed pieces. As I was creating the clay piece, cutting out the opening I was brainstorming about what I would stitch behind those openings. Well this is what I came up with .....

 Here's a peek inside ... I adhered the fabric to light weight batting to add some body to the cotton.

Now to find time to make a playmate for this guy! Or maybe he isn't really a rabbit?

More from the Show

  

Pottery and Ceramics!

You can see these beautiful porcelain pieces by Sylvia Rosen at the Nathen D. Rosen Museum Gallery in Boca Raton. Sylvia Rosen is the benefactor of the pottery studio, that has made this all possible!

This past year I have been honored to be one of the ceramics instructors teaching classes at the JCC in Boca Raton. When I heard I had the position last year I was very excited as I'd be teaching classes where everyone chose to be there! I've taught adult classes before but most of my teaching has been at the high school level which means there are always a few students who end up in your class who'd rather not be there. As a high school teacher that's one of the challenges I enjoyed but I can't say that I miss it. I soon learned that many members of the class have been working in clay as long or longer than I have! They are accomplished artists in clay and other mediums. So I was a little nervous as to what I could help them with but I've been reminded of what I learned when I started in clay, that clay is so extensive that we can never learn or try everything. So we all keep learning and developing new skills. So.... have a look at some of the work you'll find at the annual Potters Guild Show this year......

I'll share more photos in another post. If you are nearby please stop by the gallery and enjoy the show. It runs through April. 

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!