Paper Exchange

Yesterday the OT group got together to do some Gelli printing, always fun! We had a goal to accomplish, create three pages each to send off to Karen for the Painted Papers Swap. Of course you can't stop at just three pages when Gelli printing so here are my favorite three and they are now waiting in my postbox for their flight north.

I did a bit of practicing before out get together yesterday but using regular paper that had already been printed on one side, sometimes on both. I keep a box of junk mail and paperwork that I no longer need, for painting on. It is light weight but I can stitch two back to back and have some 'green' pages for a journal or other projects.

 Below is one done on fabric.

 And back to paper....

Hope you're having a fun, creative week!

This Week in the Yard and Shop

This year I have neglected our garden so I finally got out there and did some weeding and thinning and stacked some of it on the patio for Ken to bundle. Yes, some of it, there was more and there's still more to be done. Fortunately it's a wild flower garden so 'wild' it can be!

I occasionally find a dead fish on the lawn as a creek runs behind us. This frog discovered a great feast in this poor fish. He was waiting for the flies to emerge! (click on him to get a better view)

 In my shop I added a few new listings this week .....

My pre-summer closing sale continues through Sunday. 

French Open Couch Pooches ....

We enjoyed watching some fabulous matches from this year's French Open but not everyone in our household had their eyes glued to the tv.....

 Most of the time Nicolas was like this ....

 Occasionally he woke up to see if the match was still going .....

 Cleo kept her eyes open but they were glued on us waiting for treats or a walk....

Fun New Vase and Annual Before Holiday Etsy Sale

I had fun making this vase. I was thinking of a glass vase my mother had when I was child. I loved arranging the flowers in it for her as it had a lid with holes that held the stems in place. So I did the same with this one only this one is made of stoneware clay. It's now in my Etsy shop.

Another new vase in my shop is a classic petal vase. Click on the photo to blow it up or click here to see it in my shop.

A few other new items ......  

All of these plus everything in my shop is now 15% off if you use the coupon code THANKYOU15 when you check out. This is good through June 23, then my shop will close for the summer later that week. I'm hoping to make a little room on my shelves for when I start unloading the kiln again in the fall! 

Postcards

Postcard-sized pieces of art have become very popular especially for collectors, trades or trying out new techniques whether it be in fiber, paper or mixed media. The little art group I belong to, Odd Tuesday, has been exchanging postcards for about a year now. It's been great fun to see what ideas each of us tries out or often we'll use fabrics or papers that we have created in our get togethers.

A few months back we decided to change things a bit. Instead of trading finished cards we'd exchange 'kits' that would include a postcard base and five items. Of course some of us used the excuse that artists are meant to break the rules, to include more than five items but the idea was/is that we are use some or all of what is presented to us. We all have found it very liberating, reminding us how we can become more creative when we are restricted. You can see our first creations from the '5 things' over on our Odd Tuesday blog.

Do you find you are more or less creative when given restrictions?

Weaving on Clay

well, weaving on fired clay.....

For those who followed my posts, know that I started teaching adult ceramics classes this year. Most of the class members had worked in clay for many years so I wanted to introduce something that they had not already done. Adding fiber to work was a natural choice for me, but most in the class were not sewers or quilters so adding how I usually add was not the best choice. I did start many years back though by weaving rims on my thrown bowls so thought this might be something a few members of the class may be interested in and they could take it to where ever they like and as far they can imagine.

     I refreshed my memory on how I had woven a traditional rim but decided there should be an easier way as managing all those reeds could be overwhelming..... 

So in brainstorming in what could be used instead of reed for the 'stakes' I decided to try out wire as it would stay where you put it and it is flexible. I did a few small pieces to try it out and it seemed like the way to go. Then I decided to try a larger piece and I remembered to take some photos before I finished....

 For those who like this idea I found a number 20 wire worked. The usual helpful tools from basket weaving 101 are helpful too, like clothes pins/pegs to hold your weaving in place when you need a third hand.

 To finish off the rim I found I could simply twist the wires back down over the reed, bury it and cut it off. Or for this one I took two of the wire spokes, pulled them together tightly and twisted them. I liked the scalloped edge it gave if I pulled them taut.

 I could have left it at that but I liked the idea of adding one more element so did a test of various clay buttons and beads I had.

  Finally I settled on these.....

 The bowl is wheel thrown and carved on the wheel, finished with red iron oxide and left unglazed.

 I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone does this summer as the studio remains open for members to work. They've made some beautiful pieces this year!!!

2013 MFA Exhibition

at the Schmidt Gallery, FAU, Boca Raton Campus. Features the work of Alexandra Schwartz, Brittany Schade, Eduardo Rosas and Jill Lavetsky. What a beautiful show, I was impressed and inspired.

The work is thoughtful and provoking.

 Allie's beautiful porcelain work is exquisitely laid out and titled with such tempting menu ideas. I was glad I had just had lunch or I may have had to rush out to eat!

 Slogans we find in our everyday life have been turned into wallpaper, the old-fashioned wallpaper that is. Good reading!

 "Last Regrets" added a quietening touch to the show as one considers the last wishes/regrets that we may each have ourselves.....

 I'd love to revisit this show. It runs until May 24 and the gallery is open Tuesday through Friday 1-4 pm and Saturday 1-5 pm.