May your New Year be Bright

 Enjoying a quiet Boxing Day before heading back to the store tomorrow. 

Yesterday was  filled with family, love, and laughter. I am blessed to have such wonderful people to call family.

Today, my younger brother is headed to town from NC. He will stay with my nephew until tomorrow before heading back to NC. He and his wife have offered to replace the elements in my kiln. I have them on hand, I just have not had the time (when I have had the energy) to replace them myself. I am grateful to have the help. ** They tried to replace them, but when I ordered the replacements 2 years ago, I ordered the wrong ones. These are for one of my larger kilns, not for my little one that I use most of the time... I just ordered the correct ones. **

My "excitement" this holiday season was being the "victim" of squirrels snacking on the power cable running from the power pole to my house. Luckily, the worst of it happened while I was home after work on Friday. The Christmas lights began to fade in and out, and blink (they were to stay on steady), and so did the tree across the room. I unplugged both. Then, the ceiling lights in the sunroom burnt out. Next, as there were multiple times the power blinked off and on, my microwave made a loud popping sound and died. The house smelled like hot electronics. What I didn't notice right away is that the electronic control panel on my gas stove also died. 

I put in an outage report to Duke Energy, stating that there were power surges and partial outage in the house. They arrived within 20 minutes or so, I think. He spent a while up in his bucket truck working in the wind to repair the line. 

I thought all was good to go. But, there is one breaker that keeps switching off almost as soon as I reset it. My brother said he can take a look at that as well. It controls the ceiling lights in 4 rooms and the lights are all turned off. But, I have been managing with what I have. If my brother cannot fix it, I will contact an electrician. I was waiting until after Christmas to call one anyway. I didn't want to pay the extra fees for one to come out on a weekend or holiday. And, I did survive 6 days without power after the hurricane came through.

Regardless, I am still grateful for all I have, especially the emotional and moral support of my family and friends.

May you all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Busy Summer

 I didn't realize just how long it has been since I last posted. My apologies to anyone who may have been looking for any kind of update.

The painting is complete, and the house has been back on the market for 3 months now. 

I decided to introduce a new friend to my collection, as well as a new Limited Edition Christmas Gnome.

Black Bears (Brown/Grizzly/Polar to come soon)

A Black bear came to mind, inspired by a couple of my favorite clay artisans. Theirs are SO very different yet very inspiring. I have made 17 so far, and only have 2 or 3 remaining finished ones. I am making more for Mistletoe Market!

In addition to the Black Bears, I will make some Brown/Grizzly Bears, Polar Bears, and more Gnomes, Cats, Fox, Owls, Ghosts, Snowpeople, Pumpkins, Angels, Santa Hats, Mushrooms, Penguins, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Hedgehogs, Mice, Bunnies, and maybe more... Ideas keep percolating in my head.

2024 Limited Edition Christmas Gnome

As I was making some Polka Dot hat gnomes, I decided that I would make the dots multi-colored, like the Christmas Trees I started making. The background colors so far have been black, purple, and yellow. Anyway, that inspired me to create the Limited Edition Christmas Gnome for this year with a Christmas tree for it's hat. I have pre-orders for 40 of them! I will make plenty extra to bring with me to Mistletoe Market.

In other news... I am frustrated with the fact that nobody has come to look at the house in 2 months! I had both bathrooms worked on (as per my previous post) as well as painting the one bathroom, and painting the large kitchen wall. I then hired a crew to trim the greatly neglected trees and shrubs. We lowered the price. We would rather not lower the price too much more. The house is 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,300+ square feet of living space with an out building and 1.55 acres. Our agent grew up on this street and her dad still lives in the neighborhood. Any pointers on getting people to at least come and take a look?

I know it will sell when the time is right. I just am stressing about how long it is taking to get to the right time.

I will do my best to update things before Mistletoe Market (which is November 1 & 2 this year!)

Busy creating for Mistletoe Market

I've been busy creating stock for Mistletoe Market. The show is in 1 week. The creative flow has been difficult at times because I need to clean and put everything away every time I leave the house for more than 10 minutes, just in case someone wants to view the house.

Glazed and ready for the final firing.

Some angels ready to assemble. Other items I ran out of time to glaze for tonight's firing.

The last of the items formed for next weekend's show. (I will make more after the show too!)

Collapsible bar that comes with it's own carrying case.

And a shelf underneath for boxes, bags, and tissue.

I have stopped shaping things for the time being so I can finish those that are already shaped. I will resume after the show so I can build stock for the store. I also found this wonderful collapsible bar that I can use as my wrap stand for the show.

When Life throws you a Curve Ball!

 Well, I was creating, as I mentioned in my last post. Unfortunately, 2 days later I tested positive for COVID and was unable to create anything more before Christmas.  I just did not have the energu or motivation to work on things. Once I started to feel better, I was able to finish glazing some things that were ready and then fire them and add gold afterward. I did get one more shipment out just before Christmas. (The recipient knew it was late getting out and they were OK with it.)

I am hoping to get some things made this week, but they won't be finished until after 2023 rolls in. I am feeling a LOT better, but the cold weather (unseasonably cold for SC) and drying time will keep me from finishing all before Sunday morning.

I made over 700 pieces of Gnomes and Friends in 2022. WOW!  And there are not a whole lot of them remaining in my posession. THANK YOU ALL! 

Here's to a 2023 that doesn't throw us those cruve balls and is void of anything but good things. (I know, life isn't that way, but one can hope, can't they???)

Still creating for the holidays!

 

I am working on filling a few special orders and also building stock.

It is the busy season at work (retail does that) and my energy in the evenings isn't always there. I tend to create more in the mornings.

Last weekend, and the next two, we are open until 8:00 PM both Fridays and Saturdays. There is a Christkindlmarkt out on the village green those evenings and it only makes sense to be open.

This particular piece is already sold, but I am making more! And more angels are in the works too...

If, by chance, I do not get back to the blog before then, I hope that all of you who celebrate have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy 2023! It is unknown territory for us, being the first without both Mom & Dad. The most important thing is that we do have eachother and each of us has a circle of friends who are like family as well.

Thank you all for your support, it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

I had a wonderful Mistletoe Market. 

Thank you to all who came and adopted my creations.

I am posting in my group on facebook (Cindy's Gnomes & Friends) what I have left so non-locals (and those unable to make it to the Market) can pick. I am making more!  I have wish lists for more that what remains. That makes me smile.

I have taken the week off from creating because I needed a little break. 

Again, thank you to all. I appreciate you and am humbled by how much people love my creations. I get so much joy out of their creation, and even more joy seeing the response and knowing they are going to loving homes.

Is it October - ALREADY???

 Oh how time flies!

I am in the midst of creating for the Mistletoe Market at The Anderson County Museum which will be November 5 & 6 this year. After a year off due to the pandemic (and the county cancelling any indoor events last Fall), it will be nice to be back. I have always loved this show.

Pictures?  Well, I am taking new pictures and I also need to figure out how to get Drop Box set up on my new computer... I may have to remove it from my old computer (which I still use for a few things), or my tablet... if I recall, the maximum is 3 devices for the account.

When I get the photos taken, I will share them here.

I hope this post finds you all doing as well as you can.

Back in the saddle

 This year has been crazy, although I don't need to tell anyone else that. 

I have been keeping busy making #boredombuster kits for work, but my personal creative mojo has been lacking. The only show I participate in as an artist has been cancelled. That leaves me without my largest outlet for my angels and other pottery. I understand completely and respect their decision for the health and safety of everyone. As a result, my drive to create was lost for months.

That being said, I started creating angels yesterday!  It felt soooooooo good to get my hands back into the clay. (Both physically AND mentally!)

Today, some friends gifted me with some extra money for my birthday & Christmas to buy some new glazes. Some I am re-stocking what I have used lots of, but there are some new ones in the order that I am excited to try!

Here is a blurry photo of the first few angels from yesterday. More will be made today. I have challenged myself to make several dozen before Thanksgiving.

May you all remain healthy.

I will be selling these angels at our store as well as through personal contact.

A Belated Merry Christmas!

Sending wishes to all of you for a wonderful remainder to 2019 and a happy and healthy 2020.

I had a wonderful Christmas at my sister's home, surrounded by family.

A photo for inspiration

These are two angels I made last year for a special order.  I plan to glaze more of them white this year, as well as the other colors I have on hand. No more sticking to a set color palette.  Whatever color I feel like glazing is what color they will be.  I will still make some for special requests, within my reasonable capability.

I did have a productive day "off" yesterday, making 16 more angels before having to stop due to my fingers getting all wrinkly.

Out with the old and in with the new

It has been a busy year.  I have been working at our store, which consumes 6 days a week, and I have been busy with house/pet-sitting as well.  My one regret is that I have not had as much time to put into my clay creating as I had wanted to, for a number of reasons, including not being home in the evenings while house sitting.  I also was just not in that frame of mind for a bit and it took a lot to get myself back into the groove.  I hope to not have that happen this coming year.  (I think I say that EVERY year!)

One thing I did do was make a family favorite treat at Christmas time: Strufoli.  It is an Italian treat, from what we can tell, it probably is Sicilian.  I had not made it since the 1980's!  My intention was to make it last year, but the very night I was planning to make it was when I got so sick.

It started with Mom's recipe:

This is not the copy we used to use in her cookbook, but it is in her handwriting.  The "original" was long ago stained with oils and probably honey as well.

Then, after mixing the dough, I rolled it into small balls:

Once I was about 2/3 of the way through rolling them, I started heating the oil in a shallow pan on the stove.  I also started to heat the honey mixed with the orange rind.  I added the surplus lemon rind I had grated for the dough.:

Once the dough had been fried to a light golden brown, I drained it on paper towels, along with some slivered almonds I also had lightly toasted in the oil:

Into the infused honey they went, and then they drained a bit before placing them in the serving dish:

Once in the dish, they were joined by the almonds (which had also gone into the honey bath) and sprinkled with colorful non-pariels:

It was sooooo good!  Memories of Mom & Nana came flooding into my head as I taste tested the first piece.  Brother Rick and his wife Alice were visiting over Christmas and he approved of the taste.  We also brought it down to our niece Karen's house the day after Christmas and our Sister Sue approved.  Karen and her brother Bobby and his wife Shelly also approved, although they don't recall ever having it before.  I was sure to leave some with all of them.  I then brought a bit into the store yesterday to share with our friend Marissa (who had made it before) and she liked it.  (Her 2 year old son loved it so much he stole all of the leftovers from her!)   I just wish I had known her mom Rose was going to be in the store on Christmas Eve, I would have brought some for her to try, it is one of her favorites.

If you have never had it before, it is not an overly sweet treat, the sweetness comes from the honey, but it is delectable!

My next project is to get a sample puffed heart wall hanging done out of porcelain for a class I am teaching in January.  And also pull out the Teapot mold so I can make an Ebonyware teapot for a customer who received one in the 1990's and had broken it.  It was such a surprise to open that email and read that she had looked to see if I was still out here and still making pottery.

May 2017 be a year of healing and of joys.  I was horrified at how nasty all sides got during the US presidential election.  I can only say I did not like any of the candidates from the time the first one threw their hat into the ring.  But we must persevere and try again next time to find a cast of candidates better suited to the job at hand.  I know some of you may disagree with me, that is fine.  If we all had the same tastes and same opinions, the world would be a very boring place.  It takes all to make things work.  And a lot of the politicians on both sides need to learn how to work together and compromise.  This all or nothing attitude has made the work of our presidents difficult for many years, through several presidencies.

Ok, my semi-rant is over.

Peace to you and yours.

Progress!

I have been busy with a lot of house & pet-sitting jobs lately, but I am trying to squeeze in some creative time in between to build stock for the Mistletoe Market.

I have a kiln load of angels bisque firing at the moment, and included in that firing are some pumpkins!

The pumpkins second from the left in both rows are mine, the others were made by 3 of my students.  I have since made more and will have some available at Mistletoe Market.

A customer came in The Mercantile yesterday and asked if I had a new design for ornaments this year (in addition to the angels), so I am working on a couple of ideas there.  I am also working on some leaf ornament samples for a class I will be offering in a couple of weeks.

I had a scare today while Dad was out, I looked out the front window as a Pendleton Police car pulled into our driveway.  P A N I C!!  It turns out that some kids called 9-1-1 and would not let the operator speak to an adult.  And it was from a cell phone that showed it was about where our house is.  I sent him to a house a couple of doors down where I know they have children.  There aren't many on our street.

So, that is about all I can report on today.

Christmas in July Iris Folding

I said that I would show the completed samples of the Iris Folding cards I designed for the Christmas in July class.  Well, here they are!

Well, after seeing the patterns I drew, did you think the cards would look anything like this?  It was so much fun creating these for my students.  I love how they all turned out but, I do have my favorites, which one(s) are yours?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I have been lax about posting lately.
I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. Try not to over eat too much! Enjoy the company of the loved ones around. And if you do not practice a christian religion, I wish you a very happy, safe and enjoyable day. To everyone, a wonderful 2010!
(I hope to be better about posting in the new year!)

Merry Christmas

We have had our Christmas Eve outing to the children's service at church. DragonBen was a shepherd in the recreation of the Christmas story. We came home and had pizza. Now it is time to get all snuggled in our beds and wait for Christmas day.

We are spending the day at my sister's house for her tradition of fondue. Friday, my younger brother is coming with his wife and son for a few days.

I have always loved seeing the children enjoy the festivities. I personnaly love the lights. The hustle and bustle and all that is fine, but my favorite way to spend my time is to just sit alone in the room with just the tree lights on and maybe Christmas music playing. I could sit there for hours just looking at the lights.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas.

I want to thank all of my friends for the gift of their friendship this past year, I hope that I am as good a friend to you as you all have been to me.