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.

Under Construction...

I am finally able to find a little time to work on my blog design.  I set up several new pages, but am still working on filling them with the content I want.  I'll take a little bit of time, between work, family, creating, and sleep.  I just got photos onto one page, but am having a little trouble figuring out how to add captions to them.

In time, they will be somewhat like I envision...

Am I seeing things?

Last week I was moving a piece of furniture with a very low clearance, hence difficult to clean well underneath. There was a piece of paper that had been under it which had collected dust bunnies.
Can you please tell me what you see (besides dust bunnies on a piece of paper that is...)
I see a woman's profile... am I seeing things that aren't really there?
No, I don't plan on using it as inspiration for creativity, I was just amazed that I saw this. If it sparks your creativity, or clears the dust bunnies out of your creative thought pattern, great!
I have seen cartoon bears in the folds of a plastic grocery bag, dogs in the knots of a wooden floor, and I don't even remember what image I saw once in the kitty litter. (Yes, EEEEWWWWW!!!!) Not to mention the numerous cloud formations that bring to mind all sorts of things. No, I am not preserving it and auctioning it off on Ebay. It is long since sucked up into the vacuum! Do not call one of the gossip tabloids. I do not want a stream of gawkers knocking at the door to see the 'Dust Bunny Lady'. Show's over, Elvis has left the building, yada, yada, yada...

Nature's Beauty

These photos were both taken on Wednesday, October 7th. The photo with the heron in flight was taken around 8:45 in the morning in Clemson while I was out for my walk. The sunset was taken in Anderson, SC after having had dinner that evening (the photo was taken at about 6:45PM or so) at NY Pizza. The buildings silhouetted are K-Mart & Publix...

Our fine feathered friends...

As long as I can remember, Herons have been my very favorite bird... I love other birds as well, but the Heron (Great Blue, Lesser Blue, Green, Black Crowned...) has always been extra special.
When I go walking with my friends near the outdoor track in Clemson, we walk along the old Seneca Riverbed. Most days we see at least one Great Blue Heron, some days more. Today, I saw 8, though my friends had only seen 7 by the time I left, my 8th one was flying overhead as I drove out of the parking lot...

These 2 pyrographic pictures I did several years ago show a Great Blue Heron and a Green Heron.

The photograph of the great Blue Heron was taken by my friend Linda when she was out near the Seneca Riverbed with her grandchildren a few weeks ago.

Cindy Earl Higgins - Portrait Photographer

NOT!!!
Just playing around with my camera a couple of weeks ago I took this photo of myself... this and about a dozen others... only 2 were worth saving (the pluses of digital photography!)
No, it's not the best, but I thought it was a keeper.

My hair has grown down to my eyebrows already... much too long... gotta get it cut this week! Can you tell I had just recovered from a 'personal heat wave'???

a busy week

This last week was sure a busy one! Mom & Terri both needed time off because they were not feeling well, but we also had lots of customers as well.
This is one of the cards I designed for the class I had Saturday morning. The girls loved it! This is my favorite of the 4 we made. But, Lilies are among my favorite kinds of flowers... (These cards are more for hand-delivery or sending inside a package... the PO would ruin them otherwise!)
I'm looking forward to a quiet Sunday. I plan to get some pottery worked on and some test pieces of the new Terra Cotta trimmed for firing in a day or two.
I'd like to get some photos scanned and saved into the computer. But, we'll see what time and energy allow for today.

I'm focusing my mind's eye on a quiet lakeside cabin with a wonderful workspace, birds singing, water lapping at the shore... a place conducive to creativity... no, I am not at that quiet cabin, but if I imagine hard enough, I can be , in my mind...

Arriving at Art Camp

This photo was just sent to me by Debbie at the Clemson Arts Center... she took it one day as I got to camp, wearing this year's T-shirt.
Along the wall behind me are photos of Clemson taken by all sorts of people. There are some especially wonderful photos, to see Clemson through someone elses lens...
The table has the full day student's lunch bags... me, I have not yet deposited my tote bag nor purse so I am laden with them. Ignore the glasses on the idiot string... I'm not really old enough to need them...

I'm here!

I have not posted lately because of a lot of things happening. No, nothing serious in nature, just a lot going on... I have not forgotten about posting, I just have not always had the time or energy.
Good news is, we now have DSL here at the house. This should make blogging MUCH easier! (Just uploading the photo of my late kitty Max took WAY less time!)

Now, I just need to get some more photos scanned or taken to be able to post them.
And, I guess I have gotten bitten by the FaceBook bug... it has been nice to re-connect with some old friends from my youth. One even apologized for how he treated me back in Junior High... something I had moved beyond a long time ago. Yet it was still nice that he thought to apologize after all this time. Thanks Scott! Hey, we were teenagers, no apologies necessary, but thanks anyway...
I can keep up with my family and people I don't get to see often enough. Not to mention the oodles of photos I can look at in my friends' profiles! Awesome waves in RI from Hurricane Bill, adorable children, beautiful artwork (painting, quilting, jewelry design...), lots of people, pets and flowers...
But I do need to get back to my blogging. Now that my desktop is able to go online again, I have access (more easily) to a number of photo files I already had. I had problems when my dial-up modem was zapped by lightning... with DSL, I don't have to worry about that anymore! (AND, I have put ALL cords, including the phone line, through the new surge protector!)
I will get more posted soon. (I hope to be able to post some photos of my nephew DragonBen's latest artwork... and he's only 9 1/2!!!)
Thanks for being patient with me.

Regina's lily

As you may hafve noticed, I love flowers. Mind you, I do not have the dedication to nurture them myself, but I admire their beauty.

This gorgeous lily was one my sister Regina had when she lived her in SC. It is planted in the courtyard garden at the base of the fence. Growing lush behind it is the Sweet Autumn Clematis.

The blossom opened about the time the family returned from visiting Regina in Churchville, NY.

With Art Camp and all... I have not had the time (or energy) to post.

I will post photos of the kid's projects from week one. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of the kids at work for week 2, but I will photograph their pieces when they are out of the kiln.

Tomorrow we go to the NC mountains for the day to visit sister Sue at the lake house they are renting.

Will post more when my brain isn't so foggy...

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Beading

This is a photo of a pendant I made last week. I will be teaching it as a class. It is filled with Swarovski crystals and tiny seed beads.

I am not feeling all that talkative tonight... I'll check in later.

But I said I would post a photo tonight, and I kept my promise... ;-)

Just checking in...

I'm still here!
I have been creating a lot of cards lately for work. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures to share.
In my free time, when I have enough energy, I have been casting more stoneware as well as working on new ideas for classes at the store.
I have not heard from the porcelain company lately as to whether they have solved the production problem with the Ebony porcelain or not. I am saving what Ebony clay I have left, just in case I need to make something for an order.
I guess that if I make a promise to take some pictures and post them here before next Monday, then I will have to keep my promise. So... the promise has been made. I will post pictures by Sunday night, May 17th, 2009. And my promise is in writing... I can't very well break that promise, can I?

"It always snows on the daffodils"

That is what my Mom always told us... but we grew up in western NY state! Here is a photo I took this morning of the snow on the daffodils here in SC! Yes, that yellow spot on the right is a daffodil face-down in the mulch, weighed down with the wet snow we got yesterday and last night. There is another on the left side of the photo as well... but with temps in the 40's today, the snow that weighed them down has mostly melted away.

We are lucky, our power was only off for about 6 hours last night. Some people may not get their power back until late Wednesday - and today is only Monday...

Photography

I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about this morning... I just knew I wanted to post something.

When our bead club had it's 'meeting' this past Sunday, it was mentioned that I need to work on my photography... I agree! Any suggestions from my faithful followers? Any suggestions from my not-so-faithful followers, or even anyone who just happened upon my blog.

I'd prefer to have constructive criticism.

I know I have to be better about taking photos, and that sometimes they are fuzzy, but what else? I'd start a poll, but I don't know what kind of answers to give people the option, so, if you;ll just leave a comment or two, that would help me immensely.

I don't have any photos to share this morning anyway... I haven't taken any of my 'stuff' lately.

I now yeild the floor to your comments...

The New "Stuff"

Introducing...
The Stoneware Collection from Higgins Design Studio!
Pictured here is the Sake Bottle & Roly Sake Cups with the Chocolate glaze. The stoneware is called 'Grits' by the manufacturer. I used to use it a long time ago for bells and mugs and vases. The Ebonyware overtook the scene. Lately, I have had requests for something more 'earthy'. I like the Grits and all, but am still searching for a slightly darker speckled stoneware slip to use... what do you think?

The second photo is the Chocolate glaze on the Ebonyware. I am not a big brown person, but I really like the way this looks. The photos of the Crimson and Ironstone didn't come out too well. I'll have to do a photo session with those to add to my photo library.


The show is going OK. It is not a really big show for me, but I do have repeat customers and I do enjoy the people there. I cover my costs and I make some extra, plus have a great time while I am there.

A New Year & New Glazes

Last week I went with a friend to Asheville.

First, we took in the Gem & Mineral Wholesale show at the Civic Center. I love going to those shows... the beads and jems and silver and all are so beautiful.

Then, we went to Highwater Clay, the 'local' clay supplier. I was on a mission to find some additional colors of glazes to use. And, as with anything photographed, it is difficult to tell what they really look like from a catalog or web site. And, some of the glazes I already have look so different than their photos. I also wanted to ask about a Cone 6 stoneware casting slip that looks like it has been reduction fired, although I fire in oxidation.

I was able to find 3 new glazes, Crimson, Texture Chocolate and Ironstone. The slip was a no-go. Although the gentleman behind the counter gave me some suggestions for making my own.I have not taken any good photos of the new glazes yet. The Ironstone & Texture Chocolate may be hard to distinguish in photos anyway. I also discovered, in the glaze firing of the new glazes that my blue fires to a different color in the new kiln. A color people like. Some like it better than the blue fired in the other kiln.

Well, off to cast some more mugs and all...

I've got a show in a few weeks.

Happy October

I am back from a whirlwind business trip to Orlando. We left Saturday morning, drove 10 hours straight through, spent Sunday at a trade show, and then drove back on Monday.

The most amazing sight on the trip was as we were loading the car for the trip home. We walked out of the hotel and heard this loud squawk, it was a Great Blue Heron. This was not uncommon, as we saw them from our room at the small lake in front of the hotel. What was amazing was that this Heron was perched on top of a street light! After he (for some reason I always call them 'he') caught our attention, he stretched his wings out and looked almost like he was showing off his beautiful wings and graceful neck. My camera was in the car. As I hurridly got the camera, I turned around and he was gone. Mom and Terri saw him up there too, so they can vouch for my sighting.
Unfortunately, we were unable to stay in Orlando to visit with our friends at Bead Dreams on Sand Lake Road, it was raining and we wanted to get on the road home, they were not open yet. We wanted to visit with Demi & Ursula and also check out what wonderful goodies they have in their store. Maybe next time.

The promised photo

These are 3 of my Ebonyware bowls. The one on the left is the large rice bowl, it measures just under 6 inches across and stands about 3 inches tall. In the middle is my candy bowl with a cherry spoon carved by a friend of the family. And to the right is the small rice bowl.

All 3 are shown with the Texture Plum glaze on the inside.

I really get satisfaction from creating these pieces. And I truly hope my customers are pleased with their purchases. I do enjoy meeting them and learning where my pieces are going. I know there are some in Japan, and I think some in Germany. The rest I think are all here in the US, but I may be wrong.

I hope all fathers out there have a pleasant Father's Day. Don't forget to tell your father Happy Father's Day this weekend.

I'm still here!

I have not yet gotten those photos of my Ebonyware taken that I said I would. I will try to get some taken today if it isn't too busy at work.

I hope everyone is getting through the weather extremes alright. It was officially 100 at the Greenville/Spartanburg airport yesterday! Not only a record for the date, but I think the earliest in the year that it has reached 100!

Think cool, calming thoughts and I will try to get those photos posted tonight or tomorrow.

The Beading Boys

Finally! I was able to get the photos to upload... These are my brother Bill's two boys on their first full day here visiting. And they chose to come and learn some beading. Their attention to detail is wonderful. Bill also did a little beading and made a beautiful Kyanite pendant for his wife Miwa. It had some sterling and some Rhodochrosite and Lapis beads to accent the large Kyanite piece. Miwa joined my sister Sue and made herself a netted weave bracelet.

About the show. I don't have the time this morning to post photos. I'll get some up of my other products after I get back.

I am looking forward to the show, but right now I am stressing. I know I shouldn't be. It's just something I do. I really, truely hope that the scattered thunder showers that are predicted this weekend are scattered widely enough that they bypass downtown Clayton, GA! The show goes on, rain or shine.