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???)

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.

Ready or not...

 I unloaded the last glaze firing destined for the Mistletoe Market this morning.  I just need to add the accents and sign, number, and price them all. Easily done.

I started more packing of product for Friday. It is amazing how many gnomes, snowmen, etc. fit into one of my cases compared to mugs and coffee pots...

I'm ready. I'm looking forward to this wonderful show.

Some new Friends added

 I have been making the Angels for 8 years this coming November.

 I started the Santa Hats a couple of years later, but only made them for 2 years. I have brought them back this year. Now stoneware rather than porcelain, they will be easier to make. (Porcelain can be finicky to work with.) I just need to figure out a better way (in my view) to create the hooks.

I started the Gnomes last fall, introducing them at Mistletoe Market in early November. Since then I have made over 300 of them, including some limited edition ones and some custom requests. 

I have added new since then... first the Mushrooms. They come in all sorts of color combinations.

Now I have addes Owls.

Snails...

Penguins...

Cats... (including a couple of custom ones to look somewhat like specific pets.)

And I am making a sample Fox! Who knows if I will make more or not...

The Fox is still drying and I have not figured out exactly how I will glaze it... 

I am also painting some wood ornaments to add to the price variation for those who may not want to spend 10 - 20 dollars on a Snail, Gnome, Angel, or any of the others thus far...

Out with the old...In with the new

 

My old vehicle (blue) needed a new head gasket. It is 15 years old (I owned it for 10 1/2) and has 122,000+ miles. A new head gasket would start at about $3,000. It was time to take the money and invest it in something that will hopefully last me another 10+ years. 

So here is the new-to-me, 3 year old (red) vehicle to get me around as needed. A pretty little Buick Encore. It is a little bit smaller, but still big enough for me to fit show supplies in (should I be accepted), as well as being able to transport more than one passenger at times.

It is a bit daunting having car payments again  after a few years without them, but, it is worth the investment.

These little owls are the only 6 remaining after an initial batch of 15. The rest have flown off to their new homes. I am making more!

This little turtle was a headache to make, I love it, but need to find a way to make it less fiddley. For now, it is a one-of-a-kind. I have at least 5 or 6 people interested in it... 

I hope you all are having a good Spring, Summer is just around the corner. Time has been flying by so fast! I have cats and snails and gnomes and this turtle to start glazing tonight... It keeps me out of too much trouble! Behave yourselves 'til next time... - C.

Keeping busy

 In my "off" time from my full-time job, I try to find times to create. The gnomes and angels have been well received. The mushrooms are a little slow on the uptake, but still moving. I do plan to bring back the Santa Hat ornament this year. 

That being said, I have worked on some new ideas that seem to be doing pretty well, and they have not even been finished yet! The owls are leading the pack at the moment with a few requests for them already. The first two are in the glaze firing now to see if I like the glaze technique I used. The kitties have had a few requests as well. The snails have been a little sluggish... (OK, you don't have to laugh or even grin at that.)

Here are a few pictures of some of what I have done the last week or so... 

A painted gnome on a wood plaque.

Gifted to a friend.

Some of the Patriotic Gnomes after they arrived at their destination.

Bride & Groom Gnome

Shipping box art.

New friends...

A few more kitties.

Adventures in Cat-Sitting

A little history first.

When I was young, in Jr. High and High School, I used to pet-sit for our neighbors pets.  Sometimes it was just one cat or one dog, but often it was for our 'back-door' neighbors who had a few cats and dogs.  The time I remember most was when both dogs and the 2 female cats had litters at about the same time... wow!  Unfortunately some of the tiny kittens died because their 'not much more than a kitten herself' mom abandoned them and I could not find them until it was too late.  Boy did that upset me!

But the puppies... lots and lots of puppies!  One mom was a Wiemeraner (sp?) and the other was a Border Collie.  I remember naming them while the family was away.  I think their vacation was 2 weeks, but that was a looooooong time ago.  They were so cute!  And they'd just all climb all over me when I'd sit on the floor!  I loved it!

In my adult life, I have had only cats... I'd love to have a dog, but I don't have the time to make sure it gets regular walking and is taken out for potty time.  Cats are a little more self-sufficient - most of the time...

Rocky & Sophie hanging out on the spiral staircase

A couple of months ago, my friend Frankie & I were talking.  She had just gotten a second Rag-doll Cat - Rocky.  He had JUST joined their family, and they were headed out of town for a couple of weeks.  So, I agreed to house & cat sit for 16 days.  It was WONDERFUL!  Both Rocky and their other Rag-doll Sophie were a joy to spend time with.  And the lake-front house was like a mini-vacation.  If only I had my fishing license and rod & reel at that time, I could have practiced casting off their dock!

The view from the house

Flash forward a couple more weeks and my friend Lisa, here in town had seen my mention of cat-sitting on my Facebook page and asked if I had done it just as a favor, or if I was open to doing it again.  And, as a lover of cats & dogs, I said I would be glad to help her out if needed.

This time I am just cat-sitting, not house-sitting as well.  And the cutie I am sitting for is also named Sophie.  She is a beautiful short-hair white cat with beautiful green eyes!  She greets me with meows at the front door and loves to give kitty-kisses.  She sure misses her mom... this is the longest her mom has been away from her...

Sophie misses her mom

I miss my Max, he was my own sweetie.  But he has been gone now for over 3 1/2 years.  He lived a long life and kept me company through some good times and some bad times.  If my life weren't so crazy, I'd adopt another cat.  But I don't have the time to give one the time and attention it needs... though some day, things may be different.

And, who knows, maybe some day I'll get a dog... you never know...

My Max...

In the meantime, I am glad to help care for my friends furry families while they are away.