Vacation

As I have been on vacation this last week... so has my brain.

I have been finding it difficult to concentrate on the projects I wanted to complete. And needing to go back and forth to Clemson to check on the availability of the kiln and loading the kid's pieces in the heat of a South Carolina June & July has been draining as well...

I got as much loaded as I could, but their mugs would not fit... not enough shelves... I will have to fire those later, or at a higher temperature here at home...

The photo is of a piece I did a couple of weeks ago to show my students that the technique used for the Swarovski Rivoli Pendant can be used for other shapes and sizes as well. This is a beautiful piece of Fossilized Coral in a gorgeous burnt orange color... the stone chips on the fringe near the bail are Carnelian.

This morning I will check my own kiln to see if my pieces are cool enough to unload...

Art Camp Part I

I know... I have been remiss about posting... one of the reasons is that I was teaching clay at Art Camp last week.
It was the 6 - 9 year old group... there were 11 wonderful kids.
The photos were from Day 4... we made slab-built mugs and then glazed some pieces from earlier in the week.
I had a great time. And I give a lot of credit to my trusted assistant/camp counselor - Michael. He sure had a way with the kids...
Tomorrow I go in to load everything into the kiln for firing. With the humidity, thigs were drying slowly. After this week off... I have the 10+ group next week.

Beautiful flowers!

This Orchid was given to Terri and I as a 'thank you' for teaching a class. It was in full bloom when given to us about a year and a half ago (I think). The blooms lasted for months, but eventually faded and fell off...

The Orchid came home and spent last summer outside under the gazebo and continued to thrive and grow... and a few weeks ago... it blossomed again! Mom is so tickled... she used to kill Orchids (not on purpose, mind you).

As beautiful as the first blossoms were when Norma & Judy gave it to us, these have a special beauty all there own...

Is it June already???

I cannot believe how fast the time goes.

I have a batch of stoneware that will be firing the end of this week... I am being extra sure that they are dry from glazing before firing them. I don't have a deadline looming, I just want to get some stock made.

I am getting frustrated with the Ebony Porcelain company... I am looking for updates as to when it will be available again... nothing. I leave messages on the voice mail and send emails but no reply. I think I will mail a hand-written letter this week.

My current goal is to cast Stoneware product until the end of the month of June and then start making a small selection of Terra Cotta product.

I need to make things to fill the void of the Ebonyware...

If anyone out there knows of another source for a cone 6 black casting porcelain... please... let me know... I am having withdrawal symptoms, I have used it for nearly 20 years!!!

Birthday wishes to all of those with June Birthdays... you know who you are... I am trying to be better about sending cards... I make lots of them, but send very few.

Hello again...

I tried a new-to-me technique last week and made this card. I love the workability of Washi. It is so fabric-like but without the un-ravelling qualities.

You may be able to see that I used some wire and beads to make the center of the flower... This technique could probably be done with fabric and fusible webbing... but I am all for using Washi... afterall, I am addicted to paper (and pens, and colored pencils, and beads, and... )

Today is a bit rainy, although we are still in a deficit for rainfall... I wish it would hold off until people have enjoyed the long weekend.

I am planning on working on my pottery and hopefully being able to watch some races on TV... but the rain may put a halt to that...

For all of those who fought for our freedoms and sacrificed their lives for us, we created Memorial Day... Thank you.

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?