Elaine Spallone Pottery

2009-03-31T15:24:00.004-04:00

Tygris Spring 2003- March 10, 2009

In memory of Sweet Tygris. These were some of the very last photos, named by Becky, Soft Paw. Because her sister Euphrates was the Queen, Tygris had to abide by the rules. When Euphrates died last year, Tygris became a new cat with the Queen no longer dictating the household. She acted like a four year old cat, youthful and energetic. My cats never talked and suddenly I had a talking cat. she ran freely about, sounding like a herd of horses in the hallway. She reminded me when it was time to go to bed, sitting patiently in the hall as I watched the end of show. She was so soft, everyone always commented on her fur, and she was just the sweetest loving of cats. Gentle and patient. I will miss my sweet loving cat.

Black Hearts

2009-02-23T20:28:00.004-05:00

Toasted, not quite what I was imagining...but we are learning a new technique, glad these are only tests.

There are three missing too... someone at the studio said: stolen hearts?

Happy late valentine's day

2009-02-16T22:37:00.004-05:00

Here are some of my hearts I made as test tiles for the next barrel firing, which is Sat/Sun. Using the terra sig made during Jim Whalen's workshop at Clayworks. Just love these hearts and shiny terra sig.

Sunday at the Studio

2009-01-26T10:39:00.003-05:00

Several of us were there working away, talking, listening to Michael Fronti, Avett brothers, Prince, among others!!

I am working on making more plates for the next cone 10 firing.

Check out new blog: clayworkers....all of us are posting there....

Christmas cupcakes

2008-12-20T00:01:00.003-05:00

If you are on Facebook, this is a duplicate entry. But tonight my mom arrived to celebrate the holidays. As my first gift was perishable, I enjoyed some tonight: cupcakes. I have been searching all year, more in the summer, and really gave up on it. And finding none that I liked in Charlotte, in fact I think there is only ONE cupcake shop?!! But this dozen arrived tonight, and they are yuummy. Mom and I split one. luckily they come frozen, and if you do not thaw them, they can stay frozen, so I kept half a dozen in the freezer for a little later. But those other 6, mmm mmm the next days are going to be sweet. so if you happen to be visiting me in the next few days or so, guess what you get to enjoy!

Ho ho ho

2008-12-16T22:33:00.003-05:00

The holidays are what I am about. I wish it were cold here and snowing. but no, it is 60ish, my my. I am bad blogger. Busy times.

I recently had some photos taken with Becky, we shared the photographer, so here is a photo to enjoy while I continue through these crazy holidays. Hope you are all enjoying the time.

Barrel firing number 6

2008-11-29T19:56:00.002-05:00

It's firing away here. Photos of the results tomorrow.

Working with clay at home the other day and my cat insisted on part of the action.

Such a cutie!!

Mermaid close up

2008-11-22T23:34:00.002-05:00

Another photo in addition to the post below. I have a friend Quinn (he's 2 and almost a half) and I hear he likes this book with mermaids in it. This one is for you kid.

It's not just a lot of hot air!

2008-11-22T23:11:00.011-05:00

The first cone 10 firing with our new glazes that Becky and I made, tested, retested and finally are put to good use!! We were both excited with our results.

After seeing these results, which I liked, I made 7 plates today to get ready for the next gas kiln.

Details of the mermaid's tail. A close up for you Quinn.

My personal favorites. but am pleased with all the results from this firing.

Did I mention I made my own crust?

2008-11-14T00:01:00.004-05:00

When I turned 40 this year, yikes, still a bit of a shocker to see those numbers, I said the one thing I will do is make my own crust for my fabulous pie. (not that I am NOT ambitious! but there is beauty in keeping it simple, and in a good crust!)

Some feedback from friends, a little research on google, and I was set to make it. I am sure somewhere in my past I have made crust from scratch. But nothing that I carried with me to my adults days.

I learned the most important part: temperature is cold. I would even ice my hands a bit before mixing in the drops of water.

And it came out GREAT!! Mmmmm. Flaky, made with butter and actually quite easy.

So ta-DA!! I've accomplished my goal. (nothing like John's 100 pots though!! Maybe someday when I am older...ouch, sorry John.)

It's Pie time!

2008-11-10T22:17:00.012-05:00

The Third annual Pie bakeoff arrived again. A bakeoff between Steve Fahey and me usually. but this year we had a new addition: 89 year old Nunzio!! he claims his is a five star pie. we all had our secret methods and look at the results:

Nunzio displaying his prized pie.

All three pies are proudly displayed:

I would have to give awards as follows: lower left (Nunzio) for most exotic--he had white raisins inside and coated his crust with egg white...look at it shine. lower right (Steve) for best looking and top (mine) for most apples.

Actually I have been on a 10 year quest to reach the apple limit, and I think I did it this past Saturday. Look at how high it is. Looking at it makes me crack up.

In fact, while it was cooking part of its side fell off!! A true sign. So I have reached Mount Pie-everest. And can begin the climb off the summit. Now I will search for the perfect combination of apples to topping mixture.

Of course the babies were there, I knew you were wondering. Would they miss out on their first ever pie bake off? They were climbing all over the place, even in the trees...

And Sue --well I do not know what she was doing with the babies, looks like they each had a bit too much. (her hubby Steve peeking behind her0 The pie was deee licious!!

Another important part of this Pie Day, was Serbian dinner day!! While not pictured, Zaqlina and Lee cooked up a storm of stuffed pickled cabbage, spinach cornbread and broccoli. yummy!! We were treated like royalty this day.

Some photos

2008-11-02T12:08:00.008-05:00

A few more shots of the barrel firing

The above was taken outside, sorry it looks so washed out. But here a few more of the bottles, but inside.

And here is a shot Becky took of the babies--her production and a great ending to this post.

Check out John, Amy and Becky's posts for more barrel firing shots.

Barrel Firing Number 5

2008-11-01T18:22:00.008-04:00

Our first Halloween Barrel Firing was a huge success. Many from clayworks participated. And it was fun to see the colors in the fire. Here's a clip of the banter generally found around barrel during the night.

There was lots of work to load, as seen on the cart, and behind, lots of food to eat, as you can see where everyone is gathered!

And later, 12:50am, the costumes arrived, with Becky's sister, Cinder, arriving incognito....and I caught Becky's expression.

More tomorrow...great results for all!!

This and that

2008-10-26T20:30:00.006-04:00

Becky and I finally finished preparing for the tests of the cone 10 glazes..8 in all. The things you learn on the way, like add epsom salt to Yanagahara, or else it will be like cement on the bottom....here is Minke working it out for us..

and we loaded the kiln for Friday's halloween Barrel firing....And the babies are getting ready too (from GNO this past Friday)

Kitchen update

2008-10-21T19:59:00.004-04:00

I've been in such a great mood the past 2 days, which has been a shift having a couple of intense weeks (I think months!!)

But tonight I am in the kitchen cooking with the babes, pizzelles are on the menu. They are excited and jumping on the ingredients like monkeys. Did they forget who they are?

So who is Clabber Girl anyway?

Photo of big bowl

2008-10-16T20:52:00.003-04:00

Thanks for the beer John, not that I enjoyed it at all, but it came in so handy for size reference!! Working on a large bowl like this has brought up new physical considerations. One, at this size, and on the table, I cannot even reach to the bottom from where I sit. So I need to build a contraption of sorts to hold it my lap to work on it--my lap is not level (I am out of balance again!!)....As it is now, imagine working on your pot with your arms shoulder height...not a good place ergonomically.

You all know this, but making larger pieces is much more physical.

Very large bowl

2008-10-15T23:32:00.003-04:00

I made one tonight at the studio....a photo to follow. but I took it with John's camera and am waiting for him to send it to me. And with John making a 100 pots, he could be at the studio for awhile...

New work at studio

2008-10-08T21:23:00.005-04:00

Pottery from the weekend. Here is a shot of those bottles I mentioned last post that I am having fun building. And a lovely gift this late into the fall: gardenia, which we enjoyed smelling at the studio. Here they are displayed in one my recent favorite pots from a firing from this summer.

Barrel Firing Results

2008-10-01T22:18:00.011-04:00

What a lucky day to arrive at the studio and find a cd with some images of the latest barrel fired pots!! And so fun to see the pots again. Tonight, I pinched some new bottle forms I am playing around with (that I learned from Amy)and just stared at the surfaces of the barrel fired pieces. Here are some shots. many thanks to Max McLeod for his love of photography, having fun with it, and sharing it with us-- This is about 12 or 13 inches high. I make the point, since most of my pots shaped like this fit into the palm of my hand. It was built with slabs coiled around, some pinching.

A close up view....(yes this pot did crack, all the way around too!!!)

This little set does fit in your hands. Some different surface marks....This guy is a pinch pot, if I had to guess without measureing... about 7 inches across, 6 inches high.

About fluffy and slumpy

2008-09-28T19:46:00.004-04:00

Those are the names of the two pineapple cakes that were enjoyed at the studio this weekend.

In making the cakes, I wanted to do a test run on Thursday night. I have over 30 years of baking experience. I can remember standing next to my grandmother, very young, cracking eggs for her to make something, who knows what it was. But we were baking. And my mom (you have permission to read this!!! excuse the side joke everyone) continued to teach me. I am sure we all have those tips in our heads that come from our grownups that raised us. I can still hear my mom tell me how to measure out brown sugar and demonstrating for me.

So this background information is leading me to my cake story. As I was about to crack in the eggs for Ada Darlings cake, I thought, I really should crack those eggs in a separate bowl first. Especially because I have been getting fresh organic local eggs. But I did not heed that sound sure gentle advice in my head. So you all know where this is headed!! And I also want to point out, knowing that cracking in a another bowl is the proper technique...mostly the reasoning I heard was to ensure no eggshells were included in the mix...leaving you to dig them out. And I also want to point out that in all my years baking, I have never encountered a rotten egg!!

So, yes I cracked into the bowl with my sugar and other eggs, and boy was it rotten!!!! UGHHH. And that smell!! Well that really colored the rest of the baking that night. The smell never went away. Although I started over, and using the proper technique, things just weren't right. Plus I ran out of sugar, and had to use raw sugar, that was larger and not finely processed.

So the cake went into the oven, homemade from scratch. And I noticed it fall at the end!! I feel like suddenly it was 1932 or something. Rotten eggs, fallen cake. Where am I?
The next day, I bought sugar and a store bought yellow cake mix (sorry Ada!!) and made the cake again. I really wanted a fluffy version.

But at the studio, slumpy (above) was the more popular cake. Everyone just loved that brown sugar butter crusty edge. One stick of butter and a cup of brown sugar!! yea Ada!

More barrel fire photos this week. Forgot the camera today at the studio. And there is a dooozy beautiful one to follow.

A sneak peek barrel firing number 4

2008-09-27T23:07:00.012-04:00

In prepping our pieces, Becky started getting a little carried away and tried to eat the Pawleys Island special: seaweed, (ok I made her do it!!) especially gathered for barrel firings!! Mmm mmm good way to begin the morning.With the piece prepped and ready to load....Of course, the babies were kicking about wanting to inside the kiln to see what the fuss was all about. so they took a sneak peek (peak!) before loading the kiln with fuel: newspaper, charcoal, and apple wood, special from Becky's apple tree limb that fell.Nice fire.....

A common site around the barrel ...by many. Peeking in the holes to see what is happening inside....

Nice hot fire.....beautiful embers.

To keep everyone fortified, two upside down pineapple cake options, courtesy of Ada Darling via Tom Gray!! Yummy, more on the cakes in another posting.

A sneak peek at one of the pots and results from the firing today.....what is so nice are those music like ghostly looking notes floating up...how neat is that!! More to follow....it was a wonderful firing!!!

Teapot

2008-09-23T20:25:00.006-04:00

This is one of the items from my grandmother's home that I was given. A teapot, and I use it everyday to make a pot of uva ursi tea. I do not know if she got it while overseas during WWII or at some flea market. There is a stamp on the bottom that says Japan. I love using it, knowing it was in her home, and it makes the perfect amount of tea for me.

That Dole in the background is for the Ada Darlings upside down pineapple cake that I learned about from Tom Gray's blog and I am going to make it as recommended in my skillet, that was my brother's!! Hmmm all this nice history and energy from our past that I can still enjoy. the cake is a surprise for some people soon....

How adults become kids!

2008-09-22T20:36:00.006-04:00

Get your popcorn because this a movie filled with intrigue, bound to captivate, and ending in a jacuzzi. Can't get better than that!!

Making Glaze Galore!!

2008-09-22T20:10:00.001-04:00

Becky mixing. Looks like she may be drilling for oil!!

Then Kit comes along and gives us some help, although looks a bit weary with it all!

OH MY Goodness, what have we gotten ourselves into??

Pretty thick yet....Rick's Shino holding the babes!

Pawleys Island Clayworks Beach Babes

2008-09-17T22:29:00.013-04:00

(thought we were taking a photo, but got this video instead, hence the wild traveling at the end.)

Time in the studio finally

2008-09-17T22:29:00.007-04:00

Tonight I was lucky to spend four hours in the studio...on a school night. Working on pieces for the next barrel fire on the 27th. More curvy, suggestive of female probably inspired by mermaids, forms. I started these ladies a couple years ago, and only until starting to barrel fire did I discover the right surface for them.

These pieces are from the last barrel fire.....really love their surface.

And I enjoyed a lovely meal of an organic egg over heirloom lettuces, and fresh from the farm sweet potato french fries! Love them with mayo mixed with lime, but tonight just ketchup and mayo....yummy.

Pawleys Island continues

2008-09-15T20:30:00.003-04:00

And if you remember, back a couple days ago, I said while at the beach I would make my famous pie. And I did (while a bit hungover-from that singing Thursday night). And I think they like it--

Mermaid coming out of or going in the water?

2008-09-14T22:39:00.002-04:00

I thought you all would like to see how I enter and leave the water, as a mermaid. Luckily at Pawleys Island I could demonstrate and document!

Pawleys Island Part I of ??

2008-09-14T17:11:00.003-04:00

this was the First Night at the house. Several bottles of wine later, 13 people all hanging out on the back screened in porch....friends, cousins, sisters, husbands and wives. It was a non-stop talking, chatting, getting to know evening. Sooo much fun!!!

This was named House of the Dying Sun, I think the background cricket group adds a nice touch.

I'm off to the perfect place

2008-09-10T20:03:00.007-04:00

The beach!!! And with my recent fascination with mermaids, what a better place. Only I do not want to sink in a ship to meet any!! I just hope they are lazing about on the beach so I can get a better glimpse! Whadya think?

I love the beach and will now attribute it to having some mermaid inside me. Can't wait to hear the steady roar of the waves, seagulls, smell the air and feel the breezes!

I will make my east coast famous apple pie (not quite world famous yet) What am I talking about?, check out this post. And then that pie after it is cooked becomes:

But this next pie will be for the beach lovers!!! Yum yum.

Mermaid pot for pit firing

2008-09-07T20:44:00.010-04:00

The latest edition to my mermaid collection. Earthenware lady. Goodness, when I see her here, she has quite a chest. It did not feel that way while creating her.

This is my first video on this camera, and I did not realize I could talk too! So there is just the background noise. I wanted to take a video of this piece since it changes so dramatically around it. This came together with a lot of darting and sculpting. Pit Firing is on Sept 27, so you will see the follow up then.

Sorry for the terrible lighting too!

Mermaids and Spiders

2008-09-06T23:11:00.001-04:00

Mermaids are on my mind yet again. And have taken a new role at the studio. Here they have made their way onto my recent vessels, capturing their souls. The vessel above is about 15inches high, not sure of width, haven't measured. But it is a new direction for me, as most everything prior- at least in this shape, could fit in my hand.

This guy is about 5inches high.

If you have been reading this blog regularly, you know I have a special relationship, seemingly, to spiders. For one, I don't kill them, unless mistakenly or absolutely necessary-- I am not sure when that is. Here are a couple outside patroling the house, being good sentries. I was quite happy to see this guy above, garden spider, or also known as a writing spider, or sewing spider to others. Each year there are several of these guys about- last year, one made a web in the space of my front door--what a surprise when I opened it on my way to work in the morning! So I hadn't seen any this year and was worried. But here they are.

And I do not know what kind of spider this green one is.....he came crawling out of the yarrow I cut down. I felt bad as I had destroyed her home, but I am sure she will find a new one.

I've been tagged

2008-09-06T21:40:00.000-04:00

Claydog was a wannabe flowerchild? Who knew. Spreading the love, she tagged me!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog. (this is what you're now reading.)
3. Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them. (This is only a game.)
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six random things about me:

1. I don't kill spiders.

2. My name in high school french class was Chantal.

3. I start out sleeping on my back.

4. In 5th grade I owned a jewelry piece that was a stick pin with John Travolta's photo in it.

5. My initials EMS - stand for a couple other things: Eastern Mountain Sports and Emergency Medical Service.

6. I am half Italian, and the other half of me is French, English and German.

Mermaids

2008-09-03T23:45:00.004-04:00

Bette Midler’s 90-minute extravaganza, which opened on February 20, 2008, features an enchanting repertoire complete with some of her favorite characters like Delores Delago - the wheelchair-bound mermaid (from band blog)...

When I was out in Las Vegas recently (only two weeks ago), and shopping in the Cher store, there was a shirt with the universal wheelchair parking symbol on a shirt, with rhinestones, but a few mermaid additions. looks like this: (sorry for the bad rotation, just noticed)

Love this idea and shirt!

C-clamps, plaster, buckets oh my!

2008-08-30T15:09:00.001-04:00

At the Peter Rose workshop in Rock Hill a couple weekends ago, Peter shared his tools for making molds. He took four pieces of wood, four c-clamps and viola any size you needed was available. So I stopped at Home depot today to get the items. The salespeople were very helpful too. One salesperson, Sharma, that I asked where Plaster of Paris was located and c-clamps, proceeded to help me.

She grabbed a cart, loaded the plaster in it, buckets and shopped with me. I normally am not so open to this kind of help at the store- (mostly because I want the time to shop and consider and pick up loose ends--and I feel pressured if a salesperson is with me, like I have to be more decisive and quick so not to waste their time), but I guess times have changed, because I was ok with it. And functionally, carrying 25 pounds of plaster, a couple 5 gallon buckets, c-clamps and wood, really wasn't possible. And pushing a cart and my wheelchair...not that functional either -possible of course! And don't try solving this with some cart thing that I attach to my chair...no thanks!!

So, I am planning on making a few Dia de los Muertos Skull molds, so I can make some larger forms, and spend more time in their surface design rather than the pinching process.

Clouds

2008-08-30T01:30:00.001-04:00

A stunning display tonight....

House Dish

2008-08-26T20:32:00.000-04:00

Spaghetti with oil, garlic, and anchovies, is one my favorite dinners. Tonight I enjoyed it pure, meaning usually I make it with spinach.

One of my traditions when I make it is to eat a couple anchovies right from the can! Yummy.

The babes liked playing in the parmesean cheese I grated. It looks like snow!

Eat up! yum.

No clay again

2008-08-25T22:41:00.002-04:00

Today I had a 6:30p appt after work, so no studio time in over a week. I am starting to feel the antsy, ungrounded self I become when this happens. Possibly tomorrow. But when I arrived home yesterday from vaca., I found a very warm house, in a very warm climate, as my air conditioner seems to be on the fritz! Yikes. So an appt tomorrow toward the end of the day--and hopefully it does not take long to fix. I have never had an experience with having to fix an air conditioner so I am not sure what I am in for. Some say a lot $$$! So here is my sweet sleeping cat Tygris, who is sooo happy I am home from the trip. It is heartbreaking to wonder about her days alone (with one visit a day from the cat sitter). Even now that I have returned, she will wander down the hall, or be in the bedroom and start meowing, something she normally does not do. I reply, that I am here, and she seems to be ok. So nice to be missed! Just love my animal friends.

Traveling to LV

2008-08-24T18:19:00.004-04:00

One blogger, big Al, asked about traveling about this land in a wheelchair. having just recently visiting LV, I have a few words.

First traveling today while using a wheelchair is quite different than 19 years ago. The industry is better trained and has the experience that they did not have in 1989, just as the ADA became law. Back then, who knows if my wheelchair would meet me at the door of the plane. So I learned not to get out of my seat until it arrived. Since the crew can't leave until everyone is off, that made for ensuring my chair met me at the door.

But now the airline industry knows what it is doing. On most planes I have to transfer onto a slim chair that will take me down the narrow plane aisle and then I transfer into my seat. But who knows if the aisle arm of the chair will raise, so sometimes I am lifted by personnel to my seat. But if the arm raises, I can do it alone, which I prefer.

I hate this aisle chair, because for protection they have to strap me in, (sometimes three belts) and I feel as if I have just been out of control so they are strapping me down to prevent further episodes!!! Every minute is an exercise it seems in keeping some dignity and grace.

Now, these past couple of trips, I have traveled on SouthWest airlines. And they are the best!!! No first class, so if I get there first, I can get the first seat, which means I do not have to transfer to the slim aisle chair, but can take my own chair on the plane and slip easily into my seat. The aisle arms raises up no problem, and I just jump in. It is so convenient. And the personnel is the nicest I have ever experienced.

One other thing about planes, and this is another challenge to keeping dignity!! Bathrooms. That slim aisle chair does not travel with us during domestic flights, so on the longer fights, which LV was, I cut back on liquids, and hope that kidneys and bladder can make it for 4-5 hours. Not always successful! but what is a bladder to do? So I spend a lot of time worrying while traveling on the plane. Praying all will hold!

On another post I will talk about hotels.

After the rain

2008-08-24T17:08:00.001-04:00

Not sure how these photos will influence the pots, but I was intrigued by all I saw around the house after the rain. I am also trying to find beauty and interest anywhere anytime. Training my eye to see details, patterns, interest. I found these photos interesting last week. Sunlight on sidewalk above. Last stream of water from the roof, collecting in the rain barrel.

A large pot I keep under the rain barrel to collect extra water from it!! Waterfalls around the house.

Cement drying.... cool pattern.

My reflection on the grill.

2008-08-24T16:45:00.001-04:00

Barrel fire number 3. I like the process of hanging out during the day while the fire burns our pots. Being present and close to the process, versus when I fire in an electric kiln...set it, and walk away for a couple days. But during the Barrel Fire, we get to know each other better. Some of us are productive taking the time to develop our ceramics.

And then others are....well....It's the CPK and John duo---next stop...Vegas!!!

And a canine visitor!The results hidden away under the ashes. The excitement is electric right now as we eagerly wait to pull out our fired pots.

One of my pinch pots from the fire. This firing was much darker than the last one. With still awesome results, but also with much learning about this primitive firing!

Sorry but you have to turn your head for this one, it would not rotate for some reason.

Going to Las Vegas

2008-08-18T23:41:00.003-04:00

I'll be back with a million or two, definitely some to share. So I won't be posting for a week....but lots to follow....barrel firing (see John's blog, or Becky's), thoughts, after the rain and more. Of course there will be Las Vegas photos too! Have a great week.

In the moment

2008-08-13T20:18:00.007-04:00

What a lovely evening tonight!! cool outside, beautiful clouds and sunset. I ate some great food during it too. So take these fresh ingredients:

And get this delicious mealWhoooaaaa, looks like there is a lot of interest for these bruschetta beauties.

So according to my Oriental Traditions book: Healing with Whole Foods, there is more than vitamins and minerals to the foods we eat. Here is a look at some of the foods I ate tonight:

Tomato - very cooling to the body, relieves dryness and thirst, tonifies stomach and cleans the liver, purifies the blood, relieves liver heat...and lots more

Eggplant - cooling thermal nature, reduces swelling, clears stagnant blood,.....etc

Garlic - promotes circulation and sweating, inhibits the common cold virus as well as viruses, elimanates worms, unfavorable bacteria, etc... this little gem has a whole page description it is so good for us.

And since I am going to eat some watermelon in just a bit....very cooling thermal nature (another great one for the summer--naturally) removes heat, including summer heat problems, influences the heart, bladder and stomach, builds body fluids, moistens the intestines, use to treat thirst, edema, canker sores, depression, and kidney and urinary tract inflammations.....and more

I love this more holistic approach to foods. Instead of only vitamins and minerals, they offer so much more...in addition to their wonderful yumminess and fuel. And in this light, just adding vitamins to processed cereal or whatever is a hard sell.

I am also drinking a glass of wine with my dinner tonight, and this book does not speak too highly about it!

here is my kitty getting herself a little treat-

2008-08-12T21:34:00.000-04:00

Look who else wants to go outside! She's Reflecting!!!! (good title I think....which she?)

Baby It's Cold Outside

2008-08-12T21:30:00.000-04:00

Bing Crosby said it, but it is not tonight, it is beautiful. And the Good Luck Babes wanted to play!

Hmmm.....doesn't look so good. Imprisoned.

2008-08-12T21:24:00.000-04:00

Johnny Cash Pot. Another one from the recent cone 10 firing. I am pleased. There is more copper..the aged looking kind ...than my camera picked up. Johnny Cash - organic, authentic, from the soul, a bit tormented. Those a few of the words I think of him and the songs he sang and wrote. The first album I ever owned was Johnn Cash "I walk the Line" (along with Elvis' "Burning Love") I received both those albums the same christmas....not sure which one, but I was very young...7, 8? Before my neighbor Nicki and friend moved to Ashland, OR.

Wonderful Providence Housekeeping

2008-08-10T22:28:00.003-04:00

And the wonderful owner of Providence Housekeeping, Aris, came by today to arrange my TV stereo equipment so those wires were not so wild! The proud results!

New photos from cone 10 firing

2008-08-10T22:19:00.006-04:00

The photos from the studio just did not do this piece justice under those flourescents! So here are a few more to view.

A few close ups.

Who are these ladies peering down?

2008-08-10T22:06:00.007-04:00

What kind of brew are they making anyway?

Looks good..

Oops!! That is two kiln shelves down....Becky's glasses that slipped off her face!!! Had to unload that top shelf and half of the bottom....

Half opened for the glasses grab!!

Becky Ju-Ian and Cindy...loaded a successful kiln with me snapping photos away!!

Results from cone 10 kiln firing

2008-08-06T22:50:00.007-04:00

I am pleased with some interesting results! These results are all learned from Greg Scott. These photos really are not that great, the pots are much better in person!

Here is what I saw to my right getting into my car this morning. Feels like plants are going to jump right in....they seem to be growing during the night. They seem mighty curious....

Pinch pots for next barrel firing

2008-08-05T23:24:00.006-04:00

I am pinching away at home as the bisque firing is this weekend.

and dinner tonight.....home grown watermelon by New moon farms in Huntersville and....

Yummy berries and yogurt!!! (from Harris Teeter...)

Tygris wanted in ....she is relaxing after a little catnip...

Rasberry time!

2008-08-04T22:28:00.000-04:00

Scallops inspired at the studio

2008-08-01T20:17:00.010-04:00

Greg Scott was talking about his recipe for scallops, equal part olive oil and butter, garlic saute the scallops maybe toss over pasta. I took that, watched a few You tube videos and had an excellent meal tonight that included a Butter Bomb!!! Oh, but I was playing with my food again, something my parents always told me to stop doing. Finally, 30+ years later, I am back to it!! And these guys love to play around with me. Life Raft is the name.

Ok, this next photo is cool Butter Bomb. Take a bunch of herbs, thyme here, add it to your saute toward the last few minutes, pretty hot pan, it melts the herbal essence permeates, and you spoon the mixture over food, in this case, scallops. Yummy!! And it is such a pretty arrangement!!

The remains......

I love this cast iron pan, by the way. It was my brother's and it cooks awesomely, just like he did.

Time for a bath kids.....

What I want to make

2008-07-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

A pot like a song that Johnny Cash would write and sing.

While I was cantaloping

2008-07-29T21:52:00.005-04:00

...this guy wandered in from the back screen door. If I don't shut the main door this is what comes in....

and he is right in the middle of the bathroom floor and I want to go in there!!! He is about 3 inches long. and here is my cat

But not going to get it. And I don't kill spiders, so I am here blogging in hopes that when I return he will find a place to hide from me.

Cantaloping

2008-07-29T21:12:00.007-04:00

Hey who are these guys?
Cantaloping-
And the cantalope was yummy, organic fresh and local from New Moon Farms in Huntersville.

Sweet life of a cat

2008-07-28T22:11:00.001-04:00

But don't document it she says and turns away, as cats will do.

Ha ha too funny.

Pass along the tile

2008-07-26T23:52:00.007-04:00

Today Becky, Ju Ian, Cindy and I created these awesome tiles. Inspired by Terry Shipley's recent trip to Penland...

We each cut 5 tiles, decorated the first one, turned it over and passed it to the next person, leaving a couple little lines hint to get the next tile started. They came out sooo awesome. Some samples.

A little something to get you inspired and back to reading my blog!!

2008-07-24T20:58:00.009-04:00

I owe you all!! If you return. I some photos to see what has been going on in my world. Barrel firing!!!

One side.....

another side of the same pot.....love that dark tin shiny part near top right...lots of carbonization!!those grids....Chore Boy...rocks!! different pinch pot.
Lines.....copper wire. delicious colors....used: miracle grow, sea weed, copper carbonate, red iron oxide dusted over sawdust. HOT fire: red oak mostly.

yummy crusty pot....

another side of crusty...

and yet another.....Ode to Queen of Swords.

Where have I been?

2008-07-24T15:40:00.003-04:00

I have been a bad bad blogger!!! If anyone is still there.... I am cocooning...will be making changes to the blog and what I post..although still ceramics, potter. And I am still making pots and things. It may be awhile yet...but I will be back!!!

Where to start

2008-04-06T15:41:00.005-04:00

March was intense...spring is that way to me anyway- Demanding in its extremes of weather and transitions. Coupled with a demanding work month: board retreat, two major grants, three concerts in one week, major work on a branding initiative, an annual benefit concert, plus monthly concert, master class, visitors and regular meetings, and that I am new to the organization and this level of responsibility AND March madness...well not much time left for blogging. Oh and, keeping on goal to fire a kiln each month...

Well that madness left me waking up on Saturdays around 10 am, getting up and returning to bed an hour later for another 1-2 hours of rest.

But I think things are calming down a bit, at least no more March Madness..and not just in basketball.

The annual spring sale was this past weekend, and a few people walked away with some pieces -so they now have new homes that I hope all are enjoying. Here are some photos.

A full view and a few closer looks:

These pieces are in the gallery. I think I am moving away from the writing on the pots...I really like how calm I feel when I look at the vessel without writing. But no commitments yet.

Thank you all for the comments you made about the vessels. They are helpful to me!

Pick One

2008-03-11T21:04:00.006-04:00

Ok, so I am looking at the Grieving Vessels I brought home and looking at them, and listening. Learning. Walking away. Listening. learning. Inspired with some, very excited actually. So before I share my thoughts, what are YOURS? I am curious as to what you think, critically. I am posting photos and would love your feedback. Why do they work for you or NOT. What could make it stronger. What weakens it. do your best with some amateur photos with wine and coffee makers as the background, hey this is real life. Post anonymously if needed. And thank you for sharing.

Kiln Finished

2008-03-09T20:54:00.008-04:00

I did not expect the kiln to be ready while I was at the studio today. But when I arrived the temperature was already cooled to 153F, that was exciting to read. We opened the top to let it cool a bit more, and by 144F, we took out everything. I am very pleased with the pieces this time around. Mr. I am Big Skull did not get a photo taken today because I did not bring my camera. But here are a few shots of pieces I brought home with me to enjoy, respond and listen to, get to know, before I feel ready to let them move on to a new family.

A sample of the new skulls. These are my best yet, is how I feel. I love the inside glaze I tried out on the pink guy.

The two shots above are of my favorite Grieving Vessel. The right shape, weight, I love the glaze, and have learned something new about the stain underneath, with that strong line and bottom half that is so different from the top half. Plus really enjoy the line on the rim.

New family and the rest ready for the kiln

2008-03-07T14:00:00.005-05:00

Photos---of the fingers on the vessels to let the background show through. As I wrote the other, these are my favorites. Although there is not writing, because I started out with a different intention.

I love that I can see the segments of my finger in this one above. And then below, some other surface design that I am exploring.

And here is Mr. I am a Big Skull!! Inside he is decorated with a clear crackle. And to right, you can see another wall plaque. I used the Eenie minie meenie mo method and Spring is in the air and seems to have directed the colors. It is charteuse, light pale yellow and pink!!!

Should be ready Sunday or Monday...not sure when Julie will load it. latest will be 3p on Saturday. It is out of my hands now.

Eenie meenie myney mo

2008-03-06T21:18:00.004-05:00

I drew three colors for the large and broken DOTD skull, ever since he ended up in three parts he has beomce a test guy. Nice of him to take one for the team. I have a feeling I am going to love him in the end. So I said, whatever colors come out, I will make it work. And I love the combo. We will see after the firing. These colors are salmon, white cream and deep yellow.

Photos of the latest DOTD skulls

2008-03-05T22:39:00.005-05:00

I am having fun with new colors on the skulls. and on the inside too. I have a textured cobalt, clear crackle, bronze and copper on the insides of the skulls. Here are some photos of the work at different stages.

After black copper oxide is brushed and wiped away (above)
After painting underglaze - the red brown I like

Playing around with new colors and patterns..this photo does no justice to the colors...but gives you an idea.

Understanding my work

2008-03-04T23:12:00.004-05:00

It is on ongoing process, which I am sure many of you understand and relate to. Last night I wrote a post, and blogger shut down. So here I am trying again.

What I said: I have been spending a lot of time with my Grieving Vessels. Just being with them. Looking at them. What I started to realize is I did not know why I was making circles on them. See where the oxide, crocus martis ends, and glaze begins...or whoever ends and begins....that is where the clear glaze is on the vessel. But why a circle? Because it was easy to dip?? I know that I wanted the contrast. I am intrigued by the idea of revealing words and masking them at the same time. Anywone who has been following this blog knows that has layers of meaning for me.

As I looked at these vessels and let them seep in, I realized a lot things. One - take time with my pieces before letting them go, they probably have things to say to me. (Greg Scott has said this to me before, and I believe another potter said it either to him or said it)

So I noticed that the stain underneath the glaze leaves a trace (of course I like to interpret this as memory) of its path leaving the brush. So you can see the brush strokes. I was not even acknowledging this when applying the glaze. I did not know it mattered. Until closer observation. And not only brush strokes are still seen underneath the clear, but thickness of the stain.

SO having noticed that, this next batch of grieving vessels are completely different. They go in to the glaze kiln (loaded by Julie without me being there!! Trust and gratefulness abound) this Saturday at 3pmish.

What I did was play around with were the brush strokes as I applied the stain, and then mirrored that reality with the clear glaze. So on some vessels, I have the hilly landscape strokes I enjoy. And the clear glaze repeats that pattern. On other pieces, I have vertical lines...and quickly drawn strokes...all mirrored, repeated by the clear glaze. We will see what happens.

I also was curious about other ways to allow the words to show through, or not show through depending on how you are looking at it. And at first I thought I was trying to dip the entire piece in clear glaze and then write as I do, through the glaze. Not too successful. But I did find out that I love dipping the piece in the glaze while holding it firmly in my grip allowing my fingertips and fingers to leave their mark on the vessel and thus allow the stain and writing underneath to show through....love it!!! a photo would show this better than these words...although the one below is not an example of what I mean. Another day.

So for example the above photo. I tried a different way to apply the clear glaze. But I was not too fond of this application. I do not know why yet. BUT I just love the marks that the fingers leave on the new pieces I did over the weekend. One --love that the vessel was pinched by my fingers. And two, enjoy that the fingers guide the process of revealing/masking. I liked the organic shapes, and the somewhat more randomness of it.

Now to find out if I like it after they come out of the kiln.

Also working on painting many Dia de los Muertos skulls. New colors, patterns and sizes. Mr. I am a big Skull is waiting for final painting, and all his little ones are helping to inspire his final coloring. Maybe some photos to follow in the next day or so.

Bisque kiln

2008-02-21T23:36:00.002-05:00

Getting ready for another bisque kiln. Working full time at a new demanding but lovely job, and phrates leaving has left me little time or desire lately for posting. But Sat. with dear Becky's help, the kiln will be loaded. Tomorrow I will write the letters on my pots and plates. these will be letters to Phrates instead of my brother.

I have mr. i am big skull, two skull wall hangings, 12 small skulls, 6 plates, 6 or 8 pinched small bowls, one larger bowl and a i am a wild crazy bowl made from the leftover coils going in ...hopefully if all dries well. Plus a few other potters' work....

Remembering Phrates

2008-02-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

My sweet cat Euphrates left the earth today at 4:25p. Until today, she determinedly and willfully withstood, what I can only imagine, a great deal of discomfort. She was a very strong cat. Having her liver cyst drained three times, and I feel after that, she said, no more. For the past three months I have watched her shrink to 1/4 of her weight, probably less. I let her know she could go over a month ago, and yet she hung in there. only yesterday did she begin to show me signs that it was time. And after that it all happened very quickly. I agonized that I would not know when, but she let me know very clearly it was time without any doubt, in fact to move quickly to help her move on with the Dr.s help, and for that I am grateful. In our final conversation, when she literally had no strength to move any longer, when her eyes were vacant, as I talked to her , she would gently move her tail talking to me. Such a gift to have her acknowledge and respond and tell me she loved me and will visit and will miss me. It is so sad saying goodbye to my little animal friend. And that she has been for the past 15 years. Hard to believe she has been with me since I was 24. Strong, sweet, clear, stubborn!, queen cat. You will be missed Euphrates.

A photo after her first draining--a little belly shaved a bit. probably taken in May 2007. She looks pretty pissed off about it too.

And then here is one taken a few weeks ago...

New large skull emerges

2008-02-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

I was nervous as this skull emerged. I am not used to working on such a large surface...the first one. But I am excited about it. Here is a photo.

And a side view of the butterfly detail...

His expression looks like how I was feeling...a bit nervous about it all and I feel sad today as my cat is having a hard day...feels like notch closer to not being here anymore...here is a photo of my little cat today. She did go outside for a bit, which is nice to have her still enjoy that time.

Dia de los Muertos Skulls

2008-02-03T23:07:00.000-05:00

The skulls wanted to be larger. I thought I was making a larger bowl form, but I had the sense it wanted to be a large skull. (Listening to the clay is something again in my awareness because of a new blogger friend that I call artist traveler.)

So here is a photo of the form...next.... bringing it personality. So exciting!!

The skull next to it is a recent addition from the last kiln and is there for understanding the size of the larger skull...

What not to wear at the studio

2008-01-30T23:38:00.000-05:00

Yesterday during the kiln unload, I stopped by in my work clothes, which are not good choices in the studio. by the time I left I was covered in clay dust from the floor. I am terribly messy as my hands push the wheels and the wheels touch the floor. So everything I touch is covered with a fine light brown dust. A photo of me admiring the new skull, and a photo of Becky and Sue--the Great Kiln Unloaders!!

See Sue's hand covered in clay...I know she wanted to put her hand right on my jacket...but she held back!!

Kiln UNloaded

2008-01-29T21:11:00.000-05:00

My faithful and since the first kiln, unloaders, Susan and Becky were there to see the new creations and help with the physical work of unloading the kiln. It is always a great pleasure to see each new layer revealed as we work our way down to the bottom. So here are the photos.

Here's Becky behind one of the new Dia de los Muertos skulls...the one that lost its back during the drying process. But now we get to see this awesome birthday girl's lovely eyes peeping out! (Today is Becky's bday!!)

And here is a skull with its back on....ready to hang on the wall. And Susan unloading.... I caught her unawares...thus her surprised look.

One of the shelves.....

A large Grieving Vessel...trying a new surface... And the new smaller skulls...which I love and think are my best yet. Not sure why I keep to these colors...thinking about trying some others....
And a wild experiment with this bowl. First I thought it was a green slip that I made...and here it is blue...and it was a surface designe that looked awful...so I just played around and this is my wild pot.

On to the next...to keep on the schedule of one kiln a month.

Round pots and cat

2008-01-28T22:54:00.000-05:00

Both are sweet and full. The pots are multiplying on my dining room table and I just love this latest series -

And my full round cat, as compared to her sister and shrinking cat. This is her latest favorite place. And it is perfect because I can get to the back of the chair and she is at the perfect height for me seated, so I can cuddle right up to her. We both love it.

Although I am pretty sure she does not like having her photo taken!! And the kiln is cooling off right now...photos tomorrow..

Kiln Loaded

2008-01-27T17:10:00.000-05:00

Between yesterday and today I completed glazing my pieces so I was ready to load by 12p today. First time I made my kiln on time- actually before the date. I am starting to Understand the time needed for glazing my work and get into a rhythm ...Julie is my kiln loader, and she had time today vs. tomorrow and is flexible so she could help me. yea!!! So it is firing away now and will be ready to unload Tuesday evening. Very exciting. Here are a few photos of the work that is in the kiln right now.

The plates.....before glazing.

A close up view...
The plates after glazing
Another close up view after glazing...
And the Day of the Dead skulls..and the large wall pieces I am working on...another view below....

I have decided to call the plates and cups, pots with the writing on them, Grieving Vessels. I love this for several reasons. One, that is what they are about and what inspired their creation. But I love the word vessel for its quality to hold and travel. The idea that these vessels can hold grief, where I can carry it to new places, transform it, or hold it there indefinitely: whatever is needed at the time. The vessel - connoting a ship or travel- and therefore is the idea that grief can take me somewhere. That I do not have to remain in grief...but instead could actually travel, hopefully, to a healing place/space. And also, that I can still move even though there is grief. So these vessels are a space for all these possibilities. I can feel hope. Or like I said, just to hold grief for me until ready to sail.

I also want to keep the idea of memory , communication in the idea of these vessels....I am sure it all fits....just figuring it out...

I am just starting to articulate the ideas around this name- and these vessels...but I love the name and understanding why I am making them (I think, who knows!)...it is filled with layers of meaning and healing for me. I am sure over time the name and these vessels will continue to reveal themselves to me.

Little pots and cats

2008-01-21T18:53:00.000-05:00

I spent much of the weekend at the studio glazing the day of the dead skulls......forgot the photos again. I have three new wall hangings for this series that I am excited about. but still left to glaze by the 28th are 5-7 vessels and about 15 or so plates....so hopefully they will not take nearly as long as the skulls.

At home, a photo of a few pinched pots- I believe I will be calling these Grieving Pots or Vessels or cups something like that....I like it better than letter pot...I just love the shape of both of these vessels. I like the fingermarks, there is a certain rhythm to them on the surface. I like the rims and overall shape. Something about the curve and fullness. soothing. comforting to me.

And my little shrinking kitty, Euphrates. My clay production has slowed a bit as I do not go to the studio during the week right now so I can be home and spend time with her. She has dropped probably 10-11 pounds the past two months. She used to be 18lbs....very tiny except for her liver cyst. So we just take it day by day--as long as she is not suffering, eats, drinks, comes out of the rooms, etc....but here is a picture of her.

Ducks

2008-01-14T21:14:00.000-05:00

I am driving to work leaving my neighborhood. Every morning at the same time the two canadian geese are hanging out at the edge of the parking lot on the grass. I think of them, as they are probably mating, getting ready for the spring (even thought mid-january I do not think we should thinking about stuff like that..with 60 degree weather it is inevitable) But every day there they are. Both of them. In the same place too. I can't help but think, when they landed in that very same place there was more grass there last year. I know that the parking lot was paved over the summer and there is less grass, less place for the water to soak in and get to the roots of the trees, there. I can't help but think of these things. BTW The closest we are getting to pottery tonight is the dirt and possibly clay under there--the newly paved parking lot .

So those ducks are wondering where all that grass is. Then I think about what that would mean for us. So we leave for a couple months for a trip. Return and head to our nearest Harris Teeter. Except it is no longer there. Hmm that is weird. Must have closed down. Head to the next closest one. Hmm that one is closed too. I am not really panicking yet. Just weird that there would be two closed down. Get to third one. It is MOBBED. Everyone is there picking over the shelves, all in one place, more than I have ever seen.

Maybe ducks do not have this same awareness that we have. But I can't imagine that they don't notice that there is less grass than when they landed a year prior. And then made a nest. I bet some even give up on a site. I mean these guys are HUNGRY. So that is all they are thinking about. they are smart and so they fly to that other site...and now there are houses on it now, and even though there is grass, these people come out and chase them away. Yikes, how am I going to make a home???

yea, that is just the start to my day. I can't help but think about that...I hope those ducks are ok and can make a family on my neighborhood pond.

Bisque kiln loaded

2008-01-13T17:33:00.000-05:00

I was able to load 7 Dia de lost Muertos skulls, many many little plates, a square plate, two large bowls, several maybe 7 small pinched mugs and vessels, plus three large Dia de lost Muertos Wall Hangings. I am using a new clay that will be functional at cone 6....so I am curious to find out if I like it with the process I use.

I am signing up for a glaze kiln in two weeks so I will have time to prepare the pieces when they come out on Tuesday.

And I am thinking I would like to complete a full cycle each month: make enough work to load a kiln, bisque kiln, glaze the work, fire glaze kiln. Start over. I am interested to find out what the rhythm feels like by having a schedule like this. We will see, and if it is too much, maybe something like every 6 weeks...

Clay is talking to me

2008-01-11T21:49:00.000-05:00

No I am not crazy, but like the other night, thoughts pop up as I am working with the clay about the parallels to life...

So tonight I was smoothing over an early crack in the clay. I know from pinching out many of these forms, that I will see that crack again as I continue to work the clay and it expands, grows thinner and larger. And every so often, the crack will show up again. I smooth it over. And depending how deep the crack is, I have to really smooth it a lot. Or just a little for a small crack. Working around and around the clay. Crack. Smooth. Pinch pinch pinch, ...repeat until finished.

And sometimes I leave those lines and sometimes I smooth them out. But in the very early stages I always smooth it out because it will tear open the entire form if I do not (but it would be fun to let it be and see what happens....another time)

Ok, so the parallel.

So when I smoothed out that crack and knew later I would see it again, I thought about my life and the cracks in it. On the brink of turning 40, and having more life experience behind me...I am realizing that cracks I thought I had taken care of years ago...reappear from time to time for smoothing over.

When that first happened in my life, I remember feeling so upset about it. I felt I had taken care of that "issue" So to have to work on it again...I felt like I had failed in some way. As I did not fully take care it the first time around.

I don't feel that way anymore, I realize that my stuff comes up again, and I get to smooth it over--not in a bad way, but like a healing way.

I just love realizing and experiencing it physically with clay. And how gentle it can be, that smoothing over. Loving really. And that it happens!!! ... In clay too. clay is a great teacher, let me tell you!!

Clay and People

2008-01-09T21:26:00.000-05:00

I am working with a new clay body..pinching out my familiar forms; the Dia de los Muertos Skulls and letter pots (which I may be changing the name- soon). I find working with this new clay that I have to have more patience. The point when I am used to taking certain steps--like when I start to refine the rim on a letter pot, or really accentuate the body to the shape I like--with this new clay I find it is not ready for me to do those steps. If I push it, it starts to collapse, lose shape or other unwanted responses. So I have to wait and let it dry out more. The forms waiting to dry because they are not ready for the refining touches yet....

Anyway, as I was working with the clay tonight I realized a clay body is like a person. With each one you have to treat it somewhat differently. A different relationship is formed. And as I interact, I have to be aware and responsive to how the person is reacting against me. If I treat someone like the other person I know, they might not respond well. Just some thoughts on a warm Wednesday evening.

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T20:37:00.000-05:00

The ending of the second day of the new year. It is my favorite holiday. I like the clean slate, the clear line in the sand. I really take time to think about what I am letting go of so I don't bring it with me and think about what I will welcome into my life the next year.

I don't know how you picture the calendar year in your head, but I bet you picture it. Mine starts in January, and in linear fashion progresses one month after the other to December in a line to the right, until I have to go all the way back to the left to start the new year in January. So I have a visual feeling of starting over too.

The most prominent thought I have this New Year is letting go. I want to go through everthing, closets, shelves, drawers, etc and pile up stuff I no longer need and bring it elsewhere out of my house. Same for my interior mind. Clean out those thoughts I no longer need. I really liked Jen

Mecca's blog and one of her hopes: her butt gets smaller. that one works for me too! Not that any of you can see my butt..

So the other day--Saturday? I was at the studio again after the bulk of the holidays had passed and it was soooo good to be there. I spent more time talking I think. But it was a good thing to do. Just being in the environment and community. Here are some of the potters at the wheel that day.

It is a great time to enjoy each other's company and lose yourself in the clay. Soon...detail of the letter pots, as I promised.

Happy New Year everyone.

Holidays

2007-12-29T20:01:00.000-05:00

Sorry to have been MIA for a few weeks.

So the holidays are over (except for New Year's and this is one holiday that I love). But more on that in a few days.

Mom traveled over from Durham to spend a few days here to celebrate the holidays. Pouncer, her cat, was lucky to come along. And he made himself useful. Mom and I decided to do a puzzle...1000 pieces while she was visiting, I love puzzles. So decadent, luxurious to just sit there and the only thing to think about is finding that next piece.

So like any cat, Pouncer thought he could really help out, as he is doing here...he needs to get really close though to see the pieces. Mom doesn't seem to mind!!

And I received a lovely teapot set from Mom that she brought back from her travels overseas - the set is from Vietnam. It is beautiful...Here is a photo.

Mom brought back many fun things from her trip, silk scarves, fabric, coconut carved little forks and spoons, ceramic ladle, bracelet, all from the far east. Very fun!

I also received a shimpo banding wheel from my Dad and Joan...which will be a great tool in the studio. and it is the blue round item in this photo. I am getting to take the slab of clay and place it on the half bowl to start the bottom of the next large letter pot I am creating. And I think the shimpo banding wheels are made in Taiwan!! The Asian christmas does not end here.....Today, my first day back to the studio since before Christmas -no wonder I have felt so out of sorts!!-- I to my surprise found gifts on my shelf, with a Poinsettia (that the studio Manager, Julie, was watering for me...) that one of my studio buddies had left, but really great friend, and among all the little surprises....a brush from China...beautiful!

So that ends the Asian part of the christmas...but then there is the Secret Santa part....so who are you????? Look at this lovely dragonfly ( I love dragonflies) Thank you, whoever you are.

So that wraps up (ha) christmas....more to follow tomorrow...work I made today. Close ups of the letter pots (someone asked in a post awhile back) and who knows what else!!!

Holiday blues

2007-12-18T20:16:00.000-05:00

After reading Ron Philbeck's post the other day about Keri Smith and her book, Wreck this Journal, I was so inspired, I ordered it online. Today I received it!! (Among two other of her works: Lving out Loud and Guerilla Art Kit).

I had a good day. Work is going well, I really like Chamber Music at St Peters and being their Executive Director. I feel inspired and passionate about the mission.

And after work I met someone at the studio and they purchased a piece of my work. One of the Letter pots...my favorite one actually. (Am I sad that it is gone? I am just thinking about this right now???) hmmm.

And I have this list of things I will do every night this week in a feeble attempt to participate in the holidays since I have not done much aside from purchase a poinsetta, wreath and 12" xmas tree oh and a christmas cactus. Which was great, because my grandma, (My mom's mom) used to grow them. And I could hear her say: "I just place it outside in the summer under a tree and forget about it, so it gets the right light (or maybe she threw it in a closet?) so that it will bloom come December." (All these traditions for those who have left--it is nice though.

So on list for Monday (yesterday): Make Pizelles and order Grandma and Grandpa's Gift. Jimmy and I used to order together every year for their gift, meat from Omaha steaks. So I like keeping the tradition going. Yesterday was my brother's birthday and it is my new tradition to make pizelles on his birthday....that was really nice in fact. Today I would pick up pottery from the studio to bring home for gifts (now you have an idea of what you are getting many of you reading!!) and I would pack them up ready to mail tomorrow.

But I arrived home and was just in a foul mood. My legs and feet were ice when I touched them, I wanted out of my work clothes I felt disconnected from pottery and creative outlets--all this holiday list stuff I had for every night and I entered into a full blown pity party listing all the ills of my current life. How did I get here? So I shifted from any present wrapping and opened my new book: Wreck this Journal.

I completed several pages...wondering if it was ok to do more than one at once? ha Just laughing because there are no rules...so I decided I could continue doing what I wanted until I felt better.

So I did a couple, skipped a few..(one involved coffee and that would not happen until the morning. And one involved hands--get them dirty make prints...which I am excited to do because my hands are always on the wheels of my wheelchair and therefore get really dirty--although luckily not in my house...!!)

so then I did the Color the Entire Page exercise, and that is when I felt better. And here is my color that is somewhere inside me, around me?? even if I didn't feel it earlier!

Partipating in shows fairs and the like

2007-12-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

So we took down the Mount Holly Show on Saturday with the SueBoo team, including Sue and her fiance, Steve. Who had NEVER met me, but was helping. Scoring points with the fiance!!! But it was so nice of Steve to help. Here are some photos of Sue and Steve loading their car...
Sue acting like it soo heavy!!!
Sue and Steve----my blurry photos...they were in action..no stopping the team...

Almost loaded and ready to go...The show was great. I sold several pieces and felt great about the response to my work. A real treat. But it is a LOT of physical lifting, wrapping, unpacking, unwrapping to get all the work around. A lot to think about.

2007-12-10T22:36:00.000-05:00

I am so lucky as Sunday was a day spent at the studio for a full 5.5 hours. It was so nice to be in the space and energy of the place. And while Sundays are nomally pretty quiet, yesterday was different with many potters getting gifts ready for Christmas, so it was fun to connect again with this favorite community.

I find the time a place and space to process. Feelings maybe I was not fully tuned in with or aware of, come to the surface. Good, bad, sad, mad...the whole shebang. So I am sitting listening to my iPod and focusing on cutting the surface I am working on, and next thing I know I am crying. Suddenly sad-- where does it come from? I am always so taken aback by these moments. Anyway, yesterday I was missing my brother. His birthday is December 17, which is next week. So around these times- holidays, anniversaries, etc...times when we were most likely to be together, I find myself feeling it. It is in this way that I feel pottery just saves me. First I get the space to have the feelings rise to the surface, while doing something I just adore, and second, I am immediately renewed because of what I am doing. AND, having worked with clay for over 4 years, I am gaining an understanding of letting things just BE because they are. Not having to DO anything with it. Which serves me greatly when I feel sadness, because I can just let it BE. It comes, it goes. Like a wave....and Eckhert Tolle taught me to really experience it....what does it feel like to be sad...pay attention to those feelings.

next thing I know, I am back working on my clay. Adding a foot to my new little wavy plates. Sorry I forgot to take pictures...to follow soon!

Mount Holly show

2007-12-08T23:58:00.001-05:00

Here is a great photo of Lee and Ruth, who was the organizer for the show.

Mount Holly Opening Night

2007-12-07T22:52:00.001-05:00

Tonight was the opening and it went very well. there was a steady stream of people viewing all the work. A lot of woodworking, painting, photography. I think there were only three ceramicists. So a nice blend of work. I look forward to tomorrow. And I sold several pieces which is great. I had no idea how my work would be received as this is an entirely new audience for me. Even Mount Holly's Mayor purchased a piece that his wife liked!! As promised here are photos of the set up...more coming tomorrow of the event manager--Ruth!

Setting up work in Mount Holly

2007-12-03T21:56:00.000-05:00

And here I go again, next sale. What I find is preparing for the sale takes up the whole week. And I also find myself thinking about getting my hands in clay....especially watching the pieces go, knowing I need to make more. Thinking about new places I want to explore. Pieces I want to do more of.....So tonight, rock stars Lee and Sue helped me set up. And they are Rock Stars, (my teacher Amy Sanders always says this) and it is just so appropriate here.

So I had almost nothing for display-- borrowed shelving from a fellow potter Ralph Mellow, and Lee brought tables, tons of material - black, felt, silky and colors!, boxes and baskets- which saved me!!! It looks soooo good. AND Lee brought a little table to use just for sitting at tonight..like a desk. Awesome!! I have a few preliminary photos of the beginning....but more will be on the way because Lee took some GREAT shots of the set up.

Look at Lee carrying in the shelving!!

And Sue untying the shelving...

Lee, Sue and Judy---Judy works with Lee, and she is the one who let us know it was happening, and I should participate. Thank you Judy!!

One table set up --not finished yet. Check back later for a slideshow of the set up, photography by the talented Lee. She really took some neat artistic shots!

Many other artists were setting up too...beautiful work....paintings, photography, and many others on the way. I can't wait to see it all set up Friday night.

And while these past two weeks have been so hectic just in the clay world, ALSO this is my last week at the Red Cross. So I am tying up loose ends....had to buy a new computer to give back the one I am using from the REd Cross, getting files in order for the next person, planning my goodbye party, AND getting ready to go to Chamber Music at St. Peter's ....tomorrow is the First Tuesday Concert and they are introducing me to the audience. So I had to prepare the speech. Anyway, just a side note to this crazy time. Oh yea, and it is December....holiday madness. Right, I am supposed to shop and bake and all that jazz!!! Yowzaaa.

Sale!

2007-11-30T22:22:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the sale tonight. It was PACKED!!! Lots of pots and vessels were moving along to new homes. It was so fun to share the space, work and process with friends and new friends. Special mention to Red Cross friends, Courtney, Farah, and Rick. But there were so many friends who came out to visit! Thank you to all. A fellow potter said to his audience, thank you for your support and allowing us to continue our exploration and passion in clay. I feel the same way!

Here is a photo with Courtney, Farah and myself!

And some pottery friends Liz, Terry and Liesel.

Some of the Dia de los Muertos work was captivating to some people who are interested in commissioning some pieces!! Very fun!

If you missed it, there is still tomorrow.....

Clayworks sale tomorrow

2007-11-29T23:24:00.000-05:00

Friday, November 30 6-9 p and December 1, 10-3p. If you can, come on by. I saw some of the work today and it is awesome. You will not be disappointed. I am thinking of all the pieces I want to buy from the other artists.

Kiln unloaded

2007-11-28T20:27:00.000-05:00

So many great pieces came out of the kiln today. The color was a lot deeper than I am used to...not sure why, seemed like the firing was hotter than usual. The work was in a different kiln..so that could be the difference. Here is a slide show!!

Julie made sure someone was around to help me unload!!!, and that someone was Susan. And even Greg left a a note to call in case I needed help. SOOO great not to worry about getting it unloaded.

Coordinating

2007-11-27T17:56:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was in the studio from 11am to 11pm getting the pieces ready for the kiln. Hopefully they will be ready on Wed evening. No photos....my camera needs new batteries. But tomorrow will have lots of photos of the new work. Right now it is cooking away....

I will be in another show in Mount Holly next week..for this one I have to provide the shelving and display tools, etc....which is a bit more demanding...packing up everything, pricing it and recording it on sheets, dropping off the stuff, setting it up....picking it up later. Lots of sweat going in....I am not convinced this is the avenue for me to get work out to the world....I like the idea of online options better.

Having to coordinate schedules with others, since I need help packing the stuff into the car, unloading the shelving units and assembling them...etc etc. I feel so vulnerable when I have to depend on others....it is one of my personal challenges using a wheelchair. I have to ask for help. No way around it , or not do certain things. But I want to do it and I want to do it myself. Arggh frustrates me. If I were walking still it would probably not be a big deal...but it seems to be my lesson. Keeps coming back for me to wrestle with it. I think I have it mastered, then I am tested, or pushed further...so here we go a little bit further into my discomfort zone...

Oh and last night was another test. Since I again took so long to glaze my stuff, Julie could not help me load the kiln last night. So she did it this morning without me. So it is getting done. But I could not help but think, if I could load the kiln by myself, it would not matter when I finished....I would just do it then. I just feel a loss of choice, flexibility. It pushes up against me,,,,nudges me and irks me just enough. Time and time again. I wonder when it won't bother me anymore?

Thanksgiving Day

2007-11-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving. I am visiting my father and Joan. this morning they were busy making little meatballs for soup:

And Dad built two ramps so I can get around the house when and where I want..choice. is a great thing.

Fall Leaves

2007-11-20T10:44:00.000-05:00

I continue to gasp and oooo and ahhhh and the amazing Fall color. I drive by a tree and am astounded by the brilliant, intense, potent color on the trees. Just breathtaking. I need to remind my self to stay on the road, because I see these trees while driving through Charlotte.

On the way to work, I took my camera and captured some of the brilliant color!

The first tree I see, the Maple in my front yard. In a few days it will be blazing red.

Oh and the Cherry Tree in my front yard.... and then a few others as I drive to work.

Look at the dusty rays of sun that were caught in this photo....quite unexpected...I was very qucikly just shooting pictures, barely looking through the lens.....

I think about the seasons and how trees, at the end of their cycle, look so beautiful. Then I wish our culture would feel the same way about people. That they too are beautiful in their final years and days. That the deep lines and soft skin are beautiful to behold. What I hear too often is Stay Young, Dye Your Hair, Lift Your Skin, anything to remain young looking. I think that is part of why I like leaving the fingerprints, cracks and holes, and uneven ridges in my ceramics work. It doesn't have to be "all shiny and perfect" to be beautiful.

I learned this too when I sustained a spinal cord injury. One day I was a 21 year old walking around woman with a working body that looked pretty good. Physically fit, flexible, limber. The next day, a body that nowhere around me said looked good...no stomach muscle to hold in the stomach, pancake thighs, swollen ankles....and that is just the tip of the iceburg. I did not look at myself naked fully in a mirror for three years. NO exaggeration. The first time I looked down at my stomach while I was sitting down in a shower, I cried. I looked 5 months pregnant.

But what I came to realize after 5, 6 maybe 7 years of using a wheelchair, was that really really beauty is not the physical ....this sounds OVERUSED- but it really is a decision on the inside.

NO LIE, as soon as I made that decision, I had soooo many people tell me directly, in the grocery store, video store, on the street, friends, etc. that I was beautiful. I had never received this much or direct type of feedback before in my life. (of course the grandmas and great aunts always had said it!!) I know the feedback just affirmed my decision I had already made about myself.

so-where does this leave (leaf!) us?? ....Musings for the day!

Making glaze

2007-11-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

I like making glaze because it is the same process as baking...exact measurments, following a recipe, mixing it all together, scraping the sides to get all the stuff. No baking it right away, but it will bake!, although at quite a bit higher temp. Cone 5 -which is the temperature I fire at -is 2232F...a little bit warmer than the oven in the kitchen!

Photos of the process: In these photos are the tools of the trade, measuring, blending through a sieve, and me being safe with a mask!!! The ingredients are not good to breath in....using silica, metals like manganese, iron oxide, cobalt oxide.....and by the way, some of the metals are heavier than they look, which surprises me when I pick them up.

And yes, I am smiling under that mask!

Now I am ready to go next week to glaze.....

Small world

2007-11-18T22:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my mother returned from a three week trip overseas in Taiwan, Vietnam and Cambodia. It was fun to travel with her...and you can see her trip on her blog.

During her travels she visited a village that seemed to have a lot of pottery as its focus...maybe like a Seagrove? Not sure. But it was fun to see the photos of tons of clay sitting on the sidewalk, or people squatting at the wheel making work. Definitely production focused.

No pottery today for me. Although I have a load of stuff in my car that I need to get to the studio....the makings for black glaze, slip and a new clay to try out.....

Fall colors

2007-11-18T00:11:00.001-05:00

I have not seen a fall like this since I left New York State. It was the one thing I really missed, (I did not miss the 9 months of cold or cloudy and rainy or foul weather, or the 120 or more inches of snow...) I could remember looking at trees and thinking, "I could meet my end driving and looking", I became so captivated. Well this fall is like that. Captivating. I keep ooohhh and ahhhhhing in my car as I drive around the city. Mostly the maples are the most stunning. Although this picture hardly captures the variety and drama of the color, it is what I see on my street. That crimson....yowza...

My house and tree are not as stunning as those red trees, but the maple in front is turning slowly...so soon enough I will have blazing glory!!

Then tonight, Liesel celebrated her birthday by inviting some friends to share dinner with her at the Cheesecake factory. After being told there is a 2.5 hour wait!!!!! We decided Villa Antonia was a much better idea..and had a great evening celebrating her birthday.

Pre and post bisque kiln

2007-11-16T22:19:00.001-05:00

I spend a lot of time on my pieces for the first firing which is called bisque firing. Applying oxides, writing on them...here are some photos of the pieces before firing....

Here are the mugs with crocus martis on them, ready for me to now write many letters to Jim!

And here they are after the writing... and then the last photo...after the first firing....

I had a couple people ask me when writing on the pots, if it is the same thing over and over or different. As in any letter, the only thing that is the same is the opening, Dear....which is always Jimmy. And then the letter is different.

I just write what is on my mind. It could be the day I have had, or something on my mind. Sometimes I find myself asking him questions, and I don't like it, because he is not going to answer. So I focus again on sharing about my life and how I am feeling. I feel connected to my brother afterwards. In a physical present moment type of way. Sometimes I wonder if would he have listened to me if he were here, or sometimes I will hear him respond as if he were around....

He used to love to say to me, "you are out there" or if someone was around, "my sister, she is out there." Because I use organic products, or like acupuncture...stuff like that. I can just hear him respond at times during my letters. another great one was if I was stressing, or fretting, or upset....he would say, relax....or chill out dude. I hear that too.

Setting up gallery

2007-11-16T22:06:00.000-05:00

Clayworks has a gallery and all the studio artists are encouraged to place work in it. That was interesting....as my work is so varied...some really distinct styles...and then making it work together on a shelf...I did not get any input and still wonder what are the considerations/choices when creating the space....

I had fun setting it up...it took longer than I thought....plus I had to price all my work...and pricing is sooo hard. It is not simply considering how much time, materials, rent, and other work in the gallery....but I think my experience. Because if I took just time, materials, rent...the pieces would be much higher, but considering other work and my experience, I feel the prices should be a bit lower.

Much to share

2007-11-12T23:27:00.001-05:00

I have lots of photos and a great session from the studio today..but it will have to wait until tomorrow....too late tonight.