Too many hobbies!

New Beach Teapot

2012-02-14T06:20:00.000-08:00

And pot with oranges

2012-02-14T06:16:00.001-08:00

QR code on my pots

2012-02-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to do this for a long time, so these pots finally are "marked" with a QR code I crated then made a silkscreen of it and can put this little message on the bottom of my pots (put on greenware) --underglaze through silkscreen. I have some other ideas to use these QR codes on my ceramic also. Stay tuned. You can create your own QR coded message in several places on the internet. And, of course, if you have a smart phone with a QR reader app you can read what it says.

Some new items for January

2012-01-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

I have been busy, and have had wonderful sales in the past several months. I am in a new gallery---
Figments and it is a very special place to shop as well as teach. Lots of great art classes available there. I will be teaching a class tomorrow --Introduction to Clay and will also teach my silkscreen class there as well.

In the meantime, I have been experimenting with low fire clay and majolica techniques ---some of my results are shown here, all for sale in Figments.

It's been ages

2011-12-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

since I have posted, here are a couple of things I have been working on, all but the kiteflyers have been sold, the kiteflyers will go into shop tomorrow, I had to get the copper inserted, so it's the last one, but I have more sculptures drying awaiting first firing. These are fun.

What a difference the right backgrounds make

2011-09-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

This is a repeat of some of the photos below, but I did purchase a nice gradated background for my photographs (Varitone 31in x 43in vertical format Item# 39 Varitone 31in wide x 43in long(78.7cm x 1.1m) vinyl) from: http://www.phototechinc.com/graduate.htm
I took photos in my masterbathroom late in the day which has the best natural light from two windows (one covered by a soft rollup shade whch diffuses the bright light. I used my DroidX camera using ZoomFX app and got some pretty nice pictures I think. Sure makes my work look nice doesn't it?

More ornaments

2011-07-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

Just out of bisque kiln, now to glaze and refire all of these:

Christmas in July

2011-07-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

Now that the 4th is gone it's OK to think about Christmas isn't it? Well, I have found that the ceramic process takes so long that I have to start this early. I have a new toy, the silhouette SD digital cutting machine and it has enabled me to produce some wonderful designs in cardstock which can then be made into a silkscreen and used on my pottery. I was looking for some new ideas for Christmas ornaments and here are a few I am playing with.

Also experimenting with low fire white clay "And" single firing after the designs are silkscreened on with underglaze and the pieces are bone dry, I have glazed them and fired them. These are my first batch and I am pretty encouraged. Wanting to find a nice package for them I found an excellent little box that cuts on the cutting machine.

Unfortunately I only had brown cardstock so you can't see the Christmas"y" effect, but having tried them, I have ordered lots of red cardstock. They will make a nice presentation for the ornaments and I can resize them to fit. I am in awe of the capabilities of that little machine and plan to give it a workout. The software that is "free" with it enables one to come up with own designs, text, etc. Lots of possibilities here.

Finished Boxes

2011-06-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Thought you might like to see the finished boxes from this posting

Basket #1 finished

2011-06-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Really nice to have my own kiln, I got to open it this morning and see the final results of my basket making technique. I am pleased.

Some new Items for June

2011-06-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

These are drying,

still have a few more basket ideas to work on, but need to mix things up a bit, so making my bombe' boxes, one inspired by a wedding cake I saw with acqua and white coral, this box will have acqua underglaze on it with white coral, and then trying my birds in the marshes sketchy designs using a blue and white palette instead of the gold one.

Tisket tasket, love my new basket

2011-05-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to create a basket out of clay, one that looks like a real basket. Over 20 years ago, I bought this real basket

and have loved it. It is usually filled with plants (with a plastic bag liner), but it is getting very tired and some of the basket material is deteriorating. So I used this basket as inspiration for a clay basket, it is now complete and is drying. I am going to love it and have some other basket projects in mind now.

One of my favorite recent things

2011-05-22T04:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of a box I made inspired by a painting I saw on the net "somewhere" I loved that painting and have no idea who painted it, but wanted to use it as inspiration to try out a new technique and make a box with that imagery. Of course, my latest items are always my favorites, but this little box did turn out exactly as planned and sometimes that is not always the case. I put it for sale in the recent art show and sold it that night. So now only my photos of it remain.

The lady that bought it seemed to love it as much as I did and she actually bought three of my items and I kept seeing her look at it as she walked around and could tell she was so pleased with her purchases. Actually, I am glad she is the one who bought it. She also bought the indigo batik box I showed here:

Cameron Art Museum Art of the State/State of the Art Exhibit

2011-05-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

What an exciting event! I was happy to be able to place one of my pieces in this exhibit:

I also uploaded tons of video taken after my volunteer shift on Saturday morning. Lots of amazing art here, urge all who visit Wilmington, NC between now and October to check it out.

Indigo Batik Box

2011-04-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Also out of the kiln, I have two more little items with the Batik Technique ready to be glaze fired. I need to work on the technique more, gotta get the wax to crackle smaller and try other colors of silkscreen too.

Refiring with Clear Glaze

2011-04-30T05:43:00.000-07:00

I was not happy with the natural look of the body of these vases, the screenprint designs were too dark for my liking. I had wiped iron oxide over the outside of these and just glazed the inside and the handles. Sooooo, I reglazed the outside with a no zinc clear glaze and I like them much better. I think next time, if I want the natural clay body to show, I will just not use oxide but I think I did that because I had some light spots that showed after bisque that I didn't want to be there in the final firing, so I used oxide to darken the natural clay overall. The clear does make the silkscreened pattern more distinct. So a before and after look here:

Also made another of these wonky vases using a different decorating technique and glaze combo, on of my favorites:

I had also used this design/shape for a few other mini vases which are for sale at my ETSY shop:

Results of my indigo batik experiment

2011-04-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

These are the 3" test tiles and I am very pleased with the look. Used virtually the same technique as for fabric, only I did use my silkscreens to get the blue print on raw clay. Today, I used the same technique for a box, also in blue. I will now experiment with other colors. I love the old look these have and am excited to use this decoration on several different forms.

Oh I am excited about my new technique

2011-04-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

No photos yet, but I am experimenting with a new decorating technique that will look like Indigo Batik Fabric. Did up several 3" tiles using this new technique and they are now coated with clear and will come out of the kiln in a week or two. This is the studio's kiln and the owner of the studio waits for a full load before she loads and fires. I am very excited that I have my own kiln now and DH is getting it wired today.
In the meantime, here are some cute little vases I made, plus a ceramic wall painting that you can hang outside (weather proof), you can take it down and put in on your table and slice cheese or whatever on it, put it in the dishwasher, and then hang back up on the wall) Might make more of these ceramic canvas things, who knows:

My porfolio video

2011-03-29T04:46:00.000-07:00

Created this to show a sampling of my work, most items have been sold and gone, but it is good to have photos as memories of some of these items:

New in March

2011-03-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

I am playing with a more painterly technique on plates and a ceramic wall canvas, playing also with the idea that you can hang it as art, take it off wall and use to serve on table, cheese, etc., then put in dishwasher, then hang back on wall. A slideshow was the easiest way to post so here it is:

Something different

2011-02-07T04:44:00.000-08:00

Magnolia box

A couple more mermaids

2011-01-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

I am trying to get a video sized enough and uploaded so I can include it of the fountain working, but in the meantime, here is the first vase mermaid and a mermaid to hang on the wall:

My Mermaid Fountain

2011-01-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

Mermaids finished

2011-01-10T14:15:00.000-08:00

I love decorating and have kept up with many current decorating blogs. "Habitually Chic" just posted two photos which I have taken the liberty of including with my new mermaid plate. I think I will try showing my new pieces in a color context in home settings. My mermaid plate would look fabulous in either of these two settings I think, don't you?

Mermaids

2010-12-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

Thinking ahead to spring, the Gallery where I have my work closes in January, so restocking more beachy things for the spring, started with my first fountain and will continue my mermaid series until something else catches my fancy: All these are in various stages of drying two types of clay, sculpture clay and brown speckled --This month, I will use up all the clay in my bin before buying more, too easy to just to buy a new box of clay and leave the leftovers from previous projects to pile up, so I will concentrate my efforts on using up most if not all of what I have first.

Getting Ready for December Show/Sale

2010-11-12T06:43:00.000-08:00

Just a quick peek at the things I have been making lately to get ready for the Coastal Carolina December Show/Sale

Plus, just shipped this bowl commissioned by a lovely customer in Jacksonville, Fl---

This time I got a picture

2010-10-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

As I previously reported, my first sculpture/planter sold before I had gotten a photo of the finished piece--the photos shown below are of a piece drying. However, I made a second one and here she is glazed and ready for a nice home.

Some new items

2010-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I posted, here are a couple of new pieces

Taken on her Debut

2010-09-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

Lorelei won a Best in Category award by Juror of the Landfall Art Show. She also was sold and "renamed." Her new owner is a lovely woman who is presently undergoing cancer treatment. When she saw her, she couldn't sleep that night thinking about her. Lorelei's new name is "Hope." She has found a wonderful home.

Two more pieces that just got out of the kiln for the second day of the show. One of my favorites sold and I never got a photo of her after glazing. She sold two hours after I set her up. Here are some photos of her while drying. She really looked great after glazing.

Lorelei, my first full size figure all in ceramic clay

2010-09-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

Finally, she is finished and quite sturdy with five separate pieces. She will make her debut at the Landfall Art Show next weekend and if she doesn't find a home there, I will put her in the Arboretum Show in October. Hopefully by Christmas she will be in a good home. I enjoyed the challenge of making her, but not sure I will be attempting anything quite this adventurous any time soon. More photos of her and a video can be seen here.

Honored and Humbled

2010-08-15T06:44:00.001-07:00

I am honored to have one of my pieces on display as a part of our local guild's exhibition at the NC Pottery Center. I learned upon our group's arrival for the opening reception on Friday that my box had been sold before the show's official opening and the buyer has to leave the item on display until the exhibit closes in November. I was surprised, pleased and humble to have this happen in the heart of NC's pottery center. Please visit the exhibit there if you can, the NC Pottery Center is awesome! I have uploaded all the photos taken during our visit to Seagrove (bus trip with several other members of our guild), to Seagrove, (In addition to the visit for NC Pottery Center reception, we also visited several potters in the area, and one fantastic "collector"). It was a great trip and the photos can be seen here.

Just delivered to Topsail Art Gallery

2010-08-06T06:17:00.001-07:00

Mostly Beach Themed items------

Tree Treasury

2010-08-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

My Joyce Kilmer Tree Vase was just featured in this Etsy Treasury tucked among some beautiful tree related art. I am so pleased.

Using Photoshop to Assemble "Lorelei"

2010-07-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's her name, and the last piece was finished (building) only, just two days ago. The top two sections have been bisque fired, the bottom three are in various drying stages, hopefully ready for bisque firing next week or so, in this weather, drying is pretty fast. Since I can't assemble her I have had to enlist aid at the studio to hold the various sections in place so I could get some sort of visual bechmark, there is still a lot I don't know yet, until I can really stack the pieces one on top of the other. But by the time I can do that, I won't be able to change much. Well using Photoshop, I have stacked her just to see how she "might" look. Not too bad for my first major sculpture attempt. I think she will end up being about 60--62" tall with several inches of each piece lost as they fit inside another piece. Since I can't actually place the items onto the lower pieces since they are too soft, I had to do it with Photoshop and the photos I have taken along the way. Now to get each piece through the bisque and glaze firing process, hope to have her done for the September Art Show. It has been grueling working on her in the studio ----hot and sweaty work. About 80 lb of clay all together. I think this project has gotten me over the desire to make "big" things, at least for now.

Avatar maybe

2010-07-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

In between struggling with my full size figure--garden girl, I whipped out this vase again using a face, but a studio friend at first look thought I was trying to make her look like the Avatar image, but actually I havn't even seen the movie, nor thought along those lines, however, if that is what she looked like to him, maybe he has something, so if you think so to, Avatar she is. But I love the way she turned out. Also made some ceramic hooks to test some glazes on my paper clay to help decide how to glaze my full size figure. Also found my silkscreen worked fairly nicely over two of my matte glazes, silkscreened underglaze on top of applied but dry, but not yet fired, glazes. I had done some previous experiments with this also and it works well.

Record three posts in one day

2010-07-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

Another grouping showing progress made on my garden girl today. Another studio friend, Karen Harbaugh was nice enough to hold the top section just about where it would rest (clay on bottom is still too soft to support the weight of the head and shoulders without someone holding it. But I have the arms in place and a nest for her to hold, now she is back under wraps to dry and next week I will tackle the two pieces of the skirt and start thinking about other decorations. I may silkscreen quotations/poems about the garden on her not sure at the moment. But, I am very pleased so far. Also, my jumping frogs sold to the first person who saw it. I will do one with butterflies too, that should be fun. Well, now to get ready for my weekend company, daughter and family will be coming and our grandaughter will be Miss Liberty in our local parade. Promises to be great fun.

Frogs are Jumping

2010-07-01T06:06:00.001-07:00

In the meantime, I have been creating a few other whimsical things so I can take a break from the full body figure. I had fun making this and just finished it, makes me smile and hope it makes you smile too:

The Butterflies have landed

2010-07-01T05:46:00.001-07:00

Phase II of my latest project (just to see if I can?) is to make a lifesize or almost lifesize figure, building it in phases and in sections due to kiln size limitations, hopefully,ultimately fitting together with a rebar in concrete support structure. The first phase, shown previously was the head, originally, I had planned to make a sea oriented figure, but have recently tired of the beach theme so when I wasn't looking, butterflies landed on her head, and changed my focus. I knew the first two phases, head and torso/hands would be the most difficult, and since I have never done this before, nor had a class on figure modeling, I was sort of just winging it. I started the bodice section on Monday and I did have a template for the place where the head section would fit on top, but because of the soft clay, I decided to build the bodice upside down, knowing I was taking a risk about proportions, etc. When that section hardened enough to turn right side up, I enlisted the help of one of my studio buddies, Roger Mansur, to hold the head section up over the bodice to see if it was close enough. For the past two days, I have been working on the arms (arghhh!), now knowing why so many figures are made without them. At any rate, I have now created a nest bowl for her to hold which helps disguise the hands a little. It is coming along and today I will take photos of that section too. She obviously is a garden girl now and the next two phases will be the skirt sections, each designed to fit with the other pieces. Whew, can't believe I have gotten this far. I did design the project so I could quit at each stage (first two), in case things didn't work out, but now I think I might have a shot at finishing her. When she was going to be sea oriented, I was calling her Lorelei, but now I am not sure she might need a new name. Still am contemplating decorating her with garden quotes, etc., and might even make a base to be able to put garden creatures, squirrels, bunnies, etc around her skirt. Well, here she is so far.

I am into faces now

2010-06-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hot from today's kiln opening:

My first (almost lifesize) sculpture

2010-06-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

Well, to give myself more challenges and get away, at least temporarily, from some of the smaller things I make, I decided to try an almost "lifesize" figure. I plan to construct it in four pieces so I can get them all in the kiln which has size limits, of course. I also realize I can give myself room to "quit" at each of the first two stages, if I so choose by making it this way. The first top part has been constructed and is now drying. I am using paper clay from Axner which I love for many reasons, especially for a project like this. I now can contemplate and plan the remaining pieces, which might have a sea theme, I especially like the poem "Oceanus" by William Sharp 1855-1905---and may make silkscreens to decorate her dress along with other ocean imagery/text. Still in planning stage although I feel I reached a milestone getting her this far. She is tucked away behind toweling to dry. I am also inclined to make all four pieces and not fire them until all have been constructed/decorated with underglazes, etc. A true work in progress, here she is:

Inspiration from Scandinavia

2010-06-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

I often get inspired by designs I see in other medium. For example, this gorgeous Scandinavian bag made from felt was the inspiration for the series I am making in ceramic, as vases/holders, etc. Just delivered this one
to the Topsail Art Gallery for sale, and have glazed four more different designs yesterday which might be out of the kiln next week. I am not the only one inspired by the Scandinavian bag, it appears Canuck Craft was also inspired.

Lots of beachy things

2010-06-03T08:27:00.001-07:00

My herons are in glorious company

2010-06-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sarah Knight for including my herons in the moonlight in her gorgeous collection/treasury at ETSY

My new Beach Box

2010-04-30T05:56:00.001-07:00

Similar to design of my beach mug, this nice tall box is about 11" tall. I will be listing it on my ETSY store soon--I was really happy with the way this turned out. I just listed my Herons in Moonlight vase

I can reveal contents of package now!

2010-04-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is the commissioned piece using my computer/Photoshop skills to capture suitable images and text requested to enable me to create custom silkscreens to use on this box.
Here is the photo of the conductor that I used to create the silkscreen.

and using photoshop, I came up with this picture to be used as silkscreen for the box:

Can't open package just yet

2010-04-24T05:13:00.001-07:00

This week I delivered a custom ceramic piece commissioned by a group of local musicians to give to their departing conductor. Can't unwrap the package and show the contents until after the presentation on the 27th. This was a fun project and I had to make several silkscreens specifically designed for the gift recipient. Next week I will post the open package.

My Trip to Beach Mug

2010-04-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Yeah, my beach mug for sale in my Etsy Shop was featured in Treasury West's Trip around the World!

Pauline's Place is Open for Business

2010-04-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Just began listing a few items for sale. Take a peak.

My first "thrown" teapot

2010-04-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

Some Finished items

2010-03-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Most of the boxes shown in slideshow below while drying are now finished. Now I move on, time to tackle some other things. I did love the way these silkscreened items turned out and boxes are useful. I have two more platters to go into glaze kiln today and one serving plate with feathers and a quotation from Emily Dickenson. I just found my favorite (of the day) quotation which I found on Vicki Liles Gill's blog which is from famous potter Bernard Leach. This quotation sums up art perfectly for me:

"I think the final word I would use as a criterion of value in the world of art, if I were reduced to a single word, would be the presence of life.... It is a force that goes beyond all arts or artists. It is the ultimate standard and it is attainable."

Waiting to be bisqued

2010-02-28T17:47:00.001-08:00

I love my new boxes with different silkscreen designs on each on and lots of texture on another. I love making these:

One has it's lid askew, didn't notice it until looking at this video, I didn't place it on top properly. Hopefully these will be out of bisque by the end of the week, but then into glaze firing so won't be until at least three weeks to see these done.
I have been doing a lot with trees lately.

More from February's efforts

2010-02-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

I had fun with these, trying to get more text on my work, the tree vase was fun and I tried two different versions of the birch tree silkscreen, one all white, the other white and black. I had used this silkscreen way back and made three items, all sold. They are in the slideshow in this posting, black birch on turquoise background, in three seasons, fall summer and winter.
And needed to make more "catitude" vases since all that I have made have also sold. I am working on a platter with the tree and poem as well and will do a few more items/forms using that theme, but I have so many more ideas I want to try, I am energized again. In Wilmington, we rarely get snow, but we woke up this morning to this beautiful sight

More pictures can be seen here.

A few more from January

2010-02-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

.....and a few more things finished. Did three window scenes but only one with lid. Also did a total blue screen printed fabric print on cylinder vase and decided to give it a ruffle front, I need to do some more blue and white, they seem to sell quickly.
Then, a few playthings for Valentine's day. I have a few pieces drying now that will use my birch tree screen on speckled brown clay, they look pretty good in the drying stage. Will photograph later.

From drying to finished piece

2010-02-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Looks like the photoshop test glaze was pretty useful. First picture was as piece was awaiting bisque firing, scene painted with window and cat silkscreened over scene, then the Photoshop "test" glaze then final picture with background glaze, black and clear glaze over scene which brightens the colors of the underglazes. I will have to explore using photoshop again to test glazes on a piece.

Using Photoshop to "test" Glazes

2010-01-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

I was wondering what glaze I would use for my windows series. I used photoshop to test the look of a glaze I was considering, didn't go for perfect photo, just enough --like a sketch to see if I would like it and I do. Just found an item where I had used the intended glaze and cloned bits of that glaze from the pear box where I used it before and cloned it around the window on the piece drying. Not a wonderful photo, but just enough to see that it would work for me and I will try this glaze when item is bisqued. The hardest part of glazing is deciding what glazes to use. If I can think about it now, glazing will be easier.

One more "Window" Box drying

2010-01-22T05:48:00.001-08:00

A third vessal, this time a lidded tall box with window and beach scene and grey cat this time. Next to that is a tall cylinder vase with an allover blue and white fabric design with ruffled front, also drying.

Using the Sun's UV rays to burn silkscreen

2010-01-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

In case you wondered what that looked like: Photo from a previous class, I am sorry I didn't make a video with sound of Terre singing her homage to the sun (she was a schoolteacher in a previous life), while we were burning our screens. It must have worked though, because the screens all turned out perfectly with even a 3 UV rating last Saturday.

Let there be light!

2010-01-20T06:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Ginny Eckley's instructions on how to build a light table, I am now able to make silkscreens no matter how bright it is outside. Up to now, I have waited until mid-day to "burn" a new screen, and thanks to living in mostly sunny NC, this hasn't been too bad, but now when the creative urge strikes in the dark, I can whip out the light table my DH made me for Christmas and drive on! Exposure time is 12 minutes (in mid-day UV sun, 1 minute +/- 10 seconds), but I am a multi-tasker and can find plenty to do while timing the 12 minutes.

New pieces drying

2010-01-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

My students in my silkscreen class last Saturday got so excited I was inspired to make a few more --I have been wanting to do a windows series for a while, so these are my first test pieces along with another beach box with shells only. All greenware at this stage.

Screenprinting slideshow

2010-01-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

New year Resolutions----Blah!

2010-01-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

Worked at the gallery on the last day of the year and surprised there were quite a few people out and about. We even had some sales. The blue and white beach box in this entry sold after Christmas as did all three of the music themed plates that I took into the shop after Christmas which were like the ones in this posting. I had some very decent sales in December despite the fact that I sold over 60 items at the December Guild Pottery show. I had to take nearly everything out of the gallery for the show since I did not have much hanging about. All in all a wonderful December. I was at the studio today all day and have these things going into the bisque kiln perhaps next week. I have been playing with my fences silkscreen and this is the third item. One is in the shop, see entry below, one is ready to go into glaze kiln (no photo yet), it doesn't look very interesting with glaze on it before firing. The first attempt broke before getting into bisque kiln. Had a couple in shop yesterday who asked me if I would be willing to put more of this theme into the gallery they are opening. Not sure if I will do this, since they aren't open yet and lots of questions are unanswered, but in the meantime, I thought I would play around with some different forms using this screen. Also everyone here loves anything with turtles. We have an active turtle rescue program on our beaches and many people volunteer and support these activities, thank goodness. Thought I might play with the dolphins too.
I have another silkscreen on clay class coming up on January 17th and I am considering making a PDF file to sell on Etsy outlining my process on making and using the screens. Not sure about making it a NY's resolution though. We shall see, it is an idea that I have been playing with.

Happy New Year to you all

2009-12-31T18:23:00.000-08:00

Enjoying this very last day of 2009 and hope you all are doing the same.
Life is sweet.

A couple more

2009-12-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Been so busy with family and Christmas, but had an abolutely beautiful Christmas with our two "new" grandchildren. My daughter Kristina married a wonderful young man this year who has two fantastic children and we were lucky this year to have the whole family visit for Christmas. I did manage to get a couple of things out of the kiln this past week and here they are.

More Silkscreen on clay

2009-12-18T04:50:00.001-08:00

I love the wrought iron fence with birds and have another piece drying. Also have a few things coming out of kiln today but can hardly remember what went in there. My inventory at the shop is very low, which is a good thing. I am giving another silkscreen workshop on January 16th, so I thought I would take some time to use screens I had made but not used too much, plus working on screens to add more text, etc. to my claywork. Just having fun! Yesterday, I did spend the day wrapping gifts for Christmas, something I usually did at the last minute. Now I need to make a fresh wreath for the front door, but will head to the studio this morning for a bit.
We have 14 or 16 coming for dinner Christmas Eve for DH's annual lasagna. Plus, for the first time since we moved here, we will have children waking up on Christmas morning here. We are definitely looking forward to their visit.

2009-12-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

I love doing this kind of work on my pottery, This bowl would look lovely as a decorative item filled with ornaments, or on the holiday table with a fruit salad.

Whew, been busy

2009-12-07T05:51:00.000-08:00

Yes, the music plates (two at least), made it out in time and were presented by my friend's chamber music group to their music professors and everyone seemed very pleased with them. I have three more in progress, then I will change to another theme using the music sheets though. This was followed by our annual clay guild show and sale, so I have been very busy. It was a wonderful sale with fantastic pottery and ceramic art for sale. We had a wonderful turnout and I sold lots! The three kitties which I never did get around to posting photos of, sold immediately, as well as my experimental "Leopard skin pattern box" and lots and lots of other things. I am just now trying to get my inventory managed to see what sold, etc. so here are some photos of things "gone." My new beach boxes have a different glaze for water and some additional seashells added to sandy bottom, I think I like this combination better than my original ones, although I think each iteration is slightly different. I enjoy making these and they are very popular and sell right away.

In the Bisque Kiln

2009-11-25T04:43:00.000-08:00

Two of these are sold if I can get them out --finished by Dec 2. I used underglazes on the leaves then I will clear glaze them. I have some more ideas as variations on this theme I will pursue maybe today at the studio.

Such a long wait

2009-11-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

I made a few more music themed items, but it takes such a long time to get them finished. These babies are in for drying, then another week or so for bisque, then another week or so to get them out of glaze kiln. I have several things waiting to be final fired, and that batch might be out next Tuesday. In fairness, I think I made these things after we got home from our two week trip, so certainly formed about 8th of Nov or so, and to be able to see them next Tuesday is really about two weeks. I find that my brown speckled clay takes a lot longer to dry. I have several things on the bisque shelf as well. Made these today and will post when they come out of final kiln and will, therefore, have a real feel for how long it takes. The kilns are pretty busy this time of year, so things might be moving a little faster than usual.
Here's a photo showing the items on the "waiting for bisque firing"
Boy, until I posted all this I hadn't realized how busy I have been this month, especially since, for me, handbuilding takes quite a while. I also have another big leaf platter that will come out of Glaze kiln (hopefully intact) that I didn't photograph for this posting. Next week!

My new creation

2009-11-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

Most of my turtle items have sold in one week, also the beach box sold. I have two more drying as well as another two leaf platters, but my newest "fun" creations are my kitty vases. Here is a picture of one (I have made three), and I am hoping they look good after glazing, etc., I used to have a brooch that looked something like this with that backward looking attitude, and I thought it would be a hoot to recreate this look as a vase. I can see a bunch of daisies coming out of the vase can't you? Also did one with texture on vase and a different texture on rear and face. Stay tuned for finished projects in a couple of weeks.

My Goodness!

2009-11-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

Before my stuff even got into "official inventory" at the shop, three of the items have been sold. I had a good day today and my turtle series is off to a good start. Of course, the lady from Ocean Isle Beach who "just happened to be an adopted mother of a turtle" bought several of my pieces, including three of my turtle vessels and my beachbox. I had already sold the tumbling rocks box I put in the shop just before we left. My Hosta leaf holders also have had a fairly decent run and today, I sold an item, I never did post on this blog, a lovely green platter with impressed leaves.
It is fun to meet the people who buy my items on the three days a month I work at the gallery. Today was a good day!

Turtles, birds beach and stars

2009-11-06T18:30:00.001-08:00

More on my beach theme, a box similar to the one I featured here and sold, and using a new silkscreen showing turtles on the beach including hatching scene. This area is pretty famous for our loggerhead turtle nestings. Also a batch of star ringholders and a pair of candleholders. Will be in gallery tomorrow.

More Pots for October

2009-10-12T04:49:00.001-07:00

Playing around with some new shapes/forms, more use of my new acqua glaze, and addition of silkscreen turtles to my beach collection. Some of these sold from my trunk before I got them to the shop.

Still at the "Beach"

2009-09-05T08:39:00.001-07:00

Still experimenting with my beach bird images and some new (for me) clay. I have only recently decided to work with brown speckled clay and to try various new ways to use my silkscreens. I have found I can "transfer" from newsprint onto matte glaze surfaces to give a sepia look. Same image direct screenprinted is decidedly more black. Also trying to capture the textures and colors of the beach as our beach season here in Wilmington winds down. I have a few new images of turtles that I am playing with also. I like the variations I have been getting with brown speckled clay.

New for August

2009-08-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much experience using speckled brown clay before, and had a bag of it from almost two years ago, so decided to try a few things. Except for vase at the bottom, all these were made from that clay body. I see lots of possibilities and love the result so today I will get more of this clay and see where else I can go with it.
I had some nice surprises with this kiln opening.

My new Shorebird items

2009-08-10T03:24:00.000-07:00

Having fun using the new silkscreen images from the sea. Quick items made to demonstrate using silkscreens on clay at my last class.
Love these little birds!

New Work in July

2009-07-10T04:26:00.000-07:00

I am having fun as usual working in several different directions. Love making my "Seafoam" pods and am experimenting with different glazes as well. The cutwork is a personal favorite technique I find soothing. My Asian vessal has a screenprint in underglaze on it and I like the way it turned out too. I only made one cutwork bird, but plan to make many more of these since they look beautiful all year round "and" would look great as Christmas ornament as well.

Some things change

2009-06-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is the black and white box shown earlier before finishing, but after bisque firing, I decided it needed a little more color. It is finished and in place at the shop.

Forgot to show you the new teapot

2009-06-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

I showed the "Petals" teapot I made and my DH broke, but forgot to show you the replacement, which I liked better anyway, and it sold rather quickly. Guess I will have to try to make another one.

boxes

2009-06-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

Playing around with boxes, everyone seems to like and have some use for them.

A couple of new things

2009-06-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

Not yet finished, used silkscreen for butterfly:

Artist of the Month--June

2009-06-03T05:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all, here are some new things making their debut this month as Artist of the Month for June at the Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts. I am so pleased and had such fun making these items. The large planter is a second attempt at one I made last year, it is similar, but different in that the saucer is attached and the face is aligned higher. Just wanted to see if I could make this again, I never know!

Lessons, lessons, lessons

2009-05-22T05:38:00.000-07:00

As every potter/ceramic artist has experienced----things get broken. DH bumped into the table holding some of the items I had just finished grinding bottoms, etc. (my fault in that spout was hanging over the table a bit) and "crash." As I had said, I have a whole bunch of things I have been making in this series. In fact, just finished glazing most of them yesterday---to go with this teapot! Since this accident happened a few weeks ago, I have since made another (different though) teapot. All this potential risk at each stage of the process kind of adds excitement and makes a finished product all the more wonderful I think. My innate sense of re purposing won't pitch this mess thinking I might just be able to do something with it. Mosaic?? who knows, ----

On Mother's Day and how to expand the joy!

2009-05-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

My daughter and her new family (got married in April to a wonderful man with two wonderful children----voila, I am an instant grandmother!). Anyway, they sent me a beautiful bouquet of tulips. I grow so many flowers in my garden, I often think I do not need florist flowers, BUT---surprise to me, this bouquet has pleased me so much. I moved them into my Master Bath, of all places and realized with the mirrors I quadrupled the display from one bouquet to FOUR! Beau, our oldest cat seems to enjoy them too. I put them in the bathroom since our youngest (and most mischievous cat) likes to push things over in the Bedroom to wake us up. Little did I know that the bathroom with its mirrors was the perfect place for them. I probably visit that room more often than I would like to admit and while there, get to enjoy these flowers all the more.

Petal Crazy

2009-05-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

My newest teapot, plus lots and lots more using this technique/ and glaze combination. I have so many pieces lined up to be part of this collection. I originally made a plate to test glaze/technique and it sold so fast, I thought this might be an area I could expand upon. So made this teapot, also in the process I have a tray/plate, soapdish, sugar/creamer, vases and a spoon which I loved making. More on these as they make their way through drying, bisque firing/glazing! I will be "artist of the month" at the Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts for the month of June and I hope to have all of these items on display there.

New Music Themed items

2009-04-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Just put these and a few others in the two shops that sell my work. Wilmington is a very musical town and items I have made previously using my sheet music screenprinting have gone over very well. I enjoy making them too!

My poor "Piglet"

2009-04-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

Piglet is my cat and she is an indoor cat, but she has gotten little sleep during the day watching this bird make a nest in one of those cheap wooden birdhouses bought at craft shop several years ago, and plunked in this bush outside my BR window. This video clip is from yesterday and she watched the activity all day:

Then again this morning, she is perched up on the back of the chair watching again:

More new stuff

2009-03-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

I am busy making more "music-themed" items, as well as a few other things. Here's an assortment:

Answers to questions

2009-03-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Undaunted in the comments has asked: "Is the design produced with decals?" The answer is no, I have developed and refined the use of silkscreens on ceramic. It certainly has been done by others, but I think the specific methods I use work best for me. I teach a class here in Wilmington, NC on how to create silkscreens (very easy process actually), and I have over the year and a half that I have been into ceramics created about 50 screens. I also have learned a great deal about how to make them work with clay and the various tips. I silk screened underglazes onto the leatherhard (sometimes even dryer than that) items. I also have silkscreened onto bisque items, but find doing it earlier, before the bisque firing, makes it easier to correct
smudges, etc.

If you look at the slideshow in this blog entry, you will see numerous items where I have used the silkscreens. My musicsheet silkscreens have produced items that have been very popular and I have sold all that I have made. I did a huge sale in December on my silkscreened Christmas ornaments too and can produce the images in any color of the many available in underglazes. The Peek a Boo kitty ornament used a silkscreen also. I used the same silkscreen on the two vases in this slideshow which sold quickly at that sale. I actually began experimenting with silkscreen on clay in 2007 and you can see some of my early silkscreened items, pendants, etc. here. That should answer your questions. The silkscreens I make are from two companies PhotoEZ SilkScreen and EZ ScreenPrint They supply the 8 1/2 x 11" sheets already covered with emulsion --then I make transparencies with items I want to silkscreen printed in the blackest ink (opaque) as possible, then I expose the screens to sun for about one minute, then place in a waterbath for about 15 minutes, then scrub out the soft emulsion that did not harden by the sun because it was blocked with the black line images, text, etc. then the screen is ready to use. Each screen might cost about $15.00 counting the making of the transparency and cost of blank screens, but each screen can be used countless times! I made silkscreens for the kittybank project and used them over 50 times. These screens are flexible and don't have to be mounted in a wooden frame. You also can screenprint on newsprint then transfer that to the clay items, to include a thrown cylinder for example, that can then be manipulated into complex shape and the image expands nicely. Bonus is that the screens can be used on card stock, paper and on fabric as well with acrylic paint with textile medium. I love using them and create some unique items using them.
Hope this answers your questions, I will try to get some photos made of the screens and some parts of the process so you can see it.

OK, I'll have to fess up

2009-03-24T17:59:00.001-07:00

"Undaunted" wants to see all around on this teapot. I did show the good side before.
But now I have to come clean. The other side got a little too much clear glaze on it, I didn't check the glaze bucket to discover someone at the studio had left the lid off overnight and the glaze got too thick, soooo, as you will see in this picture (the whole truth and nothing but the truth!), that heavy glaze shows. I have since ground down the thick bits and touched up glaze on the bad side and teapot is ready to be refired to smooth things out. Good news is that today I have gotten the matching sugar and creamer out of bisque and glazed ready for same kiln load as the reglazing of the teapot, so (fingers crossed), it all will be beeeutiful maybe next week or so. In the meantime, here is teapot from all angles:

My first Teapot

2009-03-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

Here it is, I have since made a sugar and creamer to match, but they should be coming out of Bisque Kiln this morning at the studio. Will have to clear glaze and hope they come out OK. Most of the items I have put in the Gallery have sold I am happy to say. Some of my things are also in a shop in Wilmington, NC---Blue Moon Gift Shops
This is actually the booth of a friend of mine and the paintings on the wall are from another friend. At the moment, I am wondering if I am spread out too much. It takes such a long time to get items through all the processes. I still hope to do two shows a year and just hope I can produce enough items to do all of this. Yesterday, I made five more of my musicsheet screenprinted hanging cones. So far, I have sold all seven that I have made. I am also experimenting with some other items with music themes since they seem to be quite popular. The vases with falling squares sold after four days in the gallery and the "Lovers" sold a week ago.
I had a large order for Christmas Ornaments which I have completed and another commission that I have finished, so now I am ready to work on getting some inventory produced for the gallery and the gift shop any maybe a few items for the two shows I will be in later in the year (September and December).

Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World

2009-02-14T09:10:00.001-08:00

For Diana Gabaldon fans

2009-02-11T05:24:00.000-08:00

Can you believe this two posts in one day, and this one has nothing to do with pottery/ceramics. Some of you might have read previous posts about one of my most favorite book series/authors here and here.

This mornng, my DH called my attention to a Mallard Fillmore cartoon which cracked me up since I usually sound just like this when I explain the book series to friends!

My newest things popping out of kiln:

2009-02-11T03:58:00.001-08:00

OK this time I will forgo making an animated gif, but I really love these very contemporary vases. I have such fun pushing the limits of ceramic to see exactly what I can get it to do. I love the look of these and the seemingly precarious bits flying out of each vessel:

Love

2009-02-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

OK, I promise this is my last animated gif, but once I remembered how to do these again, I wanted to reinforce the learning by doing several. This is the first time I have made a figure of a couple. Inspired by something I saw in Greece last summer, I wanted to try to create a similar look in ceramic. I am very happy with how it turned out, now I need to put it up for sale. My DH has gotten me a grinder with a rubber wheel and proper sanding strips for it, so I can get my bottoms (of my ceramic creations) nice and smooth and clean. Well here is the lovely couple dancing of course:

Another Dancing Lady

2009-02-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

I am trying to reinforce my animated gif skills and share another ceramic creation with you. The Dancing Lady I made and showed in this blog entry was sold and it was time to make another. I just love making them dance.
Isn't she cute?

New Figure, is she a Sister or a Nanny?

2009-02-06T17:15:00.000-08:00

Meet the new Family

2009-02-03T12:43:00.001-08:00

I loved making these figures, just in time for valentine's day ------

Gallery Walk--Jan2009

2009-01-29T09:02:00.000-08:00

During my workday at the Gallery last Monday, I took a series of movies that have been put on this site Take a tour of what is currently for sale in the gallery. I think Sonny Hall will be updating this monthly so each time I work, I will do a little gallery walk for all of you and you can see what has been featured recently in the gallery.

Happy New Year everyone

2009-01-06T02:42:00.000-08:00

It's official, a local gallery, Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts has accepted me into the gallery. This gallery is owned by seven potters and has been an extremely successful venture for a almost two years since they opened in April 2007. There are about 20 talented artists in the gallery and I am honored to be among them. Recently, one of the fiber artists, Louise Giordano posted a detailed rundown with photos on the gallery, its artists, and some nice photos of items that were on sale in the gallery here in December. Louise's most recent posting features an article/interview with Diane Masi, the gourd and pine needle artist who is one of the gallery members.

As part of my commitment in selling my items in the gallery, I will work three days a month, all gallery members work in the gallery and I look forward to working with the other artists and getting first hand acquaintance with visitors to the gallery.

Below is a slide show of some of the newer ceramic items I have made and are making, as well as a couple I may not have shared in previous posts. I will be giving another workshop on my methods of making screen prints and using them directly and as transfers to add patterns, images and text to clay on January 31st at the studio where I do all of my clay work (Fat Cat Pottery in Wilmington, NC) One of the readers of this blog, I am happy to say, has contacted me as a result of my mentioning my class in my previous posting of the screen printed Kitty Boo ornament and as a result, she will be traveling from the Charlotte/Hickory area of NC to Wilmington, NC to be in the class. Information on the class can be found here. I have used screenprinted/ transfers onto lots of my pieces. The kitty vases in the slideshow in the September posting showed a few, kitty faces on two vases which have sold and the turtle vase, also sold in December. I also sold over 40 ornaments with silk screened images/print during the December show--my first as a part of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild.
At the last minute (literally, the night before), I decided to do some creative packaging, i.e., cutting paper envelopes and using my sewing machine to stitch blanket stitch pattern in red thread. Made over 40 of these in one night to make a more interesting presentation of the ornaments and it worked! They flew off the table, I guess Dec 6th was a great date to pick up small, affordable, handcrafted gift items. At the December show, the "Dance with me" lady and my tree lady also sold.

I have also done a couple of things in damask pattern (which is my favorite), I guess I was on a napkin ring--coaster--ornament kick for a while. I have a few more sculptural figures in the works (some drying, some bisqued and one ready for final glaze). I love the lady with the two children, sitting on drying shelf, I have already underglazed these and will see how they make the kiln journey. I want to make more in different shapes, positions and colors. also have a silkscreen with sheet music and have used this one to make wall hanging vases which can hold flowers. I was inspired by the Scandinavian custom of making sheet music cones, mostly for Christmas as I understand, but think these would be pretty in ceramic all year round on porches, fences, indoors and out.

I look forward to working with Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts in this coming year and to continue to share the adventure with those of you who continue to read my blog despite my recent laxness in posting. I hope to do better and wish you all a healthy and happy 2009!

Peek a Boo Kitty Christmas Ornament

2008-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

I have decided to begin again to list a few items I have been making in my Etsy shop which has been bare for many months. Mostly because I put several of the items previously listed into a local shop here. Since I last spoke to you regarding the art show I was in and some of the items in that show, I am happy to say it was very successful for me. I have been selling regularly here in Wilmington and have another show next weekend. I will also be in a local gallery beginning the first of the year. However, I have made these adorable kitty peek a boo ornaments which I will list at the shop this week prior to my show next weekend to see what might sell. I actually have made 10 of these and I love them! I also plan to list several other ornaments, all of which feature my silk-screen transfer technique. I teach that technique at my local studio and have developed it further. I love using images in my work and this is an excellent way to accomplish that.
More later dear friends.