Kim from Kansas

To Mushka

2011-07-17T05:47:00.002-05:00

You became part of our family on St. Patrick’s Day. We met you at the park in Sedgwick. You came from a litter of at least four others and had the curliest tail and were the most gregarious out of all your siblings. The breeder named you Snuggles I, as stated on the receipt when we bought you. We changed your name to something less cutesy, as there were enough names like Snowball in your lineage. Did you know your name means beauty mark in Russian? We didn’t either when we named you that. We just liked the sound of it.

Before we had you, I thought it was a little funny to hear pet owners refer to themselves as Mommy and Daddy, never thinking I'd be one of "those people". But I never had a pet as special as you and it just fit. Especially since you were our "child" before our child, for 15 years our only "baby". Our moms even called you "grand-dogger". You taught me that I would need to be tougher and not give in and spoil our children, if and when we had any.

We started out feeding you only dog food, but somehow when one of us started giving you people food the other gave in as well. Animal crackers, baby carrots, and Daddy's french fries--oh my! Of course you loved meat, but oh how you would go crazy when I would fix a turkey breast! Like it was catnip for dogs!

Do you remember when we used to run together? You ran 5 miles with me once! And remember running at the park with Grandma and me? How you took a dip in the lake halfway around? You loved to chase geese and squirrels and especially bunnies! Thank you for never actually catching them; although, you did catch baby mice. Whenever we were out walking or running at the parks, people would comment on how pretty you were and ask what kind of dog you were. You sure hated anything with wheels that would pass us by and especially bark at the rollerbladers.

Of course, we had to give all of your toys silly names--Pistachio Man, Chocolate Bunny, Aslan, Super-Carrot, Magilla Gorilla, Booda, Burpee Boy, tennis balls, Mushiball, chewies, rubber duckies, of course "Baby". Daddy even put up cardboard stops around the couch and loveseat so Mushiball wouldn't roll under them and you could keep playing.

What a great co-worker you were! You made my work day much shorter. You came to remind me when I hadn't gotten up in awhile and it was time to take our break together.

Forgiveness seemed to come natural to you. When we stepped on you or had to discipline, you wouldn't hold a grudge.

You were my comfort three years ago during the hardest year of my life, grieving the loss of my mother (the closest bond I had ever known) and the physical distance of the other most important person in my life, your daddy. While missing the two people whom I loved and who loved me the most, you were there. Thank you for greeting me happily so I didn't have to come home to an empty house.

You left us the day after your least favorite day of the year, the Fourth of July. You hated fireworks. Sorry you had to spend your last night so sick and having to tolerate them.

It was a wonderful 15 years having you as a companion. I knew it couldn’t last forever. Yes, you were just a dog, but made our lives so much better. You were only in our son's life for three short months, and I hope someday he has a dog as special as you.

January post

2011-01-29T23:38:00.012-06:00

We were blessed with a couple of wonderful days reaching 70 degrees here in Kansas in January, so I took advantage and went on a photo walk. I still love taking pictures, it's just the eye strain and computer work entailed that isn't so fun. Of course, this spring I will have a new subject for picture-taking, our baby boy!

Here are some pottery pieces I took home this month. I have a couple of big pieces that I am waiting to glaze in case it gets too uncomfortable to throw on the wheel further along in the pregnancy. I have been having some upper back pain and didn't go to pottery as much as I wanted to this week. Hopefully it won't become a bigger problem.

The blates or bowls/plates are supposed to be for cheese balls, a block of cream cheese with jalepeno jelly, or appetizers. It was fun to play with the edges and not try to make them a set by being as uniform as possible. I have more in various stages unfinished.

I glazed this praying mantis bowl over the Christmas break, having to paint three coats of glaze on for each color. It's 15-1/2 inches in diameter. A glaze pencil is used for the wording and outlining the squares.

Hope winter is treating you well!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-26T14:00:00.003-06:00

Here's a slideshow of the berry bowls I made for Christmas. What are berry bowls? They are used to wash and store berries, grapes, cherry tomatoes, or whatever else you can think up. They're handier than getting that big colander out of the cupboard and the perfect size for one or two servings of berries.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you a happy and safe holiday season!

November post

2010-11-30T14:17:00.015-06:00

It's the last day of November and I haven't had a post this month yet? Guess I've been a little busy in between all of my naps. What's been going on besides napping and making Christmas presents?

Well, I got to meet my favorite ceramic artist, Kristen Kieffer, at her workshop at K-State earlier in the month. Below are some pictures from it. Beautiful work!!!

Also got to stop by the insect zoo. They do have live bugs there, too.

And here is a vase I brought home awhile ago.

And here are some I brought home just last night.

Okay, I think I'll go nap now. Bye!

A post for non-FBers

2010-10-24T20:47:00.010-05:00

Most of these pictures are posted on Facebook, so this is for my family not on there.

We went to Dallas a couple of weeks ago and got to go to the JFK Museum, hence the first picture. (You may click on the picture to make it bigger.)

Found this praying mantis last weekend. Have only found green ones in my yard before, so it was nice to see a brown one.

These last pictures are especially for my mother-in-law. We found this on our front porch. It's a wolf spider with babies on its back. Enjoy, Mom!

More pieces

2010-10-19T20:45:00.013-05:00

Was going to add more to this post, but decided I probably wouldn't get to it this weekened and just do pottery on this one. Thanks for checking in!

Another September post

2010-09-29T09:28:00.014-05:00

Finally made it to Botanica, and here are my favorite pictures from there. I wanted to get there while there were still butterflies in the butterfly house.

....And this is a slideshow to make up for the pottery I haven't posted on here. There are about 32 pictures in all including the 61 pieces from the wood-firing, so don't feel obliged to watch it all. I did sell 8 pieces, but it was a little overwhelming bringing this much stuff home. Ugh!

p.s. Not sure how to get all the slideshow to show, so click here for a link if you so desire.

More pictures from last month

2010-09-13T20:19:00.010-05:00

Here are some pictures from Planter's Feed and Seed and the City Market from Kansas City. At Planter's, I bought some smoked paprika and whole nutmeg.

I went on a Wednesday morning and got 7 yellow and red peppers for $3 and 8 limes for $1 and the City Market!

More from Powell Gardens

2010-08-22T20:11:00.009-05:00

Blue Morpho and White Peacock

2010-08-21T08:18:00.009-05:00

Early last week I attended a butterfly photography class at Powell Gardens during their Butterfly Festival. There were different butterflies from North and Central America, but the star of the show was the Blue Morpho. Notice how the blue is on only one side of the wing?

The butterfly in the last two pictures is the White Peacock.

Hopefully I will post more of Powell Gardens later. They have the most beautiful chapel on the grounds as well.

Black and blue

2010-07-30T10:42:00.008-05:00

Great spangled fritillary and what came out of the kiln

2010-07-23T20:37:00.012-05:00

This butterfly was in my front yard a couple of weeks ago. It's interesting to see how different the front of the wings look compared to the back.

I did a little hand building and have a few other pieces waiting to be wood-fired next month. It's been a long time since I've gotten anything finished since I'm saving up for wood-firing, so I caved in and had them fired in the electric kiln. The first pieces can be used for sushi or soap, but I don't eat sushi or use much bar soap so probably won't be keeping these.

Off to watch the Tour de France, the one sport that I enjoy watching. See ya!

Caterpillars and pottery pieces

2010-06-28T09:21:00.013-05:00

Am hoping to make this post short and sweet, like all my others. Here's an update on the status of my butterfly rescue mission so far this year. The first picture is my very first and currently only Monarch to emerge, as I haven't found any more monarch caterpillars.

Here are some pictures of some black swallowtail caterpillars. Just noticed that one has pupated yesterday.

This one was the daily snap on www.verbict.com.

Here are some pieces from the last few months. A couple of my pottery friends are coveting my horse hair brushes that I made in Jamaica, and I'm trying out new ways to use them for glazing. Now that I know how to make them, we can make more!

The wood firing that was planned for the end of this month has been moved to August 14th. I'm very excited about that have at least 11 pieces made already!

Summer theme song

2010-06-12T07:38:00.011-05:00

I have been listening to Xavier Rudd a lot lately and am trying to make this my summer theme song. He plays a didgeridoo in other songs. What's not to love about that?

Here are some mugs and a pitcher that I brought home in the last month or two, made at my local clay hangouts. I still have a few more pieces to share from Jamaica.

I'm very excited to be getting ready for a wood-firing locally at the end of this month! I love the idea of not knowing where the ash will deposit or exactly how pots will look after firing and where they will be kissed by the flame...just giving them up to all the variable factors and accepting what comes out. Also have been trying to make my work more "fluid" or "organic" or "not-perfect" and playful. We'll see if you can tell.

Jamaica part 4--sugar cane harvesting

2010-06-03T11:04:00.005-05:00

Here are some pictures from the sugar cane harvesting in the area. The cane will most likely go to Appleton Estate to make rum. It is burned first and then "combined". Yes, that's a John Deere. I didn't bring any rum home, as I knew they sell it in the states and had too many bottles of scotch bonnet pepper sauce (my current addiction) and guava jam to bring home.

Jamaica part 3

2010-05-15T10:21:00.019-05:00

The ceramics workshop was held at the pottery studio located on the Good Hope Estate/Plantation inland in the Cockpit Mountains. I will embellish more on the artists, studio, gallery, and kilns in a later post.

The Good Hope Plantation was first built in 1755 and mainly raised sugar cane. Today they mainly raise citrus, and there is a citrus-packing plant on the grounds. Yes, we did get fresh-squeezed orange juice every morning along with fresh mango and papaya. Yum! The only thing looming to ruin the feeling of perfect paradise on the plantation is its history of slavery.

Here are some bowls I made in Jamaica. There are various momentos in the first one including a tamarind seed that was in a pocket of my dirty shorts--oops, sorry customs.

Jamaica part 2

2010-05-15T08:55:00.015-05:00

Here are some pictures from the airport in Montego Bay (what the locals call Mo' Bay) to Good Hope. When I stepped off the plane, it was warm and humid.

Yes, those are bougainvilleas.

The next photo is where Usain Bolt went to high school.

Here are some vases thrown and fired in Jamaica.

Stay tuned for scenes from Good Hope Plantation!

Jamaica part 1

2010-05-03T20:03:00.013-05:00

I had an amazing time in Jamaica and learned a lot! The first pictures include someone helping me pack.

Beef patties--My first meal in Jamaica outside the airport, kind of like fleischkechla without the saurkraut.

I will post pictures of the scenery soon.

Here are the bottles that I made in Kansas and bisque-fired and then fired in Jamaica.

Update

2010-04-20T07:48:00.013-05:00

What's been going on? Well on April 9th, one of my clay hangouts had an opening reception for a student pottery art show. I had a charcoal drawing up in an art show in junior college, but this was the first time my pottery has ever been in a show. I was so happy to have my some of my friends and family come. It was fun to see my pieces in a gallery setting along with those of fellow classmates.

I've also been making clay stamps to use on pots, inspired by this DVD!

I hope to take
one of her workshops in person some day and just love her work!

Below are a few bisqued pieces that I will take to wood or soda fire at a workshop that starts this weekend. Where's the workshop, you ask? I'll give you a hint: I need a passport to get there and am pretty sure they will be serving jerk chicken. Hope they have some Blue Mountain coffee, too.

I made a couple of llama stamps and used them on the box and mug.

Please check back for pictures in a couple of weeks!

Raku firing, Spring 2010

2010-03-29T10:37:00.005-05:00

Raku firing, Spring of 2010 = Good times, good friends, good food, good mojitos, good weather, and one Jehovah's Witness who didn't get any converts.

FYI Mr. Jehovah's Witness Guy, we thought it was very insulting when you told us our pieces looked like ashtrays. Thanks for the extra fuel (pamphlets) for the kiln, though.

p.s. The first piece I plan on using as a remote control holder, as raku is not food-safe. The third piece is a wall hanging which I like very much!

Lenten rose, lenten link, and church-free lent

2010-03-26T10:18:00.021-05:00

This first picture is a Lenten rose. It's usually one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring! Have tried growing them myself, but wasn't successful. These are pictures from the local public gardens.

Please click here to check out my friend's 'Zine(art magazine) regarding lent.

I'm sitting here trying to write this post like I usually do when writing to friends..."Would that sound weird? Should I share that? How do I word that?", etc. All I know is that I gave up church for lent this year. Spring is my favorite time of the year, and that doesn't coincide well with the practice of self-reflection or deprivation or the addition of anything that I don't feel like doing. After surviving the long winter, I don't want to dwell on death and the cross right now.

In the back of my mind, I've had a recurring self-conflicting feeling about trying to get people to conform to my beliefs and telling them that "I have the life, you need to get it, too". I'm not saying the unconventional church I go to is like that, I'm actually wrestling with parts of the Bible. I've been feeling more like I want to keep my ever-changing beliefs personal lately. We don't talk to other people about our sex life, so why are we told we need to share this as well? If we doubt, can we accept some parts and not others?

Maybe the bottom line is that I don't feel like my faith helped me enough through the hardest year of my life (so far) last year and am dealing with the disappointment and wondering if it will help me in the future. Did I not believe or trust enough? Did I not pray enough? Is God mad at me? I don't think so. I do think God loves me even if I don't go to church. And yes, I miss my church friends. I don't want to pretend or try to sing words that I'm not comfortable singing right now.

So for now, I'm taking a break and trying to enjoy the sunny days and emerging daffodils. I'll contemplate the days when my faith did help me through rough times and ponder on what and why it has changed. It's okay if you might not understand this; I don't even understand it myself.

I'll close this with a quote my neighbor-friend Cody shared with me the other day. It's something to think about:

Treat the other man's faith gently; it is all he has to believe with. His mind was created for his own thoughts, not yours or mine. - Henry S. Haskins

p.s. Maybe next post I'll talk about my sex life...or NOT!

Wordless Non-Wednesday (only other bloggers will probably understand this title...or not)

2010-03-18T20:15:00.012-05:00

Vertigo IV

2010-03-09T13:01:00.004-06:00

Yes, it says "To Bono, with love", even though I was inspired by "Nightmare Before Christmas" and the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Vertigo". I really like "Rear Window" the best!

What color should I use next next session?

2010-03-05T07:15:00.006-06:00

Some of my pieces (including the last one) will be in a student art show in April, but the dates aren't set yet.

There will also be a pottery garage sale on April 30th at my first hangout where I will have things for sale, but I will not be there and have other fun and exciting plans!

Just brought home Vertigo IV and will post that when I get a chance. There are things I would like to blog about such as what is going on during my "turning 40/midlife crisis", but am short on time and may do that later. Maybe I will even share the recipe for my version of "Pho". I've been in to hot asian foods recently for some reason.

Happy almost spring!

This blog is a log...

2010-02-19T07:15:00.018-06:00

If you are reading this, thank you! I like the idea and concept of blogs even thought it seems that they are not as popular as they used to be. I haven't been using this medium to voice my opinion or anything like that in quite awhile, but just to show my work. A couple of years ago, it was so fun to read each others' and comment on them but people have drifted or had priorities come up or have moved on to "a bigger and better place". I was even thinking about not updating it anymore and using flickr, but will keep this going since this is where my pretend art-sharing all began in the first place.

BTW, did you know that you can be updated by email every time I update this blog instead having to come to my site? Just become a follower by clicking the right-hand side link over there-->

Now on to the "show and tell"...

This is a slab-built box that I carved on. It's about 5 inches tall. It has just one glaze on it.

Last month was "bowl" month and I got a couple of new curved ribs, so this is what came out of that.

Here's a vase. I'm disappointed in the glaze, but oh well.

I still have an extreme fondness for working with hollow tubes made from a clay extruder. I laid one of the vases from earlier by a raw tube right here.

And here is a piece in which I learned more about sculpting and needing a thicker base. This piece went back into the reclaim bucket after it cracked apart.

The tubules reminded my husband of something from his Medical Terminology book, and I'd have to agree they do have a likeness.

There will be more tubules to come!

Eleven pieces

2010-01-22T14:01:00.009-06:00

Eleven: That's how many pieces came out of the kiln that I started in December.

The black piece has a "Double Happiness" symbol and holds 3-1/2 cups. It's for a wedding present.

I had so much fun with the clay extruder! These vases in the last picture are made from 1-inch diameter clay tubes. The tallest one is about 7 inches. Double click on the pictures for more detail. For some reason the picture came out smaller than expected.

Thanks for still checking up on me!

A local Asian market

2010-01-08T09:42:00.013-06:00

I went to our local Asian market between the holidays. I would recommend it if you are bored with your local grocery store and need a little "vacation". Some people claim that specialty items are cheaper there.

Here's what I picked up and finally cooked last night:

My husband and I thought we didn't like curry because I made something once with JUST curry in it. I was introduced to a local Thai restaurant and found out it's great with other spices and I must've used it wrong before.

The dish on the left is a red curry and tomato paste concoction. There is a recipe on the back for beef curry. It seems to be a little westernized, as it says "Tastes of India" on the front...Aren't cows considered to be holy there?

The second dish on the right side is a beef and chili and coconut milk seasoning packet for Randang from Indofood. It was a little less spicy and also very good. Somewhere on the internet, it said that this dish was Malayasian.

They were both very good!

Also, thought I'd share this interesting description found on a box of a ceramic bowl set. Please click to enlarge and read. If you buy one, it might change your life!

Speaking of Asia, my new sister in law is Chinese! Congratulations Brittany and Clark if you ever read this!!!

December blog post

2009-12-13T19:27:00.010-06:00

Since I've been sporadic with my blog posts, I'm assuming this will probably be the only one in December.

My husband knows that the ornaments in the pictures are my "must have" ornaments on the tree, since my grandma made them.

Will have to make more of these trees next year. I just followed Jill's instruction on how to make them, and they turned out almost as cute as hers!

These are slab-built containers which were started in September and then a bowl left over from last session.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! Thanks for still checking up on me!

5 pieces

2009-11-22T19:59:00.007-06:00

p.s. I do not have a pepper collection. I just altered one of the mugs and thought it looked like a pepper and made another one to look more like a pepper. Please don't buy me any pepper things, as I would rather eat them than look at them.

p.p.s. Green peppers give me heartburn, but jalepenos don't. Is that weird or what?

Last "blate" and handbuilding pieces

2009-11-12T13:49:00.005-06:00

Here's the last in my "blate" series. I like the one before this the best. On the first try, I was trying to make a landscape but the clouds in the sky part didn't turn out at all. Finally got around to glazing my handbuilding pieces from September.

I was surprised how good I did sculpting the frog, but I copied the instructor's who coached me on it.

Happy Fall!

Ribs N Bids Pancreatic Cancer Fundraiser

2009-11-10T07:41:00.003-06:00

Do you remember this? I posted it this summer.

Well, you have an opportunity to bid on it. I made it especially for this:

There will be lots of handmade items to buy including pretty knitted and crocheted items. Unfortunately, I am priorly engaged that night and won't be there. So please go eat some BBQ for me. Click here to see my friend's blog post about her beautiful handiwork!

Another "blate" and bowl

2009-11-06T09:39:00.008-06:00

My husband bought me a light tent, so I'm playing with that and trying to figure out how best to use it. Thanks, husband! Now you won't see my couch or coffee table as often!

I still like my "Smokey the Bear" ruler, though.

A cow, forest, fondness of fungi, and frontyard fun

2009-10-29T13:13:00.009-05:00

I would've call this a word-less post but, the title is a bit wordy already so I'll elaborate. Something we don't get too much of in my part of Kansas is fungi. It's really interesting to me. Have been thinking about buying some mushrooms to grow in the closet this winter to fight the doldrums...This just might be the year that I order that box kit from one of the garden catalogs.

Pots

2009-10-25T19:34:00.007-05:00

In case you don't see my stuff on facebook, here it is.

Below are my raku pieces from a firing on October 11th. Raku firing: The pyrometer has to reach 1,800 degrees F.

Gingeroot Photography Workshop

2009-10-12T10:30:00.006-05:00

Last Tuesday I attended a photography workshop. As you can tell, I don't take that many portrait-type pictures and wanted to get more familiar with this.

I was pleasantly surprised that Lora, a friend of a mutual friend, signed up for it, too! It was great getting to know her better and meeting other shutter buggers, I mean bugs! I got some good tips and even tried to pose a model. Now I need to practice more. Who wants to be the first in line?

Click here and here for links to blog posts about it.

Another rocket bowl, Vertigo III, etc.

2009-10-07T11:18:00.005-05:00

Before I hesitate any longer, here are some pottery pieces:

Decisions in the digital photography world, etc.

2009-09-22T12:34:00.014-05:00

Oh the advantages of living during the age of digital photography!!! I can take 100 pictures of something if my memory card will hold it! One of them might be good, maybe? Yes, I love this hobby! But there's one part to it I'm not enjoying so much--going through all those pictures and deciding which are "keepers" and which aren't...Could I maybe crop that or is it too light or too dark?

Which picture would you choose out of these first two?

The butterfly pictures are from almost a couple of weeks ago, my last crop of monarchs.

This vase-- which I'm not very fond of--was on the shelf all during break and I didn't even realize it was mine until now.

This is a second try at my footed bowls for last session. It pretty much reminds me of something Marvin the Martian would use because the feet look like they should be on a rocket. I like it! There will be one more similiar bowl coming out of the kiln this weekened.

Flutterbys and class project

2009-08-30T23:01:00.016-05:00

Here are some photos from the butterfly house at our local public garden.

Is there a tail missing on that Giant Swallowtail? Is that part called a tail?

I'm guessing one of these Queen butterflies is a male. Hmm, a male Queen?

A small vase...

And below is my version of the class project for the session that just ended. We were to alter the lower part by scoring it and manipulating the clay with our fingers, superballs, whatever would work to push it out. The clay had to be just the right consistency in order to do so. Sometimes it required rewetting or use of a wet sponge. The instructor said he wanted it to be fluid-looking like, well actually like rolls of fat.

The funny thing is, the skinny people didn't quite get the look that he was wanting. I, on the other hand, was able to get closer to the look he wanted. Who would've guessed?

Black swallowtail and what happens when a grub grows up

2009-08-24T19:27:00.004-05:00

Do you notice the little bump on its abdominal area? I'm not sure what's up, but it did fly away after an hour, so it must not be harmed much.

Yes, that's a chopstick or what I use for a butterfly ladder to let them climb out.

This June bug is a lot prettier than the grubs I find in the soil.

An hour in Lindsborg

2009-08-16T09:57:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday, I was in the area of Lindsborg and got to walk downtown. Lindsborg is a Swedish community in Kansas. I went in the Small World Gallery and met a National Geographic photographer whose wife designs jewelry. Then I went into Courtyard Gallery and saw some pieces from my favorite potter who comes to the Wichita Garden Show, Carol Long. It's amazing what she does with slip (liquid clay)!

Yes, that's "Salvador Dala" in the picture up there.

More blue vases

2009-08-06T21:09:00.006-05:00

I wanted to make little vases to put my mini daffodils in next spring.

More pictures

2009-08-01T09:08:00.008-05:00

Here is the view of the bridge they are redoing between Omaha and Council Bluffs.

More train pictures of Kenefick Park.

Council Bluffs has the Union Pacific Railroad Museum...

and a cool park and veteran's memorial area.

Did you know it was also the home of Amelia Bloomer, inventor of Bloomers? Oops, that's not correct according to this. I just assumed so since she was wearing them.

p.s. I'm counting down...two more months! Until what? I'll be sure to share in two months!

Blue vases and Lauritzen Botanical Gardens

2009-07-27T18:34:00.007-05:00

Here is just a taste of the 124 photos I took at Lauritzen Botanical Gardens and Kenefick Park.
Yes, that's a tram! It's that big! Yes, they have a model railroad garden!

Just found this video on youtube takes you on a ride on the model train if you're interested.

Lewis and Clark and pottery

2009-07-23T07:15:00.009-05:00

Earlier this month, I went through the Council Bluffs/Omaha area. Here are a few random pictures until I get them all organized.

I'm lucky this first picture turned out okay, as I didn't notice that the lens was in manual focus instead of auto focus. Must've flipped the switch when I put the lens away before.

I also went to a family reunion in North Dakota and am debating about whether I want to share the pictures on here or just on facebook. It's kind of fun in a way to remain "anonymous" in that I don't think I have any pictures of myself on my blog..maybe one.

The chalice is the second attempt as a replacement for the communion set. I didn't take a picture of the first attempt, as in it is being used already. The glaze didn't turn out copper...Now I know why. It was HIGH-FIRED instead of LOW-FIRED. There wasn't anything wrong with the glaze. As this one has a crack in it, I'm off to make yet a third one with no cracks and will make sure to put it on the proper shelf--not the high-fired one.

Am loving the way the vase turned out in the Sagebrush Courtyard glaze!

A pottery post/how I gamble

2009-07-20T16:36:00.010-05:00

I'm pretty happy with this little vase that I hand-built...but...

This bowl in the next two pictures is in my opinion ruined by the glaze. First of all, the greenish glaze didn't turn out green. Second of all, it covered up some of my carving. I'm thinking that it will end up in a garage sale.

Here is another footed bowl...guess I was thinking some magic would happen in the kiln, because I'm "okay" with it but that's about it.

The third footed bowl broke before it was fired and is now reconstituted clay.

This is a "lawn ornament" in that there is no bottom and I'm putting it my front flower bed. I'm going to see if it will last most of the year outside.

The plate is what happens when the licorice goes over the copper wash glaze.

The bowl has copper wash OVER the licorice. I am very happy with it.

I hope I remember that it comes out much cooler with the copper wash over the licorice.

So in other words, I don't feel like I need to play the slot machines or crap shoot with real money. I feel like I'm gambling already. One out of three pieces will most likely come out fantastic! I figure those are my odds.

Rurality

2009-07-10T22:28:00.008-05:00

Visited my sisters' farms in North Dakota earlier this month and went to a family reunion.

Enjoy the cow portraits! Moo!!!

What's coming next? Pictures from the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha and some pottery pieces.

Sometimes wide is good

2009-07-03T19:35:00.003-05:00

...definitely if it's a wide-angle lens. Someone just got a wide-angle lens and I got to borrow it. Cool, huh?

Wishing you an enjoyable and safe Fourth of July!!!

'Lil things

2009-06-28T12:02:00.007-05:00

Can you see it? That little caterpillar on my flat-leaf/Italian parsley? I'm assuming it's a swallowtail because that's what they like along with dill and fennel and monarch caterpillars look like they have a set of antennae on the front and the back.

Here's another monarch caterpillar on a milkweed that's not quite a half of an inch. I used my macro lens on these.

The glaze didn't come out as planned on either of these. In fact, the blue taller one I glazed and fired twice, but the glaze didn't stick or hold well. I was disappointed with it already and, yes, that's a chip on the rim. The bottom half of the smaller one is supposed to be copper. As there wasn't much left in the glaze jar, I'm assuming all the copper floated to the top, even after I thoroughly stirred it. I still like it. Just don't ask me about the chalice I made to match the other pieces I glazed when the jar was full!

It was fun to try some small things. I will have to remember to make some more small vases to hold my mini-daffodils next spring. Stay cool!

Monarchs

2009-06-23T22:30:00.016-05:00

Here are the pictures of the Monarchs from Friday morning. Since I took over 100 pictures, it was hard for me to decide which ones to post and took a little awhile to go through them.

In the morning before I started working, I noticed that the outer shell part of the chrysalises was clear. I got my tripod set up and started my workday. I took them outside, took some pictures and went back inside to work.

Unfortunately, when I came back out for a break there was one less butterfly. I'm pretty sure a bird ate it.

Water fun and monarch preview

2009-06-19T17:01:00.008-05:00

Our friends invited me out for some fun with their family on Tuesday evening. Here are some pictures. Click on the picture if you want them larger.

Here's a preview of monarch pictures. I had two that "hatched" this morning, and one should be on its way tomorrow.

Teapot #2 and the turning

2009-06-11T13:46:00.008-05:00

Finally got my second teapot glazed. The name of the glaze is Canyons.

And here's what happened to the little caterpillars:

Bugs in my yard

2009-06-09T18:29:00.010-05:00

Is that enough pollen?

I found out this is a red-banded leafhopper. Remember the treehopper I found last July?
Am loving my macro lens!

Milkweed and caterpillars!

2009-06-04T12:16:00.004-05:00

Rememeber last year? I think these ones are monarchs!Here's my post about black swallowtails in case you missed it.

Birthday Boy, Bunnies, and Bands

2009-05-28T21:41:00.015-05:00

Yes, there was another birthday in the family(and even another with only ice cream);
this time a nephew...

and here is our "white ball of fur" chasing rabbits...

Also had a late night out and got to see our friends who play in bands.

Here are some links: Urban John and Vehicles.

I thought we'd be the oldest ones at the gig, but were pleasantly surprised! Remember, my profile says I'm closer to 40 than 30 and I'm usually at home by 9:30 or I turn into spaghetti squash.

By the way, did you know Taylor Martin from Vehicles also has a bluegrass album? Check it out here: Taylor Martin if you like that kind of music. I think it's awesome!

From the pottery standpoint, classes are going to start up late next week. I have a teapot on the shelf waiting to be glazed, so will have it done hopefully in a couple of weeks. Am thinking of doing some more bowls with legs and also pondering on the idea of making my very own chai pet... and of course Vertigo III. Also, my instructor will probably come up with a class project and then I will have too many ideas and not enough time. Maybe I should sign up for three classes a week? Nah...guess I have to work, too. Someone has to pay for all that clay.

Have a Safe Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T11:41:00.005-05:00

What's growin'

2009-05-18T11:26:00.010-05:00

Dill...

Money(have to figure out which bank will take this kind)...

Beards...
...oh yeah, and my husband's growing older (but we all are, aren't we?).

I DID NOT decorate the cake, nor do I want a cake in any way resembling this when I turn said age! Love you, Honey!!!

Dyck Arboretum

2009-05-11T13:41:00.008-05:00

Last Friday, I went to the Dyck Arboretum. It was during one of the two times a year when they hold FloraKansas: The Great Plains Plant Bazaar. They sell a large variety native plants...which means if you put them in the right spot you don't have to water them when they're established. I have a lot of natives in my front flowerbed.

Neff Family Farm was also there. They have a wonderful variety of herbs! I bought English thyme and chocolate mint, as I only had a $5 bill left.

While I was there, this plane kept passing by. At first I thought it was a student pilot from Hesston College...
But then I saw the crop duster paraphernalia on it.

p.s.Are any of you North Dakota readers pleasantly reminded of the lovely remake of Ghostriders In the Sky by Mylo Hatzenbuhler?

Quick post

2009-05-09T19:50:00.001-05:00

Am still alive...Here are some pictures from Sunday at Botanica.

Check back in a day or two for pictures from the Dyck Arboretum.

Happy May Day and other things...

2009-05-01T14:06:00.017-05:00

Thanks to my lovely neighbor friends who "May Day'd" me with the lovely flowers!

Here are some pictures from a couple of weeks ago from the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.

Finally got to walk the sculpture walk, and here is one of the "thinker" statues. Guess there are 20 of them around the world according to Wikipedia.

For some reason, the grounds and Nelson-Atkins Building remind me of the N.D. State Capitol. The steps face south with a big lawn,there is a revolving door with brass, the art-deco or romanesque architecture and stone steps...but instead of a statue of Sacagawea it's "The Thinker", instead of various tree specimens they have bronze bulbous sculptures along the walk, and instead of the garden of petunias spelling out North Dakota there are giant-sized shuttlecocks.

Now that reminds me, I think I need to go back again, as I missed the big pool of water that is shown in all the commercials. Where is that big pool of water?

p.s.Click here for some funny pictures.

Mini-daffodil and Vertigo II

2009-04-26T14:48:00.004-05:00

I used Coyote Crazed Coyote glaze on top of Black/Brown Duncan Covercoat. It's interesting that it turned out navy and kind of ran. This is the good side, since there is an area on the other side where the glaze didn't cover--either too much glaze or not enough.

Overland Park Arboretum

2009-04-22T17:14:00.001-05:00

Easter '09

2009-04-17T08:39:00.007-05:00

Here's a quick glimpse of last Sunday--an Easter bunny and candy, etc.(thanks, Kansas Mom!), 2-1/2 church services including the sunrise service, Easter hat, bells and trumpets and choir, nephews, old friends, pancakes, boy scouts, wearing new Easter jeans instead of dress, rain, baptisms, more food including steak and Thai food, more rain, etc.

Oh yeah, and a long afternoon nap!

Photoshop effects

2009-04-14T10:36:00.008-05:00

Yes, it's been over a week since I posted. This is what I've been doing. Aren't these cousins cute?!!!

They are my friends' lovely children and their cousins.

Recent creations

2009-04-05T13:12:00.009-05:00

A few weeks ago, I made a few sprigs or stamps out of clay and made a couple of mugs using them. The first one is definitely my mug, and I'm not giving it away. Why? It has my name on it. That's the Chinese symbol for "Kim". A Korean lady in my pottery class showed me how to make it. The second symbol is something I revised from the book Ceramics from Islamic Lands from the library.

And this is a luminary with a large tealight.

This is a photo from last summer that I revised in photoshop, making the background black and white. That's my husband's finger. Am still deciding if I like this look.

Click here if you're new to my blog and don't know about my "Butterfly Rescue Mission".

One week ago...

2009-04-04T07:34:00.010-05:00

Am also taking a Photoshop class to help get me more familiar with my PS Elements software. I usually only use it to crop and tweak the colors.

Here is my before and after picture using a technique reminiscent of something called the Orton Effect (originally with film). It's supposed to give it a dreamy effect. Can you tell the difference?

Am also traveling vicariously through my friend, Kelly, who is in Germany right now. You can go to her blog here.

Happy April Fool's Day (the Beanboozled post)!!!

2009-04-01T11:28:00.013-05:00

Have you been Beanboozled yet? Check out the link and then come back. You will understand all the weird faces. These are available at Super Target in case you want to get in on the fun.

Buz didn't much like the baby wipes flavor!

Chanda ate four assorted beans for $5.

Ty also had a little trouble with the baby wipes flavor.

And the champion is....JASON!!! He tried ALL OF THEM!!!

If you ask him, the worst one was the rotten egg flavor.

The box says this is the first edition. I have a good idea for second edition--chicken fat.

Pictures of spring

2009-03-27T12:40:00.013-05:00

Have been practicing with the tripod and my macro lens lately. This first picture has my grandma's china in it. I think it's so pretty.

My birthday flowers are still looking good--the Peruvian lilies. Also picked some flowers from my yard--daffodils and muscari or grape hyacinths.

And here are the miniature daffodils.

Then I had to look up again how to do this feathering technique (the black foggish look) that I just learned a month ago . We had four rabbits in our backyard the other morning.

It sure felt like spring until the freezing rain came.

It's bursting forth!

2009-03-22T14:29:00.001-05:00

Two more chim-chimeneas

2009-03-15T12:10:00.002-05:00

These are the last of this size of chimeneas. I thought they'd like cute on my porch. I have another candleholder in the works, so watch for that one in a couple weeks.

Garden show 2009

2009-03-13T11:48:00.007-05:00

Here are some pictures from the garden show last week. The first picture shows what it would look like if the trees were upside-down.

Some things I learned this year from a pest control company booth:

--Termites are white.
--A Brown Recluse Spider can go months without eating and prefers dead insects.
--Brown Recluse Spiders are commonly found in the sink or bathtub because they can't grab smooth surfaces to get out.
--Brown Recluse Spiders do make webs, for nesting and not for catching prey.

I also bought this book about birds. The authors were there to autograph copies.

You could get your teeth whitened! How weird is that?

Flower Pot Mound/Lake Coldwater

2009-03-10T11:05:00.009-05:00

There is a legend of a man hearing a ghost on Flower Pot Mound in 1854 as told in this book, but luckily it didn't visit me.

Can you see the gypsum?

Mini chimeneas, orb, and mugs

2009-03-08T10:27:00.014-05:00

I forgot how big a tealight candle is, and had to squish the candle in one of them. Oops. Clay shrinks 11-14% when from start to finish, so I did take that into account. There are a couple more of these chimeneas (or should I say chimenei) to come and hopefully I made the openings big enough. I still think they're cute and love the SB Red clay when it's high-fired without any glaze on it.

Then this round orb thing was going to be a salt pig, but it dried too fast. I didn't want to throw it away, so carved holes in it, thinking maybe it could be some type of frog for fake flowers? One lady in pottery class said I could use it as an incense holder, but because of allergies I tend to stay away from smelly stuff. Any ideas other than a paper weight? Would anyone be able to use it somehow (Hopefully locally, since shipping pottery is pricey now days)?

The next four mugs were glazed with Coyote glazes. The Expresso Bean was an alternate I picked out for the communion set.

This set of six were thrown using one pound of clay each, dried with a fan, trimmed and handled all in one day (5-1/2 hours). This is a big accomplishment since one usually has to wait until the clay gets to the leather-hard stage (one day) for one to be able to trim a foot on the bottom.

I think the cows are thinking...

2009-03-06T15:30:00.005-06:00

Dude, look at that weird lady over there!

Enjoy, Hannah!

p.s. Yes, Jackie, I might even take some cow portraits when I come visit in July.

Best pics from yesterday

2009-03-06T08:55:00.003-06:00

Here's a peek at some photos from my road trip to Gypsum Hills.

Abstract?

2009-03-03T12:29:00.005-06:00

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Thought I'd share some photos I took during my photography class. It is done now, but we might be going on a fieldtrip soon. This is from the "abstract" assignment. They aren't very abstract, but I thought I'd post them anyway. These were at an import store and my local mall. Another lady in the class and I were discussing some places which don't allow you to take pictures. Did you know you're not supposed to take pictures in Starbucks or Victoria's Secrets?

Park

2009-02-28T08:55:00.005-06:00

Learning feathering on PS Elements.

Bulbs

2009-02-26T17:59:00.001-06:00

Two have bloomed so far.

Untitled (as I don't know what to call this and don't feel like sharing much today)

2009-02-26T13:56:00.010-06:00

It is finished

2009-02-19T09:23:00.003-06:00

I think it reminds me of this and this. Beatrice Wood made a lot of lusterware.

Two weeks ago...

2009-02-15T09:30:00.004-06:00

These are the buzzards I saw.... by Lake Murray.

But I did not see this(supposed UFO sighted locally). Yes, that was me on TV last Monday night.

Road-tripping...

2009-02-06T12:19:00.004-06:00

These are pictures from Sunday and Monday in Oklahoma while visiting my brother. I didn't mind driving by myself, especially since I could stop wherever I pleased to practice landscapes with no one waiting on me.

A Set and Handles

2009-02-03T18:06:00.006-06:00

Here's my first try at making a two mugs the same dimension.

Have also been experimenting with handles. The second picture is two views of the same pitcher. The third picture is a result of my first spout and just playing and not caring so much about if I make mistakes. Yeah, I know it's a little weird.

EDIT: One of the handles on the last piece fell off; good thing there are three more.

My first dog dish

2009-01-30T21:06:00.007-06:00

Finally made my dog her own personal bowl. I've been taking pottery classes for 2-1/2 years and thought it was about time. I think she likes it.

Winter bug fix

2009-01-27T07:23:00.005-06:00

If you've been following my blog (THANK YOU LOYAL VIEWERS!), in the past couple of years I've had a new-found interest in insects. This month I finished reading Four Wings and a Prayer that I found at my local used book store. It's a book about how the butterflies migrate back to Mexico over the winter. I just happened to look up the Monarch Watch website and noticed that tonight there is a special on PBS called The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies!

Am planning on going to watch Vehicles play an acoustic show tonight, so will have to either record it with my VHS or watch in at 1 a.m. or midnight in the next few days...hmmm. Or maybe someone could buy me the DVD for my birthday in a couple of months? Oh, just kidding.

Anyway, I haven't been able to use telephoto lens on insects yet since I got it in November, so am looking forward to warmer weather in the next few months. Had my third photography class last night and am finally figuring out the F-stop/aperature and shutter speed stuff and getting more comfortable shooting in the manual mode. BTW, this picture was taken with my old point-and-shoot camera 2-1/2 years ago when I found a coccoon in my front yard. I do have three different types of milkweed (what Monarchs like) in my yard and hope to find one again.

It's supposed to be a llama...

2009-01-23T13:55:00.004-06:00

These two pieces were thrown when I was still in my "alter it/not round" mode in November, carried over from when I made the saki set. The first one is triangular, and the second one is flattened on two sides. I am very pleased with how the glaze turned out on the second one, since I used the SB red clay and had no idea how it would look. I am planning on getting a cork for it and putting some type of decadent spirit in it...maybe amaretto, as I have baked with it before and haven't tried saki yet.

I think I am getting out of my little pottery rut I thought I was in and threw my first spout on Wednesday. It was very fun!

Thanks for looking!

"Alien" salt pigs

2009-01-19T13:11:00.004-06:00

Yes, I know they're weird-looking. Was practicing making closed forms and adding feet. These were left over from November and just got out of the kiln last week. I have one more footed decanter and something with a llama on it that should be ready by next Saturday.

Local sightseeing with sister

2009-01-16T09:03:00.008-06:00

My oldest sister and her husband came to visit from North Dakota! They enjoyed the warmer weather (warmer than N.D. at least). Did you know it was -44 degrees F in N.D. last night and snow, snow, snow?

We went to the Museum of World Treasures and saw a mummy and the Berlin wall. Then we went to The Kansas Cosmosphere on another day and went to the planetarium there, IMAX, etc.

I "heart" PMC

2009-01-10T08:52:00.005-06:00

Last night Melanie let me play with her precious metal clay (PMC) and helped me make this heart pendant. We fired it in her kiln for 30 minutes. This is amazing to me, since regular clay takes about 36 hours in the kiln.

While we were waiting, she made this coronation ring for me. I got to watch her solder it together while using her torch.

If you love the ring like I do, click here to look at her stack rings for sale.

Thanks, Melanie!

Christmas Day nontraditional festivities

2009-01-04T10:39:00.005-06:00

Christmas Day quote: "I believe in you, just not when you're bowling!"

Clay talk

2009-01-04T10:13:00.006-06:00

Pottery classes will officially start this coming week and have been on break since November. I have gone in a few times to work on my own, but the place has closed early and there has been no regular firing going on.

The first piece is a communion set that is bisque-fired and needs to be glazed. The second is a plate that I forgot to post from November that was practice for the platter of the communion set. The ivy leaves are left over from a project that I have been unmotivated to finish. The plate is a little deep for a regular dinner plate, but the other aspects are fine. Am not too excited about the glazing and forget that when I do abstract-like drippy patterns I'm usually not satisfied with the result. I have a few things on the shelf ready to be fired and will show them when their done.

Optimistic lyrics for a new year

2009-01-02T06:05:00.002-06:00

By Carbon Silicon...gotta love these lyrics!

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T16:19:00.002-06:00

Yes, be bold and stong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Christmas Eve Part II:

2008-12-31T15:00:00.008-06:00

Someone threatened me to not post a picture of her bowling on Christmas Day, so I'm posting all the fun ones of her on Christmas Eve! I can vouch for her and her sister, no alcohol was involved...but I can't vouch for the imposter of Wilford Brimley.

Soon to come, Christmas bowling pictures!

EDITED: Christmas Eve quotes: "Some people have to go through hell to get to heaven." "I don't think so."

Christmas Eve Part I: Who is this person?

2008-12-30T09:59:00.007-06:00

Whoever this guy is (an imposter of a guy who sells diabetic equipment?), he sure can eat a lot of sausage. Oh wait, maybe he had a little help.

p.s. For some reason I can't get motivated to write a whole blog post and, therefore, think I will do it in piecemeal fashion.

Lights on the Plaza in Kansas City

2008-12-24T07:36:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas!

Star Wars according to a 3-year-old

2008-12-22T06:09:00.001-06:00

In case you haven't seen this, thought I would post it. It's so cute!

From Streams in the Desert...

2008-12-15T11:06:00.005-06:00

God will examine your life not for medals, diplomas, or degrees but for battle scars.

(Art from St. George and the Dragon, Salvador Dali. Yes! I saw it in person at the art museum!)

Christmas Parade Part II

2008-12-15T10:44:00.006-06:00

Be sure to note the red bow on the horse's rump on the first picture and feeties hanging out on the last picture.

Christmas parade part I

2008-12-13T08:53:00.002-06:00

Went to a Horse and Buggy Christmas Parade last Saturday, and here's the first portion.

Can you find me?

2008-12-05T15:15:00.020-06:00

I inadvertantly took a self-portrait. Can you find me?
These pictures were taken over Thanksgiving Weekend.

I would just like to again state that even though I have a good camera doesn't mean all my pictures will turn out great and I'm still learning and am a little disappointed in my skills...and that is one of the reasons why it took me so long to post these pics, Uncle Bob!

There's also a scrawny vegetarian and maybe a sentarian or two or three. Can you find them?

Oh yeah...and I finally got to meet Hannah! We have been reading each other's blogs for a couple of years and finally got to be together in person. Thanks for the brunch, Hannita! You're almost as silly as I am!

p.s. Has anyone noticed my "medical term of the week" I have had on the right sidebar for over a month now?