Finally...

If you've looked at my hands in the last month, I've probably had to explain to you that I've been using red clay and haven't had a self-tanning disaster. Finally got some finished pieces. The clay is called SB red, and it stains hands and gets stuck between fingernails and cuticles.
There are a few more pieces that need to be bisque-fired, are drying on the shelf, or almost done in this clay. These are tumblers with the sgraffito technique with black covercoat.
This pot is my ode to fennel. The glaze didn't turn out like I expected, so of course I'm not too excited about it.


A couple more tumblers.


What else is in the works? I'm out of the vase phase and want to do pitchers for some reason...and have been kicking around ideas for the class project and bowl assignment and maybe even the communion set I keep putting off.

Will post some Independence Day pics when I get around to it.

Out of the kiln

The following tumblers were made with this tool, the Ultimate Edger, which I got when I was in Lawrence in May. There's a lot of grog in this clay, so you can also file your nails on the bottom ridge of these cups--double purpose!




This lidded piece was done in May as are most of these pieces and is finally finished.

And a mug.

Pictures long overdue but will post anyway

This was a couple Saturdays ago...the chalk festival, dinner at Lara's and Paul's including margharitas, and the
Mentos/Diet Coke fountain trick--all in one exciting day!

BTW, have you seen the Weezer video featuring Experiment #711? I don't know half the things they are referring to. Guess I better watch more YouTube.

Macro milkweed

Have been practicing with my new camera lately. The first picture is butterfly milkweed with the macro setting on the camera.
This second picture is using an extension tube and magnifying filter (not very good, but just to show as an example).
On this last one, I cropped and tweaked it in photoshop.

After about 20 minutes of shooting, was kind of tired of closing one eye and squinting the other while looking through the viewfinder. Will have to get used to that.

Have more "bug" pictures on my flickr account if you care to look.

So that's what I've been up to and more.



p.s. Will have some pictures of my pottery to post soon, as there are 9 pieces in the kiln.

What made me laugh today

Thought this was funny after seeing Pat Robert's new commercial.

Juicy airmass

The following is a statement from our local paper weather section for watches, warnings, and advisories:

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS THIS MORNING AND TRACK SLOWLY SOUTHEAST ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS TODAY. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SLOW STORM MOVEMENT...AND JUICY AIRMASS YIELDING HIGH RAINFALL RATES.

No, not another juicy airmass!!!

Cruet and new glazes

The cruet is with Coyote Pistachio Shino glaze. Am really pleased with it and actually knew what glaze I was going to use while making it. It's really exciting when I decide what glaze I'm going to use while making the pot, as sometimes I spend a lot of time deciding which glaze to use on already bisque-fired pieces. Decisions, decisions.

The vase has Highland Tweed glaze and came out a little bit lighter on the picture than it actually is. If you do pottery, you can probably guess that I didn't plan on the faceted bottom third. It flew off the wheel while not properly secured while trimming and got dented..thus I proceeded to creatively mask the dent with a cheese cutter.

These bowls have Copper Wash on the inside and Black Licorice on the outside.

Lilies, the photographic triangle, and b&w TV

The first asiatic lilies are blooming in my yard.

Am also learning about the photo-graphic triangle and will be able to take better pictures of the lilies now that I have finally figured out how to set the metering mode on my new camera.

Also figured out how to revert your color TV to black and white...view it through your camera set on monochromatic. Yes, that's Merrill and our forecast.

The birds and the bees, etc.

Shot some photos of random "wildlife" with my new camera on my yard this past week. Below includes the annual shot of the dragon plant/voodoo lily.














Also stumbled upon a rather unusual set of short films by Isabella Rossellini regarding "the birds and the bees", actually bees and praying mantis and spiders, etc. If you're interested, click on the red www site below in the picture...But warn you not to let your kids watch. They are very informative. I would personally recommend "The Bee".

Photoshop disasters

Click here for an article on digital forensics and how to spot photo editing.

I also found this video from the photoshop disasters blog.
Caution: It almost shows "someone's bosom", or at least I think it does since I don't speak German and can't be sure.


The basketball picture was in Sports Illustrated. Oops!

Wordless Wednesday

Long weekend recap

Finish worked....napped...pulled pork salad (which was really good, and no, I'm not on Atkin's or South Beach)...Borders...BOGO cherry cheesecake single-dip ice cream cone from Baskins-Robbins (remember the coupon--we used it)...bed... some reading...sleep in until time to go to first graduation open house...cake with blue frosting that makes BLUE TONGUES (Cool!)...stopping by second open house before church....go back to second open house for a Brazilian Churrasco (or BBQ) (Machine with virgin margharitas) ;o)....Steak, Couve (greens with garlic?), rice, WONDERFUL FRU FRU BRAZILIAN drink with FRESH strawberries, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, vodka, etc....Did I mention SAUSAGE? I LOVE sausage!!!

Oh yeah, our own personal YO-YO SHOW!!!

Sleeping in...More Reading/different book...getting up to make waffles........overdoing it on the treadmill so I need to take ANOTHER NAP! Spending quality time with my compost bin and worms......

Getting CHIGGERS!!! The ants come back!!! But then going to awesome Mem. Day Cookout and seeing the Cadillac of GRILLS in action!!! Rain....hail....rain again...whatever.

p.s. I used different tenses on purpose and know this all isn't proper English, but it was a long weekend, and I'm still relaxed!!!

Ice cream and crock pots

Is there a Baskins-Robbins near you? If there is then click here for a coupon (buy one soft serve cone, get one free). It's good until May 27th.

Just found a blog where a lady is posting about her new year's resolution of using her crock pot everyday for a year. She even has a recipe for playdough made in one! Click here if you're interested.

NOTE TO HUSBAND: This doesn't mean I'm cooking tonight, but feel free to print off the ice cream coupon for us. Love you!

Raku firing

It ended up being a beautiful day on Sunday for the raku firing. We glazed the pots, put them in the kiln and waited for it to reach to 1,700 degrees F. Then they went into a metal trashcan with leaves, sawdust, etc. After the smoke cleared a little, they went into a water bath and then were scrubbed. One of my pieces cracked after it was submerged in water, but it was just glued back together. A good time was had by all!

What I'm trying to remember...

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Cor 10:13 MSG

Plate, bowls, and wall vase

Stay tuned for a couple of raku pieces from a firing this coming Sunday! It should be fun!

Best Game Ever

This is dedicated to all you parents whose kids are in sports.



Tried to post this video a couple days ago and it wouldn't work. If you like this, check out the Improv Everwhere website and watch the Best Gig Ever. I'd also recommend Redheads protesting Wendy's.

Trying more Coyote glazes

Here are a few pieces that I tried out Coyote glazes on. The bluish one is "Blue/Purple" and was a bit too thick (even though I used the same number of coats as the other pieces). The other two are "Crazed Copper". They came out once and I didn't see the glaze crazing or crackling, so tried it again and still don't see crackles.

This is a plate I was practicing for whenever I get around to the communion set. It wasn't this flat and I tried to trim it when it was too wet, so know I call it my "non-pea plate" because the peas would just roll off of it.

...And that's my commentary.

Saving the Earth one bag at a time...

I finally remembered to use my Envirosax bag at my local supermarket. It's been in my purse ever since I got back from Lawrence a few weeks ago and forgot to pull it out. Anyway, when I pulled it out and gave it to the sacking girls, they both gave me a funny look like this hadn't happened to them before. Guess I surprised them by not using one of the reusable bags with the store name on it....or maybe it was the bag itself.

Yes, I'm saving the Earth only one bag at a time, since I only used one bag and chose plastic for the others.

p.s. Here's my weird environmental tip I will share. I cut the dryer sheets in half and use one-half per load which still gets the static out. Sometimes the fragrance can be stinky to me if my allergies are bothering me, so this cuts down the smelliness...but then I guess I could just use fabric softener and forgo the sheets....maybe next Earth Day.

Happy May Day!

Bartering and class project

Got these beautiful glass blocks from Aunt Janice in exchange for some pottery (the large ivy vase to be exact)! Decided to put one by my front door and one in the front bedding area. They are painted with enamel. At first I was afraid to put them outside like they were intended, but will watch and see if the one in the sun fades.















This pot was done sometime ago, and I got the grasshopper on my weekend jaunt to Lawrence.










Finally finished the class project! Will have to admit I had help with the handle and shaping of the pitcher and spout, but did the rest mostly by myself. Had to throw three separate pieces and put them together to get it this high. Would like to try another one when I get some other projects finished. A couple of the guys in my class were competing with me as to who could make a higher pitcher. I tied with Andrew at 16 inches after firing (I didn't even know I was competing when I started it!)

Am excited that I will be involved in a raku firing next month!

Our scheduled sessions will be coming to an end, so that means that the firings will be sporadic and I won't get things back in a timely manner until June.

Happy belated Earth Day!

Never too old

Saw this video on Rustin Smith's blog and had to post it, too.

Here's a link to the story of "Young at Heart" from the Today Show.

If you have time, check out their cover of "Road to Nowhere" on YouTube.

Another video from Simon Leach

Here's another video called "Potting on the Wild Side" from Simon. He made me his friend on facebook!

Excerpt about humility

Jesus says, "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29). These beautiful words are a portrait of the heart of Christ. So we respond, "Jesus, gentle and humble in heart, make my heart like yours." Now we are really in for it! We have just opened Pandora's box. Why? Because we don't learn humility by reading about it in spiritual books or listening to its praises in sermons. We learn humility directly from the Lord Jesus in whatever way he wishes to teach us. Most often we learn humility through humiliations.

What is humility? It is the stark realization and acceptance of the fact that I am totally dependent upon God's love and mercy. It grows through a stripping away of all self-sufficiency. Humility is not caught by repeating pious phrases; it is accomplished by the hand of God. It is Job on the dunghill all over again as God reminds us that he is our only true hope.

--Brennan Manning from "The Signature of Jesus"

The redbuds are coming! The redbuds are coming!

Spent some time in the yard yesterday morning on my day off and cut down the dreaded giant clump of Maidenhair grass. Yes, I have heard all of the tips about the best way to do it such as taping it together, using a chainsaw, etc. As I do not have a chainsaw or hedgetrimmer, I used my lawn clippers. Also plan to use it for mulch and/or put in my compost bin, so I cut it in smaller lengths. It's a messy job, but at least I remembered to wear long sleeves this year and my arms aren't torn up.

Speaking of my compost bin, am happy to report that my little red worms have made it through the winter and will eat my vegetable/fruit scraps and coffeegrounds and turn them into compost. My bin sits in the shade, so it doesn't work like a normal compost pile and get hot. Don't know where else to put it in my yard where it's sunny and inconspicuous, so I let my red worms live in there. Yes, they are the same type of worms used in the book Worms Eat My Garbage. Don't worry, they don't like their picture taken, so I won't post a picture. I still think our pastor ought to write a sermon about compost.

As you can see, the redbuds are about ready to bloom, and I am enjoying everyone else's Bradford Pear trees. Spring--It's the most wonderful time of the year (except for the allergy/pollen count thing)!

Ivy vases - before glaze and after glaze

Bathtime and more with my great-nephew

Here are highlights from my 5-day trip and meeting my great-nephew! Luckily it wasn't snowing. The sisters and I stayed in a hotel one night and swam, but of course I didn't take pictures then. I'm one of the shadows in one of the pictures...since it's my blog, I'm deciding not to post any pictures of me. Stayed at least one night at each farm, but no one made me do any chores (thank you).

Hopefully you can view this video. I like how big brother had to get his hands in there and help, but he sure didn't want to take a bath when it was his turn! He would rather have a ride on the tractor or the guck (truck) any day!

BTW, has anyone been to the Minneapolis airport lately? I think it's funny how the announcement of "caution, you are reaching the end of a moving walkway" is spoken by a lady with an Australian or British accent. Sure doesn't sound like she's from Minnesota. Ya, you betcha!

Will post later

Yes, I'm still alive. Happy April! Hope to post pictures soon of my mini-trip and think I have a couple vases to pick up tonight at pottery that should be out of the kiln. Sure hope the glaze turned out okay on them.

Here's a picture of the Missouri River until then.