Monday, November 29, 2010

Sharpie and Rubbermaid = Cookie Container Goodness!!


Last week I received a box full of goodies from Rubbermaid and Sharpie that I couldn't wait to share at our Thanksgiving gathering. We're a very crafty family, so having a project or two is always on the list of things to do either before the feast or as we sit and enjoy dessert. Armed with a box full of Rubbermaid Takealongs and a big fist full of Sharpies, I challenged everyone to decorate a container or two. Their reward? I'll fill it up for them with my holiday cookies at our next gathering at Christmas!


An artist at work!


Dreaming of those chocolate chip cookies.


Hmmmmm.....I'll take the sugar cookies.

Choosing just the right colors!


OK, Aunt Linda, fill it up!!!!


Gingerbread (my specialty), chocolate chips (Pete's favorites) and sugar cookies are just a few of the treats that will fill the containers!

It was a lot of fun to get creative and thanks to Sharpie and Rubbermaid, everyone will have their own private, hand decorated container full of homemade cookies at Christmas that they don't have to share.....well, maybe just a little sharing!

Check back tomorrow to see what else we used Sharpies to decorate!



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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Song of the Day - The Cornell Chorale

My song for today includes my son, Harry, as one of the members of The Cornell Chorale. He's been a member since his Freshman year and he's now a jr., so we've been treated to four previous concert presentations. The program took place yesterday, November 19, in the Sage Chapel - a lovely environment to enjoy the many voices of the chorale.

John Rowehl conducted this piece by Kentaro Sato titled "Missa pro pace - Gloria"



Unfortunately my flip doesn't do full justice to the presentation, which was quite lovely. Harry was not really viewable in this video - he peaks out from behind the grey haired gentleman in the center once or twice - you can see him in the first close-up, but better look quick!

After the concert photos, with the amazing pipe organ in the background.

Harry and Me

Harry and Don

Thanks to the whole Cornell Chorale for such a wonderful presentation!!

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Friday, November 12, 2010

Next up....trimming pots!

Yesterday I showed you some pots I made, today....they get trimmed. Not my favorite task, as last week 2 of the 6 pots I trimmed flew off the wheel making unflatteringly spontaneous sculpture. Oh well. This week I made sure that the lugs of clay holding the pots to the wheel head for trimming were wet enough to really stick to the bat. Baby steps.


I also remembered that it's a great idea to use a tool to do as much trimming as possible to the foot of the pot before pronouncing the thrown piece "all done!". Just less to trim after wards, which you can see from the photo of above upside down pot. A big ridge to trim off.



Relax when trimming...I said relax. And yes, that is Abbey the cat on the table in the background, with her back to me. What's up Abbey, bored?


All done trimming. Wait....weren't these pots supposed to all be the same size? Didn't they all start out as similar sized balls of clay?? Isn't it a good thing that I don't try to make a living out of being a production potter???

Next up - I'm gonna get some glaze on these babies.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Back in the saddle again - throwing pots!

I began my relationship with clay on a pottery wheel, way back in high school. My first 2 years in college were devoted to learning the basics and spending as much time as possible in the pot shop. But then I transferred to Alfred University's College of Ceramics, and my clay inclinations moved towards wall sculpture and hand building. That led me to tile making and that's where I've been for....well, a really long time. But I've had a wheel in my own little studio space for a long time and I'll occasionally throw a pot or two. That was until last summer when a friend asked if I would teach her daughter how to throw. I dusted off my wheel and began to throw again, and although it hasn't come back as easily as riding a bike, I'm finally remembering things I used to know.

My student, Alli, visits me once a week after school and we just enjoy clay in any way that grabs her on that particular day. But I've been making a habit of throwing for about an hour after she leaves, and I'm beginning to think I might just have to find more time than that.

Over the last few weeks my goal has been to make small ice cream bowls for all my nieces and nephews for Christmas. My first 10 bowls have come out of the bisque and they look as though they might hold one tiny scoop....oh well, back to the drawing board.


Set up to throw some small bowls.




Bowls that will hopefully hold a whole ice cream sundae!

I'll trim them tomorrow and glaze them next week. I'm looking to use bright colors on top of a glossy clear on the interior of the bowls, and I might even play with some decal over the glazes. I'll use the tiny first bowls I made as testers. Now this will be fun that I might get addicted to!!

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Rally to Restore Sanity


Well, I have finally found some time to post photos from the rally. I've heard the negative reviews - actually, I heard them on the Daily Show - but I'm really happy I was part of the scene! OK - I was way back in the crowd and couldn't see much....or hear much....but we met up with friends and it was FUN! Did I find Sanity? I'll let you be the judge......





Some of my favorite signs!

Some more of my favorite signs!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Etsy Treasury Favorites

Here's my newest treasury favorite, and just in time for decorating your holiday tree!!!

'Trimming the Christmas tree' by Chicki

such fun to decorate the tree every year! These would be lovely on the tree!


3 Blown Glass Ornament ...
$80.00

Christmas Tree Ornament...
$22.00

I'm a Christmas Tre...
$27.00

Imperial Quilted Christ...
$24.00

Holiday Tree Skirt - Cr...
$150.00

Christmas Ball Holiday ...
$20.50

Snowflake Christmas Orn...
$7.00

Acorn Christmas Tree Or...
$22.50

Caribou Chorus x3 Xmas...
$38.00

Snowflakes - Set of 3 H...
$28.00

Mr Snowman
$40.00

Custom Name Flake Ornam...
$19.95

Rustic Green Xmas Colle...
$24.99

Fall Shades- 8 Natural ...
$36.00

Nautilus Ornament with ...
$24.00

JODY DESIGNS NEEDLEPOIN...
$40.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Frogs - My newest carving project!

I do love Victorian postcards. Where else do kittens, chicks, frogs, and rabbits get to dress up in sportswear and fancy hats, and generally entertain themselves? So I'm very excited to begin work on my newest custom order, inspired by one of those postcards.
The customer has a home with an existing fireplace that is tiled with original American Encaustic Tiling Co. tiles, with the focal point being a 3 tile panel of frogs being very dramatic.


Enemies are approaching?


The sky is falling??


They're out of mayonnaise???

An acting troupe????

There are 2 more fireplaces that need tile, and since one of them is visible from the main dining room, the customer wanted to continue with a frog theme. She found my small frog tiles in my Etsy shop and asked if I could re-carve them in a larger format for her fireplace. Then, after she researched Victorian postcards on the internet, she found the above pictured postcard, and decided that's where I should start. And so I will.

I've reformatted the image to spread over 3 tiles. I'm very excited to start carving this panel and will certainly keep you posted!!