Our Singing Tiles

We began making reproduction tiles many, many years ago. Customers wanted a white clay body with a crackle glaze, so I manipulated the glaze to not "fit" the clay body perfectly. The crazing in the original tile occurred over many years, but we needed ours to happen as the tiles cooled coming out of the kiln. Crazing happens because the glaze contracts more than the clay body does, creating tension between the two.

We never realized what happy music it would make!! We've even had customers call us with concern, that there is "singing" coming from their newly arrived boxes of tiles. They usually settled down before they are shipped, but the water that the tiles absorb during the setting process will also start the symphony in motion.



So there you have it....we are tile musicians!

Visiting the Johnson Museum of Art on the Cornell Campus

Last weekend my husband and I went to visit our son, Harry, who is a junior at Cornell this year. We took a quick tour through the Johnson Museum of Art, heading up to the 5th floor for the view and a look at these wonderful Babylonian terra cotta pieces.






Look for inspirations from these carving in some of my upcoming tile work!!

Etsy Treasury Favorites

'Beautiful Spring' by HoodooRoots

Some pretty things for spring!

Vain Kiwi 6x6 Original ... shelbydillon $75.00	An Angel GoosebumpHotel $50.00
CELEDON, oil painting, ... paintingwell $	Robin 4x4 ins original ... VitecArt $60.00
SALE 20% Off August - L... MaiAutumn $28.00	Authentic Kate Spade To... belmodo $43.00
Yellow Pear on Lavender... paintedmoments $40.00	Forgotten Path - A Stud... vanderhoekart $50.00
Goose egg Pysanka with ... ukrainianeaste... $69.95	Vintage Sprinkling Can,... annmillerpaint... $18.00
Sheep with Blue and Yel... tilebyfire $	Karen Tarlton Original ... Karensfineart $175.00
I love my dog print jillmayberg $25.00	Afternoon Sail in an Eg... lesperancetile $40.00
Blue Rabbit margaretwoznia... $95.00	California Poppy Seeds Brookingham $1.85

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

All the Frogs are Singing Nicely!

Finally complete, all 3 frogs are happily singing away, and ready to be shipped to their new owner. Yes, these projects do take longer than ever anticipated, but the rewards of seeing them complete is many times greater than the anxiety produced by the lengthening of passing time!

Photoshop layout of fireplace for job bid.

Photo of finished fireplace.

Closeup of frogs with black liners above and below.

You can follow the whole process from start to finish on these blog posts -

Frogs - My newest carving project!

Frog #1....carved and really for casting!

The Frogs are Singing!

This Frog is Singing the Blues

And...you can even buy one of the center frogs in my lovely Walden Green glaze - he's currently in my Etsy shop!

Next carving project? I'll let you know as soon as I decide!!

April 1st and My Beautiful Daffodils!!

I always look forward to the profuse and delightful blooms of my daffodil flower beds, which become more abundant and dense every year. The lush grandness of voluptuous bright yellows, as brilliant as the resplendent plumage of the Goldfinch's breast in springtime. For your viewing pleasure I present my daffodils on this April 1st, 2011.






Yes, that is fresh snow on the ground....but, hey - it's not the 6" - 12" that was originally predicted!

To take the sting out of this dreary entrance into April, visit my Etsy Shop and use coupon code APRILFOOLSGOLD and you'll receive 50% off any purchase until 5pm today.

And that's no joke!!!!