Good kitty.

Success!  The kiln gods were kind and the cat, tongue and paw all made it through the first firing intact!  To those of you who danced (you know who you are) thanks very much : )


I did come up with a backup plan though.  If the tongue pulled loose from the mouth I would have turned it into a fish.  maybe that should be on the next jar.

Another cat in the kiln

New cat in the kiln.  I did an extra powerful dance as the kiln clicked on tonite.  I'm afraid it may need all the good juju it can get!  For some reason when I made this cat I decided to attach the tongue to the paw.  Since clay shrinks as it fires there is a very real possibility that his tongue won't be stuck to his paw anymore or it will be but just not stuck to his mouth.  eww.   


There has been a little news from my family in Japan.  It's possible that they will be moving south for a while... getting as far away as possible from the power plant.  I am so grateful they are safe and together and sad that they may never be able to return to their home. Please continue to keep everyone in your heart.   

Relief and gratitude

‎

Here is a heart-felt thank you to everyone who

has written with love, concern and hope for my family in Fukushima.

I am happy and relieved to tell you that they managed to get to 

Tokyo and are staying with other family members there.

They were indeed in the evacuation area, and though their home and business is

under threat from the power plants at least they are safely away.

Please continue to keep everyone in 

your heart and prayers.

The potter, Ayumi Horie, and her friends have organized an online ebay auction,

"Handmade For Japan"

This sale of ceramics and other media 

donated by artists around the world will begin Friday the 18th 

and support earthquake and tsunami survivors.  

100% of net proceeds will go to relief efforts in Japan.

You can go to Handmade for Japan on facebook (and ebay?)

to see the items.

Prayers for Japan

I'm finding it so difficult to concentrate on anything.  I have family in Japan.  Thanks to facebook I heard from my cousin in Tokyo friday.  

I know that the family at home in Fukushima prefecture is safe.  

But I don't know how close they are to the power plants, 

and I haven't heard any more news.

Sending prayers, love, hope and healing. 

Coffee Ceremony

This 8" x 7" tile is raku fired with a clear crackle glaze over
sgraffito drawing and underglaze washes.

It's a soothing, sunny day today.  Guido is unconsious... soaking up the rays on the blanket chest.  I believe I'm going to smoosh him over, so I can bask in the healing warmth too.  The only challenge is to hobble there with my coffee.

I am free of my cast but can't put full weight on my foot yet.  Two weeks of physical therapy has been incredibly helpful, and how can you not love something that ends in a foot massage!?

Yesterday I was finally able to start teaching again.  True it was mostly from a chair with casters, but I only fell out once.  It was wonderful to be back with my peeps!

This 'Coffee Ceremony' tile was done a few years ago... when I still had long hair. Originally I designed this for a street painting festival, and it was 5 feet square.  If I can locate a photo I'll post it.  It won the professional category : )

To create the tile I scratched the design in leather hard clay. Bisque fired it.  Painted the surface with black underglaze, and when it dried I wiped it all off.  The only black remaining was in the incised lines.  I bisque fired it again to set the black, so it wouldn't smear when I added the other colors.  Then I watered down the other underglaze colors and painted them on.  Finally I dunked it in clear crackle raku glaze.  

Custom order

Alas, I'm not up and around and playing in the studio yet.  I just thought I'd post photos of the custom ordered mugs I was asked to make for Christmas.  The giftee has an orange tabby cat and a brittany spaniel.  Another fun project!


I'm still spending my days propped up on the couch with Guido and Isabella.  On Monday I will get a new cast after the doctor repositions my foot.  Then it's another 2 to 3 weeks of non-weight bearing.  I will, however, start teaching again the week of Feb 7!  I really miss my peeps, tho' I'm afraid I will have to spend the first couple weeks sitting.  It will be soooo good to be back at the art center!


Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions!  I'd love to hear from you.

The Cheshire Chest

A page from my sketchbook.

In progress. The cat and fronds are the
front panel of the drawer.

Back view with niche.

The top box has been added... the curved
lid comes off.

The bisqued box with temporary
wire for the bird.

 As I'm stuck on the couch and can't play in clay yet, I thought I'd share some photos of The Cheshire Chest seen in the banner of my blog.  I learned the technique of making the working drawer and little niche at a fabulous workshop with Lana Wilson and Margaret Bohls a few years ago.  It's finished with acrylic paint, because I wanted the bright colors, and I added wooden feet.  This piece won the Award for 3 Dimensional work at a juried Open Show at the Oak Ridge Art Center in 2009.  It was one of the most fun pieces I've ever worked on.

A view with the drawer open and the top lid removed.