Sunday, May 19, 2013

Busy Days


It's been a busy, but here and there sort of week.  The sun has been out so we have been trying to get yard and garden into shape.  Finally it has been warm enough to start putting plants outside.

The last of my daffodils are blooming.  They are minis and are always the last to bloom.  I think I need to move them as a lot of the buds dry our before they open.  

We are in the middle of pollen season.  Everything has a green film over it.  I am so glad for modern allergy medications!



 We recycle everything in this house.  Aloysius was bound and determined to fit into the box Linda sent with goodies in it.  He's still sleeping in it.  Who knows the mind of a cat?  I know I sure don't!


My big thing has been experimenting with monoprinting on a gelli plate.  Linda Germain is a printmaker who has great information on the method, both making and using.  Of course I have to complicate things by trying to do it with clay.  I spent a good part of yesterday figuring out that the process does not work on dry tiles.  I think freshly rolled slabs may be more successful.

I am also exploring my printing mediums.  I am trying a mix of frit, gerstly borate and mason stain in a paste form.  I am also trying various underglazes.  I think the trick will be to keep them fairly thick like regular printing inks.

I could just print on paper and use it as a transfer, but that means thinking in reverse and has a different effect that printing directly.

Iam doing this strictly for my own enjoyment.  I am in the process of cleaning and reconfinguring my studio.  I can work on exploring an idea for an hour or two without much mess.



This is the 11x11 gelli plate I made.  It's a little thicker than it needs to be, but I tend to overbuild when I am starting a new project.

If anyone has any ideas or knows of anything out in the ether I would love to hear them.

Adriana asked on her latest post, "What is the pot you would not part with?" After thinking a bit I realized that this guy, which is the first pot I ever made and kept back in 1966 must be the one.  It has stayed with me over many moves and has always been where I can see it.  It has always been special for me, even when I did not think of it as such!

Little did I know, when I potted for about five months back then, what I would get into twenty years later.  I thought of pottery as something I had explored for a few months and left behind, mostly due to life's little complications rather than a dislike of clay.  Sometimes life does have foreshadowing!



I hope everyone has a sunny, good day....or rain if you are in a drought.

This post will also be over on Mud Colony.  Everyone should click on over and explore clay around the world.

As always, thanks for stopping by..............*s*

10 comments:

  1. Now grow the flowers quickly so you have to enjoy. What is it with cats and boxes? My does the same. Have a nice start to the week.

    Hugs

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    1. Hi Elna....Flowers will grow from now through November....so nice!

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  2. yes, so dry, we need rain and OH MY, cats and BOXES and bags! :)

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    1. Hi Gary....In this area we can have too much rain in northern RI and drought in the south, and we are a littlestate!

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  3. Hi Suzi,

    You must be enjoying your garden with the daffodils blooming, and it is such a lovely time of the year.
    Funny how cats love jumping into boxes and it is a cute photo.

    Happy new week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. Hi Carolyn....We are past due for outdoor weather!

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  4. Dearest Suzi,
    Haha guess our Tiggy-Tiger could show her kitty cousin Aloysius how to actually fit inside that box. But isn't that the truth that kittens always get inside whatever box?! Fun post and thanks for your visit.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Hi Mariette.....Kitties like the strangest places; the latest is a rolled up rug!

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  5. Interesting! Good luck with your project. I can see why that would be such a treasured pot. :)

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    1. Hi Elizabeth.....Thanks for the encouragement and for stopping by.

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