Good and Bad.....

The bad, or sad, is that my majolica workshop did not get enough people signed up for it, so we had to cancel it.  This did not surprise me as summer is hard time to get workshops going.  We'll  offer it again in january when everyone seems to need something to get them out of the doldrums.

The good thing is that I have been invited to participate in one of the co-op type shows that the Art Association periodically does to get members work into public awareness.  We all contribute a small fee to help offset the cost of the show and the Art Association covers the rest.  I need to start getting my work out into the world again; this seems like a good place to start.  I think the next step is to learn how to take photos that are something more than what I do for my own records.

Meanwhile back at the zoo....I finally finished the hippo whistle.  I need a better wax resist....one that will not peel off so easily when it dries.  Years ago we had a great resist at a Linda Arbuckle workshop.  It took no more than half an hour to dry and when I painted the background the wax did not come up in chunks if I hit the design with my brush.   Anybody?

This is a new type of decoration for me.  I'm doing the design in resist then laying in the color.  It's based on a printed fabric I saw from the early fifties.  I'll have to do several and think about the results before I go further.  Jeez, I can be such a stick in the mud!

The day lilies are having a wonderful season.  I think all the June rain got them going like gangbusters.  Below is a double orange.  This one showed up unannounced in my garden when I still lived in the back house. (To quote Monte Python....seeds are carried in the guts of birds.) I have only rarely seen doubles and never in anything but orange.  If I knew more about plant breeding I might try crossing it with some of my other plants.  Zette on her blog, (Picture a Day) posted one on July 25.  I think I've seen one garden with doubles.  Has any one seen these?

I want to thank everyone for all the comments made on my little rant about workshops and arts education.  This is a subject we need to think and talk about every now and then.  I would love to see a balance between sports and art.  Contrary to some belief it is not  Clean Mind, Clean Body: Take your Pick!  As I said in one of my comment replies, have you ever noticed that the kids who need sports the most are the ones who are left behind or left out completely.

The sun has just come out when it was supposed to stay hidden until early afternoon.  Another afternoon spent lolling by the pool is in order.

This post will also be over on Mud Colony.  Take a look; there is always something interesting to be found there.

Enjoy the day, and, as always.........thanks for stopping by..........*s*