Sunday, May 11, 2014

Sunday Ceramics



HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!

I must admit to having mixed feeling s about this day.  On the one hand I love the idea of the original day which promoted by Julia Ward Howe as a day of peace, against the carnage of the Civil War and the Crimea to be celebrated on June 2. ( Her idea never got off the ground.  The  day we celebrate nowwas promoted by  Anna Jervis, who was not happy with the resulting commercialization of the day. ) On the other, I hate what all retailers have done with what is supposed to be a day of honoring those who gave us life, which is to turn it into a guilt ridden day if you don't spend a lot of money on flowers, dinners and what-not!

So I acknowledge the day, but don't really celebrate it.  May all of you who disagree with me enjoy your day!
Doris Gravenhorst Caswell ca. 1939 -1940
The photo is of my mother, taken when she was about thirty years old.  How strange to think that she would be celebrating her one hundred and fifteenth birthday this coming December.

My first saved pot. 1965
 We have been talking about our first pots on one of the facebook sites I post on.  I'm sure I have posted this before, but I thought I would put it up again.  I say first saved, because I threw out everything I made for about four weeks.  I'm not in love with the glaze but it has sentimental value because it's an ash glaze of apple wood from my fireplace.  Don't ask anything about process because I have forgotten what was complete gibberish to me at the time.

Twenty years later I returned to pottery in ernest and wondered why I had ever stopped......life gets in the way I s'pose!

Violets

White Violets

Lance Leaf Violets'm
Finally we have spring.  The top two photos are the common violets that grow everywhere.  The bottom photo is of lance leaf violets.  They are tiny, about a third the size of other violets.  There's something very sweet about the way they grow in grass and pots.  Unfortunately the wind picked up as I started taking their photos.

I am going to link this over to Sunday Ceramics 17.  Hopefully others will post and see what is going on in the world of clay!

Enjoy the week ahead.  As always, thanks for stopping by........*s*
Posted by at
Labels: , , ,

16 comments:

  1. ElnaMay 11, 2014 at 2:19 PM

    Very nice pictures and have a nice week.

    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  2. frog ponds rock...May 11, 2014 at 5:24 PM

    I love the hopeful energy contained in "first pots" a few years ago I was part of a co-op and we had a nice little gallery space, I tried to get an exhibition up by inviting the local ceramic students to exhibit their first pots. My idea was that it would be a celebration of the hopeful enthusiasm contained within these pots.The remembered joy of that first time everything came together and we produced our first pot.
    But the students were not as enthusiastic as i was and the idea fizzled out.
    I might do it again with a few friends and see what happens.
    Thank you for reminding me of this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 12, 2014 at 9:00 AM

      Hi Kim....I know exactly what you mean about the energy contained in first pots. Your idea for First Pots sounds great. Perhaps we could encourage potters to post first and latest pots on line.

      Delete
  3. WillowMay 11, 2014 at 6:04 PM

    The photo of your mom is beautiful , as are those white violets .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 12, 2014 at 9:02 AM

      Hi Willow...She was a beautiful lady in looks and spirit. White violets are one of my favorites.

      Delete
  4. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 12, 2014 at 7:18 AM

    Dearest Suzi,
    Lovely post and yes, I am 100% with you on the commercialization of Mother's Day!
    It ought to be celebrated 365 days a year...
    Your dear Mother was such a beautiful lady and I'm amazed at her Dutch sur name! Funny to know that I am from a city called Horst.
    LOVE your violets and I'm even more happy to know it is finally getting spring for your area, regardless the wind...
    Hugs and a happy new week with your pottery. Love your ash glaze vintage photo.
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 12, 2014 at 9:06 AM

      Hi Mariette....Thanks; Anna Jervis was most unhappy with what Mother's Day became.
      My grandfather was Dutch, born in the Dutch West Indies. We never could find out what happened but my great grandfather was sent with family to the Indies. Originally the name was Van Gravenhorst. The Van was dropped when the family came to the United States.
      Enjoy the spring week ahead!

      Delete
  5. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderMay 12, 2014 at 9:34 AM

    Dearest Suzi,
    Like my full maiden name: Van den Munckhof and like they most often do here and in Canada, pull it all together VandenMunckhof. Oh for ages the Dutch were involved in the West Indies and it would be great for finding out about it. Wish you could and there might be further info in Dutch somewhere.
    Happy spring week to you!
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 13, 2014 at 7:29 AM

      Hi Mariette....We know very little about my maternal grandfather's family. Sometime I may manage enough time to do a little looking.
      Enjoy the day!

      Delete
  6. Lori BuffMay 12, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    I took a 27 year hiatus from clay, I started wondering the same thing when I got back into it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 13, 2014 at 7:30 AM

      Hi Lori....It's nice to know I'm not alone.

      Delete
  7. Draffin BearsMay 12, 2014 at 11:30 PM

    Dear Suzi,

    Your Mother is beautiful.
    Glad that Spring has arrived and I love your sweet violets.
    Happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 13, 2014 at 7:32 AM

      Hi Carolyn.....Thanks. We are finally thawing out!
      Enjoy the day!

      Delete
  8. Gary's third pottery blogMay 13, 2014 at 4:53 AM

    Whoa, your first pot :) I wonder if I have anything from back.... ? I shall look!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smartcatMay 13, 2014 at 7:32 AM

      Hi Gary.....I'd like to see your first works!

      Delete

I don’t allow anonymous postings, but otherwise talk to me. I love to hear from you.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)