Dragons

The dragons arrived on St.  Nicholas Day.  After hanging around in various spots they decided they would oversee my winter clay table in the sun room.

 Little Green is in his customary spot at the top of the tree.  Dragonwick is on another shelf, watching.  

The Santas are hanging out in front f the Met this year.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by………….*s*

 

Santa Stages

This a post I never finished.....better late than.....

Various stages of Santa whistles.  Glazed and ready to fire.  Details added, ready to glaze.  Basic thrown forms.

I have been experimenting with various forms.  So far I like the basic cone best.  I just need to make it a little bigger.

Update:  They have all been fired and gone to the Holiday Sale at SCAA (South County Art Association).  Per usual, I forgot to take photos of the finished Santas!

Here's a shot of Ringo explaining to Peach why it's really okay to climb the tree.  No it isn't, you silly kitten.  It's a lime tree, with one inch thorns.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

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

The Last Mud Colony 2012

This will be the last Mud Colony post for 2012.  I discovered the site in the last part of 2012, I think through Linda Starr.  I've loved the feeling of connection to potters across the world.  Thanks Adriana!

The goblets below were some I made about twenty-five years ago.  I discovered them when I was sorting more stuff (to put it kindly) left from when I sold my back house.  Most of it was crap that went for fill....one of the advantages to working in low-fire; it breaks down well for fill.  I like these goblets well enough to plant a bunch of impatiens seedling in them.  They will probably start setting buds in February, just about the time I want more blooming plants inside.

I always like to repurpose pots that are seconds or otherwise not so great.  My prototype platter/servers make great bird feeders and bird baths.  I don't think I'm alone in this; clay people recycle and repurpose.  It's in the blood.

I never send old pots to the dump a.) because I can find my own use for them and b.) because once potter friends of one of my teachers sent a bunch of stuff to the dump and later found it for sale in a shop!  Some people will stoop to unimaginable depths.

The little Santa is a prototype pot hanger I made.  He also hangs quite nicely on a tree branch, if it's sturdy enough.  Santas are in abundance at this time of year!

The two photos below are of a reproduction ornament my brother and sister-in-law sent me when they were living in Germany.  I like him so much that for years I have worn him as my Christmas pendant.  At first I just used a ribbon; then Proge found the chain and Santa has been on it ever since.  I like that he has a sack full of toys on his back.  All in all a fine fellow.

The weather is its usual strange variety for this part of the world.  Yesterday we had almost two inches of driving rain.  Today we have had fits and starts of snow showers.  It's New England....it changes.

Remember to go over to Mud Colony and check out the last gathering for 2012.

Good Yule and Joy in the New Year!

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

Santa Daze

I'm making Santas again.  These little guys are glazed but not fired.  The faces have clear glaze on them; details will come out after firing.  The glaze is Speedball red with Spectrum Satin 200 series clear, white and black.  I've found that I can use Amaco, Spectrum, and Speedball commercial glazes on unfired clay, thus saving time and money.

I have finally accepted in some part of me that there are no cheap Santas!  I can do mice and pigs and penguins easily and quickly. but Santas are time consuming.  I think it's a case of finding the right location to market them.  

After all the health hassles I have gone through since I retired, I am finally feeling mentally and physically excited about getting back into selling beyond the small from studio sales I have done lately. BTW, my health problems have not been major or life threatening.....more of nuisance factors which have slowed my life down.

This is the top of my favorite beech tree.  I love the way the sun hits it in the early morning.  It may be the last of what fall color we have had as we are supposedly getting A BIG STORM at the beginning of the week....hurricane, snowstorm and northern blast of cold....it's FRANKENSTORM!   Oh Please! Yes we will prepare for the worst, but it's also time to clean up the yard for winter; work that has to be done anyway.  Any rain will be welcome; wells are beginning to have problems here on top of the hill.

I'm sorry if I sound a bit cynical about this, but I can't help feeling that there is just a bit of disaster porn going on here.  You would think we had never had a storm before.

It's supposed to be nice through tomorrow.....good outdoor weather.  It never hurts to prepare.

This will also be posted at Mud Colony.  Jump over and see what is going on.  More posts every week.  What do they call hurricanes Down Under?

Enjoy the week end and as always.............thanks for stopping by............*s*