Tyrion Tortise

I finally managed to get Tyrian into the kiln.  Below is the mandala design I did on the bottom shell, and his feet and head too.  If you look carefully between the front feet you can see where it came apart in the bisque firing. 

The next two shots are the top from the head and tail.  I was fooling around with a tree of life design.  I like the idea but I need to do a lot more drawings before I do it again.

I have some strange blend of Yggdrasil and Discworld going on here.  Inspirations comes from strange places!

I used Mason Stains over Spectrum #799 Majolica White for glazing, and fired to ^05.

We are having sun with wind after a rainy Saturday.  The yard is beginning to resemble a hay field.  I hope our mower is fixed soon!

Have a good Sunday.

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

HOW TO...

Turn a salable into an unsalable whistle in one easy lesson:

Drop it on the cement floor and break the ear off!

I glued the ear back on using white spooze because I have hopes that the white will blend with the glaze.  If you look carefully at the second photo, you can see the mend .  I didn't bother with the full decoration, just did a few stars in a new yellow I blended.  I want to see how the color will look over the blue.  It will probably be slightly greener once it's fired.

This is a little petunia that grew and bloomed under our doorstep.  It's a reseed from last winter.   I moved it as under the doorstep is a most unsafe place.  Petunia seeds are hardy.  I have a bunch of them coming up in planters.

I find that the plants I grow outside, from seed are always stronger than the plants I buy, even from the very good nurseries we have here.  It just takes a bit longer for them to bloom.

Someday I will have a kitty proof place where I can start seeds indoors.  Someday, grasshopper...

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

May At Last!

Now that is is the last weekend in May we are finally having May weather!  It's been a long slow spring.

This barred owl has been visiting us and hooting in the woods for the last few weeks.  I finally managed to get a shot of him when he was hanging out over the deck while Proge was barbecuing chicken.  If he was hoping for a handout he was disappointed.

Yes indeed this is Aloysius in the process of opening the screen door. I took this four years ago, but he still tries to get out.  This is why all our screen doors are locked!

One thing Aloysius likes to do is go to the farthest corner of the house and cry because he is lonely.  At some point in the last year we discovered that singing will bring him to us!

Yesterday he managed to leak out.  We started our usual frantic search when I decided to try singing.  So here I am at the edge of the woods singing Aloysius to Frere Jaques!  He came running to me with his, "Where were you?  You got lost!"  meows!  The Alleluia Chorus works well too.

Enjoy the long weekend.

There are hummingbirds at my window.  I had best go put out the petunias!


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

Toss It?

This is a prime example of why I am so hesitant about getting rid of studio stuff.

The tumblers are part of a set of plates, bowls, tumblers that I bought for my class of developmentally delayed adults.  They enjoyed working with different forms.  However, I have not even thought of them since I retired several years ago.

I had them in a box to go to the resale shop when I started looking at the gravy boat below.  I used to make these fairly often.  I never glazed this one due to too many cracks inside.  This was from a thrown bowl with the rim pinched together.  I cut a vee and inserted a slab like a gusset to make the spout with thrown and handbuilt additions.

Looked at the mugs and looked at the creamer and thought of handbuilding using the mug, and pinching the rim together and forming a spout.  These are easy to grab with one hand.  They will probably hold a bit over one cup when finished.

I like the one on the left better.  I cut part of the rim to make more of a curve in the top profile.  These two are just the beginning, but as usual I am enjoying exploring a new form.  I am not even sure where the creamer form came from.  Probably one of my books!I'm sure it has been done a thousand times over, but I am still enjoying making these.

We are supposed to have a super Memorial Day weekend.  Remember and celebrate all those who have given their lives fighting for us!

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

Little Dishes and Columbine

I've been having fun painting these little dishes that are about 4 to 5 inches across.  Originally they were supposed to be kitty dishes, but they also work very nicely as small dessert bowls.  

I glazed them so long ago that I can't remember if the base glaze is Linda Arbuckle or Spectrum.  I should be able to tell after firing them.

Now that the columbine is blooming the hummingbirds are happy!  The three below are all plants that self seeded.  It's always interesting to see what will happen.

I just look for the seedlings when the are tiny and transplant them all to a planter where I can keep  an eye on them to be sure they don't bake in the sun and get enough water.  I usually try to get the plants into the ground in late summer, although they seem to survive quite well in the planter.

The one below is supposed to be very hardy.  It grows as far north as parts of Canada.  I bought this one a few days ago.  The last one did not make it through our very harsh winter of '14/'15, probably because it got flooded, then froze.  This one is going in a different spot!

It's a coolish, drizzly sort of day today.  It's supposed to be sunny and 80F tomorrow!

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

Hiatus Over

Back from my break!  Now to start blogging again!

Below is a new style mug I have been working on.  I make it in two parts, which gets tricky.  The top and bottom have to be well sealed. A mug that leaks is better called a watering can.

There are changes and things I want to add, but this is a start.

Now to get it through the firing!

We'll see, grasshopper.....  

Spring appears to be finally here to stay.  It took it's own sweet time!  I am going to divide the white white bleeding heart when It finishes blooming.  I put it in several years ago as a small plants and it has grown.  Perennials need to be broken up once in a while to keep them healthy.

I like to plant pansies in containers because it's easy to switch them out.  Lat year I kept them going for the better part of the summer by moving them into deep shade.

I've been cleaning up the pool in preparation to opening it.  We have to install the new pump and inlet and outlet.  We put the new liner in last year.  It's like having a new pool!

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

April has THIRTY Days!

I'm not sure why I thought April had thirty-one days; I probably wasn't thinking at all!

Here is an old shot of two bunny whistles to wish you a Belated Hares and Rabbits and a joyful May!

Cindy Bracker posted a photo of her Linda Arbuckle mug filled with coffee, so of course, I have to post mine filled with tea.  Your can see lots more mugs for Mugshot Monday over on Clay Buddies on Facebook.

I always enjoy drinking my tea from mugs made by potters, particularly those I have met and bought from in person.

The weather is being its usual cranky New England self!  Beautiful and warm last week; cool, cloudy and rainy for the next few days.  I had looked forward to getting more stuff outside, but it can wait for sunny days.

Enjoy the coming week no matter what part of the globe you inhabit.  I may hibernate until the sun come out in a few days!

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