Summer projects

I plan on doing some pottery this summer.

Renewing my skill with the wheel.

I love doing tactile things with my hands.

I may not be good at it

but it is soothing.

Favs from the past

Whether its fabric, canvas or clay

I find myself drawn to natural forms.

Finally the results of the pottery project.

            I finally got all 44 pots fired. Now to add tht
            dried grass and flowers to the pots and
            deliver them the 12th to Lafayette.  Glad to
            have this behind me.

The back way to town.

                  The last two days I have been busy.
                   Wednesday I mixed 9 batches of glaze
                   2 of them doubles. Each batch is 2.5 gallons.
                   Than on Thursday I  double dipped
                   52 pots in the glazes for a green finish the
                   only thing left is to fire them and put in
                   the dried fall arrangements for the brunch
                   in October. Today I slept late than took a
                   nap. Tonight is the opening of my friends
                   show Harmony in Nature. Last night in
                   the middle of the night I placed an order
                   with Artfabrik for lots of thread so I can
                   finish my newest art quilt. Back to fabric.
                   A much softer friendly craft.

                       On the way to Rensselaer I took the back way.
                       Could not resist taking photos of the changing fields.
                       I just love the country life. Life is good

A sunny Monday.

                               The gold fish really stood out in the pond
                                bright orange and the water is so clear.
                                Butterflies continue to devour the sedums.
                                Loaded the last load into the kiln to bisque.
                                Wednesday I will help at the college making
                                 glazes in return they will fire all 50 of my
                                 containers saving me a weeks worth of work.
                                 I can get back to quilting than. :)

Morning at the ridge

I have been too tired to take photos.

My upper body must be out of shape.

Wedging 40 pounds of clay

wore me out.

Only 20 more containers to make.

My husband has offered to cut ornamental

grasses to go in the vases.

He told me about the lavender grasses

by the big pond.

I checked them out and

saw lots of dragonflies by the pond.

Love those dragonflies.

Thank goodness he is willing to help.

My recliner felt so good when I sunk

into this evening.

                                    A couple of lovely spots by the small pond.

                              A day off for a doctor appountment.
                              Than back at it Wednesday.
                             

Summer at Cedar Ridge

                               Yesterday I made salsa. Today I made 7 vases.
                                My next 4 weeks are going to be busy.
                                I was asked to make the centerpieces
                                for the Bravo Arts Brunch on October 12.
                                I said yes before I calculated how long it
                                would take to make 35 vases and flower bouquets.
                                I cut some flowers to dry today too.
                                The Goldstrum rudebecia will dry and stay yellow
                                 Annabelle hydrangeas  a nice mellow green.
                                 Add to this  a rusty grass, saliva and lavender for
                                 nice fall dried bouquets. You may not hear from
                                 me every day but I will try. Everyone out east
                                 keep safe and day.

Back after a busy week.

What has been keeping me busy for the past 3 months.

Last nights opening.

happily lots of red dots.

To fund another few months in art experimentation.

A view of the gallery as you enter the show. 

 One of my art quilts , the Kankakee River Marsh painting
and a few sunsets taken at Cedar Ridge .

 More small art quilts.

This grouping of fall features paintings

small art quilts and a art quilt of a painting. 

The pond as depicted in a art quilt painting.

The Kankakee River Marsh on a Jasper red gesso background.

Note the glow of red through the water.

Check out Caroline Jasper on line.

A great artist. 

Jasper red gesso is named after her.

A small grouping of winter.

Art quilt, watercolor, acrylic painting and small quilted dreamscapes 

My sculptures of Adam and Eve.

I rolled a slab then went outside for a Canadian Hemlock branch.

I love how the branch wraps around Eve at the waist.

No one would ever know I love the woods, trees, water and birds.

My Favorite Flowers.

Just had to share this photograph.

Last summer this clump of Lilies was spectacular.

So glad I took time to photograph.

Spent the last 3 days glazing and firing pottery

 for my finals on Wednesday.

Dropped the last 12  paintings, art quilts and collages

  off at the framer to get their hangers and backing.

He does such a great job. I always get asked who does my framing.

Today we will put some more plants back in the ground.

In the fall of 2009 we decided to move .

Being flower crazy I decided to take 100 of my favorites with me.

Well 100 turned into 130.

My grandson helped me pot them up.

Well with the bad market our house did not sell.

We have decided to stay  in this paradise.

Now I have to put them back in the ground.

Except for 30 of them I will sell at my garage  and attic sale.

May 25th and the 26th.

Another busy day at Cedar Ridge.

Its 4 am  and I am going to load the kiln for another firing.

Test firing new glazes

64 Tiles & 29 bowls later.

Some of the test glazing I did last week.

So far I have spent 6 full days on this.

A lot of information to work from.

Some turned out too pale.

Had too many blues.

All in all a good start.

 

 The ones below are too pale.

I like the one on the left & the right.
These are Chris Wolff glazes .
Plum, Blue and Oatmeal.
They look great by themselves
and even better in combinations.

 I like the combination of the stripe bowl.
These glazes will be nice dipped on bowls.

 These will definitely be part of my base glazes.

 Love the splatter with the Wolff glazes.

 You can see why this is my favorite so far.

 I also tested some Amoco Potters Choice.
They are good glazes but pricey.
I will continue to formulate my own glazes.
More glaze for less money.

I really like the deep brown black on the top left.

The rust on the bottom left is good too.
Today I will bisque raku pieces to prepare for Friday's firing.
Monday I made a bunch of pins, beads and small forms to apply to paintings.
Next I will mix a matt black for Matt at school.
Young people seem to love black.