Clay Work

Been keeping busy studying kilns and working with earthenware clay along with preparations for upcoming shows and events. Had my monthly gallery sitting duty at ArtWorksat7th over the weekend and was able to take photos of some of my pieces there. It was interesting meeting and talking with customers. Many were from out of town and visiting North Beach as a getaway weekend vacation.

Butterfly Fae with her mushroom friend was fun to create from polymer clay.

In Loving Memory of Wil

My dear brother and friend, Wil, unexpectedly suffered a cerebral bleed October 18th at 6:30am in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He was only 54 years old. It has been a very sad and difficult several weeks for everyone. The photo is of Wil with one of his students.

His obituary read:

William Fredrick Mayne, Jr., 54, of Yellow Springs, passed away at Miami Valley Hospital on October 20 2006. He was born June 21, 1952, in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Wil is survived by his mother, Gloria A. (Sullivan) Mayne of Yellow Springs; father, William F. Mayne, Sr., of Florida; two daughters: Shannon Mayne of Columbus, and Dorothy Mayne of Kettering; fiance: Mary Gnau of Yellow Springs, and her children: Matthew Gnau of Columbus, Michelle Gnau of Athens, Ohio; sister Dianne Mayne-Forche; brother-in-law and best friend, Terry Forch, both of Maryland, and many friends.

He received an Associate Degree in Mental Health Technology from Sinclair College, Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Wright State University, and was currently working on his Masters Degree in Education at Antioch University McGregor. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam and attended Faith Community United Methodist. He currently taught at the Greene County Educational Learning Center.

Wil was a musician poet and collector of baseball cards, Beatles paraphernalia, records, coins and stamps......

Wil's presence will be sorely missed and I still find it hard to believe he is gone. This is Wil's poem/song that was included in the service:

RAINBOW

Take me back over the rainbow

That's where I know you've been

Take me back over the rainbow, And I'll be happy again,

Broken bits to mend

Old bones just don't bend

Open wounds to be cleansed.

Take me back over the rainbow

That's where I know you've been

Take me back over the rainbow, And I'll be hppy again.

Primary colors blend

Hearts and flowers to send

Gladness to befriend.

So, take me back over the rainbow

Pull me through again

Take me back over the rainbow

Where good times never end

Helpin' hands to lend

No reason to pretend

Nothing to defend

-Wil Mayne 10-30-2005

ArtWorks Gallery Opening

Busy weekend! Saturday was spent in preparations for the afternoon opening reception at ArtWorks Gallery in North Beach, Maryland. I was able to take some photos before customers arrived so you could see some of the beautiful original works. A few of the participating artists were there to help with the set up: Jackie, Glenna, Mel and her friend, Ruth, and Suzanne! The gala was a huge success!

My Blue Heron is made from polymer clay with an internal wire mesh armature. Screws at each end of the wire hanger on the back were embedded in the clay and wire before curing for added strengh. She is hand painted in shades of blue and metallics and coated with a high gloss sealer.... giving it a sun shimmering on the water effect! What do you think?

Sunday was a big family reunion/75th and 80th birthday celebration of Grandma and Pop on my EX's side of the family in Laurel. We all went to high school together and they will always be my family, too! It really makes you think and appreciate the power of time. People change and kids grow older.... isn't that part of the lyrics in a song? Stop and smell the roses!

Raku

If you do not know what raku is, I did not before today either or atleast did not fully appreciate the process! It is a clay firing technique that produces unknown and absolutely stunning color effects on the finished pieces. After putting on a special glaze and fired a second time, the glowing piece is carefully lifted out and placed in a dugged out pit in the ground that has debris of leaves, pine needles, etc in the bottom ... and a lid quickly put on it to block out the oxygen. Of course everything in the pit immediately ignites and the hot smoke breaks down or the chemicals in the debris alter the glaze colors... not sure which and sure Tammy will give a better description. Spent the day with Tammy and helped her out a bit while she explained and demonstrated the ins and outs of raku.... hard work! Watch Tammy's blog for a photo in the next day or so and be prepared for a real visual treat! I would think she will have a hard time parting with that torso!!!

While I was at Tammy's I dropped off my pieces to be fired and will get them back on Saturday... then the fun begins and the pieces come alive with paints, metallics, and stains! My greenwoman was finished last night with the sculpting so it should be ready to be fired in a couple of weeks as it is fairly thick. She will go in one of the galleries I am participating in along with her greenman just in time for the beginning of the holiday seasons.... just hope she behaves herself and comes out in one piece.

Daily Routine

Finally have The Bear Hollow Nursery website updated, uploaded, and running recreated in Dreamweaver. Still have about 100 detail pages to recreate in my spare time. Powerful program, but not user friendly... gosh, guess I will have to tax my brain! Ordered books from Calvery Library to help learn the neat tricks and tips... Dreamweaver for Dummies.

I have purchased one of Marge Bielefeld's spirit dolls in the past and they are wonderfully made and highly detailed. Thought you might like to enjoy her website: The Ancient Ones. She has a new Healing Spirit ready to go to a good home that is fantastic!

Packing up pieces today to visit Tammy tomorrow with a mother load to be fired in her kiln ... oh how I wish it was that big!!

Greenman

Lost most of the morning trying to get a comment field in these blog posts. Hopefully, with this post is might be working and if not... it will be for another day!

My Greenman wall plaque is resting and I will be doing some detailing when it firms up a bit more tonight or tomorrow. This is so thick it will probably take a month to get bone dry! Can't wait to paint it colors of Fall with some forest green splashed on....




This is what happens when I spend too much time on the computer.... !!! Sandy saying.... ohhhh....puuuullllleeeeaaasssee play with me!!!!!

Gallery Sitting

Saturday was my day to gallery sit at Fridays Creek Art Gallery and Winery. Took my camera, books, and laptop to keep me occupied and catch up on stuff in case it was slow, but the gallery had a steady flow of visitors. Unfortunately, my camera was missing it's battery. Needless to say, I was very disappointed and had hoped to get lots of photos of the gorgeous art work there.

Sunday was a premium outdoor day! We raked and cleaned up storm debris and made a dent in the acorns piling up everywhere on our property... that's the breaks of living under giant oak trees!

Today was spent rebuilding my other website The Bear Hollow Nursery . During a server conversion I lost everything and shame on me... did not have a backup (I do now!). It is about half ready and will work on it some more tomorrow or atleast enough to get it uploaded. Spent a couple of hours working in wet clay on a greenman plaque (mosquitos chased me off...)just had to get my hands back in it! Will take a photos tomorrow.

My grand daughter came over this afternoon while my daughter and grandson went to a basketball game. We made oatmeal cookies while Sandy chewed on my satellite remote.... she only disappeared for a few minutes... what was she thinking????!!!!

Going To the Dogs

NOT a happy camper!




Who could resist this face??

More Clay Drying

Yesterday was in the 80's and today low 60's... gotta love nature's air conditioning!

I have switched over to the beta version of blogger so will see if uploading photos is more reliable. Here is more of the work I have drying and you should be able to click on the thumbnail for a larger version.

Momma and Kitty!

Salamander in the Sand! Not sure why I am on this salamander kick.... read somewhere salamanders can walk through fire and come out of it safely. I also like their shape and think they fit in nicely in home decor.

Close up of "Friends"!

Tree of Life was fun to make, but will do it larger and a bit more focused next time.

Productive Day

Day five with Sandy (who turns out to be half golden retriever and half yellow lab and a Leo!!) is showing huge improvements and she is relaxing into the flow of things. Em helped out with a few of her primal growls and put down the big sister law.

Finished up a reborn baby doll for Sheree in Australia ... this is her third adoption! Joshua (brunette brown eyes) is going home tomorrow with a full wardrobe to share with his brother Caleb (blonde blue eye).

Lots of clay work done and drying between chasing around after puppy. Going to help my friend, Tammy Vitale (<--click on her name for a link to her blog... can't get the links to show up as underlined when published!) in her workshop Thursday next week and will fire up some of the pieces that are finished drying. This is a new medium for me which I am very excited about ( something new to experience). Tammy and I are sharing techniques and skills learned (something I have not found easily .... so glad to have met her!)

"FRIENDS" --->

There are more photos, but having a difficult time uploading the images here.... very frustrating!

Some of the new pieces are for the galleries I am participating in.... ArtWorks at 7th and Fridays Creek Winery Art Gallery where the entire upper level of the barn building displays beautiful art work from about 20 artisans and growing! I will be gallery sitting on Saturday, October 7th from 11 to 5pm so will have the opportunity to take some photos. They are in the process of updating their website to include the artwork.

Puppy Adoption - Welcome Home Sandy

My husband and I have adopted a one year old rescue puppy to our family. Click on her photo above for a larger view. This is day four and we are wore out!!! Sandy is adjusting very well to all the attention and care and that is encouraging. She is part lab which explains her optimism and forgiveness. Before she was rescued, kids had taken her out to a field to use her as target practice. Her tongue had been cut all the way through to about an inch in through the center.... very heartbreaking ... how could anyone could be so cruel?

Before this past weekend, our family included a 9 year old yellow lab who thinks she is human and insists on inner springs and a 12 year old black with a white heart on her chest... kitty! Sandy is our new addition to keep everyone on their toes and active! Em was missing her brother badly so we were also hoping Sandy would cheer her up.... it worked up until yesterday when sore joints and muscle pain set in, not to mention sibling rivalry. I feel her pain... also forgot how energetic puppy's can be, but we will persevere! Time heals all .....