Festival of Trees 2006

The Festival of Trees was a huge success this past weekend. Folks from all around the area came through and were such friendly and kind people! .... and five of my baby dolls found new homes!

If you live near by think about coming out next year. It is a great family event with Santa Claus and seemed like a hundred uniquely decorated Christmas trees donated by businesses, individuals and civic groups for fund raising... up and down the corridors of one year old Huntingtown High School. Each tree had a theme so we also have lots of ideas for decorating our own. My favorite was Christmas on the Beach!

There were hourly performances from singing to band music. Tricia Darrow offered bracelet making for $5 per bracelet and you pick out the beads! She has a new store opening in Prince Frederick December 2nd.

Kinda puts ya in the spirit of Christmas ....

Glazing Experiment

Using red colored clay does not work when glazing with other colors... so I found out! AutumnMan wall hanging was not supposed to be so shiney and dark. The glaze is a two tone with the edges a burnt reddish color and the rest a light to dark forest green. It will be interesting to see how it fires up on white clay. I will be picking up clay tomorrow or Friday from Baltimore since they wanted $86 for shipping cost! It will take alittle over an hour if there is no rush traffic.


Native American mask is well... the jury is still out! The glaze was called Autumn Feather, but not sure what happened to the different crytals that were suppose to explode in bursts of color!

Life's Bumpy Roads

It has been awhile since I have taken the time out to post anything. Lots has been going on outside of the studio. Preparations for this weekend's craft show is going into high gear today, but I have lots of items already to go.

Our daughter here in Maryland has been diagnosed with a brain anuerysm (spelling?) in her carotid artery. We are taking her tomorrow for an angiogram to determine which type of surgery she will need. It is a true blessing to have found it early.... thank you, Wil! My mother in Ohio is also going through the same thing on Wednesday for a blocked carotid artery. Her grand daughter and my neice, Dorothy, who lives nearby will be there for her! God Bless You, Dorothy! Please include our family in your prayers!??

..If you or your loved one experience regular headaches, or have high blood pressure, please encourage them to get a routine MRI and an MRA if there is a family history and consult your family physician.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day (and thankful for each day...)

Studio

Fall is here and ALL the leaves are now shades of golden yellows, reddish oranges, and coppers. My next greenman mask is going to be coppery and golden .... should I call him Autumnman?

Working on peices for the upcoming festival and researching kilns and options this past week. A company came out yesterday to give me an estimate to put in an outlet for a kiln, but he has to send in the electrician monday morning. Once I find out what my studio can support electrically, I can get serious about it and place an order for one. All I can think about is getting my hands into the wet clay and going crazy with it! It is like zoning out and then a shape and form appears like magic and something is created that takes on it's own character. It is so much easier and faster than using polymer clay.

This has also been a tough week dealing with intense absessed tooth pain and the pain killer did not and is not doing it's job. It is hard to feel enthusiasm and excitement with throbbing pain, but this is my favorite time of the year!

Time to get back to the studio and continue sorting and clearing out... thinking positive and making room for the kiln!

New Clay Work

Worked up 25 pounds of clay into fish, a greenman wall plaque, native american woman face mask, kitty plaque and some soap dish holders.... does not look like very much, but it took a couple of days. Now to get them dried out, fired in a kiln (found a local pottery shop having a slow time of it and willing to fire a load for me) and hand painted! These will be for the Festival Of Trees annual Hospice fair in Huntingtown, Maryland, November 24th through the 26th, 2006.