A season of birds

and nesting

continues with the creation of a ceramic bird nest.

Using cotton strings, paper and clay

with a little bird stopper created to sit on top

and if you peek inside you will see eggs are included.

(I know it looks like string, but trust me the string burns away in firing and what is left is the clay)

This is a messy business!

.

Bringing nature indoors

with a few of my latest creations in clay

here they are lined up for your viewing pleasure

soon they will find their favorite perches through out the cottage

maybe inside a cage...

or next to some greenery...

possibly on the fireplace mantle

or part of a holiday wreath ....

perhaps another family will adopt a couple of them !

Ceramic wine cooler

created using crackle glaze

a custom mixed ink stain

clear glaze and platinum luster

to create the look of a silver base.

I love experiments

especially when they are successful !

Summer entertaining continues at the seashore...

Black and White

I've been creating with a limited color pallet,

but using various glazes, on my ceramic designs

including india ink, crackle glaze & chalkboard paint.

Here are a few of them.

This was a gift of gratitude I made last year,

using chalkboard paint on the center of the bisque vase shape.

I cut holes in the design for knitting needles before firing,

so she could use it to keep her yarn in place.

I glazed the inside and base so it could also be used to hold fresh flowers.

And I used a crackle glaze on the exterior and then added black india ink to the cracks.

The center I painted with chalkboard paint so she could add in

a favorite quote or saying as she wished.

The card was a charcoal rendering of a favorite shoe design

I created just for her...

( The gal loved the color scheme of black, white and red,

she enjoyed needle crafting, writing, and had a passion for shoes )