Seashell ceramic tree for holiday decorating

My latest clay creation completed just in time to decorate with.

Shown here with a collection of my previous concoctions

on my cocktail table to add a little holiday cheer!

and a snap of it before firing as it was still wet clay and

just out of firing showing it with the stand I made to accompany it.

Merry everything and happy always!

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Power tools and puree marbles

in combination used for embellishing my redwood fence

It began when my neighbor gifted me with a handful of golden colored marbles 

and I thought they would be perfect for creating a sea star for the sun to shine through.

So I  pulled out my pink (I wish, just kidding) power drill and went for it!

But it didn't quite read the way I expected and after drilling 15 holes there is no going 

back so I decided to make a ceramic sea star to be next to it 

hoping you would get the idea. 

And of course you can't have just one ceramic shell, 

so I made several and a seahorse too!

with tiny blue puree marbles confiscated from the same neighbor and used as bubbles.

This is the fun view that I have of it from my kitchen 

window with the sun shining through.

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Coral Vases

I've been experimenting and creating coral vases 

 in multiple sizes and colors!

First time working with porcelain clay

and creating a back splash for the guest cottage pedestal sink.

I noticed a bit of water damage along the back edge of the pedestal sink 

in the guest cottage and decided to create a back splash to protect it.

I used a scrap of paper to draw a simple arched pattern for the shape.

 I rolled out a piece of clay and cut the basic shape

 and pulled out my seashell molds and started layering the whole piece with seashells

 then created a little lip along the bottom edge where it will set on the back of the sink.

It has been drying for days. When it is completely dry it will be fired

and then I plan on glazing it all in whites.

Here it is back from firing.

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Beach time...

A mini vacation, just across the street from the cottage, 

and down a few steps...

Some days it is just the lifeguard, seashells, 

large stretches of blue sky, warm sand and the sparkling sea.

I usually bring my tattered sketchbook along with me.

And my favorite pencil, a fat stump for shading and an eraser.

On this day the straw bag and flipflops were more interesting than my pink painted toes.

Surprisingly, Sunday afternoon I seemed to have my favorite little cove all to myself.

Other days I have unsuspecting subject matter all about.

 I had just begun sketching 

when this guy jumped up and ran after his toddler.

So I spy someone else and begin again.

I am hidden under a large straw hat with dark glasses 

with the sketch book in my lap.

Most people have no idea what I am up to.

This gal made it so much easier, she was dozing and not moving about.

Mostly it is just for fun and practice 

but every once in a while I like a piece well enough to frame.

This one ended up in the guest house at Summerland Cottage.

This guy was so engrossed in his Clive Cussler novel 

that he made a perfect model.

(Reminder to self, do this more often!)

Creative furniture makeover

I've been working on a fun makeover for 

LOCA's fun funky furnishings fundraiser

being held next Sunday, May 4th, here in Laguna Beach.

My girlfriend Trudy had this dresser she was willing to donate to 

the cause and she even offered to prime and paint it white.

Then she dropped it off for me to play with!

I created new ceramic seashell drawer pulls for it,

and went with an ombré effect using a Tiffany blue color scheme 

on the drawers.

I chose to edge the drawers with a white border and add 

a trim of the Tiffany blue along the bottom wavy edge 

to show off the detail and a small border along the top 

to accent, the little hand-painted sea creatures,

that will be embellishing the top of the dresser.

If you're in the area try to make it by, and bring your friends,

 it's for a great cause, so bid generously!

(hand-painted detail on the top)

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Washed Ashore

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I believe most artists are inspired by their surroundings.

Living in a vintage cottage a few steps from the seashore

where we are no longer allowed to remove or take the seashells

is what encouraged me to create my own collection of ceramic shells

using various clays and glazes.

I have amassed a pretty amazing collection

over the years that I embellish with.

I also use them in mosaics, gift them to friends, barter with them

and as you see here create jewelry with them.

For this piece I used a scrap of fabric in ocean colors that I cut 10 inches long by 4 inches wide and folded it in half lengthwise with right sides together.

Then sewed a half inch seam along the length of it then turning it right side out I tuck the unfinished ends back into each side.

Next I cut a piece of 1 inch wide elastic to fit my wrist and slid it in with a safety pin and sewed one side down before stretching through to the other side and attaching the elastic down before I slid one side into the other and sewed it closed completely.

This is when the fun begins...

pull out your collections of buttons, beads, and baubles

and beginning with the largest pieces either use fabric glue

to attach them into place or sew them down,

and then continue by filling in around them

with buttons, pearls and beads.

I am the kind of artist that will use anything handy

so I've used dental floss to attach the pearls,

colored embroidery thread

for beads and even clear fishing line.

There are bits of plastic, ceramic pieces, glass

and pearls from a broken necklace and combined altogether

they create a wrist embellishment a mermaid may have lost

that was discovered when it washed ashore.

Library Plaque

When I received the call from our local librarian asking for help with creating a plaque

acknowledging & thanking the Draper Family

for donating all of the new furnishings in the children's section

I was thrilled to help out.

Jenny was looking for something in a seashore theme

to go with the new designs and wasn't seeing the typical brass plaque

Here is the creation I came up with,

she LoVed it

and I was grateful to help out !

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