New lace designs in clay

I discovered a new cotton lace to play with by

dipping it in slip and incorporating into new ceramic designs.

These little dishes are the perfect size for holding baubles and beads.

A favorite rectangle shape plate,

a little pillow shaped vase,

and a cool oval box shape for holding treasures 

all embellished with lace!

I know it still looks like it is cotton lace, 

but after dipping it in slip and firing at 1200 degrees 

the cotton burns away and all you are left with is the impression in clay.

It's hard to tell until you touch it!

Grateful to share the fun in the Autumn 2016 issue of Somerset Home Magazine!

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Ceramic pedestal

The latest creation is a ceramic pedestal in chocolate brown 

with a doily effect

and using brown invasion glaze on a couple of 

sweet little dish designs as an experiment!

Perfect for serving chocolate cake!

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Latest DIY with a Parisian theme

I had purchased half a yard of the fun Parisian theme fabric 

and a yard of the black embroidered floral design, 

just because... 

not really knowing what I was going to do with it.

Then I came across the two side chairs 

with the unusual backs for a price that I just couldn't pass up!

I pulled out my fabric paints and began to play with

various shades of pinks and greens on the fabrics.

I sewed a fat little stripe of bright pink fabric 

between the other two, for a fun contrast 

and used the combination of all 3 fabrics to upholster the cushions.

Then I chose a chalky finish black paint on the chairs for a fresh look.

LoVe it, love rescuing furniture!


And grateful to share the fun 

with an article in Stampington Home Magazine.


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Color palette shirt

Originally I created as a scarf with fabric paints

to wear to an art affair with the dress code of all white,

as in blank canvases.

Recently I cut the hand-painted scarf in half 

and sewed it to this cotton shirt as an embellishment 

to use as a painting smock.

Grateful to share the creativity with the readers

 of Greencraft Magazine!



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Coral Vases

I've been experimenting and creating coral vases 

 in multiple sizes and colors!

Ceramic cameos

Fabulous collection found on 

hearchitecturalist:

Sir John Soane Museum

After viewing this amazing collection

I was inspired to mat and frame a few of my own ceramic cameos, 

just for fun!

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Floral bowl design

going for a watercolor effect on a simple bowl design 

I begin with sketching the design in with a high fire marker

and then select the colors and begin painting in the design

with various glazes

then finish with a clear glaze

I am pleased with how the pencil marks show through, sweet!

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Playing in clay

Creating a small ceramic floral top box...

With little balls of clay smashed between my thumb and finger

and layered in a circular shape then attached.

I used ball point pencil pressed into the clay balls 

for the effect on the centers.

Then a neutral parchment glaze over the whole piece

 and after numerous coats and firing

 an opalescent luster glaze on the flower for the final finish.

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Sweet ceramic coasters

Ceramic coasters created

with feminine little vintage lace designs all in white 

and the centers left unglazed so they absorb moisture.

They make great little jewelry dishes too!

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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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Watercolors

I pulled out my little wood box of watercolors,

it has been so long since I used them 

that I decided to create a sample page for reference.

I get excited about the color mixing possibilities 

just viewing all the colors!

Then a little creative fun with flowers...

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Experimenting with mishima technique

Mishima is a technique of inlaying slip, 

under glaze, or even clay into a contrasting clay body, 

the main clay body of the pottery piece.   

Creating a mishima piece is pretty simple. 

I started by creating the vase shape then carving out the design. 

I chose to fill in the carved lines with a sepia tone,

then sanded off the excess material then sponged it clean.

Just for fun I punched the holes with a straw 

so that I could add a ribbon to the top of the vase.

After drying the piece I added glaze. 

and put it in to be fired.

I was surprised when it came out of firing and the colors 

seemed to have been lost, it was so muted.

Ha! That is why I call it an experiment!

I'm liking this quote,

“Life is an adventure of passion, risk, danger, laughter, beauty, love; a burning curiosity to go with the action to see what it is all about, to go search for a pattern of meaning, to burn one's bridges because you're never going to go back anyway, and to live to the end.” 

― Saul D. Alinsky, Reveille for Radicals