Crafty Challenge Thursday

There comes a time in your life where you just throw up your hands and say, I surrender. That is sort of where I am at this present time. I feel totally un-creative lately although there are a million ideas floating around in my little brain. I feel like running has halted since hurting my leg or more specific, ITB. Physical therapy has been helping but I am a little nervous to start running on it again for fear that it will really hurt me and set me back farther. But...I really need to run...it calms me and clears my head for other useless floaters that like to run through on a daily basis. Todd has not been feeling well so that has been extremely stressful in this household since then. Hopefully with the plan that we are going towards, within the next 4 weeks we'll see a drastic decrease in his blood pressure and he'll start feeling like a million bucks!

The non-creative side of me is driving the creative side NUTS!!! I start something and then kind of peter out after a while. These welcome tiles are prime example. I have had this piece of clay laying around for quite a while and intended to make a smaller welcome tile. Two nights ago, I finally started it and it took about 2-1/2 hours to carve. After carving I casted it in plaster to make a permanent mold for future use. If I were to hand carve each one of these, the price would be through the roof so casting them in plaster and just having to do some refining work, makes the price affordable for people. I can't wait to see what it looks like glazed!

So back to the owl welcome tile, I casted it in plaster and my intention was to make it interchangeable. I carved out the owl in the tree and added with some extra clay this adorable bunny. The bottom row is some wonky hearts but it can be changed into a persons last name or even the established date.

As in this owl welcome tile.

I have some sketches of cats, dogs, birds to also put into this tile.

Any other ideas...blast me a comment!

New Stuff

Yesterday morning was my day to work at the pottery studio. Upon opening the door to the studio I realized that the gas kiln had been run and unloaded. I retrieved three pieces of pottery out of this firing. The tomato red flower bowl and the two sugar/honey jars. I was pleased with the firing...lots and lots of reds which seem to be the hardest to achieve.

Also I had this bird tile (and another)that came out of the electric firing. Previously I hand carved this tile and then casted it in plaster so I had a permanent mold. I tried to make these for Christmas but in my haste, they warped and I discarded them. I decided to try again and I really like how this one turned out with the awesome patina to the soft green glaze. I think I may try the owl welcome plaque in this glaze...it seems to highlight the images nicely.

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I am off to work all day and hopefully will not too tired to create tonight.

Happy Tuesday all!

Yesterday was a busy day in this household. Todd and Graydon headed out on a bus trip to the Red Bulls Soccer Season Opener in New Jersey. It was a bus trip and they had a lot of fun...too boot, the Bulls won 1-0!!!
While they were on their way to Jersey I headed to the pottery studio to get some work done. After getting settled I unloaded a kiln and reloaded it to bisque some of my work. In this is the owl plaque along with the composting pot. I'll be excited tomorrow to get them out and do some magical glazing on them.
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After unloading the kiln, I threw 4 mugs for an order. I went to the sink to wash my hands and noticed these two beauties sitting on the lawn. I found a bag of bread (thank you to the person who left it at the studio), took a piece and headed out with my camera to feed these two. They actually came right up to me and this little guy with the chipped beak took it so gentle out of my hand. His mate was a different story. She was a little rough and as I was feeding him she bit my finger thinking I had bread in my other hand.

I always love seeing these guys and the mallards during this time of the year. They always make a temporary camp on the lawn of the studio to rest and eat some grass. The river is right next to the studio so after their little siesta, they head back down to the river. I have to work tomorrow morning at the studio and I am hoping to see them again...
What did I accomplish??

A bunch of stuff...

4 mugs but one broke :(

sugar and creamer

money pot for an order

bowl for an order

pedestal bowl possibly for an order

-you can see the beginnings of it on the left. The bowl in the bottom left and the pedestal in top left. They both need to be trimmed and put together.

It may not seem like a lot but it is a good afternoon for me. The mugs are a real pain to make and really not one of my favorites. First you have to create the form, wait for it to get leather hard, trim the bottom foot and then fit the handle onto it. All in all it is a long boring process and when you make multiples the time adds up.

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This morning I am resting up and then I have a 9.3 mile race right down the road from my house. It is my training route so hopefully I do well. The weather is crappy again and the wind has picked up some. I really am hoping that it will be on my back the entire time.

Wish me luck..

Upside Down

Life was turned upside down and backwards the last two days thus the reason why I never blogged any creative ideas I had done.

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On Thursday I received a phone call from the hubbs stating that his BP was through the roof. He was at work and really didn't know what to do so needless to say he went to the ER where they admitted him for observation. After tons of tests and blood work we was released yesterday afternoon (his Birthday) with heart meds and a follow up appointment for Wednesday. Sooo stressful....

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So, today Todd and Graydon are heading off to New Jersey to watch the season opener of the Red Bulls Soccer and I have the whole afternoon to play. I will be heading to the studio with camera in tow, to create, create, and create some more. On the way home I am going to go to my favorite Italian restaurant to get take out of homemade pasta. Tomorrow is race day and I have to load up on some carbs. I promise I will post my creations later tonight...

Quickie....

Just a quick note...

Today, TG, is a day off...so many things to do with so little time. I have started Physical Therapy on my leg this week and they want to see me at least 3 days a week for 1-1/2 to 2 hours a day. How is that even possible with the amount of stuff I have to do during the day. I mean seriously, as I am there getting massaged (awesome) and then the stretches I do with guided assistance, I am stressing out about all the things I could be accomplishing instead of being there. I would love to be home getting some pottery done but my leg has been a really sore subject, literally! Apparently the ITB (band that runs from your hip to your knee) is really acting up and referring pain to my calf and foot. Although it doesn't bother me when I am running, it hurts like hell after and throughout the day and night. Like one of those nagging toothaches that you want to rip out of your head. LAst night I even missed my pottery class because of the pain. I couldn't even imagine sitting there at a wheel with my leg throbbing. So ice and rest was the remedy last night.

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Today I know is Creative Thursday and I promise by the end of the day I will post something that I have created during the day.

But for now, its off to physical therapy for the morning...ugh!!

Monday's Pets

Bits and Pieces of our pets...

Wren checking me out from under an antique child's chair.
and hopping away with enough of the paparazzi photos.

Somebody is extremely not amused in this photo but I love the composition of it. I might have to enlarge and frame it.

Well, this happens to be one of Callie's favorite spots at the moment. Behind this closed door is little Wren. Somebody really, really wants to get in there to see her.

How pathetic!!!

And Louie!!!

The Panda Bear Hammy-ster.

He's a bit of a flit so taking his photo is hard, although Graydon got him to hold still for ummm...a second.

Spring is in the air...

You know when it's Spring when...

you are outside and you hear the calls of the geese flying overhead. Snow geese heading North yesterday and it was a welcoming site!
Snowdrops are the first flowers always up at the site of Spring. They even come out through the snow...but in this case, green grass with no snow on the ground.

Crocus...bees flooding the open blooms for the fresh pollen. I have thought about having a bee hive but with all the bears in the neighborhood, I think it wouldn't be such a good idea!

Little Wren had her first trip outside yesterday and I think she really liked it. There was no stomping of the feet in protest and with her cute little harness on, she got to explore a little. But she wasn't too far from us...she kept hopping back to us and hiding behind our legs looking for security.

The look on her face in this photo is sooo funny. The sun was bugging her eyes and I think she was a little miffed about it.

What a cute little bunny girl...