Time keeps on tickin' tickin' tickin'...

Just a little post holiday Show & Tell to share today... I'm sure that I have one thing in common with all of you fellow artists out there, we love to create one of a kind Christmas gifts for our family & friends! Through the years they have come to be expected by everyone I know, but I wasn't so sure that my creations were really something they looked forward to (kind of like that dreaded fruitcake that keeps getting passed around)... so, a few years ago I decided to whittle down my gift list to a few diehard fans of my ART!

This year, one of my friends created a new craft room in her home... it is the first time she has ever had a designated place all of her own to create in, HGTV would use a popular phrase like an "ART-cave", but I'm an old fashion kind of gal, I still call it a studio! She mentioned one day that she loses track of time when she's in there working on a project and thought that she needed a clock to help bring her back into the real world! That's all that I needed to hear... the perfect gift and a new "untried" challenge for me... I will make her a clock for Christmas!!

After thinking about it, I decided on a simple "combo" design using porcelain components added to an acrylic base where the clockworks would be attached.  

So, a trip to the local glass shop to acquire a piece of acrylic... surfed the net, clockworks ordered... it's time to pound some clay!!

 This is where the "Magic" happens - (too tidy? yes, a "before" pic)

Below pic... the naked porcelain components before being decorated.

Bisque-fired and fresh from the kiln

Below pic: My friend loves any & all shades of the color purple as well as polka dots... so, to me there was only one way to go... along with a few bright accent colors to pull it all together... a clock was born!!

Voila.. finished clock hanging in it's new home!

Thanks for taking the TIME to stop by!

 Until next time... Happy ARTING!!

 

Seasons Greetings!!

Merry Christmas from my "Neck of the Woods" 

I'm not dreaming... we're having a White Christmas!!! 

( brrrrr, it is now - 4 degrees)

A little glimpse at the backyard where the pond should be!


Just for fun, I have a little Holiday Show & Tell...

I recently went to the Big City in search of a little Christmas Spirit, we chose to take in the Holiday Light display at the Conservatory in one of the parks... they have thousands of species of tropical plants that were decorated in colorful lights... it was a wonderfully festive sight, even the cacti were strung with lights, all I could think of was... OUCH!!!  

The photos below are just a very small sampling of the remarkable display, I know that they do not do it justice but I had to share anyway!!!

Blessings to you & yours 

for a joyous and healthy NEW YEAR!!!

Once a Claywoman, Always a Claywoman!

In my neck of the woods, Autumn and Thanksgiving traditionally mark the beginning of our annual local Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair Season! Although I have participated as an exhibitor on more occasions than I can recall, the past few years I have merely been relegated to the sidelines as a spectator. In an attempt to encourage a creative friend who had little confidence that anyone would ever want to buy her wares, I set out to entice her with an offer to step out of retirement to share a space. We chose a local venue that allowed "booth sharing" and with a few months to prepare, we set out to create our individual inventories! 

I made the decision to produce one of my time tested creations... porcelain Christmas ornaments, small affordable pieces that always seem to catch the eye of passers by, if for no other reason than to stop & smile at what they see! Even after 30 years, these small but unique sculptures seem to speak out loud & ask to be seen!! Several years ago I created an entire sculpture series titled Hedounies... they were larger single & multiple figure sculptures that I sold in galleries and art shows for many years before putting them into retirement!   When it came time to brush off my clay table and get to work, I set out to bring life to a new generation of ornaments called Treedounies.  I was definitely out of practice and felt a bit rusty, but for better or worse, I loved every minute of feeling porcelain on my fingertips once again! 

The first two photos have been retrieved from my archives to give you an idea of what my Hedounies looked like... I didn't have any other digital photos so this is the best I could provide at this time... the 1st one, titled "What's Up?" measured approx. 14" in height and the 2nd one, titled "What's New?" measured approx. 10" tall X 12" long. Both were created from porcelain and airbrushed with underglazes before being sprayed with a crystal clear glaze top coat.

 

Well, enough of my little walk down memory lane!

The following photos are an assortment of some of my latest Treedounies... each ornament is created from porcelain and finished with air brushed underglazes and a matte finish.

Treedounie Bells - the clapper in the open bottom is a jingle bell

 

Treedounie Ornaments - size varies, approx. 2 1/2" to 3"

So... in the end, the show was a success... my friend's work was well received and she sold enough to encourage her creative juices to keep flowing!! The most important thing of the day, we had fun!! 

Once again, thank you for stopping by...

Until next time, Happy ARTing!!

 

"On the Road Again"... finale!!

In this final installment of my Island Hopping Adventure we find ourselves back in Washington State to explore the San Juan Islands. 

Ferry to Anacortes... Mt. Rainier in background

As usual and especially while traveling, I tend to look at all of my surroundings through the eyes of an artist... the new scenery, new communities, artwork and music by local artists, regional cuisine... for me, inspiration lies around every corner!  The photos below represent a variety of subjects that caught my interest along the way...   

Anacortes, Fidalgo Island... sampling of community art installations 

 This piano is part of an art competition, each decorated by local artists - 
several are on display along the main street

Deception Pass State Park...  

Bridge connecting Fidalgo & Whidbey Islands

                  

Silly Selfie - Bridge in the background

Whidbey Island & San Juan Island... 

      highlights of Coupeville, Oak Harbor, Fort Ebey, Friday Harbor

Best Homemade Potato Chips EVER... YUM!!

All journeys, no matter how enjoyable, must come to an end...  so, it's homeward bound for us! Leaving the islands, we headed east on the "North Cascades Highway"... you'll see from the photos below that I tried to capture just how beautiful and picturesque this area is... but, I recommend seeing it for yourself... you won't be disappointed! 

Skagit River - North Cascades National Park

Skagit River Gorge

Diablo Lake - gorgeous green color

View of the Glacier Peaks above Diablo Lake

North Cascades Mountain Range

Another wonderful view around every curve!

... and another!

Mural in Winthrop, WA

Cowboy Bronze in Winthrop

  

 Thank you for popping in & sharing my travel memories...

Hope you enjoyed tagging along!!

Until next time, Happy (ART) Trails!!

 

"On the Road Again"... part II

My Island Hopping Adventure continues with us still on Vancouver Island.

Here are a few favorite pics of some new friends from other attractions that we discovered while exploring the island! 

Mother Nature is an artist's constant inspiration! 

The Shaw Center for the Salish Sea ...

The Butterfly Gardens & Insectarium ...

I couldn't possibly show you all of the wonderfully creative things that I saw each day, below is just a sampling of what caught my artistic eye along the way... 

  

Victoria's Royal BC Museum  ... Salish Artwork of the "First Peoples"

 Emily Carr (Bronze Sculpture) ... Canada's renown artist & author

Craigdarroch Castle ...

 

Fisgard Lighthouse ... built in 1860 & still in operation today!

 Anyone for plein air?!

Thanks for checking out part II of my adventure...

Hope that you will "hang in" for 

the next installment to be continued soon!