(glimpses) - outbreak

be warned! dandelion outbreak in progress ... in a day or so with a a bit rain and lots of beautiful sunshine,  the dandelions have swept through the field as we had our backs turned....































spring certainly is in full force now and this is just what we had been waiting for....



































 and it hasn't taken long for the maples and birches to follow...all at once, all is racing forward now...

































in the studio, a long overdue reorganization and tidying has started ...


i've started with the easier bit, while I figure out best to re-situate workshop machinery and work surfaces

and a little something different I've been working on some pottery and ceramics pieces over the last few months...

a carved ceramic tile with a very proud stallion against starry night sky ... just a sketch of some ideas for new projects I hope to be working on for the fall :) 

some of hand thrown bowls that have been fired once and awaiting glazing and second firing (I was in a rush this day, so managed to take some very fuzzy pictures!)

the first set that I made that have come home with me and are getting used at dinner regularly:)


 well I guess that's it for now ...hope you are having a great week!

(at the workbench) - crow's calling

i've got to appreciate how certain individuals (see photo) can always feels so good about themselves without even a touch of self doubt....and I mean in to say this in a good way ... in a most unassuming (with the barest boastfulness) kind of way that only certain birds can truly possess






























here he is again, "crow boy"... originally to be named "blue-eyed crow boy" ... but as anyone can clearly see his eyes simply aren't blue, but that shouldn't bother a fine and handsome  crow ... being tall, dark and handsome should really be enough to make any bird happy





(shhh.. he's soon going to have a friend very soon, but I haven't told him yet!)

(at the workbench) - other stories

in between drought-like April and April-like May showers,

I've had a few projects I've been busy working on ...

 even as the fields begin their greening and the trees setting out young leaves...

the forest folk ...  a busy and ever-resourceful people are busy at work ....

and at the end of the lengthening day, all can say their day was well spent ...

. whether we can guess what May showers will bring for June ....  :) 

(around the table) - red hot chilies in winter

A little project we began just at the start of the new year ... my daughter had plans of throwing a fiesta for my birthday ... but with the return to regular life after the holidays, we are still working up to our fiesta ....

We started with strips of newspaper ... and made a batch of homemade wheat paste.

There are many recipes available. Wheat paste is basically a mixture of flour and water (in many cases heated over a low heat and whisked for a smooth consistency).  Other strarchy, non-gluten flours will also work well.








we shaped our chili peppers ... by dipping the newsprint strips in bowl of the wheat paste ... and with our fingers squeegeed off the excess wheat paste.

twisting the newspaper around itself in a cones-like way ... adding a layer or two more and then placing them on  a cooling rack to dry... this may take one to three days depending on the size of your peppers

Yes, traditional paper mache can be a bit messy depending on who's cooking ...but  I love this traditional folk craft method as it is always likely to have the materials on hand.

as the first layers of newspaper dry .... more layers can be used to build on the initial form... just make sure to leave time for layers to dry in between ....

we have painted ours with matte acyclic paint and let the writing of the newspaper show through in places.

I like the feel of having some of the process still revealed...  and the hot redness of those toasty paper chili peppers as winter lingers on...

... we will be making twisted stems, but that is still for another day!

(favorites) - Finding Patterns

something new ...
thought I'd shared some favorites ...click here....