One Month Until NCECA

The count down starts. Flying to Pittsburgh for a reception at Morgan Glass gallery and NCECA. It'll be the first time I travel without my husband since.... ever? Actually when my parent's died... but I digress. (cue the Debbie Downer music!) Dang. But on a brighter note, the show at Morgan looks great. If you're in the area pop by. Visit these two little dears.

Brexit Sessions. 

And this piece is called We All Have Demons, Some Are Just Cuter. 

I can't wait to fill my suitcase with ceramic tools. And seriously if you're there... please say hi. I am a real chatter box.

Upcoming Shows

I am in my studio cranking out work. 3 Shows coming up. I've got two of my happiness cups about to be sent to The Missouri Western State University Clay Guild in St. Joseph, MO. They are sponsoring the National Ceramic Exhibition titled Twin Cups.

And I am also building a teapot for a show at Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA, and a show at Piedmont Craftsmen in Winston-Salem, NC. My crooked little fingers are busy. And happy. Sometimes I think I thrive on deadlines. Will post images when I get them together.

Updated my studio

The good news is I revamped my studio. Light and bright. Lately I am so into white. Maybe I am subconsciously craving snow? (Ah, no!!) Here's a picture I snapped last night.

The good news is I love it, the bad news while laying the bamboo flooring I dropped heavy planks on my "good foot" and am waiting for x-rays to see if there are broken bones. Can't put a shoe on my foot, but who would want to with that fuzzy rug? (I joke) Well, half joke. Thinking about painting my ware boards white. Fingers crossed I don't need another cast. Will keep you posted.

Bugging Out

Thought I'd mention a couple of shows where you can see my art. Both affiliated with the Piedmont Craftsmen. First, Bugging Out.

 

All of the work in the show is based on bugs or insects.  Butterflies were my thing.
The other is coming up August 8th at Z. Smith Reynolds Library of Wake Forest University.

If you're nearby take a pic and send it. I'd love to visit myself but I am home and can't get up to North Carolina. I call the piece in the show B Keeper. Bound books and Bees are in danger and this lady is doing her best to protect both. I hand printed family history documents on her skirt. Bound little tiny books she holds in her hands.

Take Care of Yourself

Well, you know how everyone makes resolutions at the New Year? And snarky me is always "hell no resolutions are so lame!"Well, I sort of have a resolution; to listen to my body. Here's a picture of my left leg and foot. (and an old doll on my bedroom wall)

Notice the cast? Remember those races I ran this year? It seems some of them were run on a stress fractured heel bone. And if you keep jogging on a fractured bone terrible things will happen. I was busy with work and didn't have the time to schedule a doctor's visit. Sound familiar?

A large lump developed below the ankle and that's what finally got me to the doctor. And I couldn't walk anymore. I had surgery last Friday and here I am. May I add, CRUTCHES SUCK!

 If you have something that hurts, is lumpy or just isn't right please just go see a doctor. And if it lasts longer than a few weeks, it probably won't go away on its own. The moral of the story? You are worth more than you know. Watch for dolls with foot issues.

Morning Run: The Regent's Park

Yesterday was rainy so today I had to run. Tucked my camera into my flip belt. (love my flip belt) and off for a run in the Regent's Park.

Thought I would like to share some of the images I snapped.

 I kept turning my head

and only seemed to see something more beautiful

than I saw before. Hope you enjoy them too. See all I would have missed had I not gone out? So inspiring.

New Large Sculptures

 Just finished these large sculptures today. Very happy with them, and very happy to be done to be honest. It's taken a few months to create them. They stand in my studio looking like they're ready for a mission.

And me kneeling with them to show you scale. They really make me happy. So far their names are from left to right: Where the Wind Blows, Prophet, and Anastasia. Each one holds her wings. And Where the Wind Blows on the left has a grackle's nest (bird). I found it on the ground after a bad rain storm.

Little Wren Art Doll

This is Wren. She's almost complete. Her wings are next. Soon she'll be flying away. I like the light in this photo.

Making Molds

Mold making is dirty, messy and a necessary evil. Thought I would post images on my newest mold. You might have seen it on my newest double figure. It's the face with closed eyes. I even got the cast face out in one piece after the mold was made.

My molds aren't pretty, but they do the trick. No slip casting. Pressing all the way.

Ethereal New Work in 2015

For a lot of reasons lately I've been doing a lot of soul searching with regards to my art. Long ago I made clothes for my figures but talked myself out of doing it because I didn't have a degree in fashion design. But I love to sew, and bead, and embroider, and paint, and make jewelry, (and, and and). So I got really pissed at myself and here's what I have been up to in the past few months. A lot more labor and materials go into these so the price point will be higher than my older work. Hoping to list them in the next week or two. Do you like?

Happy December

It seems like I blinked and it was December. Here is the calendar page for December. It features my sculpture Hunters. Hope whatever you celebrate this time of year is happy, jolly and bright.

Permission to be Weird

My blog entry for CreateMixedMedia.com will be about weirdness this month. Hope you check it out.   I created a permission slip that allows us to be weird despite cocked eyebrows and snickers from others. Yes, I am weird but it makes me uniquely me. If you need permission to be weird, print a copy and fill it out and hang it on your wall so you don't take yourself so serious. Or do you have a friend who needs to loosen up? Then print them a copy too. Have fun and stay weird my friends.

Lamps have gone to the dogs

I just finished the lamps I've been working on. Say hello to Frisbee Fred and Vicious Vic. A whole lot of fun to make and sitting pretty in my living room. Bringing them to Artisans on the Ave in downtown Lake Worth today. Watch for them lighting the night from the window.

NIADA conference

Just back from Orlando and the NIADA conference. Holy moly, saw some GREAT artwork. Here's a few images from the sale today. If you aren't familiar with NIADA or the wonderful artists or the sale... well let me introduce you to:

 Ankie Daanen.

 

Chris Chomick and Peter Meder. You should see their automata (watch the movie Hugo)

 

 

 Diane Keeler. Check out the Queen of Hearts and the Bride in White. I am drooling.

 And Karin Otto Burfict. Stunning.

 Leslie Keeble

 

and Marlaine Verhelst. The best part? They're all really nice people and a lot of them do workshops. 

New Studio Coming Together

We're back from vacation. What you may not know is we moved into a new house 2 weeks prior to traveling so I barely unpacked and whoosh we were gone. The past few days I have been getting my studio together and I am ready to work. Here are some pics. My Toby jars seem happy.

Holiday Fun in England

A few more images. At the seaside, a garden in Cambridge, a ceramic cat, and street art in Camden.

The best thing about vacation is wandering with no plan. Make sure you take time to do the same. It's good for the soul.

July Calendar Page

Hello! I didn't forget the calendar page. I've moved house and studio and trying to unpack and weed things out and at the same time fractured ribs tearing out carpet. Who knew how painful a sneeze could be? It's been interesting. Hope you enjoy the calendar. We're off to London soon so it seemed perfect.

My Sister's a Natural

Last week was wonderful. My sister Virginia came to visit and she'd kindly sit with me in my studio each morning and we'd sip coffee and talk. I asked her if she'd like to play with clay, and people can I tell you... she's a natural. She made three bowls and a bird. I even had the poor girl glazing (did you know I HATE glazing?) Yes... I do. So roped her into it.