Nothing like a visit from an old friend... It's a mystery, but all the tables I've tiled made from poplar will sooner or later start shedding the tiles. I've gotten fairly adept at re-setting the tiles so the table looks nearly as good as new. It's an adventure to chip off any loose tiles, clean all the old grout out and start over. Needless to say, I'm not taking any chances this time. Can you say Liquid Nails?



Hurrah! This bathroom mirror is finished. It's a real departure from my color palette. I enjoyed the challenge!



Whenever I start working with tile, I just have to rummage in the big bucket of tiles that I didn't use in other projects and create something. I like the textures and colors from my green and purple palette mixed with the neutrals. Hopefully, someone else will like it too.

Judy, not to worry, your's is coming along...

Tags: tile
Current Location: outside the studio
Current Mood: artistic

This past Saturday was the first Art in the Park for the 2008 season in Blowing Rock, NC. I was in booth number 9. For some reason I kept hearing old Beatles songs in my head most of the morning...

The drive up on Friday was fairly easy. I picked Emily, my good friend and most trusted and able helper, up at her house about 2 pm and away we went. Just over three hours later we were checking in at the Boxwood Lodge.



It didn't take long to empty the necessities out of the van and head up Main Street. We walked the riding kinks out and looked at the old and new stores on Main Street.



Then it was time to think about dinner. I have always enjoyed going to Storie Street Grille. Friday night's appetizer special got me. Shrimp in a lime sauce over a bed of jasmine rice. Big yum! Emily was agreeable so we had a good meal sitting out on the heated patio. Saturday's show time rolls around really early. After a short walk to settle dinner it's bed time.

We drove into the park just before 6 am listening to the early morning sounds of craftsfolks beginning the set up process. Set up went fairly smoothly. The only morning glitch was the unpredicatable mountain wind. Before the show officially opened at 10:00 the wind had caused major damage in two booths.



People watching is always fun. This guy was great. The picture really doesn't do his silver lame slippers justice.



This show always draws a pleasant group of shoppers.



Emily had a little shopping time on Main Street. Hope David likes his new coffee mug.



I had enough of the old gold glazed mirrors and frames to show them. They got some nice comments and I did sell one frame from the group.



For a spring show, it was okay. There are some major changes to this event. Seems the town of Blowing Rock is planning to drop a parking deck into the back area of the park in the near future. What that means to the show is there are thirty less booth spaces. All the booths on the top two levels have been cancelled. The up side of this is a much faster load in and load out. The new director and her staff are very efficient and pleasant. The down side is there will be a lot more competition to have one of those spaces.

Just before the show closed the wind kicked back up again. One jeweler had a major catastrophe from a sudden downburst of wind. The wind aside, the weather was pretty amazing for the mountains in the month of May. The forecasted rain wasn't scheduled to appear until noon on Sunday. We made sure we were well on our way before the storms started.

Tags: art in the park, blowing rock, storie street grille
Current Location: Blowing Rock, NC
Current Mood: happy

Last fall I decided to take the spring off from the majority of my clay related obligations. I also needed to spend a good deal of time in the studio researching glazes. One glaze in particular has been just beyond my reach. Finally, this morning I think I solved the problem with the basic "fit" of the glaze to the clay body. At least it feels like progress. Did I mention that I have a pile of ugly and useless tests? The good part of that is I put all the ugly candidates on the ground outside the studio and smash them with a big hammer. It might not be progress, but it does have it's moments of satisfaction...

The two tile projects that I have been working on in my "off" time are shaping up. I do have several new color combinations and a new mirror design as well. I've designed two new individual tiles, fat bird and a "people" tile with words. When I hit the road in a couple of weeks for show season I will have some new work. Finally!

Since the old gold glaze didn't peel off the bisqued mirror frame this morning it's safe to say that I'll post pictures in a couple of days after the next firing. Stay tuned....

Current Mood: hopeful

Okay, I admit it, I'm a Southerner through and through. That also means my idea of a snow storm is based on the theory that green and white are compatible colors. A light dusting of snow (white)on the beautiful greenery (green)provided by Mother Nature works for me. Here and gone. No shoveling.



That snow was so enjoyable I could probably handle another one this winter.



Ken, if you're reading this, I love the star. It looks great with a dusting of snow don't you think? Now I just have to figure out where to hang it! Another project is connecting the rain barrel. Not much water finds it way into the barrel if you don't.



I have this thing for gazing balls. So far I have restrained myself but if I ever give in, I'll have a hundred of them scattered all over the yard. Right now I have a treasured one sitting in a bucket in the dining room. Snow really looks pretty on the light blue gazing ball. Maybe I will have to shop for a few more. As the drought continues it does make sense to fill the patio up with something pretty that doesn't require watering.

Current Mood: amused

It's that time of year... for some, it's a holiday season. For others, it's just a time to work harder and harder. I feel very fortunate to be finished with the special orders and can quietly finish the remaining small chores. I can almost say "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanaukah", or the ubiquitous "Happy Holidays". Nothing like covering all your bases, right?

Aging, like good wine, goes much faster... 2007 is a blur. It's a blur of things well done and of things left undone.

I began the year by cleaning out my studio. I hadn't really cleaned it in four years. It took several days and two trips to the dump to get rid of the excess clutter. I am the child of a first rate pack rat. I've earned my rattiness, but like all over achievers, I try to minimize those traits that I consider bad... hence, down with rat-dom! The gift from cleaning the studio was a real spurt of creativity.

My clay work was reasonably successful this year. Although I didn't change the basic design of many things, I did introduce a few new glazes. The blackish- brown one, the one I call dark, was well received. The biggest project of the year, the kitchen tile job, was completed in early September. I can truthfully say it was fun to do and I learned a great deal about fitting tight spots and time management issues. My show schedule was very short this year. I suspect as I grow older it will continue to dwindle. Hauling heavy stuff and playing nomadic merchant is really a career for the young.... I was very fortunate this fall to have had one of the best wholesale seasons ever. Most of my wholesale accounts have become like family over the years, so doing business with each of them is a pleasure, not a chore. Between the new dark glaze, mostly on trays, and the picture frames, it seemed like a good thing. Then there was the blessings bowl production line. Near as I can count, I sold about 16 dozen bowls in a space of about 90 days. Somewhere in early November I realized I had worked for about 10 weeks straight without a real day off. That was also the day I cancelled the Thanksgiving show. For about three hours that felt like real relief. While running errands that day I fell off the front porch of my friend's house. Luckily I fell on my back with my strong left arm taking the brunt of my weight. The arm didn't break but it's still troubling me as I write this. Old age, overweight, and just plain tired didn't make for a happy landing.

Yesterday I delivered the last special order of the season. I've started making test tiles for the blue heron mural project and the bathroom mirror project. I've also taken a couple of real naps on the new couch. Gene's on vacation this week and so am I. I expect to pile up on that new couch with a cat or two for some serious nap exploration. I've made a couple of prototypes of possible design ideas for 2008. But for right now, it's time for some much needed time off. Down time... nap time.... time to dream....

Current Location: on the new couch
Current Mood: good
Current Music: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Camelot Christmas, otherwise known as the last crafts show of the year... Okay, I admit it... it was a bomb. It seemed like a good idea last year when Donna and I decided to do this show. We'd have fun, people watch, and make some holiday money. We did have fun. We did people watch. We didn't make money... We're both lucky we didn't lose anything more than a few hours of our lives...

A big clue smacked me in the face first thing Saturday morning. I saw a woman leading a pig into the building... then I realized he had his own booth space...


His name is Smithfield. He paints. Need I say more?

The idea of a holiday costume party appealed to me. After all, the spring costume party otherwise known as the Ren Faire, is highly entertaining. Somehow or the other, this one just didn't gel. The majority of people who attended this two day event were the participants.



The "royals" were in attendance both days.
Their majesty, the king and queen of this event.



On numerous occasions all members of the royal court performed for the common folk.


My husband Gene decided he wanted to spend some time with me at the show. We both had issues with our intended costumes. His was too thin to wear in December so he borrowed a tunic from a friend. Mine were ordered from an on line company. They never materialized.... the same friend loaned me a nice green chemise to cover the parts that had no covering....



Gene in costume. Doesn't he look happy?


Here's Ms. Geometrix in her feathers and borrowed chemise.



I snapped this picture of my friend Donna perusing the costume patterns. Belive me, there was plenty of time to contemplate patterns....

Two pictures from the faire. Enjoy! I know I did....

Tags: camelot christmas
Current Location: Raleigh, NC
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: greensleeves

This past weekend was the annual fall Art Walk in downtown Durham. Last year Galia Goodman invited me to be a part of her group of friends and neighbors. This year she talked our way into space at the arts council building.



The arts council was a very lively place to be on Saturday and much of Sunday. Since the lobby was the check in point, nearly everyone doing the walk ventured into the lobby for the information packet and maybe to buy a raffle ticket or two. The prizes were good this year. There was a funky metal hen chair from Vega Metals / Cricket Forge, fused glass jewelry and pottery were among the prizes.



Margaret, the staff and volunteers at the Durham Arts Council did a great job making this the most successful art walk to date.

Most of the people attending the art walk were very goal oriented. At the check in table you got a form to have signed at the various pariticipating sites. Enough signtures on the form and you received an art walk t-shirt.




The small gallery space off the lobby area was a challenge to set up. Six craftspeople with assorted booth displays had to be arranged in a pleasing manner and allow optimal traffic flow. I joked all weekend that my space felt just like a phone booth.



At times sales were brisk, but mostly it was a good PR event. What was pleasing to see were the number of people who came to the big gallery just to view the art on display.



There was even some entertainment in the lobby to enjoy.



Overall, we felt it was fun and profitable and hope to be in the same spot again next year.

Tags: durham art walk
Current Location: Durham Arts Council
Current Mood: good

Notice anything unusual? Over the years there's been a lot of interesting things on this sign board. I've often wondered if they've hired someone who can't spell, or perhaps it's a commentary on the menu. Whatever the case, this McDonalds is serving a McRid. Other McDonalds are serving McRibs....

I saw this Thursday evening when we drove past McDonalds on the way to have dinner at Federal. I couldn't believe I didn't have my camera... my friend Tom told me to always take my camera... obviously I didn't listen to his excellent advice. As luck would have it, the sign read the same thing today. I pulled right into the parking lot, grabbed my camera and clicked away. I can't make up anything this entertaining. Wonder if they're just out of the letter "b" ? Personally I think it's a comment on the sandwich...

Current Location: morgan street, durham, nc
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "you deserve a break today"

For over a month I've been filling wholesale orders (thank you universe!) dealing with my Dad and his issues, and wondering where my writing muse disappeared to....

On my way to the grocery store yesterday I decided to stop at Home Goods at Brier Creek. That's such a fun store with piles of junk interspersed with a few treasures. I found an interesting dark blue painted metal sun face suitable for hanging on the fence in front of my firing shed.



Inspiration struck this morning while I was finishing the "should have been done yesterday" glazing. I picked up a tube of gold rubbing buff and started applying it to the sun's face. The more I rubbed on the better I liked it. Just enough glitz to have some depth without crossing the tacky line....



The poor flower bed in front of the fence has seen better times. Not only has the drought stressed all the flowers and plants, but the foster kittens think it's the best litter box ever.

Current Location: in front of the Geometrix firing shed
Current Mood: cheerful

Yesterday afternoon, Friday the 7th of September, 2007 I finished the tile work in the pretty kitchen in Cary. It's amazing to me now to look at the pictures of the newly remodeled kitchen before the tiles were installed.

Here's the starting point. This is the right side of the kitchen with the new gas stove.



This is what I call the sink wall.



Here's the finished right side of the kitchen.



The original idea was a wide border of tiles around the entire kitchen with a special tile over the stove. Once a few meals were cooked on the new stove it was apparent that the entire stove wall needed to be tiled.



So the idea of just a single large tile expanded just a bit. I played around with the idea of banding several colors. The homeowners like purple. In my color world, green and purple are an ideal pair. The peachy color was an accidental inspiration that worked out very well.

The big lesson from this job was how to master outlet covers. Once it was determined that the entire wall was going to be covered, I knew I had to refine my outlet covering skills. Visually standing in the kitchen we decided that tiling from left to right was the look that was preferred. That meant I would be fitting the outlet covers into a block of tiles. Big lesson here. Do the outlet covers first and let the blocks fit into the spaces. It took three attempts and some patient grinding to fit these appropriately.





As you can see, there were two of them to work around. I think I can safely say I took my fitting skills up a notch or two. Still, the lesson holds. Make the surround fit the covers....



Fortunately there weren't too many of these types of spaces to fit tiny tile bits. The round moulding at cabinet corners made for some interesting tile shapes. On the whole, once everything was grouted, it became a flowing picture. Grout is this amazing material that not only seals the open space between the tiles. It becomes the focus of the story line.



On the sink side of the kitchen all I did was a very long tile border. Every time the dishwasher was opened water or food splashed directly on the wall. It worked out just perfectly to make a single green tile and carry the small border cap down the wall to the floor molding.



One of these days I'm going to count the number of tiles I made for this project. Every pattern repeat has a diamond shaped tile and four surround pieces. Separately there is a single small tile capping the diamond design. It takes about 2 1/2 small tiles to cover the space of one diamond repeat. The fancy design over the stove has nearly 100 tiles in it. Then there's the extra tiles beside the dishwasher and the tiles I ran down beside the small wall at the dining room door just to balance the dishwasher wall tiles. And the count won't be complete until I count the big pile of tiles that didn't fit, warped or just turned out ugly.... Handmade custom tile work is a very slow and painstakingly labor intensive process... and I loved nearly every minute of it. Best of all, this project is in the house of much beloved friends so I can visit it often!





Now I can take a deep breath and start to really think about that space over the stove in the pretty new house on Kerr Lake that wants a blue heron...

Current Location: Cary, North Carolina
Current Mood: ecstatic