Bowl using Randy's Red, Opal, Nickel Matt

Made this bowl with my new Randy's Red.  whew, so glad that this batch came out better.  I didn't change anything, except I made a bigger batch.  My test batch was only 500 grams.  This batch was 5000 g.  After talking to my chemical suppliers I started to think that perhaps the test batch wasn't big enough for the red iron oxide to do its stuff.
I think I was right.  This isn't muddy at all. 



Don't know what I'll do with this bowl.  Maybe it'll be a Christmas present for someone.

Luncheon plates

I made a set of two square lunch sized plates using the wax resist method over matt green glaze. 

The green leaves came out a different color than the dogwood plate I made with Pam's glazes.  I had suspected that her Val's Green is different than mine and I'm not sure why.  I used my Val's Green to glaze a plate last week and didn't like the result.  I thought it was just the way I applied it, but now that I've seen these two plates, I have my doubts.  I have another leaf in the kiln right now that has Val's Green on it, so in the morning I will know for sure. 

I also used my white on the petals which is different from Pam's.  It came out slightly different and looks like I will need to give a heavier coat or possibly two coats of the glaze to give the look I like best. 

This is the plate I made with Pam's glazes.  See the differences?  On this plate, the leaf background recedes; in the lunch plates, the flowers recede.  I prefer the one below.



Ceramic angels in Cream Breaking Rust

I have some new angels that are in a creamy glaze instead of white. 

All things bright and small

That describes my newest sewing project which is listed on my Mudpots shop on Etsy.  I used some fabrics that I picked up at Hobby Lobby in Auburn.  I really wish Hobby Lobby would find its way up to Northern Virginia!  I couldn't pass up these bright, happy colors and made a small stroller size quilt from them.

I used minimal quilting lines and really like how it came out.

The back is made from solid pink, green and black.

U. S. Capitol, Supreme Court and the Library of Congress

We've been here since 2000 and haven't toured the Capitol yet.  Wait....now I can say we have.  Hubby took the day off and we went downtown.  Did a tour of the Capitol.  I made reservations online but we got there about an hour before our scheduled time.  Thankfully, they put us in a tour that was starting in 10 minutes, so we weren't standing around forever.  It's a pretty short tour.  You see the "Crypt", the Rotunda and the old House of Representatives Room.  Beautiful rooms and statues.

Then we walked by The Supreme Court.  Never been by there either.

After lunch we walked through The Library of Congress.  So, so beautiful.  I think we will try to do more of this touristy stuff!  It was fun.

Dogwood Bowl

This is a bowl using underglazes on white clay.  I'm not used to doiong this type of work, but it was fun to do.  Love the bright yellow background.

It's a perfect size for cereal or, even better, ice cream!

Ceramic Angels

I've been trying to think of something I could make for my Compassionate Friend coffee-buddies in memory of their sweet children.  Like we use the dogwood to symbolize Boone, several of them have a symbol that reminds them of their child....butterfly, dragonfly, ladybug, etc.  I tried creating a few things out of clay but wasn't very happy with them. With the holiday season approaching I was also trying to think of something I could list on etsy and decided on angels. In the process of making some, I found myself making ones for my friends.  I will be giving these sweet little things to them soon and thought I should post pictures of them. These are in honor of Kelly, Tiffanie, Morgan and Claire. 

Here are a few that I've listed on my Mudpots shop on Etsy.

First Sales on Etsy

I've actually sold two items on Etsy.   A Halloween and a Thanksgiving table runner. 

I am so thankful for the confidence these two buyers put in my work!  The purchaser of the Halloween runner said she was very pleased.  Whew.  I really worry that my pieces aren't good enough.  Just mailed the Gobble runner and am keeping my fingers crossed that she is also pleased.  :)

barn quilts

A couple of weeks ago X B and I were at the cabin and learned that there was a local driving tour of some barn quilts.  I'd never seen these before, so we decided to find a few of them and were glad we did.  This one is right in the town of Monterey on a knitting shop.

The rest of these are to the west of Monterey. 

Aren't they wonderful!