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!

Did Baxter sense Boone?

It was finally a beautiful, crisp, sunny day and I was outside with Baxter.  As usual, I was thinking about Boone.  He would have commented on what a perfect day it was...neither too hot or too cold.  Aloud, I wished I could hug him and imagined him standing next to me.  At that moment Baxter barked.  There was no reason to...no squirrel, bird or cat around.  No person walking another dog.  Unless he's excited, those are the only reasons he barks.  Baxter was looking at me and I at him. 

How I wish he could talk....did he sense Boone?  I hope so.  Maybe this was their first meeting... Boone would have loved Bax.

Turquoise sgraffito plate

Fired another sgraffito piece.  This time I used underglaze instead of making a slip.  I understood it would make a difference but wanted to see for myself. I painted about 5 layers of turquoise on the plate.  It looked completely opaque to my eye, but in glazing you can see it wasn't.

It doesn't look bad by any means, but it isn't what I'm looking for.  I am happy that the piece didn't warp!  Yea! It's a fun piece and Jordan loves it, but I'm going to try to sell it on etsy.  The color is beautiful. 

Some leaves

Fall is here and I'm in a panic.  The leaves are going to be gone soon and I've just started making some pottery using them.  This is a hydrangea leaf. 

And this is a small hosta leaf:

Both pieces are actually greener than these pictures, which look a little blue. 

I think this is a truer color:

I think these will be perfect for little snacks....yum trail mix, for candles, or just as an accessory on a coffee table of bookcase.  And.....they won't ever turn brown and die.  :)

A Wright-like table runner

Made a new table runner and it reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright. 

It's simple and geometric...even the quilting. 

The border is a deep navy blue and I used the bright yellow for the binding. 

I am putting it up for sale on etsy. 



5 years later...so long as you're able to help, why not do it?

September 22, 2006, 3:47 pm, UPenn Hospital, Philadelphia, PA----when we lost Boone to complications from a stem cell transplant to treat leukemia.  Without a doubt, the worst day of my life.  And here I am, five years later, a totally different person, but in some ways stuck back in 2006.  It sometimes seems surreal that we spent virtually every moment of every day for 9 months fighting ALL...so many, many days and nights spent in the hospital, ER, ICU, and doctor's office for chemotherapy or other treatments.  And up until the very last day, I was sure that whatever the setbacks that were dealt him, Boone would survive.   And, then sometimes fearful that he would survive and that he would suffer from the many complications/side effects that so many people who have stem cell transplants deal with.....debilitating GVHD, cataracts within 10 years, necrosis, hip replacements, to name just a few.  Yes, it is so difficult to write this, but at times I actually was fearful for his survival...as horrible as someone might think it sounds.  But, don't judge if you haven't faced what we faced.  Our beautiful, strong, healthy, athletic son was turned into a person who couldn't walk to corner without being winded in those 9 months....and the pain he endured...so many pain medications. 

We all miss Boone so much....miss what he could have been.  He would almost be 25 years old.  He would have finished college....I wonder what he would have majored in.  Would he be in his first job?  Or would he have applied to law school as he sometimes thought he might want to do?  Would he be married?  Where would he be living?  So many questions that dissolved into nothingness on that day 5 years ago. 

Oh, how proud he would be of Jordan right now.  I can still hear him wondering where she would go to college.  Hey Boone, she's in her last year at Auburn!  She would have loved for you to come visit her there.  Imagine attending one of Auburn's football games last year, during their National Championship year....like she attended one with you that fall at UVa. 

Oh Boone, I will always have a piece of my heart missing...for you took it with you that devastating day 5 years ago.  As I hope you somehow know,  I think of you every day.  I hope you think we are fulfilling your request from 5 years ago.  I am so grateful that I found that document on your laptop.  I think I'll write it again here, because it helps to make sure that I never forget:

"I wrote this to share with you my experiences, to show you the huge impact that it has had on my life, to show you how painful, how hard, and how truly difficult going through something like this can be. Not so that you sympathize with me, but so that you realize it can happen to you, your mom, your dad, your girlfriend/boyfriend, your siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, you name it… I’m not trying to worry anyone, but rather raise awareness as to the wide-reaching effects of diseases such as leukemia. "

"This experience has truly changed my life in ways that I never could have imagined. Priorities have been flipped upside down, and things that I wouldn’t even have given a second thought to in the past I now look at as beauty in everyday life… to be so close to death, and be so fortunate as to make my way back to health, has opened my eyes to what is really valuable in this world and in my life. I hope that you see the value that can be found in the lives of all of your friends and family, and that you take strides to protecting their lives (and the lives of thousands of others), by supporting an organization which researches life-threatening diseases."

"My request is simple… please, please find a charity, find an organization, find ANYTHING that supports research into a disease such as leukemia, HIV, breast cancer… ANYTHING… and support it. Give money, volunteer time, do anything you can, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. You never know when something like this may be thrown into your lap, and you never know who may be affected by a disease like this… you think it can’t happen to you (hell, I sure didn’t) and hopefully it never will, but so long as you’re able to help– why not do it?"

I love you Boone.
Mom

I'm on etsy

Success!  I made a shop banner for my etsy site (thanks to a great, easy online video tutorial) and listed 7 items for sale.  My shop name is Mudpots.  Cute, huh?  Funny thing is that I picked that etsy username about 6 years ago after a trip to Yellowstone wherewe were all fascinated by the bubbling, boiling mudpots we saw there.  Now, here I am trying to make pottery....Now that's foreshadowing.  I only listed one piece of pottery.  I will only try to sell ones that I would want to own myself and since I have put most of my pieces on a shelf in the storeroom, that doesn't leave me much.  So, I am still working on my pottery development.

On the sewing homefront I put 6 items up for sale...4 quilts, the diaper changing pad and the Halloween table runner. 

Even without a sale, I feel like a success!  I can't describe how scary it was to set up a shop.  It was a a bit of work too...writing the descriptions, taking (and retaking) pictures, making the banner, researching prices and so on.  Only thing I am still unsure about is packaging.  I will have to play around with a few ideas.

So, check out Mudpots on Etsy!

Broke a bowl...sob

I broke a bowl that I particularly liked while loading the kiln.  I made the little flower stamp that I used to texture the bowl.  Think it's kinda cute and will use it again. 

This little dish came out well.  It's the first time I've like one of my glazes (opal)on the white clay.  On white, opal is looking greener than on the red clay.  It broke well over the edges also.  So, hallelujah!  This oval bowl would be good as a soap dish or to hold little pieces of jewelry. 



Here's the opal on red clay.  Much bluer than above. 

I think I could try to sell both of these on etsy.  If I could ever figure out how to make the shop banner.  lol

Taking a stab at sgraffito

I have two pieces of pottery that I made using the sgraffito techniques.   This is definately a technique that speaks to me.  Both have issues when firing.  Warping of the one with the tiny sgraffito lines.  Arggh.  I can't express how frustrated I get with warping of this white clay.   I purposely took these pictures so you hopefully can't tell it warped. It's supposed to dip to the center from left to right....it's warping front to back that I didn't like. 

The other piece in green and black has a tiny defect in it.  A hair had gotten caught in the slip when I applied it.  I know, that sounds kinda gross, doesn't it.  Hey, people shed.  I pulled it out and brushed over it.  I thought you couldn't see it, but you hold it just right in the light you can see it...darn, darn.  I thought I may be able to sell this plate.  Oh well.....

Halloween Table Runner

Made a table runner for Halloween.  Hubby thinks it may be too "country". I kinda agree, but, on the other hand, you could say it just looks thematic.  I wanted to try some applique.  A couple of months ago I tried to make 2 monogrammed bibs for Trey and Sandy's twins.....terrible results.  I had no idea how to monogram.  So I did a bit of reading and I think the table runner isn't a bad first attempt.  

I think I'm getting close to having enough stuff to start an etsy shop.  I can't say that any of my pottery will be good enough to try to sell.  But I think I may have a shot with the quilting.....really need to figure out how to make a banner for the shop.  I've forgotten everything I learned when I made Natalie's quilt.  lol

The Happiness Quilt

My newest quilt was made with several Hullabaloo by Urban Chiks for Moda fabrics.  I didn't use the prints that were geared more for babies...like the animal prints.  I love the florals, zigzags and dots...used several of those.  In my fabric stash I found several prints that also work well with the Hullabaloo fabrics.  Different kona solids were used as sashing.  I am so, so happy with the final product....especially the back, which is all solids.

I added the bojo label on it....thank you Boone and Jordan.  I call this my Happiness Quilt.

Summer Wave Quilt

I used the same fabrics that are in Nana's table runner to make a quilt.  I call it my Summer Wave Quilt.  It is bright, bold and fun to look at. 

I used the small navy print for the back and includced a pieced scrappy column.  It almost has a denim look to it.  I like it. 





Nana's table runner

Nana's birthday is today.  Happy Birthday!  X B and I both made her something for her birthday using our new-found crafting skills.  LOL!!!   I made her a table runner using blues, lime greens and yellows.  She uses navy blues and yellows in her kitchen so I thought she might like this. 

XB tried out his new pen and pencil skills.  Love the result and hope she will too!