More simple stamping

 The edge of the bowl didn't stay perfectly straight as it was stamped, and then it was too dry to try to even it out...so it's the way it is.

I didn't do as much on the plate, and the stamps didn't need to be pressed as hard. 

Today's quote:

Trust yourself; you know more than you think you do.

BENJAMIN SPOCK

Happy surprise

I was so happy to meet a couple of folks who were touring the Black Mountain Center for the Arts...and who purchased one of my decorative plates.  But the purpose for the plate was the biggest surprise of all!

The plate was to be a gift for a woman who was retiring from a workshop which occurs yearly.  I asked what kind (thinking of the many religious retreats held in the mountains every summer.)  This time it was my own denomination, Unitarian Universalist!  I just gave a big hug to these lovely ladies who are part of the SUUSI program. They were just returning home to Greensboro after doing some set-up work before the workshop to be held in July...with around 1200 participants.

I've never been to this program, but have heard about it for years.  So maybe I'll try it someday soon.  It seems much more interesting now that I've met these two women.

And the other side of this gift is that half the sale's proceeds go to the Center for the Arts, the parent organization of the community Clay Studio where I spend most of my days making more pottery.  There's certainly truth to the saying, "whatever goes round, comes round."

More Bugs and Flowers !

Yesterday was Earth Day.  Did you see my Facebook posts? Well, one of them was from a few years ago, where I made a commitment to do something for Mother Earth, Gaia, daily.  Mmm, I may have let that ball slip through my fingers.

But now I've made a small figure of Goddess Gaia reclining on top of the mountains. Perhaps that will make up for a week of forgetfulness. She's in the kiln right now, so next week you'll get to see what she looks like.

And here's another of my bugs and flowers series...Blue Dragonfly on blue lotus blossoms.Clay is Little Loafers, glazes are Mayco Stroke and Coat, Designer Liner, and Matt Clear.

So I'll add another for your pleasure!

 

Another version of dragonfly on a luncheon plate (8") with some fish underwater! (more plates were posted last week Here) 

More goddesses are coming along.  But I've got some new clay also, so it will be fun trying it out, both to throw on the wheel and in sculpting! An alternative source for clay is now available in Asheville, Village Potters carries Laguna clays.  Highwater Clay has had the market cornered for too long, though they are still the pottery lovers "go-to" place.

Today's quote:


“What is needed to launch our societies along the humanistic path is some sort of evolutionary compass. Some way of guiding our efforts so that they are in tune with, aligned with, the general evolutionary processes of which we are a part… So rather than seek to dominate the planet, the quest becomes one of dynamic harmonization, of evolutionary consonance, in short, of syntony. The evolutionary compass, then, would be one that points our way toward syntonious pathways for future creation.” ~Alexander Laszlo

Not-a-mug Monday

Three overlapping glazes poured across a plate. First Matt Bronze Green, then Raspberry, then Satin White.  There are all kinds of colors that come from the interactions, especially since there are sometimes more than one layer of each color. Fun fun fun!

Today's Quote:

The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Clink on link "comments" to add your comment. You need to have a blog, because I no longer take anonymous comments. 

Chicken and cashews on brown rice

Hello.  I'm your Shoestring Chef for One...

I used what was on hand, but this recipe could certainly be extended for more than one person if you'd like.

I find making good meals for one is a challenge, and often I go ahead and make 2 or more servings and have the left overs heated up the next day.

Chicken and Cashews on Brown Rice with Green Beans

• $0.20   Brown Rice 1 pound for about $1.25 - use 1 serving out of 1 c rice cooked before with chicken broth (This is a time consuming thing to cook, so I usually made 1 cup dry with 2-1/2 cups of chicken broth cooked for an hour, which served about 10, and I put the left overs in the fridge and eat it for a week.)   
  
     

• $0.20    Frozen Green Beans - 1 serving out of 16 oz bag which costs around $2    
  

• $0.23    cashews -  1 oz out of 13 oz, at 2.99    (This was my best buy today to find cashews so cheap)
  

• $0.58    Chicken, 1/2 breast - frozen bag of 6 for $7 - this is left over from last night when I thawed and broiled the breast and only ate half of it       
  

• $0.05    Kikoman soy sauce, 3 dashes out of bottle     
  
    

• $1.26      TOTAL cost of balanced, nutritious meal.

     
Everything was cooked in the microwave oven, total time was about 5 minutes. (Remember the rice and chicken were left overs) I've not calculated the cost of the electricity for cooking anything here.

Of course other people would use different spices.  I like the blandness where I can taste the different flavors as I eat each bite,

Plate with raised edge and 2 glaze colors, made by this potter...$15

Gone Fishing? (Tailgating)

The various relatives used to go tailgating before a big football or soccer game.  Do people still do that?

My kind of Tailgating is off in a grassy area under some big old oak trees, and under cute little canopies...with tables of pottery...and eatables, and other crafts...all local.

Support the local economy.  You probably already make an effort to do that. 

Yep, there's another of my new wall-pillows...and I've got 6 more thrown that are smaller and white clay.

This is a mid-way done shot of the glazing process for a plate.  Much more slip-trailing to be done...and remember the glazes will darken down with firing.  Just thought I'd tease you!