Press Trays

Over the past couple months, I made press molds for trays in various shapes which complement my Intaglio designs but they also seem to stand on their own looking good with or without patterning, decals or textures.  My classes have really enjoyed using them and it is only now that I have begun to actually use them myself.  My idea was to make trays for my CUTEsies and other clay complements such as cream and sugar bowls...

HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW

The first showing of my Clay to Wear
at this annual Clay Guild event

DECEMBER 2014

LOOK FOR

Rings of the Eleventh Hour Neck Wear

and

Angel Wings Neck Wear

C L A Y   C L A S S E S

The Community Arts Center
414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA 19086

September through December
10 AM - 3 PM EVERY MONDAY

COME PLAY 
LIKE YOU WERE A KID AGAIN!
Reserve a space today 610-566-1713

THIS CLASS IS AWESOME 
and highly recommended by all past attendees.

Ambient Lighting

The days of cuddling in front of the fireplace and snuggling to ambient lighting approach so what better time than to investigate making luminaries... pictured are the four sides of an earthenware lantern which has a removable base for access to the votive candle inside.

1000 Beads Publication due out 2014

Lark Books accepted my neckwear, TWISTED, for publication in their upcoming book on beads...

CLEOPATRA New Intaglio STAMPING MAT DESIGN

How many Egyptian symbols can you find?

Cross My Heart Talisman Necklace

There is a lot of symbolism going on here - the image in clay of the Ethiopian cross was pressed from an authentic Coptic cross which was hand cast in silver/nickel alloy by people living in present day Ethiopian villages. These beautiful Coptic cross designs are the sacred symbols of Egyptian Coptic Christians and one of their greatest glories.
Then remember that it takes an unquestioning faith to believe that a dream is a wish your heart makes
so by coupling the cross with this hidden heart, 

the wearer should be well on their way
to realizing their dreams!

T

RINGS AROUND the COLLAR Necklace

Large chocolate stoneware clay rings accented with

terra sigillata prior to being fired.

Once fired, they are interwoven on two 5mm

suede cords and finished with a copper closure.

Southwest Tatanka Wicasa Pyxis

This lidded spirit jar was impressed with

my Southwest INTAGLIO mat while the lid handle

bears a double-sided Tatanka Wicasa figure

inspired by Newspaper Rock.

Circle Round INTAGLIO Mat

The new design to my collection is a 7" x 7"
round circular pattern with a leaf border compliment.
It is now available on my Etsy site!

The Nile Collection

Another group of ceramic clay jewelry components made from the patterns found on the surfaces of my INTAGLIO impressing mats.  This time they were formed in rich 266 fudge stoneware...

Leather Meets Clay....

Aromatherapy Pods with Daubers

For some reason, I can never make enough of my petite clay CUTEsie which end up becoming vases, aromatherapy pods or personal pitchers.  Just when I thought I had done all I could with my round start up forms, Maryanne Lockhard gave me a set of oval ones...

The taller oval aromatherapy pod with dauber is only 7" high while the Gillette leaf wrapped pod and dauber stands a total of 5" tall.  They are both glazed in and out with raw clay dauber ends which will be the carriers of  the aromatherapy oils within.

TRAY Chic

At a student's request, we made trays inspired by a post on Ceramic Arts Daily a few weeks back.  I made several templates of various sizes and this happens to be one of the smaller ones (5 1/2" x 3") -

The pattern on this tray came from my Greek Keo INTAGLIO impressing mat and the 266 chocolate stoneware tray was glazed with the Opulence glaze, Meadow, which was applied and lifted before firing in a 5/6 kiln.  The exterior was treated with terra sigllata on greenware and simply coated with Renaissnce Wax after the firing.

Yuma Clay Jewelry Components

Each one of these has been molded from 
my INTAGLIO impressing mats, 

made from scroddled clays and 
enhanced after firing with Gilders Paste.

Have you visited my website?

For information on upcoming classes
I am offering at area Art centers & Studios

as well as clay related recipes and other news,
please check out my website
www.bhclaysmith.com

CREATIVITY MATTERS by Judith Zausner: An Interview with Barbara Hanselman

http://agingandcreativity.blogspot.com/2013/06/interview-with-barbara-hanselman.html

I N T A G L I O

SYMMETRY is pervasive in these flexible images designed to be impressed in ceramic clay. They may have the rotational symmetry of a spiral, the fivefold symmetry of a Starfish or the reflective symmetry of a leaf. Those with reflective or mirror symmetry match side to side like wallpaper so the pattern becomes continuous. Each original hand drawn impressing mat measures 7" by 9" and is available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/BHClaysmith.

The Group and John Barry Mathews

I am in the throes of creating a Picasa album to commemorate the passing of my good friend Barry in November, 2012.  It will be an ongoing project designed to have a life of it's own by the time it is completed.
On December 15th, 2012, his family hosted a Commemorative Gathering in Mt. Holly, New Jersey which was more like a combination Wake, Shiva and Roast to Barry - we all came away from it with a satisfying feeling of closure.
Barry's family commissioned from cousin/artist Maureen Murray, a wonderful Sea Glass Necklace which they presented to me as a thank you.  Totally unnecessary but totally appreciated by me!

The Clay Rattle

https://picasaweb.google.com/104227788539995667787/TheCLAYRATTLE?authuser=0&feat=directlink
I have been forming rattles in clay for awhile now but have recently been adding found wood handles to them as well.  Living on New Jersey wetlands and having plenty of tall Pin Oaks and an assortment of other trees, I am never at a loss for fallen limbs, twigs or branches.  I also have quite a deluge of bamboo but for some reason, the gnarled wood seems to complement my rattles in a more pleasing manner.