The Verdant Vase

A few months back, I did a workshop

on hand building vases in ceramic clay.

The pinchstrip technique

used for this one was one of my

demonstration pots which finally got glazed.

Clay Standard 153,
Ceramic Shop Wintergreen inside and top outer band 

with stripes of Ron Roy Floating Teal, Ron Roy Floating teal 

on balance of vase, lifted off before glazing with 

Van Gilders Oribe, fired cone 6 electric.

Three Little Fishies Neck Wear

"Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Lived three little fishies and a mamma fishy, too 
Swim said the mamma fishy, Swim if you can..."

Three little carved horn fishies arrived

a few weeks back in a box from my friend

Emily Cohen from Florida...

Since I am not a Pisces but have plenty of

"Piscean" friends, I figured I would 

use them someday.  That day came sooner

than planned when I came across

the stoneware yoke I had made

ions ago... they called to each other!

Then there were the hand cut glass discs 

from Emily which arrived this week.

I had no choice but to make them all

into a necklace tonight...

My 2016 Birthday Necklace

Over the years I have collected many components, 

always promising myself I would make something using them.

With the arrival of my latest CatfishStu goodie, 

I finally broke down 

and made myself a Birthday necklace for this year.

The PONDerosa

So I wanted to try inserting a half round of clay

into the end of a cylinder to see how it worked...

It seemed to work fine, so I built a house on the edge 

then melted a chunk of glass in the half round.

I dipped the piece in Bobbi's White prior to adding

the glass chunk and doing the final firing.

I also wanted to see if the three legs created simply

by pushing in the clay would work...

The Petroglyph Handkerchief Box

Catfish Studio and BHClaysmith Shards

Emily Cohen of Catfish Studio, Ormond Beach Florida

shares some of her creations using ceramic shards

SJBS Bead Binge 2016

The South Jersey Bead Society's Bead Binge 

is practically around the corner! 

This not-to-be-missed event 

happens in Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002

at the National Guard Armory, 

Grove Street & Park Avenue 

on March 19th & 20th 

from 10AM to 5PM each day. 

I will be selling there again this year

and for me, this is the year of the Shard

and Intaglio flexible rubber stamping sheets.

Two new Intaglio mats will be introduced -

Gingko & Flourishes

So plan to stop by to see these as well 

as a nice selection of ceramic clay shards,

beads, buttons and pendants.

I'll also have raw copper wire for sale.

Mid Century Modern Leaf Platter

This platter was a collaboration with Marcia Reiver
and was a donation to the Mud+Fire-Magic
Fundraiser the weekend of March 12th, 2016

After the platter was built by Marcia, a design
was hand taped on the surface before glazing.

After three coats of each of the Mayco glazes,
the tape was removed prior to the second firing.

And this was how the design looked!

The platter went to Barbara Palma at the event.

Wish Box with Deer Antler Handle

This compact box was a result of

a class demo where we tried using

box templates designed for cardboard, not clay!

Even so, the boxes we made came out pretty good

with some simple adjustments

for the clay thickness.

It was also an opportunity to question

the use of alternative handles -

found wood, vines & even antlers!

Since I built the box in clay with no patterning,

it also gave me the option of creating interest

with glazes which I layered.

When I built the box, I put 4 holes in the top

anticipating a found handle 

which I wired on.

Emily's Polka Dot Pyramid Box

This Pyramid shape box was made using

cardboard templates for making

a folded paper box.

Some adjustments had to be made

for it to work with clay...

But the glazing was pure abandonment!

Mayan Mayhem Petroglyph Rattle

The two sides of this leather look rattle...

Adorned with seed beads, turquoise, wood and

ceramic clay beads.

Rectangle ScrapBach Dish

If this were an inch or so wider, 

it would be perfect to hold eye glasses.

Deer Secrets Stoneware Triangular Box

This basic box was built using paper box 

templates found online. The triangular shape

and the Deer key suggested the 

antler handle...

Other adornments just happened as I attached

the antler.  The inside is glazed with

Amaco Seaweed green; the outside is

Textured Iron from Spectrum.

Ceramic Clay POUR ME Pitcher

This 5" high pitcher started life as a bottle
then became a vase which became a pitcher...
These are the kind of things which happen
when you do a class demo!

Belle Armoire Two Part Necklaces

My 2 part necklaces will finally be featured

in Belle Armoire Jewelry, Fall 2015.

More ScrapBachs!

Making Clay Fabrics

with earthenware clay & colored 

Pilcher's Slips...