I've been creating wall wreaths and signs over the past few days... I'm trying to add new types of flowers to my work. Hopefully, some sprig molds that I carved with leaves and flowers will come out of the kiln on Saturday.
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| This is a small wreath... |
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| This piece didn't survive the kiln... |
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| This piece cracked... |
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| I remade these earlier signs... |
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| Here is the "Blue Skies" sign... |
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| Here is the "La Corona" sign... |
Today, and yesterday, I spent some time making a tray/pedestal out of paper clay. There are cups or chunky carved bowls that will go on top.
In the days to come, I'm going to make some floral wreaths to go on my garage door, and maybe to hang on my back door. We'll see how they turn out. I need to fire some floral sprig molds that I made last week, as they will be needed to create the flowers and the leaves on the wreaths.
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| Gabe's play kitchen needs a sign... |
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| This was built upside down... |
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| More paper clay was added to the rim... |
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| A floral topiary will sit on the urn... |
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| These carved bowls have a tray... |
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| The tray can also hold cups... |
It's a good idea to set goals and to think about improvements. Here is the plan for this year, moving forward. There are possible big changes ahead...
1. Always honor who I am, and try to be the best person that I can be.
2. Use meditation and breathing to deal with situations where calm is required.
3. Walk the doggies every weekday.
4. Exercise, and pray each weekday morning.
5. Make stuff that I like.
6. Keep creativity fresh with explorations, and diversions (like violin lessons).
7. Make more time for beloved ones.
8. Spend more time using the scooter, and less time in the car.
9. Reduce workaholic-ness tendencies. Nap ministry.
10. Look for work, and for a workplace which aligns with my belief system.
Well, our collaboration appeared in the Mi Casa show. It was fun to "turn it in", and to watch it get placed on the wall. And, it was fun to unlock the memories of our beloved grandma... Thank you Jana Rains, for working on this with me.
The Earth and Mars came together pretty well. But, Jupiter gave me quite a bit of trouble. During Thanksgiving break, I painted a quick 12 x 12 study with new colors. Thankfully, I listened to an audio book, and to students, and to Miss Sandy. This enabled me to loosen up on Jupiter. It helps to just forget what you're doing a bit, and to not pay too much attention. It's one of the reasons that I listen to audio books in my clay shed. It's a form of "gentle distraction". Your hands and heart take over the project.
After Winter Break, the East Wall will get some attention. The general background color is pink. Michelle, of Heart Room, is working on an undersea mural on the south wall.
We had a lot of blue paint, left over from Owen's bedroom remodel. So, this wall became solar system themed. I created large circular paper templates, and chalked in the planets onto the wall. Then, I filled in the circles with white acrylic paint. Finally, the process of adding color began.
My students painted some circular stars. This gave the mural some dimension.
During a school board meeting power point presentation, one bullet point listed the "closure of the school library"... But, students love visiting the library. They run and skip there each Friday. It is one place where free choice is allowed. Anyone can select any book, about any subject, on any grade level. I usually read a story to my class each Friday. We've learned about Nelson Mandela, the King of Denmark, traveling westward in a covered wagon, and more!
Parents built a storage shed, and much of this material which had been kept in the library during the pandemic, was stored or recycled. A floor plan was developed and consulted. An office, and a small classroom were created. Eventually, the library was ready for murals.
I've been working on some paintings, and on glazing some ceramic work. I've also been slowly building this year's basket, in between binge watching a Finnish crime drama with subtitles.
I was lucky that the doctor didn't saw off my bakelite bracelets that I've worn for over 20 years. Some of them are really old. Inst...
