Bird Angel

Usually I raku fire the angels I make but I decided to try a new black clay for this one.  I carved twigs in the terra sig (white part) and added white birds...I might glaze one bird red...I haven't decided.
I don't know if she'll turn out...the vent hole in her head didn't go all the way through and she got a crack on the side of her face...I patched it (which seldom works).....we'll see.
Depending on how (if) she turns out, I might put a clear glaze over her....or not. I sort of like unglazed clay.

New Mugs

 I made these mugs to test a new glaze idea.....and to use my new braille stamp (love it!).
I was planning to get a really good picture of them but I just sold them!  Which is good.....still wish I had a better picture though!
They were actually a bit more blue than brown ....and there were little thin brownish swirls that don't show up very well in this photo.  There's also a dent where the handle attaches....so your knuckles won't feel cramped (or hot) as you hold the mug.  The braille stamp is in the small turned up place on the base.  
I really, really like them and I'll make more....perhaps I'll keep one for myself!

Pretty Fairy Houses

My sister, Annie, and I worked on fairy houses today...they can sit on a string of Christmas lights or have a tea light inside.
These were so much fun to make...each one is different!
I think they'll be glazed with a clear bluish glaze that really shows off all the intricate detail (although salt would be nice)...it was a totally fun day!

Saint Milburga Fount

Today I made a Saint Milburga fount.....she's the patron saint of songbirds.
Birds would listen to her when she asked them to avoid damaging crops....she had the gift of healing, caused springs to appear, created beautiful gardens at her abbey in Wenlock...... and she could levitate!
I've decided to do a series of founts...some saints, some goddesses but  all will have something to do with water.
I don't think I'll raku them (don't really know how I'm going to glaze them).
 Perhaps no glaze.
Salt would be nice.
Alas...no salt kiln.
Pity.

New Pasta Plates

These are so pretty in real life...they're black and dark, dark, brown and a mottled bluey gray...I love them!!!

Braille Signature Stamp

It's here!!
My signature stamp.! I had it made by 4clay when they were at the Dillsboro Pottery Festival.  They were so nice to work with and really fast getting it to me....It has my initials in braille so that I can stamp my pottery.....and there's a dog on the handle!
How cool it that?
When my dog, Rufus, went blind I decided I would start using braille to sign my pots.  He was such a great studio dog...he loved to be right next to the wheel or under the slab table while I was working.  Things just aren't the same without him...but now, everytime I stamp a pot I'll think of him.  This is a good thing.

Dillsboro Luminary Preparations

The little town of Dillsboro has two luminary weekends in December (6th and 7th...14th and 15th)....a tradition started almost 30 years ago as a thank you to the town from the merchants.
It is truly super cool! White lights outline all the shops....white candlelit bags line the streets.....there are carolers (real singers from WCU), Santa, ice skating, cookies, hot cider and the last night....fireworks...pure Christmas magic!!!!

Justin (who is young and spry...and available), from the Choclate Factory across the street (where they make the most delicious you-must-eat-this peppermint truffle), is going to hang our icicle lights....until then Annie and I have started decorating what we can reach on the ladder...behold the windows!!

Emily, our niece, came and scraped the fall trees off the windows and helped string cotton balls (snow).....a really troublesome activity for those of us with bad vision.  Now we have Narnia windows....5 of them!
Annie's working on little white lantern houses that will go along the windowsills....can't wait, can't wait!

If you happen to be sitting around feeling all Scroogy the weekend of the 6th or the 14th, you should jump in the car and come to Dillsboro, NC....there's a beautiful, funky, hand-built inn on the river (where the fireworks should be crazy amazing!).  The Dillsboro Inn (google it! Dillsboroinn.com)...such an amazing place.... it won't be long before I just walk across the street one night and book a room.
.....But....wait, wait there's more!.....beautiful mountains, to die for sunsets (and for those of you who never sleep....crazy surreal sunrises) wonderful people, great restaurants and, of course, one-of-a-kind shops....come to Dillsboro and Christmas shop, make some memories.....you will love it and so will everyone you give presents to!!!