Snow, Ice, Butter and Valentine Boxes

Here's what it looks like outside...
again.
 
Here's what I've noticed about me and cold weather....
I seem to require a lot of butter.
In normal weather a stick of butter can hang around in my refrigerator for several months.....but bone chilling cold seems to cause quite a butter craving...I put it on toast (yes, I am (was) a dry toast person), saute things (usually I use olive oil...or just steam), add it to the rice cooker...this really can't continue....the snow, the ice....and the butter.

To take my mind off butter I wired keys to valentine boxes today.
They're small, hang on the wall and would be lovely to give to someone who would like the "key to your heart".
Personally, I feel caution should be used when gifting your heart to people...but it's almost Valentine's Day and people do strange things...like eat butter and wire keys to boxes.

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.