Belated Merry Christmas,Joyous Solstice, Happy Holiday

                                                                  I wish you all

                                   Every Joy and Blessing of this  Season of Light

A Taste...

Here's a little taste of some finished delights from my collaboration with Lora Shelley!! Yippy, they are out and just (only just) in time for holiday gift giving. There are mugs too, but as I haven't figured out how to upload more than one image to the desired layout , I'll have to ration them out over a few days. Isn't he cute?! He's go tlot's of friends on mugs and a really lovely chubby big brother who doubles as a cookie jar (for the dieter-I need to remember how much my clay shrinks from start to finish). 

Hunting

My first New years resolution (I usually make a lot of them) is to take up Hunting. "Hunting?!?" You say with an air of incredulity, because any one who knows me is aware of the fact that I cannot even bear to fish (though I have killed one or two coke cans but that was a long time ago)  Yes Hunting! I intend to find and photograph local interesting people. Artists, Librarians, the really nice people at my grocery store... I'm open to suggestions.  So look for it here in January:)

New Work Part 1

Here is a of picture of what has been keeping me so busy in my studio(yeah!) These are part of a series of pieces that I have been doing with Lora Shelley. I've talked and talked about it... well here they are! I will have them finished by the end of the week and won't let them go without a picture or two. They will be for sale at Green Cottage and The Catskill Mountain Foundation. I'm so excited!! Keep your fingers crossed for me this week, glazing is the scary part.

Sorry, I'll be back soon, I promise!

I know... I haven't posted anything in such a long while but that just means I've been in my studio:) And that means more pictures soon (mostly of my project with Lora). See you soon, Happy Thanksgiving! 

Parenting

If you are a parent and in need of a laugh and a reality check please follow this link to Sugar City Journal and scroll down to the most horrible parenting moment entry. If you are thinking about having children you need to know that this is entirely possible and happens to even the most well organized adults when they have little people to look after. 

Snow

It is supposed to snow tonight. I don't like it, not one bit. Brrr. 

Fall

It has officially begun, we've had 3 nights in a row of frost. I took pictures this weekend but couldn't get them all on the computer because it's FULL! How did that happen! We had a busy weekend. Sheep and Wool, an art opening, a visit from Deddusha (I am trying to get H. to call my father Grandpa in Russian, so far I like what she's come up with), leaping llamas, and pumpkin picking with Cricket, Calico and their Boompa from California... This is pumpkin picking (more shopping than actual picking) Really, more running than anything else. Tunnel+ Friends x hey and dirt = LOTS of FUN!!

Collaboration

Last night Harriett and I drove up to Arts Upstairs in Phonecia, NY to deliver some work to my friend Lora. She and i are working on some pieces together and she wanted to include them in her solo show. I must say they look great! I forgot my camera so you'll have to wait to see them but i think I've posted some" in progress" shots. It is hard to keep your energy up when you're all alone in your studio, so having some one stop in now and again is really motivating. I finally buckled down, rolled my sleeves up, dove in, bit the bullet etc. etc. and did the glaze testing I should have done months ago. With much success I might add (I hope not too not prematurely). Here is an example of  the havoc that my original glaze recipe would occasionally wreak upon my poor innocent pots... Something I could tolerate happening to my own hard work but not tolerable when some one Else's time and energy might be wasted. Why the double standard? If I had the time for therapy I'm sure I could figure it out but for now I will just FIX IT! 

Sheep and Wool

Tomorrow is the Sheep and Wool festival! Yippy! I am a very novice knitter but I love to look at all the sheep and of cource all the wool is yummy too. The colors and textures are so inspiring. (every time I use that word I wish I had a synonym, let me know if you have any suggestions) I will not forget my camera! So if you stay tuned you will feel like you were there. Happy Fall!

A Picture for our times...

This is rather like how I imagine we've all been feeling lately, delicate flowers in a heavy rain...

I have stopped listening to the news, not completely but almost. We don't have television, just NPR. How many times a day does one need to hear "the sky is falling"? I mean really... hell, hand basket, I get it! 

I choose to continue to believe in sunshine and rain, ok even snow, but there is always sun even if we can't see it. 

Well Kitty

It is harder than you think to photograph a cat. Especially when he is so interested in the camera strap or being pet or anything other than posing. This is mysterious as, without a camera present, posing for hours is what cats naturally do. 

This is Alix now. He won't stop eating. I'm so pleased, Harriett is pleased, even Chris is pleased. He's a very good boy and we love him.

P.S.  15 out of 30 is not that bad. (posts that is)

A new friend

A couple of weeks ago I had the good fortune of running into an aquaintence from my days at Green Cottage. Last week I had the even better fortune of becoming her friend! Cecilia has the most beautiful vegetable garden and sent me home with veggies and dahlias!

Every Day?

OK, so this "daily" thing isn't quite working out for me... But 

I have been in my studio and things have been rolling along in there :) I am still testing glazes... and lots of new ideas are flowing. I will have some pictures soon. So, see you tomorrow.  

Dennis

A short little post to show off the talents of Dennis Nuttley (proprietor of Green Cottage). He is amazing! I run the risk of sounding like some sappy advertisement (or stalker) so I will simply leave you with this.....

A. Kitty update

Last night we made the appointment, 9:45 this morning we were scheduled to take Alix to the Vet for the last time. But this morning he tottered into the kitchen almost cheerfully and ate, a little bit, a very little bit, but he ate! So now we wait and see and give him LOTS and LOTS of love! (yes, I did try EFT on him and I think it worked)  

Alex Kitty

Tomorrow we see the vet again, Alex is not eating:(

Just a minute...

I must say this a lot because Harriett is now saying this a lot. She has several variations, the" Wait, wait, Mamma, just a minute." or the " Just a second." or " one more minute." (followed ofcource by the "puhleeahs", as she is very polite) 

Also, I had a very nice experience in the grocery store this afternoon. I was explaining to H. (for the third time) that only big girls were allowed to push the cart, etc. etc. and when we resumed our travels down the cereal aisle I hear a "Good Mommy!" Wow. Thank you, Lady, as Harriett would say. 

Saturday afternoons

There is an enchanted world filled with flowers and jewelry and general beauty just around the corner from my house. Green Cottage! (no website as yet so no link) Before I had Harriett I was a devoted shopgirl/floral assistant and spent all of my days there. Now, alas I only spend my Saturday afternoons in this land of flowers and soap where no one whines or flops on the  floor in frustration. I miss it. But mostly I miss Dennis (florist extrodinaire), David, Galen (puppet animation goddess), Dan (prop. of Shaddow Lawn (will link latter))  and Eddie (official greeter and actual owner of said establishment).  It's a wonderful place if you ever get a chance to visit you will love it.

P.S. Eddie is a Welsh Corgie

Alix

This is our kitty Alex, or A-Likssss as Harriett likes to call him. He has the sharpest claws I've ever met. Harriett met them only once when she grabbed his foot and held on with all her 18 month old might. He did not swipe at her as any normal cat would do, no, she met the claws only as they slid past in that wonderfully slippery way cats are able to free themselves from a loving grip. Her comment, "Ouch! Alex, he pokey toes!" 

I was very distracted in the studio today trying to find Alex. He had a vet appointment this afternoon and ofcource was hiding, probably because he wasn't feeling well. And therefore he is my blog entry for today. 

Cleaning!

Isn't cleaning wonderful! My studio got a much needed, well, not so much cleaning as clearing, and really only a little of that. But this little went a long way. I took some things to the dump, old bags of dried clay, a bucket of glaze waste, and 3 large containers of discarded pots! That felt soooo good! Hopefully it will get me a little unstuck, especially in the glaze department. I am firing a test kiln as we speak (so to speak). I'll take some pictures tomorrow. Oh, I took the recycling too, isn't it liberating throwing bottles into the glass dumpster!

Customer Appreciation Day

I sent this wall vase off last week to a lovely woman in Oregon, let's call her K. It was a bit of a challenge for me because it was a custom color and these pieces are a bit temperamental. There was a kiln disaster, actually two, and despite the delays K stuck with me. Now she has her vase and I have a new glaze direction! I love it when things work out like that. A dark blue or red was requested and once I saw them on my pieces I began to rethink my pastel-y palate (I have had moments where I looked at my shelves and thought not so pleasant things about Jordan Almonds) So THANK YOU Ms.K!  There is a smaller one in my etsy shop. You will notice I am still honing my photography skills. And my posting skills, let's see if I can get another pic. up and where I want it... Nope.

September

I am posting every day, I am, really I am! 

Even if it's only a picture...wood, apples and bathing suits, I love early fall. 

In  studio news, I am doing more glaze testing. 

If any one out there knows of a reliable satin matte base for ^6 electric I would be grateful! 

Weekend EFT

Yeah, I know I'm not doing so well with the "post-a-day" challenge I gave myself but I've had a long busy weekend. I went to an EFT workshop. It was great! Just what I needed and lots of great people too. It was given by a most generous and dedicated team of women, CJ and Delores, who donated all the procedes to the Hudson Valley Humane Society's Visiting Pet Program. (Feel free to make a donation, they do amazing work) I'd be happy to tell you more about EFT, just email me. Now I have to get back to my studio!!! (see it's already working!)

Bees

This is a little sample of the project I'm working on with Lora. I'm really excited! Yeah, I know this is not much of a post but I had to do something. One a day, right. I didn't say they were going to be long.  

Make Up Homework

Here is a little bit of a catch up post in lieu of a Sept. 1 posting. If you have a moment click to link to Free Rice and feed a few people while stretching you vocabulary. Enjoy!

September challenge

This is Harriett with a color test I did this summer for a project I am working on with Lora Shelley, a very talented painter. It's been great to have some one else to report to. Being alone in your studio is not always that great for ones productivity or head for that matter. I will be posting more on that I'm sure as...

I am going to post everyday this month as a sort of jumpstart. It's September and though it's been YEARS, I still have that back to school urge. Apples and leaves turning and wood pile piling, you know what I mean. The cellular urge that sent me to the grocery store for frozen and canned vegetables even though I was living in southern California with narry a flake in my future (snow that is). You can take the girl out of Vermont...(which is where I grew up) So here is my first post of the month of posting (yes it is a day late but that's me I'm afraid). 

Crazy for TEA

I recently was given a small vial with a "mushroom" in liquid in it. It was a Kombucha "baby". I have brewed several batches quite successfuly and highly recomend it as a peppy (if somewhat tart) little beverage. Here is a picture of my jar of fermenting tea. It tastes like hard cider but gives the pep of a few cups of coffee without the jitters. Just be sure to drink a lot of water too.If you are a brewer might i suggest brewing with a Chai tea or a green tea with lemon, Yummy! I find them to be less vinegary and I don't need to blend the end product with fruit juice. Although, if blending with juice I really like apricot juice. I am totally smitten with my 'shroom (that white layer on the top is the "mushroom") . Yes it looks very weird and so far I can't get Chris to try it. I will keep trying because it's supposed to have immune boosting properties and who couldn't use that! 

Instructions for use

I am trying to make a "hang tag" for my lanterns. I like the design I've come up with. My friend/sister Stephanie helped me with that part. The problem comes with what and how much to say on it. It needs to be small and to the point and represent "me"... (I may be over thinking this.) 

So here is the long list of what needs to be said:

-The "roof" gets hot when Lantern is lit so please extinguish through a window or with the  switch and allow plenty of time to cool.

- To keep pest from setting up house place cedar chips/oil or mothballs inside (if lantern is to be left out doors).

-Please be sure your lantern is in a safe location, as they are both fragile and heavy, please be aware of toes, tails and snow shovels.

-Use warm soapy water to "clean house" as needed.

-Never leave candles unattended.

-Take some time everyday to enjoy being you!

The short list is... 

-The lid can get HOT! please be careful! 

-If left outdoors mothballs or cedar will keep bugs away.

-Enjoy!

So, What do you think? I might not have comments hooked up so if you'd like to email me feel free. 

I'm Back!!

Phew! I did it! I reset my pass word and here I am. I have been busy in my studio and out and can't wait to tell you all about it.... but I must, sorry. I promise to post again VERY soon! 

Time Flies... light speed

I can't believe it has been two years already. Harriett was just getting over an ear infection but still managed to have a good time at her party. (It was touch and go there at first.)  Her bangs need a trim but under all that hair is a happy little tot! I think every one had a good time. We are heading to the beach next week. Lots of cousins = lots of fun!

Weekend with Dirt

Still getting the hang of picture posting. This weekend we (yes, I do mean mostly Chris) moved alot of dirt around. Top soil. We need to build up our flower beds (yes, I do mean make them from scratch) and fill in the valleys in our lawn. We got the dirt on Thursday while Harriett was at daycare. When she and I pulled into the driveway she said, " Oh, that's alot a dirt. I need shovel." So she got one and got to work...

Weekend with Cousins

Last weekend Chris's brother Nick came up with two of his three beautiful children, for Chris's birthday. Lauren (then 6 now 7) and Heather 4(?). We all went to the Bronx Zoo:) Probably I enjoyed it more than anyone else... Well fed wild animals like to sleep and in their "natural" habitats they are usually hidden. I'm sure Harriett thinks snow leopards are rocks. But we all had fun being together. Or lunch picnic included some tastey cupcakes! Lauren's had blue frosting!

Back at home it seems our humble abode did have enough toys for the girls... The hammock was a big hit with Lauren and the umbrella is a lot more fun for a person small enough to spin than some one not quite tall enough to open it's full umbrellaness, Oh to be little (or big). 

P.S. That ugly shed behind Heather is now on It's way to the Landfill!! 

A NEW NEW LOOK!

Thanks Mike! Doesn't this look great!? And easy to use!!! (if I can do it anyone can!) Sorry everyone for all the exclamation points but  I am that excited! Look, I can even italicize. Yes, I know that doesn't seem like much to all you computer folk out there but for a compuphopic person like myself I appreciate the little things.

I finally got to visit with my friend Tim this morning. He and his wonderful wife Molly just had a little boy (april 16th) Hudson, who is cute as a bug! Some kind of yucky bug has been going around our household this spring so we all resisted the urge to ooh and ahh 'till now. He is really a beautiful baby, I'm sorry I forgot my camera. Next time.

Well, enough rambling on in public... I'm off to my studio. Teapots! Yum!

  

Shop! Shop! Shop!

I have a shop! I finally sat down and figured out how to post things on etsy! 21st century here I come! I still can’t figure out how to get pictures here. I think I might have to use a different blog site? (Mike had already switched sites by the time I got around to asking, great minds.) I will ask Mike, my web guy once I’ve given him a chance to recover from putting my site up!

Have beautiful day every one!

P.S. How can I loose 10lbs in 2 weeks? Beach Weather!!!

P.P.S. It's some how now almost 20lbs! And I don't really care.

Still no pictures...

Chris and Harriett and I went to visit with my family in NJ Sunday to celebrate Russian Easter. It was so nice to see everyone and we have some sweet pictures but still no way of putting them here! Things have been slow in my studio this week but I expect they will pick up now that I have finished my throwing apron, my first sewing project! It’s silly but oddly motivating. I’d show it to you but… Next up on the sewing front is a matching smock for H. I see lots of messy projects in our future. (Here’s a side note for my friend Michelle studying language development… this morning H. had a “hay-er” in her mouth as opposed to a “har”) Such progress! I still miss “opee” which fell by the wayside months ago, replaced with the more sophisticated “open”. Ah! progress!

Hello, thanks for looking...

Thank you for visiting my blog! If you are here it means you got my email:) I intend to post something at least once a week (both pottery and Harriett related) so as to keep in touch with you all. First I must figure out how to put a picture up, so here goes…. NOPE Nothing.
Looks like I’m going to be calling my web guy in the morning.

My first steps into cyberspace...

Hello out there!I have been updating my “presence” on the web and stepping boldly into the new century (yeah, a little late but that’s me I’m afraid). Spring is inpiring, new beginings and all that.

I shipped out an order last week to Karen at Tiny Boxes Boutique. Karen has been busey setting up shop in her new location,31 Main St., Plymouth, MA. They opened last Thursday. If you are near you should go have a look!

Harriett, my daughter, is rapidly nearing Two! We will be having a small celebration here at home on the 31st of May. The REALLY exciting celebration will be our trip to Hilton Head, SC with my husband’s family! It will be Harriett’s first trip to the beach! I am so excited! (And a little concerned about wearing a swimsuit in public) Did I mention that I am EXCITED!?!

Well, that’s all for today, turns out Tiny Boxes never got my big boxes! I must make some calls to the US Postal Service.