forget the bunnies

I wish I could say this was purely by discipline that I am working ahead on Easter projects.  But truthfully it is fueled by my new dining room table.  I have been slightly obsessed with tablecloths, vases, plates…. decorative stuff that I put little value on previously.  After following a few internet rabbit holes (pun intended) literally everything I saw was completely designed around fluffy bunnies and eggs. What a sad thing this holiday has become…

As if plastic eggs could ever replace the amazing story, of love, death, resurrection, and redemption found in the Bible.  I know hospitality is more than decorations and menus,  it is about the welcoming.   Oh to share a meal and have ones home reflect  the warmth of the Savior. It’s a learning and making season for me.   I am enjoying my Mains book , ”If Christians, corporately would begin to practice hospitality, we could play significant roles in redeeming our society.  There is no better place to be about the redemption of society with the captive, the blind, the downtrodden, the more we realize that in this inhospitable world, a Christian home is a miracle to be shared. ”  Do you have an Easter or Lenten tradition in your home?

 

Daffodils have long been some of my favorite spring bulbs.  Emerging warm yellow blooms from the snow-covered ground.  I carved two new daffodil blocks and used old printers letter stamps to lay significance in the clay.  We’ll see how these fire up and fill with spring blooms.

jan 8

 

Two days of sunshine in a row… hope it continues.  I love seeing the sparkling snow and the birds happily about.  New little cardinal block.  What to put him on?  Perhaps I need a little mixed flock…

daily trappings

A shot from earlier this week. It contains all I had going on that day, a sketchbook of new ideas, BSF notes, new candle “spiced pumpkin” which so puts me in the mood for fall, one of my few remaining pumpkins from the show,  a leaf rose I made while walking back from the post office and a new stamp carving of a pomegranate in red & violet.

Once I started thinking about pomegranates I saw them everywhere, including in this painting that hangs in my kitchen from my college friend Kelly.   She is such a great artist and  just opened this new shop.

feather happy

I’ve been busy bookmaking. Here are the results from my feather print block series – I love pressing my own carved image in the clay. Also quite a few have handmade paper from Nepal on the cover pages.  I need to get my supplies together but I really want to make some more paper this summer, I haven’t done that in quite a while…  All journals are now in the shop, a few more to come.

carving

Best moments of my day – carving out a new feather print block and carving out a little time to spend with friends on the slopes.  How come it took this long to claim a ladies day?   The kids were so jealous that we left them behind, but grownups need a play-date too!

 

from paper to clay

It’s a busy busy snow day around here.  snowmen. weaving. dress up. book making. carving.  I know MORE gems….  after I carved these they went straight into the ink onto paper then they migrated to the clay studio to have some fun in the dirt.  I’ll have to play with the composition a bit, I just really couldn’t stop myself.

drawing on clay

I took a moment this week to check out the drawing clay exhibit at Central Michigan University.   Showcasing pieces on loan from artists all over the country such from Jenny Mendes, Beth Lambert & Woozel, Israel Davis and JustinRothshank, see more here. I took my nut along and she made a little art of her own, of all the slides on the wall she chose a frame of the Guggenheim  museum and drew her own rendition.

It was so refreshing to see art in 3-D,  I have been looking at lots of images lately but appreciated experiencing the pieces from all sides and getting to see the spectrum of colors of the unglazed portions of clay, earthenware, terra-cotta, stone-wares and porcelains.  I am encouraged by the realm of possibilities in the different firings (wood, gas, electric) and the  different types of surface design on clay.   Many prints, decals and  layers of slip & glaze.  Inspiring for sure, it runs until Saturday.

Bethlehem block

I’ve had O little town of Bethlehem in my head since last Christmas when I sang all the verses out of an old hymnal.  The words are so powerful and meaningful.  This is the verse that just clung to my heart so I decided to carve a print for it this season.  Made from two blocks, the background is the silhouette of Bethlehem and the night sky.  The top block uses the christmas star that reflects out in the image of a cross with baby jesus laid at the foot.  The verse is written in each of the four corners (if you just tried to sing to get the rhythm, I added all the lyrics below :) I will be adding these to my shop, I only printed five of each violet & silver and bronze & black. Each will come professionally mounted with a matte and safely packaged in a cellophane sleeve.

 

 

 

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in they dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

 

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

 

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

 

Oh holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our lord Emanuel.

 

carve. stamp. send

I don’t know why I haven’t thought to do this before.  I carved a little stamp to be used for all the odd marketing jobs, like little extra notes and stamping bags.  I kind of drew this up quick – can you see the little book the mug is on…  fun, fun!  I like how things are slowly coming together but still very much has the handmade feel.  I am still so thankful to be doing what I love while caring for those I love.  Etsy has been such a great platform to sell items and so far I have loved using USPS, you can print shipping labels right off of paypal, and stick them in the mailbox.  Easy,  I would so much rather be making stuff that sweating over shipping it out!

to market. to market

I have been wanting to make it out to sell my pottery at the farmers market all summer, last saturday was the first opportunity.  I am so proud of our little town for organizing the market, we are in the second year here and there was quite a bit of traffic last week.  Sadly after all the worrying I did about my stall set up, I didn’t even take one picture.

My intention was to print cards off to sell every week inspired by seasonal produce but sometimes you just have to keep your ideas to try at a later date.  I have managed to make a few, this week I set up next to the garlic lady so she inspired these little cloves.   She was so patient with me as I asked her a ton of questions about growing garlic, that will be a MUST to put in my small garden this fall.  Needless to say with her in the next stall all my garlic dipping bowls sold.  I’ll have to throw a few more in the studio this week.

Here are links to the other carvings peppers and asparagus