Spring, Rebirth, Second chances, and working in series. . .

Chickadee #1

Yeah. That's a big title, isn't it? I've been thinking a lot about entries to this journal, but done precious little about it, so it's time for catch-up. An ex-husbands wife once criticized out daughter for loving Easter so much (complete with floral dress and great shoes) when we weren't Christians. When she told me this, I responded that like most holidays, Easter has roots before Christianity. That it's about rebirth (with all of nature coming back to life), about second chances (from which I have benefited personally), about the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Great things to celebrate. My agnostic self still loves it the best of all Christian holidays. All holidays, really, with Thanksgiving a close second.

This is all a way to justify my new fascination with bird houses. I've decided to start working in series, and this is the first of the birdhouses. It's made specifically for chickadees (you can find information on their requirements online), and I plan to make at least 4 of them, maybe six.

This idea was preceded by wanting to make a series of bud vases. I love them because they are a relatively small investment that can support many variations. And they make great hostess gifts full of flowers from the garden. Better than jam for some folks. I found out, rather too late, that some folks don't eat jam, even when you've planted the plants, harvested the fruit and made the jam yourself. I find it amazing, but there you have it. People, in all of their variations.

The bud vase series

So here they are. I'd like to say "from the ridiculous to the sublime" but I think that might be stretching it. Maybe from the very white to the much browner-and-speckley?

I do like the variation.

Technobot 1

The brown speckley's are made with a sculptural clay that's very gritty with grog and sand. I didn't like working with it initially. It's really rough. But I really love how the underglaze colors are muted, and the rest is just a clear glaze. Given how much I hate glazing, this is a wonderful solution.

Technobot 2

I'm calling them Techno-botanical.

The porcelain vase is very pristine (some might say prissy), and predictable from me. Hand built (as all are), but then applique'd with the botanical forms that I so love. Colors are predictable too, though maybe I should try some with unnatural colors just for fun. I do love the white-white of the porcelain. . .even more unglazed, though that presents some problems with dirt showing.

Porcelain 1

Australian memories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well. The Blogger software is driving me nuts, so I think I'll save the Easter hike entry for a later date. Small sigh. Happy Rebirth, Happy Spring!