Meanwhile, back in the studio. . .

Small bowl glaze fired twice

The rain has stopped for the time being. I had a wonderful walk with Jasper at our beloved Messalonskee, sprayed the apple trees, did some weeding, and was eventually able to get back to the studio. This time, it was to clean up and photograph some new work. 

I love buttons.

The image to the left was part of a series of about six pieces that elicited a "yuk" from me when I first brought it out of the glaze kiln. It didn't look like this. It was sort of a dull white with a lump of brighter white on the lip. I was ready to toss them all, but something stayed my hand. A week later I was doing some glazing and decided to re-glaze these pieces. What did I have to lose? So I heated them, and then applied a light coat of Pistachio, followed by dipping the lip in Emeraude, which I knew would run like crazy. What I couldn't have predicted is the colors it left in her wake. Very nice complexity for an oxidative kiln. I especially like the orange/red left at the very far margins. A good experiment. A good decision to hold my frustrated hand until a more philosophical me was able to swim to the top.
 

I've also been wanting to make some buttons for two of my favorite jackets. One is a very old dark green swing style that has always has the most boring plastic buttons. When I lost one, I replaced it with a fine silver button that I cast from something in a class. One of my very few casting experiences. I made the ceramic button on the left, above, for that one. It's a little "rustic" looking, but I think I'll like it on that coat. The other coat is a cranberry colored mid thigh length coat that is slicker looking. More urban, if you will. The two copper buttons were ostensibly for that. The one on the right was just a  notion. I took 34 gauge (very thin) copper, annealed it, and leather-hammered it between a plastic embossing template. Then I sweat-soldered it to a brass back (22 gauge), and soldered on a loop. Voila. Button. Relatively simple to make, and I didn't really expect to be taken with it. The middle button is a hollow form (just what it sounds like), and is much more difficult to make. I though this would be my favorite, so I made six of them!  Well. So much for that thought. I love the simpler flatter button, but now need to make 5 more. As we used to say in my lab, "Check your assumptions".

Oval vessel.

This little oval dish is from the thrown-and-altered work I did in my class. (Thank you, Amy, for your patience with my back. . .)  All of the pieces here were unattractive as described above after the first firing. Again, my impulse was to put them in the trash so I would never have to look at the abysmal failure again. My impulse to Not Waste Things kicked in once again, though and I stayed my hand. Smile. Such a quaint turn of the phrase, isn't it?

Anyway, I once again re-glazed (after heating the glazed piece in a microwave,) then applied Pistachio over the whole mess, with a rim of Emeraude. It yielded a different look than the little bowl for some reason. It may have been that I applied the rim glaze less heavily, or just that the combination with the original glazes (the inside is a matt green) gave a different effect. Anyway, it resulted in a piece that no longer embarrasses me. I really like the little foot that I put on after reshaping the thrown sides.

And the inside matt finish is way cool. Humble opinion not.

The last two pieces from the thrown and altered bit were treated roughly the same way, though the little lidded container was re-fired with Forest instead of pistachio. Again. Not an embarrassment, which seems to be my current overreaching goal in life!

Good news? I have a good start on thrown-and-altered work. More good news? It's starting to dry out again, so the garden calls. Turns out, so does the studio. Pleasant tasks all around!

 

 

A Rainy Day Tour

Highland Garden Tour: June

The drive in

 I thought I'd post 3 videos of our gardens on this date. I'm doing this to show you all, but also for posterity. From my current age I can see the time when I can no longer care for this place that I love. Besides, it's been a rainy week. The garden isn't calling as it usually does this time of year, and it seems a worthy pursuit.

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICtLMy9Y7A8&list=PL1R9UikVNaOqPnMj7f3-wIV9CEbubUw8C

 

 [Note: Technical difficulties abound. I'll fix this soon! Barb]

Two Lady Slippers

And a tasty morsel to close with. My friend, Rita, spotted these while we were hiking yesterday. Once she saw one, we saw many many many. What a gift!

 

More than a month later. . .

 

Spring Green

This is a busy time of year, but never have I managed my time so badly as to miss over a month of my life! Well, I didn't really miss it. In fact, you could say that I was too engrossed to document anything. That would be a nice way of putting it. 

Conveniently, it has been raining and cool for the past couple of days. My only task was to attempt to control the slugs on the newly germinated basil plants. 

The weather called up a memory of decades ago when we had similar weather for a week in July. In Maine. In a small cabin with only a fireplace for entertainment. Knitting with the daughters ensued, and the memory has become warmer and happier with the years. 

So. Back to the now. 

 

Siberian Bugloss

Spring always begins with the delicate light greening of the trees. I love that period. So full of hope. And, to contradict myself, things begin much sooner closer to the ground. As usual, we had a beautiful outpouring of gifts. Our stay here is new enough that I forget many of the plants that visit in spring, and then leave before the end of summer. Sort of like when you bring out your summer clothes, and find items you had forgotten you had. Or in my case, thought I had thrown away. Yay. Not so foolish after all.

Rhubarb

 The rhubarb gives us not only her lovely bold leaves (which look almost tropical if one doesn't know better), but cakes and a pie. Only one pie, because I eat it every day. Breakfast especially. With sharp cheddar melted on top. Oh my.

The time of year of Really Good Food is upon us.

Anemone

Lungwort

Bleeding hearts

 

The bleeding hearts were especially well placed, thanks to the previous owners. Right in front of the front covered porch. They cover the bottom of the deck, and we can also see them, and the hummingbirds who sip from them, easily from our perch up there.

The woods are bursting with life as well, and we found this lovely in early May. . .in a very obvious place that we failed to notice last year. Once you see one trillium, you start to see them everywhere. Alas, they are short lived here. A week at most, and then we just see the leaves and sigh; realizing that the leaves are busy making next years strong roots and shipping around carbohydrates for next years flowers.

Asparagus, early May

 

 

Speaking of food, it wouldn't do to forget to mention the asparagus. We took 2 medium sized cuttings, and are letting the rest get established for future years. It is the perennial growers job; to ensure the fruits of today as well as the fruits of future years.

 

Copper Beech

 

 

 

And of course no spring is complete without an image of our beloved Copper Beech. She was, as always, spectacular.

The studio is, for the time being, neglected. There is so much to enjoy in the yard. I did make some buttons for a sweater I just knit, and I really do love both. It should be just the thing for cool Maine nights.

Summer sweater with enameled buttons