December ends on the beach

Crown 9 -- getting even more close

  

All made from clay, except for their clothes and the stick holding sign. The figure on the top of capital building should be in the kiln for bisque stage.  Need to fasten the denim dress side, and work on sign holding adhesive appearance.  Testing now to see how it sticks..don't want to make it permanent..the sign holding aspect.

The piece was "quieter" without the signs and the clothes of course, but wanted the current day "reality" to step in and make some noise...discord of discourse.  Based on Constitution/law, rather than "personality."

Gingers 2017

The older one took the macabre path on this one -- ginger eating the snowmen. Ugg. 

The little one wasn't feeling well...her ginger to come.   (second Ginger post Christmas...just in time for her birthday). 

She wanted ugly sweater for holiday, but local stores sold out...made her one. 

Wrapping day

For distribution to families ..very well initiated and organized by first responders. 

A heart full of delight matching up kid request to the toys donated. 

Stuffed Bear Lamp -- refurbished

A bit uneven in the spray paint application, but voila...a refurbished bear lamp revealed!

Found it "vintage" store, and thought it a good joke gift for my brother....one who wants to accumulate no such nonsense as this, but perhaps hark back to that Christmas movie with the leg lamp gift scene. 

This lamp had a music element to it, but I am not likely to figure out how to fix that up to working order. 

Crown 9 -- getting closer

Ok, not there yet, but closer.  Now for their signs and a flag or two.  Going to get a bit more animated!  Ceramics.

Edible Wreath

The top one .. 200 degrees F for about 1.5 hours, the lower one, 275 for an hour or so. 

Low and slow to get it white. The top one leaves got switched out to holly, to look a bit more seasonal. Pavlova, whipped cream, fruit.  Idea taken from British Baking Show.  New Zealander at party said I got it right in terms of constancy..and apparently the Pavlova originated in NZ...in honor of visiting ballerina.  

Guest Artist...Squirrel Play Area...for observation

A week or so ago, niece was observing squirrels with their acorn hiding. For birthday present, she made this squirrel play area ..complete with sunflower seeds (picked out of the birdseed bag) and dirt, as well as little strings and such to amuse.

In use...the string giving him a flea scratch more than too much of an annoyance.  

Buche de Noel...for birthday cake

Used whipped cream shaded with cocoa..so it didn't get too dark...wasn't intent, but didn't want to add food coloring, and wanted the lightness of the cream vs frosting. Made the mushrooms (too big, but)...meringue.

Holiday Cards 2017...Felt, Intarsia Knit, Glitter Pom Poms

Couldn't get my niece to wear the big pom pom topped knit cap Friday, but my snow people were willing (and smiling)!

    

Guest Artist...Art favors.

She made a "take home" for each guest.  Each unique, and with a little "story" on most. 

Cream Puff Turkey

Super fast construction .. 1/4 water, 1 cup sugar...sticks them together. Used small dowels to make tail feather.  Didn't have enough time (ahem.. fast construction) to work through wings...just used construction paper. Used a lemon to help anchor the cream puff dowel tail upright.

Thanksgiving day walk...turkeys and bread

On Thankgiving....first on trail were a group of turkeys (and a young buck)...a little later, a scattering of bread cubes here and there.  Hmmmm....self- basting is one thing, self -stuffing?!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow....

Is supposed to be 70 F degrees tomorrow -- Thankgiving. Helping over at my brother's house this afternoon to get ready...took a shot of the "night before" ...cozy inside and out!

Cell Phone Tea Pot

Assignment was to make a teapot...with the seed planted for a walk on the more unusual side.
I thought of the ritual of tea....including growing up with my relatives from my Dad's side...it was tea and talking -- the visit.

Thought of the way much of visiting nowadays is done "virtual" -- on cell phone, facetime, etc.  So, my tea pot is a cell phone.  Wanted the scale to stay somewhat the same, so it won't hold much hot water...still thin.  Not sure the tunnel in the tube will stay "passable" by water...needed to use extruder, but didn't get to it, so just poked through tube with narrow stick. The cord may help act as handle, but figure it would require touching the "pot" (phone) to lift to pour.

I don't really need anything like this hanging around, so, I plan to smash it before firing....after I show it as "assignment done!"

White Elephant Coasters

Friend has his birthday celebration coming up soon -- has us all over, and instead of gifts for him, a massive (50+ people) white elephant gift game.  Decided white elephant coasters for this one. Still need to get in kiln, but on their way.

Bull.....

Fancy horns for sure.

Walk this morning....

From walk this morning.  The mud "event" below reminded me of the continent of Africa.

Crown 9...the center work

The people and the eagles are going to circle the outer ring of the crown. Picture in case it doesn't make it out of the kiln in one piece!

Crown 9..in work

This one it taking more time, but learning some things, which is one of the main points perhaps. 

Burned Tadhig, but ....

Ok, I make it so seldom that I kind of knew it might burn...the trick of medium heat but not too high to get that tadhig established on the bottom of the rice pyramid. Pomegranate seeds from the garden pomegranate tree is the plus. Did it with yogurt and saffron on bottom, when usually just use water and butter there. 

Vineyard visit

Left too long due to the fires in the area.  Some salvaged, some composted.