At the Sign of the Hedgehog

I like a sign on a garden gate. It lets you pause and collect yourself before you enter inside. I took a ramble in this rose garden today, and got stuck. As soon as I unhinged myself from one thorny cane, another reached out for me and held on, until I picked up the knack of holding in my arms, that is until I saw this rose:

Butter yellow, shell pink and raspberry tinged. So I stood there awhile, because it smelled sweet, and because bees zipped by and there was a sort of lonesome, longing wind through the pines. Then I remembered I was hungry.

So home I came, but look what I brought back with me.

These new garden signs are porcelain, run over with lace pressed in by a brayer, then a medallion is added. This one is painted with a farmhouse, larkspur and other summer blooms, with a watering can weather vane. Below it reads 'All the seasons run their race in this quiet resting place.'

Oh, and a rabbit piece because I can't seem to paint a batch of pottery without adding one to the firing.

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Speak To The Earth

My mother really has the prettiest garden in town. Every spot is tenderly watched over, and I've just taken pictures of one small corner. That's me lurking in my clay clothes at the top of the walkway. If I turn to my left, I can go up the stairs and be in the kitchen. Today, there were brownies waiting. I love to wander around this place, I can find loved ones who I miss and thought were gone, but I find they've been here all the time.

Duck as you walk by the grapefruit tree, and go into the rose garden through the wire gate, added to deter the white tailed deer, who browse anyway. And if the house looks grey to you, don't tell my mother. She insists it's blue.

The pathway to the back door.

I found this anonymous poem in an old garden book. Its spoken from the point of view of the garden itself. Its been pinned to a corkboard in my workroom for years, I thought you might like it too.

I, Your Garden

I bring serenity to your life.

No human pursuit gives more pleasure to your days

than the creating of me.

I am outwardlly your own accomplishment,

but in the business of me, God is your more

than equal partner.

I am at once your solace in sorrow and your

inspiration for endeavor.

My flowering hand is outstretched to welcome you

at the end of the day;

My leafy arms reach yearningly for you when you return

from the longer absence.

I keep your feet on the ground, both physically and spiritually,

and something, none the less acutal because unseen,
flows from me into your body and soul, something that makes you valiant

and gives you the joy of living.

I am your flowers and vines and trees,

and the soil that gives them life.

I Am Your Garden.

Speak to the Earth and It shall teach thee.

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Rosy June Morning

My paintbrush has developed this recent habit of gravitating to all the pink paint pots. This rabbit may be wearing a blue scarf, but the plaid accents are raspberry, a country cousin to pink.
I've looped a bunch of thyme over this rabbit's neck, and in back, there is a deep indention in the clay, at an upward angle, so he stays securely on a nail.

This bird is holding a necklace by Nina Bagley, a very simple but earthy one that seems to go with everything I wear. Even overalls, well especially them. The egg is glass and is a lampwork bead made by her sister, Ellen.

http://starcatcher.etsy.com

Pink again. See what I mean?

This jar contains rose petal jelly. I wanted the sun to light this up, so you can see the clarity and lovely pure rosiness of it. Its made by Jenny, who gathers the rose petals in her Utah garden.

http://auntjenny.etsy.com .

The name drawn by my seafaring husband: Daffodil. I've written her, and want to thank all of you. you know I'd like to send you all a honey pot, but you do have my good wishes and gratetful heart.

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Heartfelt Giveaway

I feel so lucky. And in large part I owe that to my customers, many who have become friends. I'm showing my gratitude in the form of a honey pot. There's a teapot and pie painted on the front, which is still warm from the oven. A pink house serves as a pull. Its' hand built with a scalloped seam. There's a spoon on the back and what else but a Forget-me-not?

If you are new to my blog, please leave info so I can contact you if your name is drawn.

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Tea Party

These new mugs are the result of a few requests for a roomier cup for those who like caffe lattes, lots of milk in their tea, or just more of it. They are porcelain, so are lighter. I've added a very thin strip of clay to the base and wrapped it under to guard against leaks. Of course so far they are all different sizes. I don't seem capapble of making matching sets.

A squirrel with a peach pie, a fox with a basket of tea leaves, and a gardening lady whose been watering her herb garden. These are now on my kitchen counter, filled with water and sitting on a dish towell to make sure they don't spring a leak! Soon to be for sale in my Etsy shop if there are no tell tale water marks.

Here are my mug and honey pot, used daily. That's my dog, Emma on the front. I made the honey pot for my husband to commemorate a happy day at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. A memorable day on which we saw a painting by Paul Cezanne. That honey pot was in the painting. Cezanne must of loved faience pottery, because he painted it many times. I bought a post card of that work, brought it to my treehouse and recreated it as faithfully as I could.

This tea, Calming moment, came all the way from Finland. My friend Delila sent me four different varieties of Forsman Tea, with the ingredients transalted into english. Wasn't that thoughtful? This one is my favorite. It has a meadowy, summery fragrance, and I think I can say without any exaggeration, it changed my tea drinking life. I couldn't imagine going on without this elixier, and just so I wouldn't have to plead for more from Delila, I found a little company in Washington state who sells it! By the way, Delila has a charming blog, robinandthesage.bogspot.com

If you want to have a Finnish meadow in your kitchen you can find the tea here;
www.ForsmanTeaUSA.com

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Pincushion Friend

This wanderer of hedgerow, lane
and wood, this spiny hog,
comes gently, snuffling, once again,
emerges from the fog
of centuries bygone, of dreams,
And curls before our sight,
And smokelike, grave and secret seems,
This denzien of night.
Yet charm as ever, conquers all,
As caring holds the key,
To woodland haunt, to coarse brown ball,
To hedgehog mystery!
frank marples

I think its time to form a Society for the Adoration of the Hedgehog. We can serve rosehip punch and custard. Ginger cookies in the shape of acorns. I can think of two people at least who would join in. What about you? Do you want to be the Hedgehog's friend?

In this grouping, there's a herb holder, a little portrait plate, and a lady holding her garden friend. There's a statue too, and a tiny cup to go with it, be advised Hedgehogs like LOTS of milk in their tea.

Ned Poon, Owl and Fred Mears, Rabbit

This is a surprise for my friend, Kary, who loves owls. I know he looks serious, and he is. An owl of few words. As soon as the sun slid behind a hill, he rose from his seat, flapped his great wings once, and glided away. One of his feathers fell away and drifted right onto the table. I've left it there for you to see.

Fred Mears, the rabbit was altogher different. Full of friendliness and charming stories of the district. I hope to tell you some at a future date.

In my pottery life, I've got a firing in the kiln and will be listing tomorrow.