Bird party

All the lovely ladies waited patiently in line until they heard the shop bell ring, and Bonnie opened the door and welcomed them inside. The annual Christmas party then began.The name of Bonnie's shop is Bird's of a Feather, but everyone I know calls it 'Birds'. Full of antiques, books and craft, its as warm and charming as I hope these pictures show. It was wonderful to see friends there, like Dana, Barbara and Jana. And Marsha, those brown sugar cupcakes you made were delicious. I brought one home to Kim and he's dropping hints right and left about me wheedling that recipe out of you.

I even made a special necklace to go with my outfit. Remember the bits of pottery in my studio?

I added some new ones, found beads that reminded me of bird's eggs, and made some faience beads painted like shards of old transferware.

Ready to string on waxed linen thread, a new rabbit necklace.

I always drift to this cupboard at Birds. Full of old Children's books and herds of tiny animals.

My pottery was lucky enough to be represented at the show. Here is a cake topper, with slots for candles and animals marching in a circle singing happy birthday.

I thought I heard this black and white cow moo my name several times.

A collection of socks, stripey and othewise.

Bonnie carries these beautiful felt purses by Cindy Ferris. They are light and just the right size for a checkbook, lipstick and a little phone. This one flew home with me. What do you think, Liz? These remind me of you.

If you are in Cambria, do stop by. Birds is on 2020 Main Street in the old Creamery Building.

and there is a website too.

www.2birdsofafeather.com

I promised a better picture of this bracelet by Pamela at Thatch and Burrow.

So here is Eve in the Garden. Isn't it something?

xxx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Portrait of a Badger

There is a crick in my neck because I've had my head down making and storing, like the badger here. I'd practically finished everything for two shows in November, so Thursday was set aside for painting and making new pieces for my lately neglected Etsy shop.

But I woke up Thursday thinking uh oh, feeling a bit low. Was it the dreaded Pork Pie Flu?

So I slogged around the house, in a blue checkered nightie, peachy striped socks and two different flowered tee shirts. Oh, and hair that looked even worse than when I'd just alighted from the Tilt-o-World at the County Fair. Then this morning, things were different. I felt like I could paint a comittee of badgers, and make them supper too. I think it was the chicken stock I had for dinner and the fresh fruit. And maybe a little bit was the antibiotic the Dr. gave me.

The badger joins the rabbit, who dreams of living in a house by the sea. A house with many windows. All the animals are members of the Ambleside Association for the protection of the countryside, hedgerows, dells , and woodland.

It felt awfully swell to go out to my studio with real clothes. Although I still think the hair needs work.

And I even came up with an idea for all these pieces of my broken pottery which involves drill bits and waxed linen thread.

New pieces in the works for my little store with the always open sign freshly washed and the door knocker polished.

xx

julie
That bracelet is by the talented Pamela of Thatch and Burrow

www.thatchandburrow.blogspot.com

i promise a better picture of this lovely piece soon.

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Where I work

As I step into my studio, this is what I see to my left. Its where my animal busts live until they migrate to a show or to Etsy. This week I have new members of the Association. There's a pricklepin, a wood mouse and a barn owl.

I found most of these old cabinet card frames on Etsy. They make nice windows for the animals to look through.

This is my desk and usually its loaded with clay plates and cups in various stages of drying, but I cleaned it off so you 'll think I'm tidy and diligent. (don't be fooled)

My inspiration board for fall. The photo of the sleeping doll with the stuffed animals waiting for her to wake up is the work of Rekecka Ryberg Skott. Her work is imaginative and always tells a story, plus her sense of color is wonderful.

www.beckybus.se/wordpress

This moblie is something new I am working on. Different small clay components, with beads, and even some sewing. All strung on waxed linen thread. I call them 'Good Omens'. That
piece of art in the background is by Cathy Cullis. I always ask for a piece of her work for my birthday from my husband, and as I write this, I think my newest gift should be flying over Maine about now.

http://www.cathycullis.blogspot.com/

my pottery tools

In the nineties, I owned a shop here in Cambria. Finnie McClure. I sold some antiques, old books, and things I made. But twice a week after closing I would drive to attend my pottery class. And soon, I couldn't think of anything but a life in clay. Still, i loved my little shop. This chalkboard hung right by the front door, and now it hangs in my studio. The words and colors are a little faded, but i won't erase it because I like the sentiment.

So there's more but isn't that enough of a tour for today? While i have your attention, I want to thank you for your comments, support and encouragment. Means the world..........

xxx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

It's 3 o'clock Somewhere

A teapot has always reminded me of a house. There's the lid for a roof, and the spout is the chimney. The handle, the trunk of the tree that shades the house in summer. And inside, life-affirming tea. This is my first teapot in awhile, and its slab built with a scalloped crown and seam up the side. The Tea loving lady on the front holds a red polka dotted cup in one hand and a forget me not in the other. A bee buzzes at the top of the handle. And dears, this teapot holds a generous amount of your choice of rose hip, mint or Earl Grey.

Tea that helps the head and heart

Tea medicates most every part

Tea rejuvinates the very old

and warms the hands of those who're cold

Jonker of Amsterdam. 1676

Reclusive, ellusive,

wandering nightly,

unprickle the charms

you've rolled up so tightly.

This domed piece could hold a nice stack of shortbread. That's what always brings oohs and aahs here at the treehouse. The base of the dome is made to look like a tree trunk, adorned with woodland plants and bugs. The top has Mr. Pricklepin for a pull.

Here's my shortbread recipie:

1/2 C. sugar

1/2 t. salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, cut in 1/2" pieces

1/2 t. vanilla

2 C. flour**

Mix sugar and salt, and cut in butter with pastry cutter or food processor til smooth.

Add flour and blend til crumbly. Roll in ball, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1/2 hour

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Divide dough in half and press each half in a 9 inch diameter pie plate., score the top into wedges and add fork tine marks if you like.

Bake 30 minutes. Rotate, and bake another 20-30 minutes longer, until pale golden.

Cool in pie plate at least ten minutes. Remove and cut into wedges.

Now for chocolate adoring personages, melt 1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips in a pan resting in a pan of simmering water, (so the chocolate doesnt' get nasty and burnt) add 2T. cream and blend. Dip the tip of the shortbread wedge in the melted chocolate.

**I've read that if you substitue 1/2 c. cornstarch for the Flour , in other words,

1 1/2 c. flour and 1/2 c. cornstarch, it makes a very flakey cookie. I'm going to try it next time

and I'll report back on the results.

Don't forget, Jacques and Julia are on PBS today at 4:30 PST

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Remembrance cups

its you whatever a moon has
always meant
and whatever a sun will always
sing is you

A wedding deserves a token of affection to celebrate eternal love, but sometimes the nicest things happen all in a rush and no invites have gone out. And you want to remember.

Like the fall when a rare bird landed so close to you , you could see its heart beat beneath it's feathers. Or the moment when your baby said her first word. (This yellow butterfly cup says 'flutterby' on the reverse.)

Mr. Pricklepins. I remember the first time I saw a hedgehog. They are so small!

all the pretty birds dive into

the heart of the sky

all the fish climb through

the mind of the sea

Have you ever seen a bird's nest in your very own garden? This nest piece is actually more like a bowl. It would hold a nice portion of granola, (very nesty) or vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. Maybe even a little whipped cream.

Or seen a fox dash across a clearing, his white tipped tail all lit up like a candle?

The reverse reads;

joy was his song and joy so pure

a heart of star by him could steer

Thank you for checking in to see my new cups. Let's light the fire now and put the kettle on.

all poetry courtesy of e.e. cummings

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Greencoat Squirrell and Little Red, Part 2

Greencoat and a few of his cronies stood beneath the pines, having a confab.
"She's always been inpetuous" said Bunny Two Shoes, "And there's that tendency to linger and pick boquets." Songbird bobbed his head and sang a sweet air.
Mouse stood very straight and raised her voice. "We're coming with you, Greenie! There's strength in numbers!
Greencoat wondered how much strength a mouse posessed, but was glad of the company. They headed out, with songbird as their scout, searching from the sky, every hollow and rotten stump for danger in the form of a Wolf.
At the cottage, Red found the front door stuck, so she entered through the back. Her nose wrinkled at the smell of turnips and moldy potatoes.

"I'm here, gram!" she called.

"Alright, dear." Gram's voice echoed through the timbered cottage.

Red stoked the fire, and set the kettle on. She placed fresh rosemary on the hob and cranked open windows, then uncorked the port and carried a tot into Gram's bedroom. 'This will liven her up.' she decided.

Gram wolfed it right down. "I'm famished, dear, do I smell egg? And may I have more of that scrumptious cordial?" Gram's bonnet covered most of her face, but Red saw alot of brown. Perhaps she'd been working in the garden?
"Yes, there's egg and Greencoat Squirrel has made your favorite cake." A thump rattled the front door. "There he is now."
When Red opened the door, she saw it had been jammed shut with an ebony walking stick.
Curious.

Squirrel sniffed.

"Smells badgerish in here."

"Gram's awfully peckish," said Red, "And you know how much she adores squirrel stew. I wouldn't get too close today." Squirrel blanched and set the cake down.


The band of woodland animals peered through the window, watching and waiting. As Red carried the tea tray to Gram, the animals crept inside.

Red and Gram each had their own special cup. So when Gram grabbed Red's cup, and then began to slurp and belch noisily, without uttering a word of Grace, Red jumped up.

"You are an interloper! Where's my Gram!" Her friends tumbled in the room.

Bunny Two Shoes yanked off the bonnet and gasped, "You're not even a wolf", he said , "You're just a smelly old fox!" Mouse lobbed a walnut at fox's head and he yelped. "Crikey, that hurt!"
Fox sprang up and bounded past them and out the front door. While they gaped at his exit, Gram entered throught the back with an apronful of mushrooms. "Oh, grandaughter, you've brought your lovely friends. Let's all have tea!"

Later, a fox could be seen, leering, as he sauntered through the glen with an ebony walking stick.

He cradled a bottle tenderly in his arm. A bottle of Elderberry Port!

The end of the first official Pinewood Tale
I hope you enjoyed the adventure!

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Greencoat Squirrel and Little Red, A Pinewood Tale

Squirrel's pecan cake trembled in his paws. "Please, Red, don't take the path through the Oaks. The Pine wood will be safer." he said. "I smell Him out there."

Red sniffed the crisp autumn air. "Oh, poot." she said, "All I smell is Watercress and fresh earth. Besides, my way's shorter." She adjusted the bottle in the crook of her arm. "This elderberry wine is like lugging a cannonball around, not to mention what else is in my basket."

"Devonshire cream?" asked Squirrel, "And ginger scones?"

Red nodded. "And hard boiled goose egg, too." She kissed his cheek. "I'll have tea ready when you get to Grams, and remember, no sampling the cake!" She tripped off to the oak glen, while Squirrel took the safer path.

Neither one of them saw the long snouted face that peered at them through the hedgerow. He drooled profusely, and there shone a strange, golden gleam in his eye.

As the glen turned into the Oak wood, Red walked more briskly. She stopped for a handfull of fresh rosemary, and felt sure someone was watching her. She turned back, but only saw a rabbit in a yellow vest, sipping tea from a red polka dotted cup. She waved a hello, and hurried on.

Soon she came to Gram's cottage. Smoke puffed from the chimney. How snug it would be!

She crunched over pine needles and turned the knob, thinking surley, no one had ever been as hungry as she!

Most certainly to be continued........

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com