Light the lights

Wishes for a cozy holiday from all your woodland friendsxxx

Polar Vortex

 

 

When I heard the polar vortex was moving south, I thought of the woods.

I knew the rabbits and all their friends would be readying for the storm. Then hunker in with supplies.

 

Badger , always the most prepared.

Here on the edge of the woods, I tried an ancient technique

Started with a simple pinched bowl, then scraped out a design with a pointed tool,

Painted on glaze color of choice and when set; rubbed off with sponge in one direction. Continually rinsing your sponge so the glaze doesn't drag. Somehow there is green glaze on here, oops.

Oh, the herons are back. Hunting for luncheon in the dry grasses of the neighborhood.

 

Off to list this morning, hope its a grand week for you~

xx

julie

All Donkeys go to Heaven

It was a long journey but they finally made it. They just followed the butterfly angel; and if they lost sight of her during the night she would blow her Triton's Trumpet.

Its kind of silly; I only have this one frame and it fits a nine by twelve, but you can see what this donkey portrail looks like with a frame. I see I've left my sunglasses on the mantle but I can see my lucky pony horseshoe at the base of the fish.

 

I'm pretty sure I bought that frame at Dick Blick. They have silver ones too and they are on sale now.

Silver would be dandy for nighttime scenes,

Like this one. This city is mostly empty now, but all the innocents are being led to a better place.

I would give them my lucky horseshoe if I could, but there luck is holding steady with their guide. 

I have added two new café bowls to a collection. The two green ones on your left. The French put his beautiful viridian green on them, and sometimes it has a slight olive tinge. These are older ones, like The Amitie next to them.  Lovely things en masse look so right together, yes? Flowers, herds of deer, groves of fruit trees and café au lait bowls.  

 

and donkeys........xxx

plate du jour

Faience plates are finicky. Its taken me years to figure out how to do it and even now this isn't perfect. But flaws are what make us human, so  a bump there and a errant brush stroke are only because I am so very flawed. Kinda like this plate. ))

I put a flower by this Sweet Pea plate to show the size which is just about 12 inches in diameter.

with a new cup. And the cup is pretty good sized too.

This one is different; rolled out without much trimming , a plate rustique.
(I'm using all these French terms because I've been watching a French Movie)
and its smaller, a plate for crème brulee or gauteu l'orange.

Have you seen the work of Danny Mansmith? He is a needle artist; and I think you should see what I received in the mail.....

a gorgeous bucket bag. He free stitiched over the black and white bird fabric, its like a heavy linen, added this tiny wreath medallion on the front , sturdy reliable and arty and expertly made.
It came wrapped like a gift from Pan too,

See? He has a shop; www.dannymansmith.etsy.com
and right now there are some very wonderful bags; one inparticular called Botanical
I wish someone would buy before I do. And you won't believe how reasonable his prices are.

My last news is that I have a new bedside lamp and I can read again before I sleep, and I started with
Borderland, by Robert Blythe. Little snippits of gold in the form of a Country Diary and the perfect thing to center oneself before sleep and so full of wisdom it fairly drips on the night table. Next I'm reading his "Wormingford" which is supposed to be his crowning achievement .
Hope you all are having a lovely summerxx
julie

open sesame

This is sort of what I saw when I opened the kiln this morning.

This too, an ode to flowering and blossoming~ I don't think I've painted so much on one piece ever!

I felt a little lost without my kiln.

I did a bit of decorating. Found a home for some enamelware.

ate a lot of vegetables

Took lots of beach walks and made a few decisions.

spent money that should have gone in the rolling table account
but phooey on that,
I couldn't resist such a proud cow and milkmaid.

But now the studio is humming along again and I feel better. Thanks for being so paitent!
xx
Julie

rosy

Well Garden Gals and Guys , I have added some trellises and done some garden reorganizing and have room for some new roses. This one, Climbing Eden, made the cut.

Looking for ideas I drove to this cottage a couple towns away. Her garden is so dreamy.

I've been thru that arbor and given a thorough tour of her garden but that was a few years ago, so I whisked around like a hummingbird and took a lot of pictures with the smell of roses so heavy it sort of  made me drowsy.

 I think that striped one might be rosa mundi.

I came home and started to paint  a lady with her prize hollyhock!

This one too. Belle of Portugal.

Here is a close up of Belle. Isn't she something? And grows well in California too.

Do you have a rose that is hardy and a favorite? Would be so interested to hear.

I'm waiting for my new kiln but will have a small listing tomorrow

I've got so many things to fire, I'm out of storage room!

I found this and decide to make another shadow box too. I'll find room........

xx julie

Donkey's Greenhouse Teapot

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Donkey is in the garden again.

 

What's he growing in there? Cucumbers definitely.

I think I got a bit carried away with the picture tools. Thusly is why there is writing on this picture. 

This donkey potter's garden is looking a little perkier after the rainstorms. I see its awfully herby. I need more color. I keep adding red geraniums........

I've been finding lots of heart rocks this month. I honestly don't even try , they find me. Amber, Susan, are you rolling your eyes??

I thought you might like to see my technique. I mooch lots of car time by insisting I need to sketch, so the Mister drives and I always have a little drawing pad in the car and lots of pens.

This jug was just now painted, about fifteen minutes ago. ITs what my things look like before I fire them. Its a very wonky jug, an experiment so I just added lots of color willy nilly.

Now I'm ready for lunch. Today its a fresh papaya and granola and tea with milk.

I'm kind of a dud in the exotic food dept. but I found something wonderful to make for an upcoming anniversary.

 

I know. Kind of classic huh? If you go to their  web site there ,

they provide the recipe

 

Before you go, I am listing this tomorrow too.

Goat has decided to move in

Now its time to get cracking. Thanks for stopping by..xxx

 

Update on updates

Here it is. Have you ever been more ready? 

 I've been gathering bouquets

And I think my latest animals look a little dreamy eyed

Uh oh, another orchard. Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in the middle of one?

 I'll be listing tomorrow morning and every Friday morning thereafter, things like this forget me not cup and saucer , and spoons to stir lots of honey in your tea

Until my spring fever abates!
xx
julie