Day 27, Let there be Art.

Before landing in the Studio, I visited our local bookstore for sewing inspiration.  Sure enough, they have a couple of books with patterns that I'll be picking up on Wednesday. 

Arrived at the studio at 2:30 and left at 9:30. In the Clay Room. 

First, I cleared out my finished-still-drying projects, creating some much needed space on my shelves. 

Next I bagged my scraps, wet them down, wrapped 'em up & continue to pray for their resurrection. 

Then I sat myself down and painted, painted, painted.  

The next time you see something labeled "Hand Painted" pay the premium, for reals, SO MUCH WORK in hand painting my low fire creations. I'm a much more grateful shopper, too! I managed to finish Big Blue Meanie, Love Hand, Owl Tile and get a good beginning on a small Life is Good tile.  

Big Blue Meanid + Love Hand (Set II)

One HUGE advantage to daily studio time (aside from the meditative benefits I reap): the connection with the other artists. Friends. We inspire and share. 

I don't know how I've coped without Art. 

Oh wait, I didn't do a very good job. 

And that's a truth. 

26 Artfilled Days

At the studio today:
Finished the black & white skirt and whipped up an apron.
I used Trish's fabric so this first one is hers. She was as happy to receive as I was to create: win/win

Artful February XXV

Sat down with Faith-the-Singer and, per usual, got much completed.
Dissembled & resembled the newly designed Harry Potter wrap skirt. Very happy with my improvements.
2nd skirt, different pattern, more goodwill fabric, needs hem + attached waistband = ready to wear.
Another date tomorrow to finish skirt & possibly work on T-shirt scarves before returning to clay!

24 Days

I showed up. Can't play if you're not on the field. Couldn't paint, combination wouldn't open the locker.
So I slab rolled & set up for tomorrow.
Here's another completed tile from yesterday

A challenge + Art

Few words, much love.
Made some, collected some from kiln.

Twenty Two!

Behold my bounty of creation:
*Medallions made from the molds I created, either pressed or carved. I plan to paint them and leave them around town as random acts of art.
*Wrap vase "Doug" from porcelain pressed into Mike's Douglas Fir bark mold. The inside bottom is textured, too!
*Three little birds tile. Owls from ring I purchased at Venice Beach.
*TARDIS press mold from my carved luminary.
*Mixed mason stains into porcelain! Also have purple & pink.

21st Day Artcomplishments

Tiles bisqued & ready for paint! Big Blue Meanie & Love Hand (2nd set) started. Owl eagerly awaits his turn.
Picked up pieces trusted to highfire: the porcelain wrap cup (blue flow) turned out beautifully - perfect bottom waxing; the porcelain bowl is a "fail, fix, fail, fun" piece. First, the super duper thin slab caught on the roller exit & accordioned in entirety. I then smoothed the slab back to flat & slumped it over a mold, folded it & prayed. Surprised to see it survive bisque, I wanted all the battle scars to remain visible! I dunked it in clear & prayed s'more. (Porcelain has strong memory, I feared it would re-accordion in the kiln) Today it emerged from the kiln - *glaze* FAIL. I tapped the sides & was rewarded worth the MOST beautiful tone! Because the glaze failed, it also failed to dampen the acoustic potential. I had no idea! It's like the sound of crystal!
Cannot wait for tomorrow's adventure.

Art Challenge XX

Wedged, wedged, wedged & wetted.
Then rolled some porcelain & whipped up 2 bowls + 2 tiles.
And found a bored engineer willing to build me a treehouse!

Artspiration Found on Nineteenth Day

The mold, the method... complete. Almost.
I can't wait for the next one.

Artful Challenge day eighteen

Carved window & door details onto TARDIS tile. Will paint "Keep Calm & _________" (something incredibly clever & Doctor worthy) on tile base. Washed out a bit, to seem weathered. Drilled two holes for hanging. Plans for many more.
Decided to use face vase as installation tile, carved channels for future adhesive.
Porcelain scraps smooshed & moistened for future wedging & rolling into new amazing tiles.

17 Artful Days

Day of dreams.
Of the continuing projects with my friends.
Of inspiring new muse on the horizon.
And the multitude of TARDIS I'm about to make.

Art Challenge XVI

Today's Artcomplishment:
Butter dish w/faces
Sconce tile (add face, call spittoon)
TARDIS tile (functional, larger on inside)

15 Artful Days

Another day of painting, painting, and frustration. Lovely combination.
Painted Yellow Submarine tile & began painting Nowhere Man.
Building was a no go for me today. No go. Eh. I came home & napped. Now I'm  feeding myself curry chicken & naan.
A very good day indeed.

Artspired on the 14th Day

Pulled up, plugged in & painted for 4.5 hours!
Painted Big Blue Meanie & Labyrinth; glazed the rest of my painted pieces. Building a Lowfire kiln load for next Monday. The firing I requested, that easy!
Tomorrow's plan: begin coil building owl totems. Then porcelain class in afternoon. Possible chicken tile painting.

Art Challenge, 13 days on...

There's a part of my mind that wants every year to become a retelling of another, long ago year. I'd personally prefer to live each year as it's own shiny moment. Not an easy balance to find. And I'll not ever find it if I give up seeking it in new, active ways. Seeker I am. So today I kept my art in motion with the Sketchbook & a quick visit to the studio. Wedged my ½&½ clay - all 20 lbs, ready to sculpt! Two Yellow Submarine tiles are bisqued & ready for paint. Tonight's class needed the entire space & I am a bit of a spreader-outer. I came home to be kind to diana. And plan tomorrow's Art.

Twelve Days of Art

I did it! I put on my big girl skirt (one I made, of course) and hit the studio.
Sculpture clay was a 20lb cadbury egg: tough shell + goopy insides.  I set it out to dry up, then rolled out a slab.
Began an owl totem prototype, while everything set up.
Carved three circle tiles: carved an owl into one & traced Big Blue Meanie & Love Hand into the other two, respectively.
Blue shoes today, to bust my blues.

11th Challenging Day of Art

Today was tough, I wanted to sleep all day & could have, if not for my single minded determination to Do Something. Even in the midst of my own misery.
So I sat with Miss Faith today & we accomplished two completed projects: Harry Potter skirt & T-shirt scarf from unschooling conference shirts :)

10th Artful Challenge Day

Our last official meeting as a sewing class. Sad. I really like Sally & I'm glad I'll get to see her often in the studio. I want to continue my sewing endeavours & expand my wardrobe.
Tonight though, I used the rotary cutter & dissembled a few dozen conference tee shirts, to become patchwork scarves.
Talked lots & lots about a huge variety of artistic expressions just awaiting my attention.
Second mention of the Rodin in the Gorge. I must go!

9 Days of Artcomplishment

I turned on a James Patterson audiobook & painted for hours today. Hours! As in, I began & finished one book today.
We had tile class (Thursday Night Therapy), so I visited while painting s'more.
Then I turned my scraps into paper-thin wrapped vessels. Oh my.
Me & Faith-the-Singer have a date with Harry Potter tomorrow!

8 Days of Art

Today's porcelain class awakened my need for clay time!
I've two darted bowls & another Life is Good tile.
In serious need of a full day of underglaze painting.
Today someone said, "How nice, if you have the time." I realized I don't have the time to indulge my depression on the goddamned sofa & yet there I've been for too many Februaries past. This year, I'm making time to bring myself to a place where depression is less likely to sneak in & set up. A place of life and possibilities ...

Seventh Day of Art Challenge

An entire day at the Studio.
When not at the sewing machine, I was thinking about Being at the sewing machine!
First item on agenda: complete Polkadot Cherry Dress. Zipper installed sans zipper foot *proud mo*
Leave studio for dinner (art class in m'space!) only to find myself at Goodwill (in less expensive neighboring town) scouring fabrics & patterns. Scored Harry Potter fabric & cute sporty bottoms pattern for me <5$ :)
While considering design changes to skirt (non stretchy material = add zipper), I deconstructed Daisy Dress. Then reconstructed Daisy Dress. Few more fixes + zipper = wearable.
Harry Potter skirt is cut out & ready for assembly at 1pm Wednesday :)

Art Challenge, Day Six

Day off! Strange not to use the studio for an entire day.
I have one chicken tile sketch to show for myself. For future installation on the chicken coop

5th Day of Art Challenge

Polka-dot Cherry Dress Day!
I'm much more precise this time, knowing do-over time is long. The wonky strap spot can have a red band added easily ;)
There is inch-wide red trim, zig-zag topstitched, between cherry & dot panels on the skirt.
When I assemble the dress, there'll be a red band between skirt & bodice. Tomorrow. *squee*
Do I dare say it? Proud. So proud.

Art Challenge, day four

Studio has wonky weekend hours & I arrived too late for two disciplines. Tiles cried to me!
I've now finished the 4th tile in my Yellow Submarine series:

And my very first labyrinth

Good day!

Art Challenge, day III

Sewing class at the studio tonight.
Sally brought in her new patternbook: Shape Shape. How to sew to cutest layerable clothes.  Looked it up online, I found 8 Simple Projects (wrap shirt, dress, skirt). Basic skills ---> awesome clothes!
Now armed with the Joanne's coupon.... linen tablecloth into dress dreams for me tonight!

Edit: Cut all pieces for cherry dot Dress!

Art Challenge, day two

Another amazing day in the studio.  I was able to finish three of my Yellow Submarine tiles :) They'll be bisqued as soon as they're dry & I'm still planning a giant LOVE hand.

I had much slab awaiting me, perfectly cured for some carving...
Amy Steinberg's design for this years LiG tee shirts.

And lookee this guy!

Happy Mama Today!

February Art Challenge, day i

February is the perfect month to challenge myself with Art <3
I already feel the soulful benefits of regular creation experience, I'm now courageous enough to document my labors of love, loss, healing & learning for posterity.
Today I arrived at the studio and set up camp with Faith, my favorite Singer machine. I pinned my first dress pieces. While listening to The Help.
I broke from manic sewing to attend my Celebrating Surfaces class. Aunt Flo thwarted full creative flow, so I gathered ideas & let them swirl their way to a future fruition.
I promptly returned to Faith & my Daisy Dress, truly returning to the amazingness of my audiobook, to assemble much of the dress. 
As soon as I recognized I'd been pushing it, both listening & creating, I stopped. 7 hours was a great day of creativity!