Making time

I made time today to connect and converse with friends.  A bit of making fit in the in-between spaces in my day - a frame for my latest collage...

...and glazes for these small pots - they will be cream and lavender colored when they are fired.

Glazing and Firing

Today I fired the kiln for a first time in a while.  I glazed 3 labyrinth balls and finished 3 more that will bisque fire today.
The thing about firing the kiln is that I usually forget to take pictures - I am eager to see what things will look like after firing so there are no photos of today's making.
They are contained inside the kiln which is clicking away as it slowly heats up on the back patio.

Small vessels

Clay and collage

I spent an hour on the porch this morning working with clay - it was just warm enough with a jacket to enjoy the fall light this morning.

This evening I began my first collage in a long time...

...inspired by this photo of Huntley Meadows this week.

Clay...

Today was a good day for work with clay.  I enjoyed the beautiful light on the leaves behind our house as I created these labyrinth balls.  One is complete and two more are wrapped in plastic to keep them soft enough to add the coils to create the path on the ball.

Repetition

I completed a third labyrinth ball today.  There is something comforting and meditative in the repetitive act of crafting this form.

Today...Making and Makers

I began the day with very young makers - exploring construction with loose parts.  

My own making centered around clay and returning to a practice of creating clay labyrinth balls.  

And this evening I was inspired by getting to meet and hear a talk by Callie Curry, the artist best known as Swoon.  

Also discovered the inspiring work of Liz Ogbu and delighted in their discussion and sharing of ideas about building and connecting with people who will inhabit built environments. 

Clay day

Spent the afternoon working with clay today.  Here is one completed labyrinth ball...

...and a couple more that will be completed another day - they are in a plastic bag to keep the clay soft until I get back to add the coils to make the path.

I also revisited this sculpture along the Potomac river.

And I'm thankful for my morning with young makers learning to bend and attach objects with wire.

Catching up and new space to work...

We had planned to be away this weekend and plans changed so we find ourselves at home.  It's good time for catching up on projects and process toward creating better spaces for working.

Here are a new batch of labyrinth touchstones for Art-o-mat...

Some new frames - the large one was completed today and the smaller ones were cut a while ago and assembled today.

Here is my new workbench space in the carport, complete with a new miter saw for frames.

And the latest layer of photo transfer on this collage - trying to be patient and wait til morning to peel it back so that the glue fully dries and I get the best transfer.

Glazing and Portraits...

Newly glazed batch of labyrinth touchstones - glazing small things works well while watching the Nats game with my family...

And portraits of my sons on our apple picking outing this afternoon.

Clay and quiet on the porch

I spent the afternoon creating this batch of touchstones for Art-o-mat.  Lovely to enjoy the cool fall afternoon on the back porch with clay in my hands.

Housekeeping...

We continue to be in the midst of chores and house projects and just added to that with getting kids ready for camp.

My chores as a maker include firing the kiln...here are the latest labyrinths...touchstones are mine and the larger ones belong to participants in my workshop. 

And a fun moment photographing the dog as The kids try to disguise him to sneak him in to camp...

Cleaning day...

Today was a cleaning day.  Chad and the boys washed windows and I worked on cleaning the porch.  It felt good to sort through things, scrub away dirt and cobwebs and generally make for more livable spaces.

Part of my task was to work toward finishing unfinished projects I came across.  I made a new cover for the dog bed from a big canvas drop cloth.  

This evening I boxed and labeled 50 collages and 50 labyrinths for art-o-mat.

It's a tedious task and I've been putting it off for days so it feels good to have it almost done...need to add the cellophane wrap tomorrow.

They will eventually be sold in machines like this around the country.

Writing and clay

I spent time today writing.  It's a different sort of making and doesn't give the same sense of completion as work with my hands with materials.

At the same time it's a great way to practice reflection, honoring and sharing, particularly after a group gathering.  

For me to take the time to write and reflect on making in community offers an opportunity to share the experiences, connections and discoveries.  In the moment there is a sense of the privilege of getting to participate and witness as people create and share.  Telling a bit of the stories of the makers through writing afterward allows me to reflect and look for deeper themes and connections.  

Here's my reflection on Wednesday night's Sanctuary Studio gathering at St Aidan's.

http://sanctuarystudioreflections.blogspot.com/2016/07/sanctuary-studio-with-inspiration-from.html?m=1

I made a few more red clay touchstones and loaded the kiln with the finger labyrinths from last week's workshop.  They will fire Sunday but can complete their drying time in the kiln.  

I'm thankful to Anna Waters for these beautiful photos of the touchstone she left in the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral after walking the labyrinth there today.

Art adventures and making space...

Today the kids and I visited the National Portrait Gallery.  We found their Art-o-Mat machine.  My collages sold there in the past but there weren't any there currently.

We also went to see a new installation at the Hirshhorn by Linn Meyers.  It is marker drawings on the walls all the way around the second level...

Pretty amazing the way the lines create flow and a sense of movement...

This evening I led the Sanctuary Studio at St Aidan's.  We listened to a story from this conversation with Rachel Naomi Remen and responded to the imagery in the story with collage.

Finally at home I tried making a few touchstones with red clay.  I look forward to experimenting with glazes on these...

 

Making, community and knowing when to stop...

Today was a full day.  We celebrated our son's 13th birthday (more than 2 months late) with a great group of boys.

In the afternoon I led a labyrinth making workshop.  

Part of our discussion focused on knowing when to stop working.  I thought if that this evening as I continue to work in these recent collages....

I'm hoping with a good nights rest to feel more decisive in the morning and get these completed and framed.

Cooking and clay...

As I waited for the kiln to cool, Chad and Kevin fired up the other heated apparatus on the back patio, the smoker.

Our July 4th centered around new recipes for smoking pork loin and corn on the cob. 

I made a fruit salad and an once cream cake, family favorites with red and blue berries.

Here's my collection of leaf print necklaces after their final glaze firing...

Into the Kiln...

Today I worked on collecting various small clay projects and getting them completed to load the kiln. The kiln is now firing with touchstones, objects from a small group I led, a sculpture from my son and several leaf print necklace charms that need glazing.
I forgot to take a picture of these....with glazing the "after" is much more exciting than the "before."
More to come tomorrow...

Touchstones...

This batch of touchstones is fired - today I made stickers to put on boxed to send some to Art-o-mat and to have some available locally at Huntley Meadows.

Expectation ... And waiting

Today I loaded 4 layers of ceramics in the kiln, hoping to complete a final firing to prepar for my show at Huntley Meadows.  I was most excited to see all the different colors in my new color wheel of mini pots.  I loaded them on the top shelf and took this picture...

...and then I turned on the kiln and got a message that the thermocouple had failed.  A new part is ordered and will ship tomorrow...firing will have to wait til next week.

I made a frame with larger molding and seeing it completed decided I want it even bigger.  That will mean a trip into DC tomorrow to the art store for bigger matt board and then another try making molding and a larger frame.  More to come soon...