Beaches and Mugs...

Last weekend was warm and beautiful but not crazy hot so we took the afternoon to head to Torrey Pines State Reserve, a cliff side network of trails that lead to a lovely little section of beach.  The water temperature was supposed to be over 70 degrees and I managed to go all summer without dipping my toes in the ocean so I took my opportunity while I had it (for the record, it didn't feel like it was over 70 degrees, I'm a cold water wimp)...

It meant a hike back up the hillside with sandy socks but it was worth it!  We learned that when the water recedes there are a gazillion little sand crab critters just under the surface of the sand.  13 years living in San Diego and our friend, a So Cal native, can still show us new things!  We have a long promised beach bonfire in the works, this year we're going to hold him to it!

I've been absolutely horrible about remembering to take photos of my ceramic class pieces...maybe it's sheer embarrassment over the quality of what I'm bringing home but I'm happy to say that at least my pieces are showing improvement (i.e. getting larger and less lopsided!).

Love the way this green glaze ran into the white base...

I can at least say that I've been overjoyed with all of my glaze results on my pieces...with the exception of the (not photographed) mug that was supposed to be blue and ended up a yicky brownish color...apparently one of the glaze batches was mixed up incorrectly and a rather critical component was omitted by the student responsible.  I now know to avoid that one until unwitting newbies use it all up!

Another great glaze interaction with a wonderful semi-matte (but smooth) bronze finish...

This is definitely a good representation of my progress so far...momma bear, papa bear and baby bear mugs! (note the ugly old tile bar that was the "before" of my kitchen!) The little guy only holds about 8oz but the largest one can hold over 16 oz and has actually made it into my regular coffee mug rotation.  There's still a lot to be desired as far as the trimming and thickness of these mugs but at least the big one is functional!

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of the mug I sent off to Dallas to live with K, but I will have another piece to show soon that has the same yummilicious purpley red glaze.  It's a finicky one but it seems to like me.

Sadly the studio will be closed until October for tree removal and cleaning so I'll have to be disciplined about using my wheel at home to keep practicing.  I'll miss having access to those lovely huge buckets of glaze though!

So, should I keep showing my little misfit wheel pieces or would you prefer I stick to beads and pendants?

15 years...

and still going!

Today is the hubster and my 15th anniversary so I figured that this pseudo-macro shot was most fitting.  We actually renew our vows each year (typically in a fairly low key manner, although there was a trip to the Little White Chapel Drive Through Tunnel of Love in Vegas one year), and have since our first anniversary.  Without going all mushcake, I'll just say that I am very very lucky!

I can't believe it's been weeks since my last post...or maybe I'm really not that surprised at all.  I took on what turned out to be a much more involved project than I anticipated...refinishing our kitchen cabinets.  It took 5 weeks of 6-10 hour weekend days but I'm finally done and my stress level has decreased exponentially!  I didn't realize how much it would bother me to have everything in the kitchen cabinets open and visible while I worked on the doors, but the clutter drove me crazy!

For the past 9 weeks I've also been taking a terrific ceramics class at a local university...it's my first time throwing on a wheel so I am definitely still very much in the beginner stages but at least things that I've made are worth hanging on to or gifting instead of smashing!

This gorgeous color came from a fortuitous mix of two red glazes (although the second red is actually more purple in my opinion) but unfortunately there's a little pinhole at the bottom of the bowl where the glaze didn't flow back in after it bubbled.

I seem to be most effective at making little jars/pots like these...

of course the only thing I really wanted to make is a giant coffee mug!  Maybe after the next round of 9 weeks I'll come away with one!

Now head on over to Studio Waterstone and check out all of the lovely close up shots from this week!