pottering along

I am into month 2 with my pottery class and boy is it tricky. Throwing the pot is difficult ( mine are heavy has lead on the bottom as I am not pulling up well), making the handles is a whole different story and then glazing is an art of its own. So most of these
little guys are marching right to Goodwill and I hope to update you with some progress in the months to come.
The best part about this is to learn something new, to be challenged ( although my studio is almost always also a challenge, but a familiar one), to be inspired and I love the community of my class mates. It offers a nice break from my hours of solo time in the studio.
Make time to learn a new skill.

Spring bulbs in the studio. Had fun with painting dew drops.

Birthday

For my Birthday I did what I love best -heading out to the country with the dogs and girlfriends who are just as nuts about photographing and enjoying mushrooms, trees, beach rocks, drift wood, miraculous mold patterns, moss and finding animal middens. Smell the earth.
 I turned 50.

spring in the studio

 

Spring has sprung in the Pacific Northwest and with it all the lovely bulbs are popping up everywhere. Just a peak at new work in progress. I hope to steal away for 30 minutes to do some yard clean up and smell the dirt.

Little Dogs

 

I have loved dogs since I was little. When I was in 5th grade I started walking my art teacher's Basset Hound 'Bingo".In my twenties I walked another neighbor's dog for several years and then 'adopted' my new neighbor's Cocker for daily outings and even road trips. Seven years ago we finally adopted a 7 -year-old Chihuahua whom we named Peapa who you see in the top photo. Last year we added Lucy, the Terrier/Chihuahua.

 I love little dogs. They are so easy. And they are BIG fun !

The Cedar

We have a beautiful, wild park near my neighborhood. In this park stands a gorgeous cedar. Her bows go all the way to the ground and when you step inside of her mantel of deep branches and look up  it is not unlike standing in a small cathedral. The first time I became aware of her I was a little nervous to go in, wondering if someone is inside. But the pull was strong and so I went inside and found the gift of a beautiful grass nest lying empty on the ground. So on my walks through the park I sometimes go inside and say hello by stroking her branches and to pick up trash or to remove invasive seedlings ( like Holly or Ivy). Often I just wave my hand at her in passing. Yesterday I had the strong pull to go in. I found a lot of human waste and tissue which with my doggy poop bags I removed. Now this sacred tree is clean again. I am glad I heard her calling.
These teachings and others I have learned from my good friend and teacher Barbara Ocskai you can find here: http://www.soulproprietor.org/ .
More on Barbara soon -esp. when I can make those links 'live' :) !