Wadda ya think?

It has be a long time since I've blogged. But here's the deal....I make these Yunomi's and I like them both but......which one is has the colors that most people like....love??? The earthtone colors are calm and so .... so.... you know....earthy! But the blue one with speck's of dark blue and green glaze combination is fab.

Just in case you don't know what a Yunomi is, here's the scoop...more or less.

A yunomi is a small cup, usually used for tea in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The walls are generally thick enough so that the cup can be held while full of the tea. (Or, some say, the tea should never be so hot that you cannot hold the cup in your hand.) There is a more detailed description of what a Yunomi is but I won't bore you with the details. Mind you, you can use these for any drink you prefer and you don't really have to have a ceremony before you use them.

What I DO want to know is....which glaze is most appealing to you? Go to my etsy shop...(you can click on my shop link on the right side of this blog or go to www.artsielady.etsy.com to see additional views (you get a better feel for what they look like). Extra chance in the drawing if you make a Yunomi a favorite ( give it a heart).

Post a comment on this blog and at the end of August I will draw a name for that lucky person to receive a Yunomi. You know me.....I'll do it!

It's A Boy

It's a boy and his name is Coco. Well, I've changed the spelling to Koko but he won't be confused because it sounds the same.

I couldn't stand the wait so David and I took our long drive to Baker City to meet with Koko and bring him home. It was a great drive home as he is very comfortable riding in the car. I do know that he was just a touch stressed because he didn't....ahem....poop the day we got him or the next day.

Once we got back to Bend he was curious about his new home and checked every room and every corner! He settled in and I think a little overwhelmed with all his new toys, doggy bed and everything in general. We were able to meet some neighbors and he played well with the chocolate lab next door. They had a good time and he finally relaxed a little. How do I know that???? Well.....he finally pooped! I know TMI too much information.

Koko will get to meet another neighbor chocolate lab today..3 in a row, go figure! And, he will get to meet his new vet on Friday for chipping and a well visit. We all went to bed last night and had a good nights rest. Koko had no reservation jumping into our bed and getting comfortable. Good thing we have a king size bed. It was good though because he is not a mover. Get's into bed and stays put. Kalani and Kahuna would move all over the place and take up most of the space forcing us to tell them to moose over!

O.K. so here was the plan...notice I said "was". Our intention was to get Koko to get use to our routine. Uh, yeah right. He let it be known that HE was ready to go for a walk. Hey! but didn't I just take you outside to do your business? You didn't do anything but....maybe you didn't want to.

First cup of coffee and read the paper? Check...NOT! As you can see with this picture Koko was ready to play or something. Good dog. He kept going to the front door and looking at me. "What" I would say knowing full well what he wanted. Oh for the love of......Ok. fine. David and I are now on schedule. Koko's schedule. It's called Koko time. LOL

Our first walk of the day was 2.5 miles and it took forever. Koko wanted to smell every tree, every rock and every bush...and mind you that's a lot of sniffing. He'll be good for us. We haven't in too long of a time taken our walks or hikes. Today, I even ran just a little with him to get both of us mentally and physically ready to run. I haven't ran in over a year and I've put on weight. Ugh. Koko to the rescue. So I think we are rescuing each other.

Tomorrow....we will have our morning paper and coffee first. Well, we're gonna try to anyway.

Kalani

My sweet goofy Kalani.....16 1/2 year old!!! That's a long life she spent with us. Kalani has been slowing down for some time now. This past week she had front leg problems and with her arthritis of her hind legs, well she was no longer able to walk. We knew that the time was here that she would leave us.

I first laid my eyes on her as she was being born on December 30 1992 and took her first breath. Her pink nose and paws in a squirmy little body. I took her home 6 weeks later and that was the beginning of our forever love.

If you read the book or saw the movie of Marley and Me that was Kalani!!! Yes, she did chew a hole in the wall the size of a cantaloupe. And yes, she chewed up a brand new sofa. Oy! She loved to dig up my plants and it drove me crazy. She did all of this as a young pup. Eventually, she grew out of puppy hood and into a very spunky adult. She loved the water and she even jumped off the diving board into the pool. Most of all she loved it when we moved to the coast of Oregon and she could run on the beach and chase the birds. She'd find a tide pool and flop down into it as if it was the best thing on earth.

I remember when Kahuna ran through a screen door and treed a bear, Kalani was ran right behind her. All of a sudden she put the brakes on as if she were saying "whoa there, what am I doing chasing a bear??" and ran back in the house. Kalani loved her toys. Most of her life she carried one around. When you came home she would bop you in the butt or legs with it until you would play with her or take the dang toy away.

We sent her on her way today. I'm sure Kahuna was waiting for her and now they're running around on strong healthy legs and smelling the flowers and chasing squirrels.

I was there when she took her first breath.....and I owed it to her to be there for her last. I laid there on the floor of the vet clinic with her as she peacefully went on her way.

Raku Raku and More Raku!!!

It's been a while since I've updated my blog. Been super busy working in the studio. I have a raku show/sale coming up on May 9th here in Bend and I've had to really try to crank out more work. I recently got a new raku glaze recipe to try out. Boy do I love it!! The result is a stunning multi-colored piece.

While I have the whole set up for rakuing at my own studio, I have done the last two firings with RACO. That's the Raku Artists of Central Oregon. Pottery is a lonely art. Usually potters are working away...a one man operation shall we say. So it's nice to spend time with like minded artist. We ooooo and ahhhh over each others work. Oh, we're a motley crew to say the least. But it is a very laid back group and we share information and have a good time. What a wonderful way to spend a day!

It's Raining Chicklets!!!!

It's been some time since I tried my hand at making a teapot. I made four of them and you can really see the difference from the 1st teapot to this 4th teapot. I thought the fourth one really nailed it on the head. I had it bisqued for a long time but I just couldn't choose a glaze for this one. It had to be just right and the glaze really had to "speak" to me. Well, as you can see...it spoke to me alright!

As a kid I use to love getting the little packets of chicklet bubble gum. Yeah, I swallowed my gum. I couldn't help it...it was oh so sweet and yummy. When I saw this glaze I thought of the colors of that gum. I was nervous. I was hoping that the kiln goddess was going to be kind to me and fire this piece exactly as it needed to be. I peeked into the kiln last night at 900 degrees through the peep hole with flashlight in hand. Oh....is it???? Can it be??? I had a restless sleep last night knowing that I would be able to open the kiln as the peep see was hopeful.

With camera in hand in my silk not so warm robe... I skurried down the back deck stairs at dark thirty to the studio and BAM!!!! Slipped on the cold wet stairs and fell on my butt. Not to worry though, I held my camera up by it's straps and it was safe. Maybe my knee hurt a little but what the heck, my camera was safe and that was the most important thing. How else was I going to be able to share pictures of this fine explosion of color with the world???

Blogged by a blogger

Our Etsy Mud team has a loyal follower. One who loves pottery. Pixie of Pixiesoap decided she would interview members of the mud team and post each interview on her blog every Monday at http://handmadesoap.typepad.com/. This Monday she posted the interview she did on me and my shop. I am honored to have been interviewed by Pixie. I encourage you to read her blog weekly to learn more about us potters. Check out Pixie's soap shop....http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=102703 and make a purchase if you are so inclined. In these days of economic and financial hardship I encourage you all to support the handmade movement. By shopping handmade you are supporting your friends and neighbors.


Here are a couple of Pixies soaps.

Kahuna......my best friend

Kahuna.......I lost her. I called her Huna, babygirl, princess. She was 16 years old and she was my best friend. She was funny, sweet and lovable. She first came into my life when I found a note on the kitchen counter...MOM, DO NOT LOOK IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM. Love Brad. Uh, yeah right! There she was this pitiful sad eyed little puppy. What was my 12 year old thinking?? We can't have another dog. What kind of fool has 3 dogs?? Uh, that would be me. Three months later I gave her to my friend Traci who would take good care of her. Two days later she called and said "Ceci, you have to take Kahuna back. Kahuna was miserable. O.K. I said bring her back. Traci drove her back and as soon as Kahuna saw she was on our little street....she pooped in excitement! Lordy! I guess Kahuna knew where she needed to be.

One of Kahuna's little habits was to drag toilet paper from the bathroom through the house when we were gone doing errands. We'd come home and "Kaaaahuuuunnnaaa" I would drawl out in a low tone. Her floppy ears would pull back and just the tips of the bottom of her ears would curl under. At the same time she had this funky drawn back grin and she would squeal because she got caught....again. We don't have to close the doors anymore.........I wish we did.

She was always watching out for me..her mama dog. When we lived on the Oregon coast. I used to sleep with only the screen door closed so we would have fresh coastal air circulating. One very early morning she saw a bear on my back deck and she went flying through the screen door and treed the bear barking like a mad dog. Ah yes, thanks Kahuna for protecting me. In these last years she loved to sit outside smell the fresh cool air and watch the neighbors walk by with their dogs. She would bark in protest to let them know they were in her space and she was watching over her family. That's all she could do was bark. Only her barks would not be strong but would fade out due to her age. But still, she was doing her "job" of protecting her family.


As she got older she really stuck close to me. Wherever I was she wanted to be there also. Even with her aching hind legs she would force herself to get up and follow me. As she aged she had physical problems. When she was not feeling well and scared...yes she would get scared. I would lay with her on the floor sometimes for a couple of hours. I would stay with her there until she was calm and comfortable petting her rubbing her ears and talking to her in soft tones all the while. She had been there for me during the best and yes some very awful times in my life. She knew when I was hurting or sad and she would lay at my feet or put her head on my lap and one little lick on my hand to let me know that she loved me and would always be there for me.

Those of you who share the love of family pets know this same loss. There is an emptiness. So I grieve the lost of my best friend. I love you my Huna girl......kisses.... Aloha

And The Results Are......

Wow, so this is the result of my testing new glazes and using what was great, on my hand-built pitcher. Love love love it! I can see more of these in my future in the studio. I'm prepped and ready to go!


This baking dish is also something else that is new in my studio. Again testing of glazes have resulted in this yummy combination of glazes on this baking dish. If you want to see more



views of these items click on my shop link in the right hand column and check it out!

Art Appreciation

Check out these yunomi mugs!!! These mugs were made by another potter named Matt Brown in Moss Beach California (www.MossBeachCeramics.etsy.com).

The sculpture behind the mugs is titled "Deep Peace" by artist Sally Kimp an Arizona artist purchased at the Mockingbird Gallery in Bend Oregon (www.mockingbird-gallery.com)

I was lucky enough to have this potters help in fine tuning my blog site. Hey! I'm a potter not a technoid. Anywho I purchased from him these 3 yunomi mugs. There are no handles and they have the most beautiful earthy texture and I love the colors. Since I've received these in the mail I make every excuse to have a nice hot drink so I can use these mugs. Yeah yeah I can make my own mugs since I'm a potter also. Sure but every individual is different and every potter has their own take on their art. Not to mention that the art of clay is so diverse from low fire to high fire. Salt firing to Raku, High fire, electric, gas, Anagama and the list goes on and on. As an artist, I can appreciate the art that others create. And now....these belong to me, go get your own!

Different strokes!

I think I mentioned on a previous post that I was going to create work that I normally hadn't done before. So far so good. As you can see in these pictures they are not complete since they have not been glazed. I wanted to bring you along on my journey as I delve into areas I have not been before. One of the pitchers was completely hand-built and textured. The smaller ones were wheel thrown with hand-built spouts and handles added. Hey, I even threw some glasses on the wheel to go with the pitchers. Now let's see how they turn out once they've been glazed!!


I've also been making baking dishes. Part of the dishes have been wheel thrown and the bottoms were slab built. Handles were extruded and added to finish the piece. These also are in the bisqued stage and will have to be glazed and fired to complete. Of course I will post pictures once they are done. At the moment I'm waiting for some commercial glazes to be delivered so I can test them on some tiles first. Don't want to apply a glaze to a piece that I don't know how the heck it'll turn out. Ugh, that would be such a waste!! Check back later to see the finished work.

A Momentous Day!

We are here, finally a place where we should have been decades ago. Today we inaugurate a new President of the United States of America.
President Barack Obama. A new morning has dawned


Peace. Shalom. Salaam. Paz


I know some Americans do not share my view and that's o.k. Thank goodness WE in America have that right to disagree. But there is an energy among many of us as we see a new future for every American and certainly a dream that conversations between countries and religions will result in respect and understanding of our differences. Our differences makes us all unique and we should rejoice in that. I have chosen to post the lyrics of a song that moves me and reflects what today means to me. I would ask that if you are reading this....please read the lyrics and think about what it says and what it can mean for all of us.

The Peace image above is a peace tile from a fellow potter in Santa Fe New Mexico Todd of tmusichans studio. You can visit his Etsy shop at http://tmusichans.etsy.com.


PEACE TRAIN-by Cat Stevens

Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on now peace train

Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too
Cause it's getting nearer, it soon will be with you

Now come and join the living, it's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer, soon it will all be true

Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train

Now I've been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating, why can't we live in bliss

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on peace train
Yes, it's the peace train

My Plan for 2009

Well, here I am squeezing in a picture of my new wares. This is so out of the ordinary for me to make items for the holidays. Not my norm for sure. Anyway, I will be stepping "outside of the box" so to speak as far as my pottery creation is concerned. First was making things to sell for the holidays. Another thing is creating other items I normally don't make. Until the Etsy Mud Team challange for a mug swap I really didn't make mugs. So...yup, I started making mugs. Another thing I've been making are pitcher sets for summers sitting on the deck drinking Ice Tea or Mint Juleps. I've gotta say that so far I have impressed myself. Ha!! They are still not glazed but are waiting to be bisqued fired. I will be blogging more about my process including photos so there will be more to come. Leave me comments or suggestions or even something just for moral support. Hey, it wouldn't hurt.

New Years 2009

We have now said goodbye to 2008 and Hello 2009!!!! For us, we had a very quiet ring in of the new year. Had some neighbors over for prime rib dinner watched a little of the Twilight Zone Marathon...that was good by the way and worked in the studio for a short while. Pretty dull stuff on the scale of things. However, one thing that I've missed and reflect on EVERY year is the New Years celebration that is shared in Hawaii.





You see, I was born and raised there and most of my family is still there. Hawaii is ....for lack of my own term "a melting pot" of ethnicity's. This tradition of fireworks is one of the Asian influence that continues on despite the fact that fireworks are illegal in the state of Hawaii. When my mom was still alive I would call her a few minutes before the clock struck midnight in Hawaii. I would then have her bring the phone outside and I would just listen. It was marvelous!!! The sound of the waves and waves of fireworks going off is just amazing. Imagine this......people stringing up the hundreds if not thousands of firework on these makeshift self-supporting rails and lighting them all at once. Maybe you can't imagine this not really have experianced this first hand but I assure you it is a sight to see and hear. The video I have here is just a small slice of what it is like to be there. Usually visibility is 50 feet once everyone starts to light the fireworks. And the island is just one huge plume of smoke from one end to the other. I know, it's not so eco-friendly especially in these times of global warming. And people with respiratory problems have a hard time with all the smoke but but but..........This is just, you know something of my childhood and young adult life growing up in the islands. I love this and I will always miss this.

So, I wish for all a good 2009 filled with the much needed PEACE......a renewed and responsible PROSPERITY ...... and last but not least....PATIENCE for one another.