tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314949442012-01-27T23:42:20.809-08:00claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.comBlogger2071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-8374888193201583262012-01-27T23:42:00.000-08:002012-01-27T23:42:20.847-08:00

Wednesday was such a great day that the fun was bound to end somehow and how did it.  By evening there was emotional wreckage.  No one was upset at me personally but it is still hard not to react emotionally when someone else is very upset.  So that kind of threw me in a bad mood even though I tried my darnest  to go through my affirmations, positive self talk and deep breathing.  I thought I

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-59986698884871125572012-01-25T17:10:00.000-08:002012-01-25T17:15:57.761-08:00

I will preface this post by saying that I am a real person and I have lots of challenges.  Next Monday I need to go to Sacramento for a mediation conference with lawyers and claims adjusters and I am not looking forward to it.  It has the makings for an extremely stressful time.  That being said, I really do choose to try to focus on the positives. It is what keeps me going when the going gets

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-24833357361449423882012-01-24T23:24:00.000-08:002012-01-24T23:30:35.706-08:00

The good news.  This mug!  I have been working hard to get this last kiln load out so I can finalize the images for my last two grad portfolios. When I saw this in the kiln I said "What the heck is that?"  Until I pulled it out and took a good look at it.  It is a complete accident.  I tried a different underglaze and the shino wasn't quite compatible.  Thankfully, I put the glaze on thin or I

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-21820966717896851502012-01-20T19:18:00.000-08:002012-01-21T00:32:14.370-08:00

Some of you already know that I will be going to Penland School of Crafts in March for eight weeks to work and study with ceramic artist, Kathy King. The class is titled "Looking Over Your Shoulder" and will include lessons in ceramic history, various surface decoration techniques and firing at cone 6 in oxidation and soda firings.  I can't wait for the soda firings!  I feel very blessed to be

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-29517457307223658912012-01-17T16:04:00.000-08:002012-01-17T16:09:46.297-08:00

We haven't had rain since the early rain of October.  Let me tell you it is dry, dry, dry!  Now storms are on the horizon again and we are supposed to get a good amount of rain with a number of systems backed up to come in the next few days.  So today was run around and do stuff outside day.  The rabbit got her cage cleaned out and the last of the fall leaves got racked out of the yard.  Even

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-37242367370126078442012-01-09T22:03:00.000-08:002012-01-09T22:03:50.715-08:00

Took my mom to UCSF Medical for an appointment today and tomorrow. After the appointment today I needed to find the closest post office so I could overnight a grad application.  While I was walking back to the car I discovered Peasant Pies.  So Yum!  I got the garbanzo with curry and it was spicy and delicious. After a rest we got picked up by a friend and headed out to get an ice cream at

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-17630906967424018932012-01-04T12:39:00.000-08:002012-01-04T12:41:46.693-08:00

Recently another blogger (you know who you are) encouraged me to post more often.  So the past few days I have been thinking about what prevents me from posting on a more regular basis. What I notice is that I have a tendency to only post about positive things and I usually want to have a nice picture or two or three to go with my post.  Then the question becomes why do I only want to post about

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-26551548700138138372011-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:002012-01-01T00:09:28.510-08:00

We've been quite spoiled here in Northern California lately.  I'm not complaining!  I went up to the park today in capris and a short sleeve t-shirt to soak up some rays.  I can feel the days starting to get a teensy, weeny bit longer already and every little bit of light helps.  I do fear with all this gorgeous weather that if I doesn't rain sometime soon we may be in for a bit of a draught.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-50544289316524335812011-12-26T01:30:00.000-08:002011-12-26T10:48:44.405-08:00

I surprised my mom today with this fun hand built, textured, oval vase.  Surprising her with potter is pretty hard, she can sniff it out like a bloodhound.  Luckily, this was cooling in a kiln and just came out Friday morning and got wrapped up in box before none were the wiser.  Phew.  She was delighted as she hardly ever sees anything from me not built on the wheel.  I really had fun with this

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-47890820798787535892011-12-09T18:48:00.000-08:002011-12-09T18:48:28.010-08:00

If you happen to be in Chico, CA tomorrow come on by and say hello.  Our host, the illustrious, Pat Koszis, went to Penland School of Crafts last summer and had such a great time that we all decided we wanted to go.  In order to raise some funds to attend a workshop we decided to have this holiday sale.  So if you want to help us get to Penland next summer come on down! Since I promised, oh

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-38192670260679891232011-11-30T11:42:00.000-08:002011-12-09T21:35:58.546-08:00

My Little Leopard Dipping bowl up there to the left made it into this super fun treasury this morning on Etsy so I'm happy about that.  It is a gorgeous sunny day here in Northern California.  No fog which is awsome.  The wind is blowing and all of the fall leaves are racing through the air and getting kicked up by the car tires.  It is really beautiful.  However, I did have to chuckle a bit as

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-76711110433014783932011-11-25T19:03:00.000-08:002011-11-25T19:04:12.049-08:00

Yesterday we cooked the traditional turkey and all the trimmings for the meat eaters.  However, I have recently decided to go vegetarian so I had to come up with something else for myself.  Who knew that tofu and brussel sprouts could be so delicious?  I got the inspiration for this dish from the blog 101 Cookbooks.  The recipe is called Carmelized Tofu.  I adjusted it to use sliced, roatsed

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-26378009965928209142011-11-24T23:19:00.000-08:002011-11-24T23:19:30.318-08:00

Shop homemade for the holidays on my fabulous handmade pottery Etsy store!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-51248188485802138322011-11-19T13:08:00.000-08:002011-11-19T13:18:59.424-08:00

My reindeer tea bowl made it into this lovely Etsy Treasury today! This treasury was curated by Kristin Gabriel of Trunk Couture.  Have a great Saturday everyone!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-69346674500417234252011-11-18T22:28:00.000-08:002011-11-18T22:28:40.515-08:00

Lately I have been thinking about how to make some mixed media work so while I was working on photos for my website I decided to start playing around with compositions of different ceramic elements.  For now I am just using the ceramic elements but I felt like a kid again playing with my building blocks.  It is rather freeing to allow oneself to play like a child.  Now my mind is thinking of

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-86825496938589247042011-11-16T21:03:00.000-08:002011-11-16T22:50:21.018-08:00

I've been pretty busy lately.  I would like to say that I have been super, crazy busy but I don't think that I am being that efficient with my time.  Either that or I have unrealistic notions of just how much I can fit into each day.  Or it might be that I spend too much time surfing the internet.  Hmmm...   Anyway my grad school applications are coming along nicely and I have gotten the worst

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-21579030080393856832011-10-24T16:27:00.000-07:002011-10-24T16:27:49.755-07:00

I took a long walk today trying to burn off some frustration.  I walked through the cemetery and when I saw this I realized it pretty much described just how I feel today.  Some days are great, some not so great.  But seeing this kind of helped.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-55327307654863812192011-10-23T17:26:00.000-07:002011-10-23T17:26:38.058-07:00

My little ceramic dipping bowl made it to the front page of Etsy today in this wonderful treasury!  And to top it off,  the bowl sold.  Woo hoo!  I'm so excited because this was a bowl I made when I was at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina in June. 

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-67911635771258315982011-10-21T02:08:00.000-07:002011-10-21T02:12:59.170-07:00

When I first started back to college in the fall of 2007, my first ceramics class was intermediate mold making.  One of the projects was a multiples assignment involving tiles that needed to be 2" high.  I started by making a clay positive and then cast it in plaster and used it as a press mold.  Being fall, I wanted to use plant materials before everything fell off the trees.  I used maple seed

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-39732122160942287692011-10-09T23:40:00.000-07:002011-10-09T23:40:14.589-07:00

I finished off the last of the film I purchased from The Impossible Project to test out my SX-70 cameras.  This is the PX 600 Silver Shade UV+.  I think I'm finally getting the hang of it after botching quite a few of the images.  Of course, now I am out of film and need to order some more.  The above picture shows a problem I was having with the cameras or film, I'm not sure which.  I wanted to

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-9373903319536687522011-10-02T00:51:00.000-07:002011-10-02T00:51:06.243-07:00

This past week I have been distracted or rather my brain has been all over the place and I was busy. I'm just not really sure what I got accomplished.   The week before that, however, I spent quite a bit of time making some new work.  I am interested in the process of opening up on a personal level and also I am interested in architectural structures and how those relate to my

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-33862489004446396752011-09-26T11:43:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:44:33.694-07:00

Fall is finally in the air here in Northern California.  We went from 98 degrees on Saturday to 78 degrees on Sunday.  My hands, nose and toes are cold as I sit here typing.  I could put on a sweater but I am kind of reveling in the new sensation.  It is supposed to go back up to 90 today so we are still in the fluctuating stage.  Leaves are falling from the trees and things are just

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-29490482126480580062011-09-22T09:42:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:45:34.053-07:00

Another fun polaroid. Find me on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/dancingclay?ref=si_shop

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-1208982564334759782011-09-22T00:04:00.000-07:002011-09-22T00:05:14.138-07:00

My latest distraction, among a long list of other things, has been playing with my vintage cameras.  Here is a photo of my late 1930's Kodak Six 20 Duo.  I shot this image with my 1970's Polaroid SX-70 using PX-70 Color Shade Film from The Impossible Project.  Today I made the two hour drive to Sacramento and back and then decided to do a photo shoot of some more pottery for Etsy and for show

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-86952112962245247902011-09-12T20:01:00.000-07:002011-09-12T20:03:31.416-07:00

New work going on in the "studio," aka basement right now.  I had been without a place to fire any of my work since finishing up over at the university and I was starting to go a bit insane.  I even let my fingernails grow and was starting to polish them!  First time I've had long fingernails in the past twelve years.  I hadn't been sure how to solve my lack of kiln dillema until a little over

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-86710108428163734962011-09-05T22:12:00.000-07:002011-09-05T22:13:04.522-07:00

This is what happens when you plan to do a little sketching while leisurely listening to Pandora.   I have started pasting images into my sketchbook from other artists to use as jumping off points for exploration of new ideas.  I have been quite interested lately in architectural structures and conglomerates.  The image from the bottom right of my sketchbook is the artist, Julia Haft-Candell.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-26280304329074880602011-08-24T14:07:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:10:49.783-07:00

 My favorite mug from my last firing at Chico State! Sniff, sniff. I have been working my way through the mountains of stuff I brought home from the school studio.  It is amazing just how much accumulated in four years.  I'm still having a hard time getting used to the idea that I actually graduated.  Last night, while making small talk, an acquaintance asked me if I was looking for a job. 

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-40536108083276985802011-08-01T20:56:00.000-07:002011-08-01T20:57:23.448-07:00

While looking up skateboarding terminology I came across this quote by Merrill Markoe, “Every moment of your life that is not a complete nightmare is happiness.”  Yep, that about sums it up for me right about now.  On the plus side I don't really think I have a lot of nightmares because I try to look at life from the positive side, so I guess I'm pretty happy.  But sometimes I forget that. 

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-24131088780560131542011-07-22T08:45:00.000-07:002011-07-22T08:47:31.458-07:00

  I have been feeling very much a "foodie" lately.  We had a food crisis in our house about a week ago.  We had been eating healthy but it had pretty much been the same food over and over again.  So at 9:30 one night we headed out to the co-op for some quinoa and fresh veggies.   Since then I have been to the farmer's market twice to stock up on heirloom tomatoes, basil, chard, cucumbers, and

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-64519121733347618192011-06-23T21:38:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:46:02.047-07:00

This post is called "vintage photo effects" or "how I can take most of the day doing a photo shoot of my pots and then spend hours and hours tweaking them."  I'm kind of wondering what I like to do more, make pottery or take photos of my pottery?  Hmm.  I DID get other things done today, I think (scratches her head.)  I trimmed bowls and decorated mugs.  I went to the grocery store because we

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-79323336319895341252011-06-23T10:16:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:46:31.607-07:00

I made a delicious breakfast this morning, french toast with low fat yogurt sweetened with stevia and a dash of vanilla and mixed in with sliced strawberries.  I rummaged through the plates to find just the right one and then sprinkled some almonds on top of the whole thing.  My plan was to go sit in the backyard at the picnic table while it was still cool outside to enjoy it.  But there it was

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-78990278059354846672011-06-21T19:49:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:47:24.124-07:00

Ok, ok, already!  I WAS going to go into the studio.  That was before I got sucked up into Etsyland.  Take a look at this fun treasury I made.  I know, I know, I'm going now!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-69748092437163768052011-06-21T16:50:00.000-07:002011-06-21T16:50:03.944-07:00

Before I left North Carolina I gifted or traded a number of pieces.  Some I traded for other art and some I just gave to people I really liked.  It can be both beautiful and difficult to give away your favorite pieces but I am so happy that the people who got them were really excited about it and that makes me feel great.  Yet, I miss them so now I have a great excuse to go back into the

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-16168566041573084302011-06-20T10:01:00.000-07:002011-06-20T10:04:39.501-07:00

Field trip day!  Ronan took the class on a field trip to local potteries around Penland during the Terracotta Throwdown.  Our first stop was at the studio of Gertrude Graham Smith, aka, Gay Smith. What a delightful woman with "to die for pottery!"  She welcomed us into her studio with true style.  She had homemade brownies, pretzels and pitchers full of water and lemonade with an assortment

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-6950002013746743262011-06-18T18:31:00.000-07:002011-06-18T18:31:36.904-07:00

Terracotta Throwdown was held in Upper Clay, the top floor of the ceramics building at Penland.  This is my view from roughly my wheel space.  I have so many great pics of my time here and yet looking over my images I can think of so many I wished I had taken.  Here are some fun highlights.  You want us to do what with your underwear? I am pretty sure this is Ronan's first demo of the

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-15133816272687006032011-06-17T18:59:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:49:47.881-07:00

Mark Errol and Ronan Peterson deep in conversation during show and tell. I was going to wait until tomorrow to make another post but I got sucked into the computer and spent most of the afternoon uploading photos.  Here is some of my work from Ronan Peterson's workshop at Penland School of Crafts.     I can't wait to get back into the studio and play around with

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-57107007092083144752011-06-17T12:30:00.000-07:002011-06-17T12:32:29.912-07:00

Hey all y'all! I finally made it home from my trip to Penland School of Crafts and Asheville, North Carolina.  I've been gone three weeks in all.  I really, really, really wanted to update my blog as I went along but not having a laptop, smart phone or access to something other than an old computer with sluggish internet connection really kinda got in the way.  So the way I figure, it will take

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-77748461579288459312011-05-27T10:58:00.000-07:002011-05-27T10:58:43.872-07:00

I spent most of the day yesterday in the River Arts District exploring the studios of potters, painters, textile artists and more.  What and interesting place.  They have taken a lot of old brick buildings and converted them into studios next the French Broad River. I went to the Odyssey Center for the Arts and saw the Opinionated Clay exhibit.  I also walked along the railroad tracks and saw

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-12656625946680425412011-05-25T22:48:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:51:19.021-07:00

I made it to Asheville today even with the thunderstorms in Chicago which delayed my flight out of Sacramento.  I got a little carried away with my carry on so they made me check it in Sac. With the back up of flights at O'hare my luggage and I did not arrive at the same time. So now I wait.  At least I had the essential toiletries and stuff like that.  And the local Target provided a fresh shirt

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-68302728599613996712011-05-16T17:40:00.000-07:002011-05-16T17:40:55.873-07:00

I haven't had time to learn the software to update my website that I had made for me a year ago.  But...I had to make one for one of my classes so this other website is what I have been working on.  Of course, at the last minute.  It's due on Wednesday.  Only four more days now until graduation.  My fingers are itching for the clay.  I haven't had time for it with catching up for my other finals.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-22642557985094110822011-05-13T13:42:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:42:59.907-07:00

Aww, isn't this pathetically cute?  This is how I feel.  I have been lounging around way too much the last couple of days which is not what I would recommend the week of finals and critiques and a week before graduation!  But sometimes the body says "ENOUGH!"  Yep, my back said I had done too much and called it quits.  So I have been laying on ice, resting, going to the chiropractor.  You get

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-44009582493851296172011-05-09T23:18:00.000-07:002011-05-09T23:18:13.025-07:00

My mind has been more on my graduation which is in just less than two weeks away.  Everything wraps up next week so this is the big push to finish up all the things I have procrastinated on.  Right after graduation I will be jetting out to Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina to take a workshop with Ronan Kyle Peterson of Nine Toes Pottery.  I am so excited.  I have heard great things about

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-26359039270022599442011-05-02T22:57:00.000-07:002011-05-02T23:11:38.330-07:00

I absolutely cannot believe there are only three weeks of school left.  Normally next week would be dead week, but since we clean the studios during finals week that puts the art students ahead by a week.  Yeah! I do say this sarcastically as the realization sank into to my unprepared brain that this week would actually be dead week.  Hell week would really be a better term for it.  I vowed I

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-76153099159604725972011-04-23T09:49:00.000-07:002011-04-23T09:49:11.683-07:00

Close up of the Cased Spirals Oh the joys of graduating!  After being up for only a week, last night was time to take down the show.  I kept telling myself that I wouldn't wait until the very last minute to take photos.  Did I do that? Of course not.  So I thought I was getting some pretty good images for not having a professional setup.  Then when I downloaded the images I realized I didn't have

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-1939611483932432512011-04-18T22:35:00.000-07:002011-04-19T00:27:07.554-07:00

Susan Beiner I finally got my BFA show installed and it opened today.  Big sigh of relief!  It looks great and I will have some images soon.  Now I can take the time to catch up on work for my other classes.  That is if I can resist finally looking through all of my NCECA photos.  NCECA stands for National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.  Every year there is a huge convention and this

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-32799185653011625562011-04-14T23:30:00.000-07:002011-04-14T23:30:45.357-07:00

Thinking Through Round A Culminating Exhibition For The Bachelor of Fine Arts DegreebyKelly Daniels English Porcelain, Cone 10 Reduction After a hiatus of I don't have any idea how long I've finally decided to update everyone on current events.  I have been spending the last couple of months preparing for my culminating exhibition for my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics. I install the

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-25745240759619541292011-02-14T08:12:00.000-08:002011-02-14T08:12:17.353-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all my family, friends and followers.  Thank you for all of your support as of late.  I'm thinking happy, lovely, mushy thoughts 'bout y'all.  I found this heart in Upper Bidwell Park last Sunday.  It looks like it might have been there since last year.  I like the way the grass is starting to sprout up around the rocks.  Have a lovely week!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-79089817512901472202011-02-13T16:20:00.000-08:002011-02-13T16:20:43.499-08:00

I've gotten seriously behind on posting to the blog o' sphere as of late.  I have had so many things occupying my thoughts lately, not the least of which is my rapidly approaching culminating exhibition.   I did take some time to drive down to Berkeley this weekend and attend a one day workshop with Forrest Lesch Middleton, hosted by the glorious trio, Christa Assad, Rae Dunn, and Josie

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-54171277419246282322011-01-08T11:29:00.000-08:002011-01-08T11:29:57.688-08:00

Between Christmas rain storms, I drove down to Southern California to visit family that I hadn't seen in a long time.  Here are some of my favorite shots from my trip.  Enjoy! Santa Barbara Harbor Santa Barbara Harbor Goleta Beach Sunset Mission Cactus Solvang Windmill

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-4130744030478165052011-01-07T10:06:00.000-08:002011-01-07T10:06:49.314-08:00

I just reopened my Etsy shop early this morning and I was instantly chosen for two treasuries!   My Blue Heart Bowl in this treasury. My Red Heart Bowl in this treasury.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-5862412023164390812011-01-03T12:05:00.000-08:002011-01-19T08:39:57.076-08:00

 Paul Soldner 1921-2011 I am honored to have met you.    Paul Soldner   Woodstoke 2000  Penryn, CA    Janet Mansfield, Paul Soldner, Morgan Britt James Coquia, Janet Mansfield, Paul Soldner

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-21730346269277709652011-01-01T17:14:00.000-08:002011-01-01T17:14:55.416-08:00

Just before Christmas the sun came out just long enough for me to run out to the persimmon tree, still dripping with rain,  and harvest some fruit before the birds could eat them all.   Actually, the tree is so tall I could never get to the top so the birds might as well enjoy those ones. I love the way the bright orange of the persimmons contrasts with the bright blue winter sky.   I picked a

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-7357683745012017802010-12-14T09:07:00.000-08:002010-12-14T09:07:39.014-08:00

I made it into a lovely treasury today!  Yay, and finals are almost over.  Better hurry and get out of here for my last critique!  Plus I just put some fresh pieces in my Etsy store.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-54780556315805129272010-12-13T23:43:00.001-08:002010-12-13T23:43:46.480-08:00

I finally figured our how to upload a video from my dslr.  Then I had to drop it into a few different programs before I could do some editing. Still can't figure out most of the program but here it is so far.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-23363761926528763702010-11-22T11:05:00.000-08:002010-11-22T11:05:44.541-08:00

I went to Horseshoe lake recently to capture some sunset images.  Before the sun went down I saw this great dead tree with great textures and holes.  It instantly reminded me of Jason Briggs and the workshop I had with him at Fresno state last summer.  That was so much fun and he gave us some great demos and the most ridiculously entertaining lecture I have seen! Thanks, Jason! These pictures

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-76947439851566412422010-11-14T12:43:00.000-08:002010-11-14T12:43:51.111-08:00

...to be in another wonderful Etsy Treasury!  That's my Winter Evergreen Eco Mug down there.  Yay!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-83387045877902834292010-11-12T00:25:00.000-08:002010-11-12T00:40:09.225-08:00

Last spring ceramic artist, Jenny Mendes, came and spent a month at Chico State to prepare a body of work.  She graciously shared her knowledge and let me sneak (hehe) into her work space to pester her.  Just kidding.  I really enjoyed getting to talk with Jenny and getting to know about her and her work.  These tiles were inspired by Jenny's work.  I started them just before she left in April

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-54253371383453298322010-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:002010-11-11T06:00:13.824-08:00

So last night I stayed up way too late.  I got sucked into dropping my photos into this polaroid simulator called Poladroid.  I like the way my images look with this treatment.  The way they turn out is completely random, much like old polaroids.  I might try making my own polaroids so that I have more control and predictability.  Yeah, like I have the time for that.  At least there is no school

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-78413560516673723122010-11-10T21:37:00.000-08:002010-11-10T21:37:26.183-08:00

I recently donated this piece to an auction fundraiser for the University Art Gallery at Chico State.  This was a new glaze that I had been testing out and I absolutely love it.  It is called Chung's Satin Mint and I got the recipe out of The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes: Glazing & Firing at Cone 10 by John Britt.  What is amazing to me is how much this glaze changes depending on

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-72319451577193611592010-11-09T23:30:00.000-08:002010-11-09T23:30:36.036-08:00

  Yes, I have been pitifully absent from my blog as of late.  What have I been up to?  Not much, really.  I made it through our BFA open studios event and coinciding BFA exhibit in our student gallery.  I got tons of positive feedback.  I still need to get some images of the work I showed for that.  I have two term papers to write that are due after Thanksgiving.  Yuck!  I have lots of sculpture

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-17916707984855136662010-10-14T20:16:00.000-07:002010-10-14T20:16:28.094-07:00

I have been thinking about ways to spice up my Etsy shop lately.  I like my graduated backdrop, especially for gallery shots but I was getting a little bored with it.  I decided to grab this vintage table with a distressed mirror top out of the dining room and take it outside.  What a refreshing change!  No lights to deal with and I love the way you can see the bottom of the piece reflected back

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-86531962874978558672010-10-13T10:23:00.000-07:002010-10-13T10:31:48.754-07:00

 I have been getting into a lot of Etsy treasuries lately.  This is a really nice fall themed one by Caitlin Sainio.  Besides playing around working with my Etsy shop I have been busy getting ready for BFA open studios the end of October.  I have about 4 or 5 different projects underway.  I have slip cast pieces, platters for decoration with terra sigillata and mishima, and thrown forms to

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-47838176900572497152010-10-09T22:52:00.000-07:002010-10-09T22:52:32.297-07:00

My Autumn Gold Sauce Bowl made it into this lovely treasury by Nikkoblue.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-35341501833522479062010-10-08T22:58:00.000-07:002010-10-08T22:59:13.744-07:00

  Well, you know fall is here when the chestnuts start popping out of these ridiculously menacing seed pods.  I dare you to pick one of them up!  Ah, the squirrels are so happy.  All the nuts, pecan, almond, walnuts are ripening and the critters are harvesting for the winter.   Here are my slip castings in progress.  Right now I am making a bunch of forms and storing them damp so that I can

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-37774814392911567152010-10-02T23:23:00.000-07:002010-10-02T23:26:09.129-07:00

Here are some more experiments with the laser decals.  I used a black and white photo that I took to make the decal.  I increased the contrast a bit before printing it out.  I love the way this works.  These are water slide decals.  The toner in the in the laser printer has to contain iron and it has to be a black and white only printer.  At Chico State we get our transfer paper from Bel Decal

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-44740997718373136312010-10-02T01:20:00.000-07:002010-10-02T01:21:18.253-07:00

I have been having way too much fun in the ceramics studio lately.  Of course we had a critique for class that was coming up so that kept me pretty busy.  I think I have had the most fun with the laser decals I have been designing. Here are the results of two different deer images I have been working with.  I'm loving this process.  These two pieces are going to go on Etsy tomorrow for a test

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-7537448452793713942010-09-29T00:18:00.000-07:002010-09-29T00:18:31.476-07:00

In the interest of clearing way for more work coming out of the kilns I have been adding more sale items to my Etsy store.  Just wanted to let y'all know in case you were already working on Holiday gift shopping.  Oh, and I can't wait to see what comes out of the kiln tomorrow.  I did some photo litho transfers onto some tumblers and bowls.  I also did shellac resist on others.  These are

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-50829244616495072202010-09-21T00:31:00.000-07:002010-09-21T00:32:22.153-07:00

It is 12:30 am and I'm up late working on some laser toner decals that I am going to print out tomorrow.  Just remembered I've got to be to class by 8 am.  Yikes!  Zzzzzz....

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-15259638624602165562010-09-18T19:56:00.000-07:002010-09-18T19:57:45.574-07:00

Ummm, how does a whole month go by before I realize I haven't posted in a really long time. Oh yeah.  School started.  Well, I can at least try to blame it on something.  I really have been busily working away at stuff, just not remembering to take my camera to school with me. I got up early and headed of to school today to do some plaster mold making.  This was the piece I had been working on

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-63309609724150457192010-08-18T20:12:00.000-07:002010-08-18T20:20:09.082-07:00

I was just going through some old photos that I have scanned on my hard drive.  These sure do remind me of why I love photography so much.  Being able to capture images like these are priceless.  They remind me of time, love, emotions, pure joy.  I don't know if I would have remembered these moments without these images.  I know there are so many moments that I miss capturing because I haven't

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-51157790208560044342010-08-15T22:27:00.000-07:002010-08-15T22:27:42.828-07:00

I went to church today and then I got a good nap.  Not like I haven't been getting a good nap everyday for the last two weeks or anything.  Oh boy, school is going to be rough this semester.  Do you think anyone will notice if I fall asleep on the ceramics worktables every afternoon?  After the nap I unburied the picnic table from the painting supplies and realized there were cute furry things

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-14087553021620696672010-08-14T20:01:00.000-07:002010-08-14T20:09:17.425-07:00

Soooo, before the painting madness there was the tie dye madness.  Of course you wouldn't know any of that because I haven't posted for so long.   I just finished painting the second coat of paint on the bedroom.  This has taken me about a week to work on.  And I still have all the trim.  I flippantly thought I could just "paint" the bedroom.  This room and the one I am in now have been a

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-17062088473735100002010-08-04T19:00:00.000-07:002010-08-04T19:00:57.142-07:00

I think I am finally starting to catch up.  Maybe...  Well, I have been trying to anyway.  Taking too many naps though messes up you sleep cycle so I've got to ditch that developing habit.  Besides, I wont be able to when school starts and I don't want to have to go through withdrawals.  My mother had a minor procedure done to her foot so I got to hang around today.  Not like I really needed to

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-85406095906273490372010-08-01T23:11:00.000-07:002010-08-01T23:11:54.311-07:00

I had a wonderful evening tonight.  I headed out to Horseshoe Lake to see what kind of pictures I could get around sunset.  It was about time to really play with my  new camera and break it in a little.  The weather was great.  I got there just as the  sun was headed down behind a hill.  It had cooled off and there was a nice breeze.  It was beautiful to listen to all the ducks, crickets and

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-68838852618365475392010-07-26T21:58:00.000-07:002010-07-26T22:05:48.570-07:00

I finally made it home after a month of Summer Arts at Fresno State.  A kagillion things have happened and I have barely had time to think about other things much less to blog about it all.  My brain is still buzzing with new information.  What to do with it all?! The last two weeks in Fresno were spent in a class called Building Reactive Sculpture.  We had the amazing guest artist, Trimpin,

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-71659750627500261932010-07-14T09:01:00.000-07:002010-07-14T09:04:04.632-07:00

It has definitely been a whirlwind of activity lately.  We finished our ceramics workshopes last Friday with a culminating show in the Conley Gallery at Fresno State.  We did our installation with guest artist, Holly Hanessian.  These organic pieces are the ones we created with Jason Briggs. Here is a view of my sculpture made while laying on the floor of the gallery and looking up towards

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-80330761044279515612010-07-03T16:02:00.000-07:002010-07-03T16:05:29.266-07:00

Who knew sculpting the human head would be so interesting!  We just finished up our three day intensive with Tip Toland.   She is an excellant and very patient instructor.  Thank you, Tip! It was a mad dash and late nights to get our busts finished.  I didn't get to sleep until 2am this morning.  This is the first time I have done any type of figure sculpting and I am very happy with how this

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-27698877888344941412010-07-01T21:46:00.000-07:002010-07-01T21:48:50.967-07:00

Yesterdy was sad because we had to say goodbye to guest artist Heather Mae Erickson.  Boo hoo!  This is the plaster mold I learned how to make during her stay at Fresno Summer Arts Program.  We learned so much, I hope I took good enough notes and can remember it all.  This is a one part plaster drop-out mold.  I started this one by making a simple free form cottle out of clay to hold in the

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-47667315139992429802010-06-26T22:51:00.000-07:002010-06-26T22:53:43.302-07:00

 This is Momma Bunny.  Really original name, I know.  She looks a little wicked with the red eye going on.  She is an outdoor bunny who should really be a house bunny.  I used to have my bunnies in the house until I got allergic to them.  It's a shame.  She is an adorable bunny, very well behaved.  Sometimes I think she is a dog.  She loves to be petted.  Momma bun got to come inside today to get

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-91730886880919936652010-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:002010-06-22T11:13:10.021-07:00

 The office assistant doesn't think much about all the paperwork I spread out for her to work on today.   What? I need to do my nails first. Don't mezz with the offeece assistant! I am warning you! Hey, how did this pencil thingy get on MY bed anyways! Ok, gotta go see if I can get those pots to load themselves into the kiln.  Wait, they need to glaze themselves up first!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-83107517431128916372010-06-16T22:16:00.000-07:002010-06-16T22:16:15.401-07:00

Blogging seems to have taken a backseat to the gorgeous summer weather.  Of course, it doesn't help if I keep forgetting to take my camera to the studio with me when I go.  I've been riding my back to the studio which only takes a couple of minutes.  I actually wish it took longer.  There are so many flowers in bloom that it is an olfactory experience everyday.  Tonight I had to ride around the

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-10087325083487496222010-06-09T00:06:00.000-07:002010-06-09T00:08:52.172-07:00

The last week and a half has been a blur of cleaning up the ceramics studio at school.  I was beginning to wonder if I ever made things with clay but last night even though I was tired I made myself sit down and make something.  My friend  was making some cups with dimples in them and I liked them so much I stole the idea for these bowls.  I did tell her first that I was stealing the idea. 

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-68093648724693266462010-06-04T00:05:00.000-07:002010-06-04T00:05:15.927-07:00

Today was a busy day and in the middle of it I am not sure if I specifically noticed that it was a good day.  Now at the end of it all I can sit down with a sigh and appreciate all that I got done and the fun I had.   Lots of ceramic work got done, the kiln shelf cleaning kind.  Errands, paperwork and phone calls and then back to the studio for more work.  After all the work was done we had some

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-65857353301816003762010-05-29T22:15:00.000-07:002010-05-29T22:15:20.331-07:00

Today was a pretty laze day all around.  But I have a good excuse.  It was my birthday and I just felt like being lazy.  Ok, I wasn't totally lazy.  I went to the studio and unloaded the clay I brought up from Sacramento on Wednesday.  I got some more cone 6 porcelain and a cone 6 stoneware to try out.  I also got a cone 04 white.  Yeah, Eric at IMCO screwed up his eyes and said not to put it in

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-31841823774492364532010-05-24T16:45:00.000-07:002010-05-24T16:47:37.601-07:00

A rose from my old garden. Lately I've been pondering on this little saying, "bloom where you are planted."  It has served me pretty well in getting through trials and making the best of the situations I am in, good or bad.  For example, I used to live on a 3/4 acre parcel that was sandwiched between a metal fabricator and a landscape business.  It wasn't exactly the quiet peaceful environment

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-80736506852008011782010-05-21T22:58:00.000-07:002010-05-21T22:58:12.240-07:00

Oh for Muddy Sakes! by terraworks I have NEVER posted three times in one day. But what am I supposed to do?  My work is in another Etsy Treasury.  It's time to PAARRTY!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-83702189932166712492010-05-21T22:39:00.000-07:002010-05-21T22:40:15.503-07:00

Black and White by AlteredAbbey My work made it into another Etsy Treasury tonight, or this morning depending on your location.  That's my porcelain sculpture on the second row on the left. Wow, I'm just giddy.  Go over and give this treasury some clicks and views.  It would be incredible to make it to Etsy's Frontpage.  But we can't do it without your help.  By the way, Chrysti Hydeck at

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-61223849158314232332010-05-21T14:42:00.000-07:002010-05-21T14:44:20.594-07:00

That's it. I am officially finished with school for the semester.  I can do whatever I want!  Well, sort of, maybe for a little while.  But it sure does feel great.  As soon as I got home I decided to check my email and Etsy store and found out my little red and white porcelain mug  was featured in this incredible showcase by the talented cinderelish.  All the artists in this showcase make

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-50568235601558924012010-05-19T13:08:00.000-07:002010-05-19T13:08:46.612-07:00

It seems like every time I turn around there is a cat trying to get involved with something in the studio! This time it was during the photo shoot of my new work.  I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye and looked over to see this in the back of the light tent.  Cat toenails on my backdrop seems like a really good thing! Oops! I've been caught. I'm outta here! Finals are finally over

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-51818957681061053302010-05-14T12:11:00.000-07:002010-05-14T12:11:40.680-07:00

Last night was the reception and awards ceremony for both the Student Art Show and the 7th Ink/Clay at the Janet Turner Print Museum.  I had a piece in the Turner and I won the Jack Windsor Award.  I am sooo excited!  I forgot to take a picture last night so I've got to run over there today and get one to post. I also just listed this fun porcelain pedestal bowl in my Etsy store.  I'm thinking

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-60144392196726463572010-05-13T06:30:00.001-07:002010-05-13T06:54:12.016-07:00

Summer break is almost here!  I met with my BFA adviser yesterday and had ceramics critiques.  Today I have my printmaking critique and I am really excited to hear what everyone has to say about my final project.  I will post some pictures of my prints after everything is graded.  In the meantime, I finally took photos of my latest pottery pieces.  These are made from cone 6 porcelain from IMCO.

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-58228407593797279392010-05-07T01:29:00.000-07:002010-05-07T01:29:55.974-07:00

Phew!  Well I finally caught my breath after last weekends whirlwind conference only to have a panic attack today about my printmaking final.  A perfectionist attitude combined with a gemini personality along with too many choices made a muck of my idea generating process.  Then I was saved when our delightful instructor, Eileen MacDonald informed me that there were tons of silkscreens available

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-65848986343144511862010-05-02T21:47:00.000-07:002010-05-02T21:47:06.242-07:00

Karl McDade Demonstrating Silkscreen Transfers for Clay  I made it back from CCACA in Davis, CA!  This was an incredible ceramics conference hosted by the John Natsoulas Gallery.  It was a great weekend of workshops, lectures and shows.  I'm so tuckered out that I don't think I can post too much.  However, the first workshop of the conference was by Karl McDade and it was incredible.  I was

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-13582065903996219812010-04-28T23:51:00.000-07:002010-04-28T23:51:27.637-07:00

I wish I had time to post but I have been running amuk lately.  I've been busy putting work through the kilns for my Mother's Day show at Cory's Country Inn.  I finally got the work out of the glaze kiln and I am in love with the new designs I have been working on.  I just pulled them out this morning but I have been rushing around getting supplies for the California Conference for the

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-61721873156212783082010-04-25T22:36:00.000-07:002010-04-25T22:36:12.855-07:00

It has been such an incredibly gorgeous weekend!  It almost felt like summer today.  I have actually been way too obsessed with clay lately to take time for myself.  Not that I have to be that obsessed, just that I have been having lots of fun.  So yesterday, I decided "I need to get out of this studio!"  I was feeling like, all work and no play makes me a dull girl indeed.  I headed out to walk

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-36890956878254778542010-04-20T12:55:00.000-07:002010-04-20T12:56:29.144-07:00

 The girly, flowery experiment. So, what is a person supposed to do when it is rainy and ugly outside, one has been sick for five days and one is trying to procrastinate heading off to school in this nasty weather?  Why, decorate those plates that I dragged home last night!  And then put them on the bedspread and take pictures.  Then sit down with a bowl of soup and post to my blog and then

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-44164604272088196832010-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:002010-04-18T14:34:09.111-07:00

  I have a head cold today and I'm not feeling so hot but here are some shots of the gallery were I had my very first solo show.  This is the view from the entrance to the gallery.  This piece in the front is porcelain fired to cone 10. These pieces are earthenware with underglaze and sgrafitto. The two pieces here in the foreground are porcelain and the two behind are stoneware.  I had a

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-83712001831706424292010-04-14T13:51:00.000-07:002010-04-14T13:51:28.707-07:00

   I'm not entirely certain how a whole week went by without a post.  Maybe it has something to do with my slow internet connection.  I just haven't felt like dealing with it.  Here are some quick pics of what I have been up to.  Making progress on decorating my tiles and working on some cone 6 pieces.  I love these pedestal bowls.  I'm thinking ice cream!  Ok, got to be to class in ten minutes!

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-5690386510822483192010-04-08T22:01:00.000-07:002010-04-08T22:11:18.570-07:00

Ok, it's official.  I am in love!  Oh, terra sigillata, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways.  This MIGHT even be better than chocolate.  Wait, what am I saying?  Have I lost my mind!  That could be possible. I owe this new wave of insanity to Jenny Mendes.  She is an absolutely wonderful ceramic artist who decorates her work primarily using terra sig.  She spent a month at Chico State

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31494944.post-6440442661240464412010-04-06T09:51:00.000-07:002010-04-06T09:59:04.098-07:00

Yesterday I made these gorgeous tiles in a unique shape created with one of my snowflake cutouts.  The downside was using my body in a way I am not used to and then in doing to many at once because I was excited with them and having a great time.  Time just flew by (time really does fly when you are having fun!) and it was late when I looked up at the clock.  I could tell that my elbow was 

claydancerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129510121197233586noreply@blogger.com1