keep centered

This was taken from another e-list & I liked it. This is also why I say friendship is more important than politics.
-------------------------------------------------------

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the
'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and
actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series Winners.


How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies...
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and
special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.


Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials..
the most money..or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most


''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!

Look at this cool article in the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-claypot28-2009oct28,0,487574.story

Another book I have to get.

Some of the pottery I've been working on recently. I will try to get photos of my collage too, but it probably needs re-framed. The show the collage is in has an opening tomorrow. The theme for the show is "The Road Less Traveled". Yeah....I suppose I have some life experience in that. ;-)

( tiptoeing through the Medieval ceramic spectrum )

The contents of Maiolica albarello/drug/pharmacy jars were originally kept closed by use of a piece of parchment tied on with a cord. Any ideas for good substitutions for parchment?

From Gwen and Gwen

Work:............ glad ibuprofen exists
School:.......... kids wigging out
Project:......... entering art shows
Health o'mine:... lucky so far
Crafts:.......... yes please, more
Cooking:......... trying to improve
SCA:............. its there somewhere
Amusements: ......Dog o' courage
House:............change the subject
Mood:.............Still somewhat stressed
Car: ............ Subaru for me
Phone: ........... only when necessary

I think I would like to have some of my classes decorate sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos. There are some web sites that sell molds for casting sugar skulls, they also have meringue powder, which they say is necessary for casting sugar. Is this true?
Is there a recipe that doesn't call for that?
Thanks

Email friend Kelly Savino made this oven http://www.primalmommy.com/earthoven.html several years ago. I have been in great admiration of it. But since I don't have the kids at home any more and would like to move at some point it wasn't at all a reasonable thing to make. But then Dame Zenobia posted this http://people.umass.edu/dac/projects/BrickOven/Instant_BrickOven.htm web page on FaceBook last Wednesday eve. I have been somewhere between overwhelmed and obsessed about it since then. It was temporary, it was quick, I could tear it down again and use the materials to make a ziggurat or a tornado shelter if either became necessary.

I was able to scrounge all the materials for it from off my place, which was one of my rules. I am trying to purge, not accumulate. Or in this case at least put to use some of the crap around here. It took longer than the hour promised, but only because I had to find the materials, tote them to the back yard, and scrub them off. If the bricks & blocks were already sitting in the back yard it would have taken less than an hour.
( it's ghetto, but that just means it perfectly matches the rest of my decor )

Master hroar expressed interest in the mica clay so here are some photos of the ware I have been making with low-fire mica clay. This is a commercial body from New Mexico Clay Co., is supposed to be what they Pueblo Indians used for cook pots, and I wanted to experiment with it.

( white mica clay, I haven't started the red yet )
Although New Mexico Clay was a good company to work with, shipping makes this clay impractical, my plan is to prospect around here for mica clay as soon as the weather moderates.

I'm working on longstitch books again. I am using linen for the connecting hinge. Does anyone have suggestions of a glue to attach the hinges to the covers that does not mottle and make the hinge look so stained when aforementioned glue dries?
So far I've tried wheat paste glue, Elmers, and Mod Podge, all have discolored the fabric.
My Guru is deep in the backwoods of Idaho for the summer so I can't ask him.
Thanks,

I know I said the Tonala family's work was majolica, but that is wrong wrong it is underglazes painted on bisqueware.
( certainly similar style though )

Some pictures from Mexico:
( I won't subject you to all my photos, but this is still picture heavy )
I'll post some Mexican pottery pics later.

Not the most rewarding kiln opening I've had. The biggest disappointment was the stools, which were so severely cracked I couldn't exhibit them. I might put a bead of silicone on them and keep them outside. The glaze and design turned out nicely. This only adds to the frustration.

Then there were the other pots for ArtWalk, inspired by the Lascaux Cave paintings. They are OK but didn't turn out like I had hoped. I used a mouth atomizer to spray glaze & slip as a background on them, I obviously didn't have it concentrated enough (although I personally almost passed out from the blowing) leaving too pristine a white for the background. I think the idea is great though and worth pursuing. I'm going to keep trying with it. However, I have to fill an entire kiln, so if the if the results are mediocre or poor, I've wasted an entire load.

The best ones were due to the brilliant Miss dancing_guru who encouraged me not to put glaze over the top of two of them. She was so right. If anyone wants to know why you should have adult children, it is because they give, without question, the most useful, honest, and tactful critiques I get. When working on a project, I have so often wished they were around for suggestions/advise/honest appraisal.

I have to go set up my ArtWalk display in a couple of hours. Wish I felt better about my pots.
This was the due date for "Madame Chair" so that is right out.
( here are some pics anyway )

One of the real positives is that at last I have found some images of horses that aren't such cliche images (to me anyway) as so many horses on ceramics feel like.

These are some paintings Gavin didn't include in his show. They were piled up in his apartment. These aren't his preferred paintings. but I thought you might like to look at them anyway.
( More paintings )

Graduation and Thesis Show Road Trip: Was so wonderful. I was/am so proud of Gavin, he had to overcome a lot of trials and struggles to reach the point he has reached.
Among the highlights was "Pomp and Circumstance" played by a jazz band and the grad's being led to the Thesis Show by a helluvagood, illegal Marching Band.
( pictures from the weekend )

Handsome Goth Son, also known as Gavin will have his Senior Thesis Show grand opening on May 24th, beginning at 4:00pm. The place is Stevens Studios 1241 NW Johnson St., Portland. Which is about 2 blocks from PNCA located in the Pearl District. daedin will be there so will dancing_guru as a busy college student she hasn't been around much recently.

He says I will be surprised by his new work. I believe him. It will be pretty amazing (and possibly horrifying) if I know Gavin.

I know this is the same time as Stromguard's GrandThing, but I think a short field trip to the show would be possible (???). You can even keep your garb on, Gavin would love it.

OK if I am an Alpha, why am I copying everyone else in doing this meme?

( more reasonable use of space )

Yesterday was dedicated to getting ready for the Moscow Renaissance Fair. We were able to set up early so dancing_guru and I set up the booth and hauled about 2/3 of the boxes of pottery to the park, closed off the booth, & left it overnight. The weather prediction changes regularly so I'll be prepared like a camping AnTirian. Yesterday was a lovely day however and many people were out and about, not exactly in shorts, but in less clothes than usual.

Got my passport yesterday, Whoot!

With her Zombie drawing.

In case Handsome Goth Son wants to have a little luncheon party I made him a bowl set.
dancing_guru and I often say to each other: ( Don't encourage him!!! )
The shop jury will probably reject these pots too. (heh)

My Dear Canadian friends,
There is also a Canadian Empty Bowls project! http://www.emptybowls.ca/home.html
Two potters from Canada were in town and came to our Empty Bowls and sent us their home page. Even more places to get involved.
Makes me happy :-)

We raised over $1700. for Hunger Organizations! It was quite a bit of work, but so fun and rewarding. Plus, I think it is finally established that Empty Bowls is an annual community activity people are aware of as a "must-do". We had more entertainment this year, so after eating people just hung out enjoying the music and dance.

A couple who attended said they were visiting from "An area near Kirkland" and want to start an Empty Bowls Event there. We offered to help however we could. That would be cool, coming to a location near you!
( bowls and more, picture heavy )