All's Well with Tall Pots, Plants and Insects

Yesterday I was on pins and needles waiting to open up the bisque load of tall pots. Looks like all's well with tall pots. I decided to leave them in the kiln till I'm ready to glaze them because I don't have much room in the studio due to other work drying on the shelves. Now I'm wondering how to glaze several of these tall and narrow topped pieces. Gary keeps saying spray them but I've never sprayed glazes only dipped or brushed them. Not sure how I to spray inside a narrow pot; what do you think?

Meanwhile in the garden butterflies and bees seem to be in a feeding frenzy with the approach of colder weather. This poor golden butterfly, probably great spangled fritillary, has a tattered wing but he can't let that deter him. He is probably storing enough energy to lay his eggs before he succumbs.

 Bumble bees are gathering as much nectar as they can on late blooming plants.

This bumble bee fell asleep on the stevia he was so tired or perhaps the natural sweetness lulled him into a slumber. Sometimes I go out early in the morning and see a bee sleeping on a flower. They wait till the sun warms them up enough to fly away.

Last month silk worms defoliated my young crabapple. Later it put on blossoms perhaps thinking it was Spring again. Glad it survived the onslaught of the worms.

A hollyhock was fooled by the cooler weather, new blossoms bursting forth. Every day I can find much solace in nature. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order. - John Burroughs

Fairy Plate & Hollyhock Platter

I couldn't wait to share the garden series pieces which have just come out of the kiln today. So the next few posts I'll be talking about the pieces from this series with applied decoration. I posted these two plates a few posts back, wondering if my hand drawn and carved decorations would survive their glaze firing. Both of these plates are handbuilt from slabs of stoneware clay. I am happy to report all of my applied decorations have come through the bisque and the glaze firing just fine without lifting and without breaking free. Now I will be making more in this garden inspiration series with applied decoration.

The idea for a Fairy Plate came to me one day when I was daydreaming in the garden. Thoughts of fairies flying around the garden at dawn and dusk inspired me to make the plate. This fairy is reaching to catch a star. Fairy Plate is 9 inches in diameter. Lead free glazes are used in colors to accent the fairy as she would appear hovering in the garden.Hollyhocks grow in my herb garden and I just love this old fashioned flower. This year I have more hollyhocks about ready to bloom but I have no idea what colors they will be. I'm hoping to make more hollyhock inspired pieces this Spring. Hollyhock Platter is 13.5 by 10 inches, handmade from slab with stoneware clay. Lead free glazes are used in tones to accent the flowers and leaves.