This Cherry Tree

One of our neighbors has a huge cherry tree in their front yard. At the base of the tree is a small koi pond. When I drive by I imagine myself sitting under the tree listening to the birds sing and watching the fish swim. Given the room to spread the tree has formed a perfect canopy over the pond. I rushed out yesterday to get the cherry tree photo since I knew rain and winds were expected and thought the blossoms would be all but tattered after the storm.

I was inspired to make a bowl with a cherry tree drawn inside. First I started out with the trunk. Mine isn't symmetrical but it will suffice for my purposes.

 Next I added a dark color of pink for the blossoms.

Then I added in the second lighter color pink. Later I placed the round form into a bowl shaped slump mold. I wasn't happy with the shape in the mold, but we shall see.

A. E. Housman (1859–1936).  A Shropshire Lad.  1896.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

LOVELIEST of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide. Now, of my threescore years and ten,         5 Twenty will not come again, And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more. And since to look at things in bloom Fifty springs are little room,         10 About the woodlands I will go To see the cherry hung with snow.

I saw the bare branches in winter and wondered what variety of tree it was and now I know a small portion of this cherry tree. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Baskets and Bark

Somehow I got locked out of my own facebook account while I was on it. If you see anything strange from me, it isn't me. I've got a new password now, hopefully just a glitch. Ha.

Here are two baskets from the latest firing. The rusty character of this first basket really appeals to me. I wish I had glazed quite a few other pieces with this glaze technique. A tiny piece of the handle broke off before the bisque but it doesn't affect the use and is hardly noticeable. Whoa is me, guess this basket will have to be mine.

Here's another basket glazed in the turquoise which seems out of place in a woodland setting, but for Florida or a beach cottage this could be a the perfect accent. I'm still working on how to get these pieces off of the drape mold while they're soft enough to remove but firm enough to stand upright, not an easy task.

While I was outside photographing my pots I couldn't  happen but notice the peeling bark of the river birch we planted last year because I like plants with unusual features.

Just looking at these photos makes me want to go off on another tangent with textures on pots. Inspiration for clay is everywhere. Yesterday a few tornadoes were spawned South of us by the remnants of Isaac and we've gotten some rain squalls but not much wind here thankfully. These tropical storms and hurricanes are much larger than I realized when I see views from a satellite. I hope those up North don't get too flooded. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.