Blank Canvas, You Can Almost See the Cold

I plan to test some of the glazes I use on a different clay, a speckled tan. This platter is a blank canvas. Wonder what it will be, stay tuned. These are a nice size but they take up almost half a shelf in the kiln.

I tried Michele's trick of using the saran wrap while cutting out ornaments and pendants and it worked quite well once I got the hang of it. Later I used bisque stamps or carving to embelish them.

This was going to be a tooth pick holder but it got larger. As I worked along I thought of a wall pocket but didn't want to put a hole in the back. Then I thought if I added a handle on the back it could serve a dual purpose. It can either be hung on the wall or set on a table top, shelf, or even a window sill.

 Most of these forms dictate their own shape and I go along with what the clay says.

Here's a couple of serving trays. I decided to make a few serving pieces that don't take up much room in the kiln. The one on the left is butter tray size and the one on the right could be used for relish, vegetable, or appetizers. I plan to make a few more of these. They'll stack up nicely in a cabinet.

You can almost see the cold outside; it's 13 F right now. Barney kept looking in the window the other night so I decided to bring him in on the really cold nights. I'm keeping him separate from the other two cats with his own food bowls and litter box. He's up on the bed in the guest bedroom relaxing on the crochet throw like a king. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Ornament Display Tree

Here's the ornament display tree I built yesterday. The ornaments really shine on the display and when they hit each other they clink like a wind chime. I painted the display a cedar brown color so I can use it year round. I need to apply a second coat of paint. The 2 x 2 could have been sanded for a more finished effect. This tree can hold lots of ornaments; I need to make more to fill up the tree. Even with the weight of the ornaments the tree is very sturdy.

Around the base I've placed some burlap fabric I had on hand. At the base I've placed some heart, star, and a teddy bear pendants strung on leather cord. Placing pendants under the tree allows for a double display. I think I'll sew a skirt to place under the tree with velcro to hold the seam together on one side. Thanks for reading and for all  your comments.

Sneak Preview, Barrel Fired Pendants

Sage Pendant #1003 by Linda Starr

Here's a look at the barrel fired pendants I promised to show you when I finished them. (About time eh?) I'll be taking some of these to the Boys and Girls Club of the Sierra benefit show this weekend at Sierra Hills in Porterville Saturday from 10 am to 3 p.m. I'll also be taking functional and sculptural work I've completed over the last several months. I've been wearing one of the pendants when I'm out and about and have had so many positive responses, I thought you'd enjoy a sneak preview.

Sage Pendant #1008 by Linda Starr

I hand make each pendant individually incorporating a real leaf from my garden, so the texture and veining really pops. Most of the pendants have a silver plated bale attached with epoxy and either a leather or waxed cotton 18 inch cord with lobster clasp. The beauty of barrel fired pendants is they are just as pretty on the reverse as they are on the front. I think they're rustic enough to wear with a T-shirt or dressy enough for other apparel too. These pendants were made from stoneware. I bisque them and then barrel fire them, which is similar to a pit fire. I use various oxides and natural ingredients such as avocado and eucalyptus wood, seaweed, herbs, straw and sawdust. The oxides and other ingredients impart the natural color to the pendants and the effects are totally random and always a surprise.

Sage Pendant #1002 by Linda Starr

Throughout history various words have had a special or symbolic meaning. The word sage means: having or exhibiting wisdom and calm judgment; proceeding from or marked by wisdom and calm judgment: sage advice. I guarantee you'll be wiser wearing one of my pendants, because each day that goes by we're all a little wiser. How's that for logic?

Sage Pendant #1005 by Linda Starr

Several folks asked about purchasing pendants, if you see a pendant you can't live without, just email me know and I'll reserve it for you. My email address is at the top right of the blog in my profile. I've set up a Ceramic Jewelry Photo Album on Facebook where I've numbered each pendant, so you can friend me there to see them. Or if you're not on Facebook, I also posted the pendants on Flickr, so you can see them in detail.

Sage Pendant #1007 by Linda Starr

I'm trying to streamline a process where folks can purchase direct from my blog, if you have any ideas, please let me know. I've got to check with Lori of Fine Mess Pottery to see how she does sales direct from her blog. I see at the top of her page she has a "click here to shop" button. I'm also curious to see how Michael of Sawdust and Dirt will organize his upcoming blog sale. What unique ways do you use to sell your art?

Linda's Outdoor Photography Studio

In case you're wondering about the photos, here is a look at my outdoor photography studio. Sounds really professional doesn't it? It's outside my garage on the side of my house. Rocks, driftwood, and old barn wood were objects I gathered around here to use as photography props. I just dusted or washed them off and put them into immediate use. I turned off the flash on my Sony digital camera and set some poster paper on an old painting stool in the shade and started taking photos.

Sage Pendant #1014

I really treasure this red rock which I brought from New Mexico. I picked it up in a river bottom canyon on private land on a trip seven years ago. Gary and I were four wheeling in a canyon with a river running through it and didn't know if we would make it through or not, but we kept going. We knew others had traveled there because folks were living along the banks of the river as we drove along. The only way they could reach their homes was through the river bed. But still, we weren't sure if it would be a dead end or not. The canyon kept getting narrower and narrower and eventually was just wide enough for our car. Yikes! Now we were really wondering if we should keep going.

Sage Pendant #1028 by Linda Starr

At every turn we kept saying, "Well let's just go a little further" and "We've come this far, might as well see where this leads". Then we realized we had reached the point where we wouldn't be able to turn around. If the canyon was a dead end we would have to back out! Did I mention I was driving? I don't back up very well. The smooth canyon walls were so close on either side we could reach out and touch them. Above us the cliffs hung over our car. We decided to press on, the thrill of what was around the next corner kept us going. We were now driving in the river, straddling rocks and snaking our way through the canyon. Thoughts of a flash flood crossed our mind. We saw an occasional tire track so we just kept going. Then we had worried about the possibility of meeting someone coming from the other direction. At the end of the canyon we were miraculously led up and then out to an open mesa, what a trip.

Over the years Gary and I have traveled in the back country in most of the Western states, taking photographs of old ghost towns and wild flowers along the way. Each trip we have taken I've looked at the map and told Gary, "Here's a short cut we can take". I've become famous in Gary's mind for my shortcuts. This was one shortcut which we survived without incident. I'll have to tell you about some of my famous shortcuts another time. Oh and by the way when we used to go four wheeling, we did not disturb or destroy any natural terrain on our trips. We traveled with the motto: "Pack it in, pack it out, and leave it as you found it for others to enjoy". In all our travels in the back country, I think this red rock is the only thing I ever brought back other than photographs.

Clary Sage Pendant #1004 by Linda Starr

My ceramic photo albums also contain other pendants which I have made. Some have been glazed and fired to Cone 10 in reduction. Some have bales and some have holes and no bales. Those with holes can be strung on a cord of your choice or used in your own jewelry creations.

Overlapping Leaves Pendant #1026 by Linda Starr

My kiln is now in working order, I don't know if it was dust bunnies, a spider, or the sitter which was a little off center, but all of that has been corrected, and the kiln has been tested and is ready to fire. Yippee! Comments and questions are always welcome.

First Barrel Firing

Pinch Bowl One
Interior View

Pinched Bowl One
Front View
2.5 h x 5 w

Pinch Bowl One
Back View

Pinch Bowl Two
3 h x 4 w

Two Itty-Bitty Pinch Bowls
1 h x 2.5 w

Dusty Miller Pendant
3 x 2

Two more Dusty Miller Pendants

Sage Leaf Pendants
ranging from 4 in long down to 2.25 in

I cleaned the pieces but didn't put any wax on them because I was going to re fire a couple, but I've decided to leave them as they are. What do you think? I know if I had more bisque ready, I would be doing a another barrel firing again today. What great fun and every piece is such a surprise.

If you missed it, check my holy smoke post on how to do your own barrel firing. Also check Amy, Becky, and Elaine's posts on barrel firings. So far they have had eight firings. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me. I've learned so much from reading other blogs, I'd like to share what I've learned too.

I'm going to try making some more pots with taller, flatter and/or smoother sides to show off the colors obtained in barrel firings. I think my derriere pot would be a good one for a barrel firing. I'm off to the studio to make more pots.