Clay Frogs

I once made a frog of combination clay and metal similar to this one. The upper framework was in clay and held up well during the firing.


This cylinder shaped frog is a pretty standard frog design. Good and stable, weighty, no-nonsense frog.

Same goes for the rounded one. I like the taller form. Plenty of room for the water reservoir.

One like this could stand alone, but tiny feet are advised to keep dampness off the surface it would sit on. Or it would work in another clay piece.

The winner here is a beautiful oxblood glaze.



Nice pairing of bowl and frog here.

If the frog were made taller in this one, it would take on a whole different look.

I like the combination of flower stem holes and the sculptured surface, but I'm not so sure it would show if flowers were in the bowl.

Another example.


This is the real winner. Great proportion between the frog and bowl. It looks like the frog just landed in the middle of the bowl.

 The design would harmonize with any kind of flower.

And now for something completely different......

Sometimes, It is good to be a hoarder:

Necklace componants:

Mother of pearl antique belt buckle.

Mother of pearl beads, buttons.

Agate beads.

Faux pearls

Real pearls

Glass beads

Seed pods

Wooden beads

Coconut shell beads and buttons

Shell beads

Brass beads and tiny brass bell

Moon stone beads

And for spice: Black onyx and glass beads

Early Resolutions

Wow

I just finished have a big old clean-out of my studio; the place where I've been making claywork for about 25 years.

Amazing what you can accumulate......

Like twidgets that might look good on a ray gun.

Or a piece of beautifully oxidized copper tubing that might have possibilities for a handle.

I won't mention the amount of driftwood I've stocked up on
or round beach rocks and shells....


It's just as bad in my house. So these last 10 days or so, I've been sorting, grouping, pricing, advertising and hosting a big sale of things I probably will never use.

One must close one's eyes, extend the hand and arm, and drop whatever it is in the "For Sale" box. Ouch!

I realized that I was holding onto a newly designed  lid here or a teapot there that didn't fire right but had a great glaze. And the reason why these were hanging around is because I wanted to remind myself to try it again.

 (Palm to forehead) I Can Take A Picture of It and transfer it to a page labeled "Reminders." Much more sensible. And a heck of a lot less space.


But I did have a happy trip to the bank.


Next:  Thin out those image files and "those-stacks-of--articles-I-need to-read!!!

Chinese Alter Fruit

After I posted the miniature porcelain veggies, I ran across a reference to antique Chinese porcelain alter fruit on a decorating blog.

The collection pictured on the desk is from the blog www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com.

This is a whole new ceramic form and tradition to me. Evidently, these small fruit are highly sought after and are very pricey.

On another site is pictured a miniature alter complete with miniature fruit and other food from the Ming period.

I can see their influence in the 1950s - 1960s glass fruit and carved monkey pod wooden fruit that was so popular then. And even in the blown glass fruit forms still being produced today.

True Beauty

Went to a flea market a couple of days ago and came home with this.

It's on the column over the fireplace.

Iconic.

Two Beauties

A few weeks ago, I went to a flea market/antiques fair and found these beautiful pieces. They are porcelain lab ceramics made by the Coors company. Both are about 5 inches in diameter at the rim.

I just couldn't resist......Their shape is so beautiful and the form of the pour spout is perfect. The smaller one is only glazed on the inside and about an inch down the outer rim. The bisque is a pleasure to feel. They are perfect on the inside--no cracks or stains. The spout on the smaller one has a tiny chip on the lip that will grind out easily.

I felt I 'rescued' these pieces. They were sitting on a bargain table labeled, Each Item - $5.00. The vendor sold me both for a total of $5.00!

My first thought was they would make perfect molds, but I brought them home and put them on a cabinet in the living room and there they have sat ever since. They are just nice to look at.