More Computer Graphics

Here's a business logo I designed a few years ago.

I used Superpaint to draw the hen, do the lettering and encircle the design.

So, the placement wasn't good. The hen is looking like she's going out of the frame--too forward. Nice relationship between the curve of the tail feathers and the back of the circle. So, I moved her back and gave her 'beak room.'

I began to play with the image. Putting an apron on the hen.  And what could be more appropriate for a hen than to change the circle to an egg shape?

Maybe the glasses is a bit too much.......

I always liked the story of the Little Red Hen. "I'll do it myself" as in the story was sort of my motto as a child.

 I once read that by knowing people's favorite children's story, you could gain some insight into their psyche. I've pretty well stuck to The Little Red Hen for sure. 

 The title, "The Little Red" Hen may be under copyright, so I probably can's use The Little part. 

Maybe I'll make labels for my elderberry jelly and sell it at the Farmer's Market....... 

More drawer rifling. Obviously, I'm on a cleaning jag.

From time to time, I've designed business cards using computer programs.

One beloved program which is sadly no more was SuperPaint, a simple design program that worked on (now) ancient Macintosh. It ceased to exist after 1992.

 I loved it.

 I made this using Super Paint:

And this:

(Yes, I have been in the antique business too. For several years, my husband and I did shows and had spaces in antique malls.)

When a few promo cards for a clay show came back because of a few  bad addresses, I cropped photos and stuck them in an envelope. Later,  I scanned one into my images program.

With a bit of tweeking, it might be handy later on a future card.

Salt & Pepper

Salt and peppers are among my favorite tableware pieces to make. 

I especially like the ones that distribute the salt and pepper from the bottom; the ones with no shaker holes in the top. 

Here are some examples of forms and glaze treatments: 

A pear-shaped form works best with this kind of design, but there are certainly lots of other interpretations to explore. 

Bamboo stems

My first attempt at making a set was thrown on the wheel with an opening in the top and a plug in the bottom.  (Blue for salt; red flame-like design for the pepper)

This is one of the first pear shakers I made. It has a very pleasing celadon glaze. Unfortunately, the stem snapped and has been glued back--so it's mine forever. 

This rather large shaker is by Paul Dresang. It is wood-fired. The photo doesn't really do it justice. 

I've shown these before. They are rather large shakers with top holes and bottom plugs. They are terra cotta with black underglaze stain highlights. The underglaze was applied while the shakers were still slightly damp.

And this is what we are doing about sea salt at the moment. This beautiful little bowl was bought at the Portland Showcase last month. It is a perfect compliment to the glittering salt crystals.

Maybe instead of shaking pepper, which can put it right up your nose, it would be better to spoon or pinch it out of a bowl like this one. Two shallow containers with lids???  Or maybe three or four conjoined containers for plain salt, sea salt, ground black and white pepper??