Catherine Daniel Ceramics

Hello and welcome to my blog where I share some of the thought processes and textile/quilting inspirations behind my ceramic art, and occasionally other random topics!
For more details and pictures of my ceramic creations, please see my website -

catherinedanielceramics.com



Friday 22 March 2013

Are you Awesome?

I'm getting a lot of commissions for these personalised plates - they seem to meet a demand for a 'special present' which is also 'something a bit different'.  This one I just made is for a 70th birthday and it pretty much speaks for itself.

I have never met the 'Robin' in question, but when my 18year old saw me making this, he remarked,   "Wow ... Robin sounds awesome!"  Obviously, in the eyes of an 18 year old, Robin at 70 should have one foot in the grave, rather than both feet on skis, the golf course or the tennis court!

Making the tennis racket was easier than you might imagine.  Over the years I have collected all sorts of bits and bobs for my clay tool box.  Below you can see the oval shape of an old yoghurt pot which cut out the racket head, an old tube for the tennis ball and a strip of some sort of matting/baking sheet thing from the pound shop, which made the strings.  See - easy!

For the golf clubs, I just drew them onto clay and cut round with a knife.  Then simply position the motif onto the plate, and smooth the edges with a wet paint brush.

Apply a few details and always have in mind how you might glaze it when it re-appears from the kiln. A sewing thread spool was impressed into the wheel to make the detail there.

But not being quite as awesome as Robin, I know nothing of skiing (or golf or tennis either!) and so I unfortunately gave the poor chap only one skiing-stick-thingy-whatever they're called.  Does that mean he will ski in circles forever, like when you lose an oar in a rowing boat?

In order to be this awesome at 70, I think I shall have to start being more active NOW!  And I really will .... once Spring comes back again.  I knew I spoke too soon in my last post!!

Are you really sporty and active for your age?  I bet you're all seriously awesome!

x Cathy


15 comments:

  1. When Spring comes back...mmm...don't hold your breath waiting! Snowing outside...

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  2. I'm not that active at 40 something so there is no chance at 70!
    It looks great though.
    X

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  3. I enjoy seeing how you make the shapes and patterns on your beautiful plates. Looks like Robin is very lucky to be so active and awesome at 70! :)

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  4. I'm just trying to come to terms with the fact that I am going to be 70 in a few weeks!

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  5. Sport is not high on my list of things I must admit. However, I have started ice skating again 20-odd years on from the last time. So whilst my daughters are having their lessons and spinning around in circles on the ice I spend my time repeating the mantra 'must not fall and break an important bone, must not fall...."I fear I look like a demented duck on a frozen pond, but I still manage to enjoy it. It reminds me of what it used to be like when I was fifteen and attempting to out speed the speed skaters.

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  6. Good for Robin. Great plate. I couldn't believe it when I woke up to snow this morning, I didn't think it was coming this far south.
    Gillx

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  7. Hahaha! Love the idea of Robin ski-ing around in circles! But had you not mentioned it I wouldn't have noticed. Your plates are works of art, they are quite delightful, Cathy, glad you are getting the commissions.

    I would love to be seriously sporty - at any age, but unfortunately I'm not. But I am seriously folkily musical for my age and am loving what I have got myself into; I just wish I had started many years earlier.

    Keep you on a'troshin' with that clay, Cathy!

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  8. Somehow I doubt I will be that awesome, but I mean to try!

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  9. I'm not at all awesome, especially in the area of sport. I do love your pottery. I'm trying to think of someone for whom I could commission something. I'd have got you to do one for my lovely mum but alas she died (at 90)in August. She'd have loved it too!

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  10. You have such a way with these things and all your own style...the plates are wonderful.

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  11. Not sporty in a bit, but awesome - sure! And you're AWESOME too even without the golf clubs :)))

    Great job, but you know it yourself :)

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  12. Not sporty here, not remotely! Awesome? Is a Brit allowed to be so self congratulatory? ;) I do intend to have awesome green hair a la Constance Howard when I hit my three score years and ten!

    I think Robin is extra awesome and can ski easily with one pole while using the other hand for a golf club or tennis racket ... ball games on snow ... it could catch on ;)

    Seriously Cathy, it's an awesome plate and I would never have noticed the missing pole if you hadn't drawn our attention to it.

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  13. I hope I will be as active when I'm that age! Lovely plate as usual.

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  14. Do a bit of yoga - does that make me sporty?! I love the shape of the skier on your plate - you are clever!

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  15. I wish I was seriously awesome, but somehow I don't think so lol! Lovely plate ... :0)

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