Beach Huts, Bunting and Buttons

Well? In the words of Rolf Harris, 'can you tell what it is yet'?

It is the first wet clay stage of my ceramic bunting which seems to be going mad this year. I dropped some off at a gallery last week and it was gone the next day.

Because I don't make large batches of anything, I tend to vary (and hopefully improve) the design each time I make something. I would find making batches of fifty or so cups/jugs, all the same, excruciatingly boring, so this way of working suits me fine.

These strings of bunting will have little hearts and flowers on the flags, as well as the usual stripes and dots. These have just been bisque fired today and are now awaiting a glorious glazing session.

Speaking of Bunting, earlier this year I made a larger one of these beach hut bowls below. In this smaller version, as usual I varied the design, and added a string of bunting connecting each hut. I created this design myself - it's not a traditional patchwork block like many others I do - so I am really pleased at the way it has turned out. This one is still warm - fresh out of the kiln today.


The colours positively sing of summer - really bright and gay (in the original sense of that word!).

And last but not least, my little flower buttons which I have to make masses of, as they are the ones I 'sew' onto my mixed media quilt bowls. The ones at the top are Christmas (there! I've said it!) buttons, which I will be taking to a few craft fairs towards the end of the year.

Now ..... I have to get back to my newly acquired garden swing seat. If I spend more than half an hour lying on it I find that when I'm in bed at night, I get the sensation that I am still swaying! Weird.

Hearts and Flowers

What do you think of these little heart brooches? They are about 3cm across and I made them during my mammoth button making episode a few weeks ago.
I've never done jewellery before, but for fairly chunky things like these, I think ceramic works quite well.


And if you should spot anyone out and about wearing one of these, it is probably me. Well - they say it pays to advertise!


You might remember the large patchwork platter I was making a while ago too. This is how it came out. I'm not sure if the pale colours are really to my own personal taste, but I hope someone out there will like it as it is off to a gallery next week.


Technically, I am pleased with it and may make another in a different colour scheme.

By the way, you may like to know that last week a certain department store which stocks my work was asking about items for the up-coming Chr****** Season.
That's the first mention of the unmentionable 'C' word this year - in JULY!! Only how many Shopping Days til ...... ?

Blogging - Awards and Giveaways

A big thanks to Callie at MuMu and Squeak's Place for awarding me with the above. I think I now have to tell you seven things you didn't know about me, and probably didn't want to know either, but here goes:

~ I am ashamed to say I had the heating on today as I got a bit cold - IN JULY!! Shhh - don't tell anyone!

~ I still haven't really got to grips with blogging - I sometimes send comments three times thinking they've not got through, then realise they are 'awaiting approval' from the owner! They must think I am MAD!

~ Favourite film actor is James Stewart. Favourite film actress is Audrey Hepburn.

~ Weird things I can do : wiggle baby toe independently of the others. Touch nose with tongue. Wiggle ears. Raise each eyebrow individually. Have been surprised to find that not everyone is born with these gifts. (Stop it now - you look really silly!!)

~ Favourite food : anything almondy. Almonds (obviously), marzipan, any cake using ground almonds instead of flour, and of course Amaretto as a late night tipple.

~ I have been on a low carb eating regime for years and would not eat any other way. I love to eat masses of fruit and veg, rather than stodgy bread and cakes. I am not a saint though, and I do indulge once in a while, as a treat.

~ Looking forward to: going to Latitude Festival this weekend - to see Paolo Nutini !! I shall not be bopping, more like hopping (due to sprained ankle). Its gonna rain all day so looks like being a real 'wellies' festival!

Now, I think I am supposed to nominate
several of you for this same award
and then you can tell us about yourselves too!
Well, you know, you are all wonderfully versatile bloggers,
and so if you would like to do this,
please leave a comment to that effect
and consider yourself nominated!!

Above and below are two fantastic giveaways going on at the moment. Click below to investigate each.

Gillyflower at http://gillyflower5.blogspot.com

Crafts@Home at http://blog.suepops.co.uk

Catch up with you again next week. Have a fun rainy July weekend!!

All the Best

Cathy x

Buttons, buttons and more buttons

So, the above shows about half of those buttons I made threaded onto kiln-proof rods which are then placed onto the 'bead tree'. I don't know why they call it a 'bead tree' as it looks more like an Abacus to me.

The whole thing then goes into the kiln. It is an incredibly fiddly job. If any of those buttons touch each other, their glazes will fuse and the buttons will stick together. As you can see, some of them ARE touching, so more fiddly fiddling was required before blast off.

But they came out really well. This is only about half of them.

I still have loads of smaller ones to glaze, but after doing all these I was risking 'button glazing blindness', so I decided enough was enough.

I particularly like these leafy ones - their pattern is striking and unusual, which appeals to me.

Not sure you'd actually use them as functional buttons, possibly more as ornamentation for a garment, or a bag, or something.

I'll show you the rest of this kiln load next time.

Cheery Bye!

Cathy

God is in the Detail ...

.... or is it the Devil who's in the detail - I never know!

At last week's craft fair, along with a few larger items, I sold nearly all my tiny bits and bobs - I think its a sign of the times that most people want to buy something, but can really only afford the itty-bitty bits. So, I needed to re-stock and I've been busy making millions of little buttons and beads of all shapes and sizes and adding detail to each one. OK - well, not quite millions, but it feels that way cos they're all a bit, well, fiddly and painstaking. But worth it in the end!

I have some very exclusive tools (above) which I use for cutting out the different sizes - plastic bottle tops, an old lipstick tube and the top of a whiskey bottle - but they do the trick.

Once these are completely dry, I 'fettle' them - that's the technical name for smoothing off all the rough edges, etc. and into the old kiln they go.

All my little acorns got sold, so I've made more of those too. They always seem popular with other crafters, for adding to their own work to make it a bit different.

My textiley friend, Bev, used my acorns in her work last year and now she has asked me for some buttons and beads in blues and greens to add to her latest pieces. You can check out her blog here - she's just started it, so it would be nice to pop by and say hello if you have time.


Above is a slightly different take on a patchwork piece. Am still thinking about the glaze colours for it - not sure yet.

It came out of the first firing today, with all the above bits - so now I just have to get down to glazing them all.

Easier said than done, given that English student and Art student are both returning for the summer with all their 'stuff ' any day now! Where does the time go???

Bye for now - Cathy.

Pick n Mix Makers Market - Holt - North Norfolk

And I suppose Life pretty much is a Beach if you happen to live, or be on holiday, in beautiful North Norfolk. Which is where I am heading on Saturday with the above wall-piece and other bits and bobs ...

... if I ever get it all packed up so that it arrives there in one piece. If only I'd chosen a craft which was, well, a bit less fragile!

Have done lots of sea-sidey things, which I'm hoping people will want to hang in their cottages by the sea - I know I would - if I had one - which I haven't - well not yet anyway - but one day - possibly - please - you never know!

So, do pop along if you're around there, and if not you can always visit the website
~ www.picknmixmakersmarket.blogspot.com ~
and have a look at the other makers who'll be there.
They have some wonderful blogs - which I'm off to visit myself right now.

And, yes, I probably shall spend any profits I make on Saturday
buying other crafters' wares!
Oh well!

Starry Starry Starfish

I found a tiny starfish
In a tide pool by the sand.
I found a tiny starfish
And put him in my hand.

An itty-bitty starfish
No bigger than my thumb,
A wet and golden starfish
Belonging to no one

I thought I would take him
From the tide pool by the sea,
And bring him home to give to you
A loving gift from me.

But as I held my starfish,
His skin began to dry.
Without his special seaside home,
My gift to you would die

I found a tiny starfish
In a tide pool by the sea.
I hope whoever finds him next
Will leave him there like me!

And the gift I've saved for you?
Is the best gift I can give:
I found a tiny starfish,
And for you, I let him live.

Dayle Ann Dodds (1952-)

Am having a bit of a Starfish moment! They'll be making their way to the Pick 'n' Mix Makers' Market at Holt in a few weeks' time. For details see sidebar top right.