tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48336835069296480252024-03-14T07:25:12.765-07:00Song and BranchA blog of ceramics, cartoons, birding and other things that catch my fancy!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-60047685990501266992012-02-14T15:44:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:19:02.216-08:00Dog, be my valentineIt is a bit of a love story really. <br />
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A few days ago, my local dog training facility opened an agility training area. A couple of the myriad of reasons I quit agility was the cost of all that gas to get to the nearest center (40 miles) and the time it took to get there through traffic, often right around rush hour (45 minutes to 90 minutes). So yes, years later, here's <a href="http://ahimsadogtraining.com/">Ahimsa</a> opening up a mere 4 blocks from my house, with padded rubber floors, brand new equipment and 'rent it all to yourself for an hour' rates. For my budget $30 is more than I can afford weekly, but for a monthly treat, I can see doing this for a change of pace!<br />
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Many years ago, I was actively competing in agility and traveled to 7-8 trials a year. I loved the sport, my darling Stella competed right up to the Master's level in AKC agility. There is no feeling quite like doing agility with your dog - when it is going right you soar alongside your dog and they seem like mind readers, it's so effortless. Really though, it is because the dog gets so used to working with you, trusts your judgement (or melts down into barking to let you know you messed up with your timing) that she sees every twitch of the hand, hears the slightest inflection of your voice, even where your posture is pointing.<br />
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Stella passed away in August 2010 at age 15 - she'll always be my special dog. I still have Namio and ostensibly I raised him to compete in agility, but it ends up genetics rained on my parade and that my little guy has a heart murmur and hip dysplasia. Not that either of those conditions slow him down- like most Australian shepherds he is whip sharp, brimming with energy, loud, easy to train and wants to please (not always in that order). Early on, I competed with him at Novice level agility, gaining the jumpers with weaves title with ease. Then I started to notice something wrong with his gait and he gets out of breath easily - more examination by the vet revealed his health issues, and I stopped training him for competition, though we did keep going to class, doing lower jumps and so on until economic and time reasons drove me away.<br />
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So today I rented an hour for a special Valentine's Day frolic. Walking Namio to the arena, I had a lot of trepidation - would he remember the equipment, would he be afraid of the new space and refuse to do anything? Would there be other dogs to work around, lots of distractions (Namio is fearful and reactive around other dogs)? No such problem, we really did have the arena to ourselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6jYGRrdxrfG0YvbzHl3kGBz1yptjKUmx9IYUxGxNWGj-2jOh0wrRIKHVq81dDBbQa3gs7LwHSwd0fW0HDMb5oSazdeH8tXtG-hQPmHH2ieobcceq0qfXL0boHH-A9yBsrp43W98toBep/s1600/ready+for+more.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6jYGRrdxrfG0YvbzHl3kGBz1yptjKUmx9IYUxGxNWGj-2jOh0wrRIKHVq81dDBbQa3gs7LwHSwd0fW0HDMb5oSazdeH8tXtG-hQPmHH2ieobcceq0qfXL0boHH-A9yBsrp43W98toBep/s320/ready+for+more.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Namio is ready to go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>He remembered almost all the moves, and so did I. I set up a simple jumps ( 8 inches to keep it easy on him) and tunnel circuit. He was so excited that he barked non stop for about ten minutes until I remembered that if I just use hand/body signals and no unnecessary verbal commands, that forces him to concentrate on me instead of barking. Like magic, the barking switched off and we were doing rear crosses, pinwheels, flips and pivots, all with body motion and hand signals (and me with a messed up ankle - so he did all of it with minimal motion from me - I can't currently run!). Namio remembered "Go" - which meant he would follow the flow of obstacles without pausing for instruction. He remembered 'here', 'out' and 'turn'. I am curious what else he might recall with some of the other equipment, but I feel his hip is probably too far gone for games with the dogwalk, weaves and a-frame.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8jwt3nyyJdpwVMBBGmMF6X_uLyrLl16WmcGM8WMlhs5vdpTmZmfyALmIzP_8VFzOHfxNWkT5Mv-YTqWP51aOF1rt3PSMLRDDxyFg25IlR9crm-DPZY3pgROJYCF7ZX65fP7-xVvqkG8Q/s1600/go+out+namio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8jwt3nyyJdpwVMBBGmMF6X_uLyrLl16WmcGM8WMlhs5vdpTmZmfyALmIzP_8VFzOHfxNWkT5Mv-YTqWP51aOF1rt3PSMLRDDxyFg25IlR9crm-DPZY3pgROJYCF7ZX65fP7-xVvqkG8Q/s320/go+out+namio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Namio obeying the 'Go' command - 2 jumps, out to tunnel, some 60 ft away from me. Impressive for over 6 years away!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeC3HSHlBr-9Kz_M5kI_WjFtIHJ5O4XllzC4ZrAYsBZZyqC-r-HMsg3QxvYMnxlJYDdAiW_LH7TdvKV2TJNqBj83LEeFE4EtrX8HxEnkl7EEnC1lJTFcBv44nUyansbfXX2dmvP4QRcrX/s1600/tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeC3HSHlBr-9Kz_M5kI_WjFtIHJ5O4XllzC4ZrAYsBZZyqC-r-HMsg3QxvYMnxlJYDdAiW_LH7TdvKV2TJNqBj83LEeFE4EtrX8HxEnkl7EEnC1lJTFcBv44nUyansbfXX2dmvP4QRcrX/s320/tunnel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Namio constantly volunteered the tunnel - he loved that thing and made it so slobbery I wiped it down before putting it away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS7unCZEOiwKQLGAtdB5cDwPhZc_Valx6mD6j4YHTpVP7TGlFoSRBUR1oJWIwOTzSjNkmkDKxNwEE02T7sEL7jo0IrilxCLe67052UX0uxDmqlVzx3jYjncwNCQaXXprZ8OvmbbnhKdBX/s1600/tired+namio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS7unCZEOiwKQLGAtdB5cDwPhZc_Valx6mD6j4YHTpVP7TGlFoSRBUR1oJWIwOTzSjNkmkDKxNwEE02T7sEL7jo0IrilxCLe67052UX0uxDmqlVzx3jYjncwNCQaXXprZ8OvmbbnhKdBX/s320/tired+namio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired Aussies are a GOOD thing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After he tired himself out, we did hide and seek, find the ball, find the food and lots of impulse control exercises where I had him lie down and wait while balls were rolled past - the reward being a release and getting the ball. We had a lot of fun and it brought back really wonderful memories of Stella and Namio's glory days in the ring!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-67679740819398192342012-01-17T15:22:00.000-08:002012-01-17T15:22:34.601-08:00Making Votive Dishes with Biscuit CuttersThis is the way I make little votive dishes. There are probably better ways but I like the way these turn out still looking sort of rustic but symmetrical.<br />
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I use Seattle Pottery's CKK6 Cone 6 porcelain. You will need - some slippy water (starring here in one of Ceci Capen's lovely speckly yunomi), a set of biscuit cutters - the largest 4 inch size and the two next smaller sizes, a small sponge that will fit inside the biscuit cutters, stamps for making designs if you want them, tools for slipping, scoring and cleanup. I make my slabs for this 1/4 inch thick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ91jtrN9j-DQNI8puH6YJGFajLTWYVLlj2PK4lXavyg7hVgZlz-uG1fer3ptfl0ylBSX8yN1SGeIiTCvg9I9VVvx_efQYnj6IPthL7IeVK5T44qkFnilWJaY0tova9f0kip7T4qtiM1Cb/s1600/IMG_4928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ91jtrN9j-DQNI8puH6YJGFajLTWYVLlj2PK4lXavyg7hVgZlz-uG1fer3ptfl0ylBSX8yN1SGeIiTCvg9I9VVvx_efQYnj6IPthL7IeVK5T44qkFnilWJaY0tova9f0kip7T4qtiM1Cb/s320/IMG_4928.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuff you need to do stuff that I do.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Cut out your 4 inch circles from your slab.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWTU_SJ2LWeV4rURbCt0c7AN62ARVD6dDAzn7RBuBIntfmom8bgV49CocFfCp5bQaT_k28dUwCT_hougRQtrTuDRmAceWQfDFYg_8FUoyjZSeARxGnkDzBU65-Ot8NkLDg21Bqo7TIY-b/s1600/IMG_4929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWTU_SJ2LWeV4rURbCt0c7AN62ARVD6dDAzn7RBuBIntfmom8bgV49CocFfCp5bQaT_k28dUwCT_hougRQtrTuDRmAceWQfDFYg_8FUoyjZSeARxGnkDzBU65-Ot8NkLDg21Bqo7TIY-b/s320/IMG_4929.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C is for cookie, that's good enough for me!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Stamp your piece, clean up and compress the edges with your fingertip to stop any splitting in the clay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTUPVHD4s3LB3h0sO8dUKySxdcVXf91ELwLznEuc0jnyNCmuZNwmnK-l7YoSC8QVuusyA0M9PC0Eg2oIbR1It8ryF_fHCPTe7dvctF9l3RvSXvmk9gpgZF3RZgvMdfVpWNL5D_Hy7UV4R/s1600/IMG_4921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTUPVHD4s3LB3h0sO8dUKySxdcVXf91ELwLznEuc0jnyNCmuZNwmnK-l7YoSC8QVuusyA0M9PC0Eg2oIbR1It8ryF_fHCPTe7dvctF9l3RvSXvmk9gpgZF3RZgvMdfVpWNL5D_Hy7UV4R/s320/IMG_4921.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fishie is one of the first bisque stamps I ever made.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now decide if you want a shallow or a slightly deeper dish - for the shallow one, select the biscuit cutter that is one size smaller, for a deeper one, go 2 sizes down. Now align the flat piece over the cutter and use the slightly dampened sponge to push the clay evenly down into the cutter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PenTKSpd7WJwu-yPVpShkHL1wsSgoMYf7r9HcktjreuuRPGX9Va7CCNDzkImbd800bJK777o_bFgS0Ff5-wwrFQimj4_LNE3u9AjYBnFYwA6PN7QDKX1CXSviNtqH3kKDVwMDx7wc6AG/s1600/IMG_4922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PenTKSpd7WJwu-yPVpShkHL1wsSgoMYf7r9HcktjreuuRPGX9Va7CCNDzkImbd800bJK777o_bFgS0Ff5-wwrFQimj4_LNE3u9AjYBnFYwA6PN7QDKX1CXSviNtqH3kKDVwMDx7wc6AG/s320/IMG_4922.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, it looks a bit of a pig's ear but I got better after this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Push the dish out using the sponge. Make sure you push the bottom to a nonstick surface so it sits well as it dries. Wipe the biscuit cutter clean each time you make a new dish because it will become sticky!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJkoYNfAaGzQfGiIg8fVaFkfgo0iEF5er9JxLooHDiCk7ZsFPDy-qFrl_zBjVUbXzTgywNn68ODwdvN56dzpnqOaApRUB606JWvoKFHK6dgsW-BBWRsCzEneuqGx9FEWu6_hQOMoK_Ccr/s1600/IMG_4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJkoYNfAaGzQfGiIg8fVaFkfgo0iEF5er9JxLooHDiCk7ZsFPDy-qFrl_zBjVUbXzTgywNn68ODwdvN56dzpnqOaApRUB606JWvoKFHK6dgsW-BBWRsCzEneuqGx9FEWu6_hQOMoK_Ccr/s320/IMG_4931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work that sponge!</td></tr>
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Let the clay set up for a while - in the case of my clay it was about 15 minutes, during which I made more dishes and lined them up. Once it is less floppy, clean it up and add any edge decoration. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNampLTgEWj_8J8u7to56_KbaVlEu2L8eUW0YhiPpw0D7D0Jna-ZTvXGt9ICE8YxsfuFxDN8yokvtiNjqojMjlgL4jOgyVqq4mVGmKhD2sUrld_eGMbAhAqWaFzvSIPf43C3hSInUPdTF/s1600/IMG_4923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNampLTgEWj_8J8u7to56_KbaVlEu2L8eUW0YhiPpw0D7D0Jna-ZTvXGt9ICE8YxsfuFxDN8yokvtiNjqojMjlgL4jOgyVqq4mVGmKhD2sUrld_eGMbAhAqWaFzvSIPf43C3hSInUPdTF/s200/IMG_4923.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fishie...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm09j7ZDHxW_o8uDHgztudtuP-K5XaMfxOzhKFic2ly_c9JlAQgp50nOGVot1qKOOQ93ye_8pwIDPWNuwt7Fu_3gFRYWtVxYynohoy6AqR2mBYImc_CIJRxSn4tsPhtdHWau1uewc-uKg/s1600/IMG_4925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm09j7ZDHxW_o8uDHgztudtuP-K5XaMfxOzhKFic2ly_c9JlAQgp50nOGVot1qKOOQ93ye_8pwIDPWNuwt7Fu_3gFRYWtVxYynohoy6AqR2mBYImc_CIJRxSn4tsPhtdHWau1uewc-uKg/s200/IMG_4925.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...meet hungry otter</td></tr>
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So I made more - you can see the difference between the horse dish on the left and the one on the right - the horse one used a cutter 2 sizes down.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-6zieyqOy8UsNV4xVu7_ASzsBlQYNcqo_Dvwmmad2NaFmMs1VpQCEW5JCf2P6jysZfERIF-2nlrRrRBFYPB7cTW3n6WELWHY6XzlxhjvDJc9RI_AR6jeRr3-B16hRtb_gazVDbh1tmvu/s1600/IMG_4937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-6zieyqOy8UsNV4xVu7_ASzsBlQYNcqo_Dvwmmad2NaFmMs1VpQCEW5JCf2P6jysZfERIF-2nlrRrRBFYPB7cTW3n6WELWHY6XzlxhjvDJc9RI_AR6jeRr3-B16hRtb_gazVDbh1tmvu/s320/IMG_4937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>and I fired them<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztdLBKGj2_EoXJ-VDoOeV1LuZEBLodZ8w9Cta3xs8SAL0hwcDx4EUH-2JbQESCH5d1MKQB4sRVm7H2FHzL7pye4XGfL6z6QjBz1dkXNfptz5x8CBWFijWJ_liiDgbjSx9bfpR1Bb3s_H2/s1600/IMG_4948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztdLBKGj2_EoXJ-VDoOeV1LuZEBLodZ8w9Cta3xs8SAL0hwcDx4EUH-2JbQESCH5d1MKQB4sRVm7H2FHzL7pye4XGfL6z6QjBz1dkXNfptz5x8CBWFijWJ_liiDgbjSx9bfpR1Bb3s_H2/s320/IMG_4948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>and put votive candles in one<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljgFSHy0M92Y6Y43uKvZB0K0EfYO4JYh0tiluaRgv9MrxHmmIkX-4Kcf4CHc92VMLiJFCNIiq8WrpALUphvE0za0X05v5Mn65iBNy243ytDhjB3nGGCQIpBfTq7vZTXd5dyeJ5qUa2haE/s1600/IMG_4945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljgFSHy0M92Y6Y43uKvZB0K0EfYO4JYh0tiluaRgv9MrxHmmIkX-4Kcf4CHc92VMLiJFCNIiq8WrpALUphvE0za0X05v5Mn65iBNy243ytDhjB3nGGCQIpBfTq7vZTXd5dyeJ5qUa2haE/s320/IMG_4945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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And here's the otter with his fishie -<br />
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The end results are about 3 inches in diameter and about a half inch deep. They fit votive candles perfectly, but of course they are perfect for all sorts of trinkets, tea bags etc!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-78303099705980121712011-04-09T22:38:00.000-07:002011-04-09T22:49:28.513-07:00Questions AnsweredQuestions about Song and Branch's business practices, habits etc. The subject and thrust of questions have been changed to protect the innocent. Do note that not all of these questions were asked on etsy, as it appears that the Fremont Market is a hotbed of curious people.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q. Why is the cute adorable standing fawn more expensive than the cute adorable sleeping fawn? They look just as detailed.<br />
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A. As cute adorable fawns go, the sleeping ones have less potential energy than the standing ones, that is, I can make 4 sleeping fawns and know I will have 4 when I unload the kiln, and make 4 standing ones and end up with 3. Porcelain droops and causes legs to warp, also just the weight of clear glaze when I dip a standing piece is capable of breaking off a leg if I hold it too tightly. I love the standing figures though, so it is worth a little bloodshed in the glaze firing to bring them to you and for $2 - 4 more I think that's a bargain!<br />
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Q. Why can't I have my bowl in a week?<br />
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A. Because my big kiln holds about 200-300 pieces and is most efficient when full, this means to finish your piece I must make, fire to bisque, glaze, fire to completion all 200 pieces along with your own piece. If all goes well, a cycle takes me about 2 weeks, but more often it is 3 weeks.<br />
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<br />
Q. I wanted some miniature birds and I saw some on your site for $10 a pair. I want a pair of rose breasted grosbeaks and you quoted me $20. WHY?<br />
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A. I make fast-selling birds like bluebirds and cardinals in lots of 20, which means I can more or less economize the speed. Unfortunately, I will probably have to make 4-5 of them to get two that you will like, thus, a commission costs a bit more.<br />
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<br />
Q. Can you make me a Hello Kitty?<br />
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A. No. I do not make copyrighted characters.<br />
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Q. Can you paint a dog wearing a Star Trek uniform in a pinchpot for me?<br />
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A. Yes, I am fine with humor or parody that is not a direct rip off of a copyrighted item, since artists are allowed to do that without being sued in most cases (though I would be very leery of any Disney character - their legal team is something else).<br />
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<br />
Q. Will you giftwrap my item and add a note for my loved one?<br />
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A. If you are fine with tissue paper and ribbon in pastel colors, I can do that free of charge. I don't do sharp corners though, or pretty paper or anything since I am a bit of a slob and it's frankly embarrassing. The note to your loved one will be on the back of a hand-drawn ACEO card with appropriate subject matter.<br />
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Q. Can I have that rock in your photograph?<br />
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A. No. I love that rock or I would not photograph it so much. It is Jurassic limestone from the south of England containing hundreds of tiny ammonite fossils. I absolutely love it. My sister found it on the beach at the town of Beer (yes it is a real town) and gave it to me - so in addition to being sedimentary it is sentimental.<br />
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Q. Will you, for the love of god sign your pieces?<br />
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A. In the excitement of creating my work, I often forget to sign my work. I am always happy to sign or initial my sculptures with sharpie. Sorry about that, I still haven't made a chop that I like and I have been through about a dozen...Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-53677812884252866822011-04-06T11:28:00.000-07:002011-04-06T11:28:01.119-07:00Etsy vs Fremont Sunday MarketObservations are fun. For the last month I have been going to the Fremont Sunday Market and I have sold on Etsy for almost three years now. The venues are very different.<br />
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<b>Market: You Have to be nice in public.</b><br />
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I could be having an awful day and selling online and no one is going to see it. On Etsy I can have a little snark session over someone offering me $2 for a piece worth $12, but in public you have to thank them for their offer and then refuse politely because the public is watching. At the market I have to be the nice, smiling person that I am not. This isn't to say that I am wildly vicious or mean, just that I am a poorly socialized nerd who doesn't always cue into subtle body language. I really have a hard time making eye contact, I am self conscious about the fact that my teeth aren't normal and also I stand crookedly and my neck is stiff so I feel like a bit of a freak. Honestly though, people don't seem to notice.<br />
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<b>Etsy: You have to know time zones</b><br />
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Etsy is an international venue. I know a few folks don't sell internationally but when asked I always encourage people to sell to ANYONE who wants your art. In general, exchange rates are good for people outside the US, so even with shipping your piece still looks like a bargain to them.<b> </b>The thing is when they start asking questions about stuff - make sure you check what time it is in Australia or Ireland because it will save you some "did they get my message?" issues. Typically, the minute one of my regular international buyers shows interest in a piece, I put it on reserve right away, because they might have gone to bed and we'll resume the sale in the morning - a reserve shows that you care :)<br />
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<b>Etsy: Photography, Writing, Promoting</b><br />
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You get bonus points for hanging in there on etsy. It's a very crowded venue that is contingent on <b> </b>things that as an artist you never signed up for. That is - to get noticed you must have wonderful pictures, to keep the customer interested, your description must capture their attention, to even get the person looking at your shop, you must have attracted their attention in some way. I feel a wee smidgeon of guilt that I do pretty well on etsy and I am not the best ceramic artist out there - but I am aware of the hurdles you have to cross to sell even one item on etsy - you have to pick up additional skills and then keep at it day after day after day.<br />
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<b>Market: The Character of the Place</b><br />
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Fremont is known as a hippie, freaky, far out, silly, nipple baring, artist loft cuddling area of Seattle. Its market is known for flea marketry, cheap but pretty decent food, beads, fresh baked goods and lots and lots of stalls filled with crafters that try once, get horrified by the driving wind and rain and leave for good. At first blush, this looks like a terrible place for me. In fact, I poo-pooed it for a year. Then, I came to realize that my pieces are small and a lot of the rummage tables are like that - they attract people that love detail and spend time browsing. Sure enough, when I go, I sell lots of small detailed things - not the big pieces, not the art pieces, but things that can be tucked into a purse as they continue shopping. The wonderful thing is that I sell pieces from six year old girls (little bunnies) to 80 something year old grandfathers (little frogs). <b> </b><br />
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<b>Etsy: The Character of the Place</b><br />
<br />
On etsy I am simply not going to encounter the six year olds and 80 year olds. Market sales are largely incidental and etsy is somewhere you go on purpose. On etsy I sell just about anything I make and some items I absolutely cannot sell at the market are popular on etsy. My current favorite example is drop plates - thin porcelain plates made in a wooden mold and finished off with a couple animal sculptures. I can barely keep them in stock on etsy and they are currently my most common commission item. What does Fremont Market think of them? They are soap dishes. What's wrong with soap dishes? Well, the moment someone says it is a soap dish, about $20 has to come off the price tag, because in neighboring stalls there are vintage soap dishes selling for $5.<br />
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<b>Market: I can talk about it</b><br />
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I know that if I don't put a measurement on a piece within the first two sentences of a description on etsy, there is a chance that when the person gets the piece, they will be shocked at the size. At the market, the pieces are as-is, and if a person is interested, I can fill their heads with all the technique information, inspiration and fun facts that I generally don't add to a description. These conversations are fun, and I love some of the questions I get. Other ceramicists can thank me later for explaining why it takes so long to make a piece, what cones mean, what porcelain is and why stoneware is different, because in the last few weeks I have regurgitated a good portion of what I've learned - and it's been fun.<br />
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That's it for now, gotta go take pictures!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-30302474126980403882011-03-18T14:31:00.000-07:002011-03-18T15:38:33.321-07:00Creating a Farmer's Market Table DisplayAfter going to a <a href="http://businessofcrafts.com/">business seminar</a> last weekend, my personal consensus was that since I live 15 blocks from <a href="http://www.fremontmarket.com/SplashMay.html">Fremont Sunday Market</a>, I ought to set up at the market, if only for the research opportunity it represents. This particular market has a low barrier to entry - you simply need to show up at 7am on Sunday, sign in and pay $40, which includes a sturdy table (this time of the year it is in an underground parking lot).<br />
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I didn't want to just go and throw a nasty looking table cloth on a table (which I have done before with fairly shocking results), so I started drawing my dream table with the helpful ideas from the seminar. My pieces are small and bright colored, so I ended up choosing black. Also because the pieces are small, I wanted a display that would literally get in your face :)<br />
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I got a humongous sturdy black tablecloth from amazon.com for $11, and then took a trip to the University Bookstore for large sheets of black matting and some black foam core.<br />
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There followed much cutting, polishing and anguish over the fact that black does a great job at looking uneven unless you are really good. I think the results are pretty good. I set it up on a 4 x 3 table. It will look a little more spread out on a 6ft table (I will add some of my drop plates and a newsletter sign up sheet).<br />
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All that's left for today is to complete my inventory list, pack the extra/duplicate items and make some price signs.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-TYfBxLVGZFBohu96XZIzK36WQeCjDRLAu-OH69Vw-P870JJO3Acvyhgr6sDeBaPLiJjbfFajo-rEaaoVj8FQZM2jSueWYw_Q7gSRt0evjUtal9nS8NmGAoLhh2WLJMA3PnVp1_GOsEQ/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-TYfBxLVGZFBohu96XZIzK36WQeCjDRLAu-OH69Vw-P870JJO3Acvyhgr6sDeBaPLiJjbfFajo-rEaaoVj8FQZM2jSueWYw_Q7gSRt0evjUtal9nS8NmGAoLhh2WLJMA3PnVp1_GOsEQ/s400/IMG_0248.JPG" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full set up.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMYc-PdqfNaS2DRgLklk0x1HRrBmaOpLkMaBbETcXRP92hbQnC26i09uMCBMA5_ylENBoNsjCFdH_FaDSgAOfXIn5o3Q5GFZvE3S8ugTfta_Y3cpQpaQ4WqFggqsuUO10XWj5FairAj_s/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMYc-PdqfNaS2DRgLklk0x1HRrBmaOpLkMaBbETcXRP92hbQnC26i09uMCBMA5_ylENBoNsjCFdH_FaDSgAOfXIn5o3Q5GFZvE3S8ugTfta_Y3cpQpaQ4WqFggqsuUO10XWj5FairAj_s/s400/IMG_0250.JPG" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tall shelf comes up to eye level on me and has lots of cubbies that hightlight small pieces, plus a 'scenic' shelf for really tiny items.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiST7rlDX3y5uiI9kXBRa2qRQ0NnKeq7qLqXcdEiNOtyvWIyUpBCt-MZ3i-j0FzEUn0Hl1IAgutI6eB2RQlxKfRsRSu_dH2ooHvatWfFMGb89lJyWtyQ3YsftmPQcZHZrF4II5er4zHFf/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiST7rlDX3y5uiI9kXBRa2qRQ0NnKeq7qLqXcdEiNOtyvWIyUpBCt-MZ3i-j0FzEUn0Hl1IAgutI6eB2RQlxKfRsRSu_dH2ooHvatWfFMGb89lJyWtyQ3YsftmPQcZHZrF4II5er4zHFf/s400/IMG_0251.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larger scale shelf to feature some of my anthropomorph and goblin figures.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm09Vf4I8oZtEqNB-bp48hvGsWuu8PQSbMhiYspRmz4Y4TtTMBgcO1JaHOCRzViAwFwVUkchZLKtpa-9jwKbVn9U_UFp3nYkaWZfZRWLiV7o5ytoXIZHmWrmF7-xcXZLQeA5FUhyphenhyphenBNh1T/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm09Vf4I8oZtEqNB-bp48hvGsWuu8PQSbMhiYspRmz4Y4TtTMBgcO1JaHOCRzViAwFwVUkchZLKtpa-9jwKbVn9U_UFp3nYkaWZfZRWLiV7o5ytoXIZHmWrmF7-xcXZLQeA5FUhyphenhyphenBNh1T/s400/IMG_0252.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Rummage" basket with pinch pots that contain lots and lots of different beads and pendants.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03WjMiGKN2wAxWZCeaO1iSGZlQ8Fa-6csOsOChfIsMMWCXyvLBsnCBxkD6eITlLMj_68dHfFa7laELSBW6ByWjDOgzIkBx6YtQ51QU5X-CFDoM7K1-16dPLIY2BiMYyULaY7825wSZpvq/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03WjMiGKN2wAxWZCeaO1iSGZlQ8Fa-6csOsOChfIsMMWCXyvLBsnCBxkD6eITlLMj_68dHfFa7laELSBW6ByWjDOgzIkBx6YtQ51QU5X-CFDoM7K1-16dPLIY2BiMYyULaY7825wSZpvq/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'scenic' shelf of the tall shelving - it looks nicer in person!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4DVicIGyh9KT6mv0eQnEtxeNzykn9mM0JZeCUZrswX4UHRkswq2hb9Kt7rjJp1Dzps-xjyxCGwIqBDUKf41v6kXGfBt0KbJs8DuT6i1u2Q7Y4Ta9E1-l_xh8yUQyxvuJQVZYHNluzMB-/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4DVicIGyh9KT6mv0eQnEtxeNzykn9mM0JZeCUZrswX4UHRkswq2hb9Kt7rjJp1Dzps-xjyxCGwIqBDUKf41v6kXGfBt0KbJs8DuT6i1u2Q7Y4Ta9E1-l_xh8yUQyxvuJQVZYHNluzMB-/s400/IMG_0256.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grid area of the big shelf, showing how each piece is nicely framed.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-TYfBxLVGZFBohu96XZIzK36WQeCjDRLAu-OH69Vw-P870JJO3Acvyhgr6sDeBaPLiJjbfFajo-rEaaoVj8FQZM2jSueWYw_Q7gSRt0evjUtal9nS8NmGAoLhh2WLJMA3PnVp1_GOsEQ/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-46049629731011384862011-03-16T19:26:00.000-07:002011-03-16T19:26:46.775-07:00You've worked a while at ceramics when -<ul><li>You drop a piece and don't get that upset because you figure you can make a better one</li>
<li>A person says they could make what you make. You observe their beautiful well-manicured fingernails, their make up and lovely new clothing and smile. <i>Go ahead, make my clay.</i></li>
<li>Mud is a good word</li>
<li>It hasn't been a good day unless you scrub at the sink for at least 10 minutes because you keep finding new places where clay or glaze landed.</li>
<li>Wherever you go, you see textures that might make a good stamp</li>
<li> Wherever you go, you see things that might make great tools</li>
<li>Upon observing a clay soil, you wonder what it would look like fired.</li>
<li>If you see ceramics in a store, you instantly turn it over and look for signs it was hand made. Any sign you find that indicates a human worked on it makes you happy. This is akin to the feeling I used to get when I saw bear tracks in the forest. Look! A ceramicist was here and they left their sign!</li>
<li>Drywall is not just for walls</li>
<li>You view all loose hair as the enemy while throwing and when the inevitable hair does get in the clay, you swear you will cut it all off and then you don't because you think you can stop it from happening <i>this time</i></li>
<li>You like that damp musty smell in your studio that indicates your clay will be nice and pliable</li>
<li>You have your own language for the texture and consistency of clay and glaze. My celadon tends to be green-buttery, my toshi brown is moossy-goosy and one of my stonewares tends to mump (get bumps when wet). My glazes also get mold, which I have dubbed 'glold'.</li>
</ul>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-28641623805349157532011-03-09T14:36:00.000-08:002011-03-09T14:36:36.707-08:00Space Shuttle DiscoveryI love the space shuttles. Way back when, when I was in highschool, I competed the art contest to give an insignia to Space Shuttle Columbia (lost of course, didn't even make it to any semi final). I was standing in my livingroom, just about to walk to high school when I saw Columbia's launch and destruction. The next day I and the other science nerds (a small number of people in my small school) were going to tune into Sally Ride's lessons from space. It never happened, of course, but if anything that regret made me love the shuttles more, so I continued following their missions and mishaps, I cried some years later when Challenger burned up on entry - this time announced while I was competing at a dog agility meet. I can't remember the competition, even though I still have the blue ribbon medallion from that day - Stella honored my tears and ran her heart out, the time on the ribbon reads 00:36:48, probably longer than the time it took for Challenger to fragment in the atmosphere over Texas.<br />
<br />
There is and was something fantastic about the shuttles - real spaceships, not just rockets and orbital modules, they flew like airplanes, they ran on technology from the '80s and all things considered, that they lasted into this decade is a marvel of engineering. Of all things American, I was always proud of NASA, even when they confused metric and imperial measurements, sported a murderous woman in space diapers, when the occasional satellite burned up, I cheered for them; I loved the story of Apollo 13, I treasured a silver dollar with the eagle and the moon etched on its surface. Now, NASA is fading away like Opportunity and Spirit, to dust, despair and obscurity, wandering feebly with a few programs, no longer the muscle of the International Space Station but just a subsiduary.<br />
<br />
So it all makes me sad. I hear rebuttals that it's too expensive, that it's wasteful, that we could finance better schools, better food distribution with the money and that NASA is just part of the dreaded military industrial complex so just shut up about it. All of these things are true of course - to an extent. I would argue though that NASA is a testament to the will of all that is progressive, intelligent and inventive in the US, that it was a place that in all my days in school I could dream about when my future looked like it would be full of drudgery, heartache and poverty. NASA helped me dream beyond my little town, my little family and my country, too. I just wonder what kids get to dream of now, if the stars are no longer on the agenda.<br />
<br />
<br />
I guess this is to say that things like the space shuttle remind me that things can be better, they can be exceptional, they can take us to the stars. We can dream of a better place on earth, because every few months I could tune in and look down on this planet with the crew of the space shuttle, without seeing borders - just the great wide oceans, the golden plains of Africa and the white swathe of Siberia. I am thankful they repaired the Hubble Telescope, so at least for years to come I can still enjoy the awesome beauty and mystery of its images. Anyhow, I loved those stubby winged ships!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-13059096968318485552011-03-08T20:50:00.000-08:002011-03-08T20:50:40.227-08:00Pottery Attack and the Interpests<b>Pottery Attack! My Favorites today! </b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.225511805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.225511805.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69646467/tiny-decorative-wheel-thrown-pot-sea">Beautiful Nudibranch Bowl from lesperancetile</a> I love sea slugs and this is an absolutely beautiful transfer from a scientific illustration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.206347122.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.206347122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/65451811/pastel-blue-pansy-rain-catcher">Wonderful raincatcher from laspottery. Spring is springing, and this is a great way to celebrate the return of warmth and weather sanity in the garden!</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.203975011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.203975011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64846760/turquoise-matte-candlelight">Crafted by adventuresinclay,</a> it looks like an Arabian Night's airship to me, ready to take off at any moment.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">in·ter·pest</span></b><br />
<div class="header"><span class="pronset"><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="pron"><span class="pronset"><span class="show_ipapr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim"></span></span></span></span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="pron"><span class="pronset"><span class="show_ipapr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="pronset"><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="pron"><span class="boldface"></span></span></span></span></span><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"></span></span></span> </div><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">–noun,</span> </span></span><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">plural</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">-s.</span> </span></span> <div class="luna-Ent"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">1. Any person, thing, activity that presents a nuisance while on the internet.</span></span></span></div><br />
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<ul><li>Faux galleries on etsy. You see a conversation header that perkily says "I love your work." You instantly think "Oh a commission maybe!" You open the conversation and see a wall of text containing things like "I am honored pleased to welcome you two or galleri opens." I always get my hopes dashed...</li>
<li>Faux friends on Facebook. They had a name resembling the name of a well known ceramic artist so I cheerfully said 'yes' when I got the invite. This person spammed me with "My cow in farmville makes chocolate milk" "could you care for my pigs while I am away?" "I am a big don in Mafia Wars." </li>
<li>I innocently found a great shop on etsy and 'favorited' something. Later on, I noticed the shop had 'favorited' me, warm fuzzies all round. The next day, a friend of that shop contacted me, asking that I favorite them. Only problem is, they specialize in adult items and I didn't want everyone in my activity list to see it. Sorta felt sad that I had to self censor just to satisfy the activity thing, they seemed nice.</li>
<li>I noticed that I had a ton of new subs on Twitter. All of them were from the clones and sock puppets of one account trying to sell me holistic dog food (why?). Or, a few weeks ago it was mineral cosmetics, and before that it was lotion that would shrink my pores and make me look 10 years younger. It's nice to see that spam bots have moved up from viagra.</li>
<li>Conversations that randomly ask for a discount without any preamble or even previous business dealings. I do my best not to feel insulted, but what I always feel is "Your work is not worth X to me, but it is worth Y, which, coincidentally, is equal to what I have in my penny jar." Art is a luxury, not a right. I would never refuse someone a hot meal, but I will withhold porcelain miniatures! </li>
</ul>These are amalgamation and slight exaggerations of actual things that happened while selling online. I do have to say that 99% of my interactions are positive and that I love my shop regulars very very much. It's just when you get a few of these greatest hits, you have to write them down because they're either funny, mind boggling or just so annoying!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-29644588899722240162011-03-02T12:17:00.000-08:002011-03-02T12:19:21.456-08:00Unloading Bisque!Big run of bisque today, about 150 items or more (I didn't count every single little pendant).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxT-rHuk-eXhn9_LqBdPjJ3rvE4gJGTIcYyVN1_G6ASiQfB-LdlZKYTm6c8qkeOz4KNXYk18xlPsaaYy57VbA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Video with additional commentary by Namio the talkative australian shepherd >> There needs to be a sound editing tool called "mute dog".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8UhLvLFC5LAKii65f82oi3IyfQUaU7EzVzdAHBRASOusGNtV5N38s8SNNVd6IkSPqAwt43Dd83eQfNi5KuPn9UWyCPK_lUp9wKzjHW_epHB9dg2_0PnIQ_LOdeQ_QbJasnTI7EoEu1H4/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8UhLvLFC5LAKii65f82oi3IyfQUaU7EzVzdAHBRASOusGNtV5N38s8SNNVd6IkSPqAwt43Dd83eQfNi5KuPn9UWyCPK_lUp9wKzjHW_epHB9dg2_0PnIQ_LOdeQ_QbJasnTI7EoEu1H4/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Ant Eater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdaInH0hQHE8Trnvj6JnCELRu1T58vQsurVvgsuZBXsLuLbqUUg0bMe0Ex57Gl2KyBvvb0ZUrfQWfqs3qcaTi4Kd-68EahBJM-w5Gofe3Nm9BJyuKYwANoEe9TgJwgE_GZYZxcmBniI1s/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdaInH0hQHE8Trnvj6JnCELRu1T58vQsurVvgsuZBXsLuLbqUUg0bMe0Ex57Gl2KyBvvb0ZUrfQWfqs3qcaTi4Kd-68EahBJM-w5Gofe3Nm9BJyuKYwANoEe9TgJwgE_GZYZxcmBniI1s/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I am calling a spirit horse at the moment. Probably brought on by looking at Persian art.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgt212k6eIotcEncDwwYp2rNkvneKFYgYlSIRkNEqJ_RdasX9z9xvpI4VhmAiQE6lBSJKbvcVYGwuql_9ZZp3GIG2ECLmNQwVtHskPnDgXMowEX7KukHvGEv24h2dUXCYHH7c3pEwIIb6/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgt212k6eIotcEncDwwYp2rNkvneKFYgYlSIRkNEqJ_RdasX9z9xvpI4VhmAiQE6lBSJKbvcVYGwuql_9ZZp3GIG2ECLmNQwVtHskPnDgXMowEX7KukHvGEv24h2dUXCYHH7c3pEwIIb6/s320/IMG_0170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He has a slippery expression :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpCLvXpW4UfcQc4iyj-kU0un8Icz06CeQEFwFnOnYyPj_5r1cc5jTeLD0D03U53ji4BSaFX1PmBMHqw2uzmYUmgMuyGug8HzvGn3roEUVN7Fv91MZ_F3L2_pmD5rucnZjZLyLfVBuEaw6/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpCLvXpW4UfcQc4iyj-kU0un8Icz06CeQEFwFnOnYyPj_5r1cc5jTeLD0D03U53ji4BSaFX1PmBMHqw2uzmYUmgMuyGug8HzvGn3roEUVN7Fv91MZ_F3L2_pmD5rucnZjZLyLfVBuEaw6/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy with roses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX8s0-HhPQpb7PAl4Qpzmcp4VZMHFTxwLMJ0f5npXZThZJ34ULOhh0QNjPTv9XSf2_iOibNR3bds5CDC01ZBLeeol1dlUM6ug7rHR6P_n32qUfijdSlL0gjTosKcYe-175GT-Y1T886QS/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX8s0-HhPQpb7PAl4Qpzmcp4VZMHFTxwLMJ0f5npXZThZJ34ULOhh0QNjPTv9XSf2_iOibNR3bds5CDC01ZBLeeol1dlUM6ug7rHR6P_n32qUfijdSlL0gjTosKcYe-175GT-Y1T886QS/s320/IMG_0172.JPG" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This goblin already has a name - Griselda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Overall pretty happy with the load with the exception of cracking drop plates, though I knew full well this might happen since I did not take care while drying them. Next time they will properly get to sit on the racks and do their thing in piece, rather than get put in the kiln too quickly. Still, the commissioned plates are fine.Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-87857350371172985832011-02-26T15:28:00.000-08:002011-02-26T15:38:34.632-08:00Bead Kiln!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09W5LcvMyC9htpaGFnYBjeQ_gWfsa4BW1iuurEULXzWDZohe3q8oXPv64Io6BNs8G-d2Sc_mXavyJHzM1y13Nn4lzD2mn7Jnk5aTsdo1KYhmfSloQ8CwluBcbxPxvn0sjACSNNmbu4doi/s1600/waiting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09W5LcvMyC9htpaGFnYBjeQ_gWfsa4BW1iuurEULXzWDZohe3q8oXPv64Io6BNs8G-d2Sc_mXavyJHzM1y13Nn4lzD2mn7Jnk5aTsdo1KYhmfSloQ8CwluBcbxPxvn0sjACSNNmbu4doi/s1600/waiting+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV-txtXlQWrlj4pUlZ8bztAoChsnNFLHPNts9aOnUFJzfZ3nUhnMV7lx9EGIME68SGn469JZejmyAHSS7CuyfM-N88WUNQbKbdskls4C7O_OfBGlyMoUjkhyphenhyphenCEDjRnwAcIoOrfbugfXAi/s1600/waiting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV-txtXlQWrlj4pUlZ8bztAoChsnNFLHPNts9aOnUFJzfZ3nUhnMV7lx9EGIME68SGn469JZejmyAHSS7CuyfM-N88WUNQbKbdskls4C7O_OfBGlyMoUjkhyphenhyphenCEDjRnwAcIoOrfbugfXAi/s640/waiting2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflxQw5oLyJ6JNXyhaOJTsjwA3Ni3zoe2ozFPE4KJ9d-GUSTjirw4NIAdhXZAOwWWJ9rrjxRZxrNVOGvx3FnTBBy3o8RJ4yYTrUaEg_O0rVH0NukNLO8-ThuJrSzlMJtVKLI05mzABsPJI/s1600/waiting3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">a<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflxQw5oLyJ6JNXyhaOJTsjwA3Ni3zoe2ozFPE4KJ9d-GUSTjirw4NIAdhXZAOwWWJ9rrjxRZxrNVOGvx3FnTBBy3o8RJ4yYTrUaEg_O0rVH0NukNLO8-ThuJrSzlMJtVKLI05mzABsPJI/s1600/waiting3.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Actually, my kiln has not arrived yet and the dogs have fallen asleep, mainly because I am not getting up each and every time I hear a bark. I am now listening for the characteristic Fedex truck door slam. Of course, the Fedex site is quite coy about whether I am getting the delivery today or later. It says "out for delivery" on the site, but then it also says "Delivery for Next Business day". I am confused but I so want the kiln NOW that I am waiting at my desk, no earphones on, waiting and waiting. *sigh* GIB NOW!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> The kiln I am getting has a little front door and the computer control is under the kiln, which means it is very trim and will take up very little space. I also fires up to cone 8 and does all of this very fast. I have already made beads and pendants in anticipation! My awesome sister funded this new addition to my studio! Many loves and hugs to her! I really needed one, if not only for beads but also for testing glazes and making small masterworks that are better off isolated from the occasional chaos of the big kiln.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh and the bead kiln needs a name. I will be thinking about it.</div>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-87076888886073418192011-02-18T20:34:00.000-08:002011-02-18T20:34:04.964-08:00Trying to Find My Gallery CharmingI set aside a few hours this week to visit galleries/folk art stores in my area. Seattle is crawling with galleries, open the yellow pages (when you can find them these days) and you'll find page after page from West Seattle to the waters of Lake Washington, from SoDo to Northgate. So, I picked a few and visited. Some observations so far -<br />
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1. I am not comfortable in galleries. I spend most of my art existence with other artists, reading about other artists, online looking at art, in museums or through having studied art history. I have never really been a creature of the gallery scene, unless passing by and looking at cool things in the window counts. Being a person from modest means, I have always regarded galleries as places rich people go - I feel like a barbaric invader when I enter some of these places.<br />
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2. In some of the galleries there's a tendency to have rather oppressive, large pieces hanging high above, which makes me feel I am about to be crushed by something very modern and avant-garde. At least I will die fashionable. <br />
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3. I am starting to figure out that Seattle is not into color. Whatever accounts for taste in color likes cream, gray and certain blues. Orange, red, turquoise and spring greens are not welcome - if they are invited, they will be found in a back area or on the notecard rack, their racy contents tastefully half hidden by envelopes. Apparently Seattle killed the color wheel and replaced it with neutrals.<br />
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4. The tendency of a gallery to set up in a narrow space. I guess maybe when a new gallery owner looks for real estate they drop the r in gallery and look for a galley. Because, after all, nothing is better for your customer than when they bend over and catch their bum on the sharp edge of a projecting sculpture.<br />
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5. New age music. I am generally not a fan of it, especially not moaning voices and chimes. With the acoustics of some buildings, it sounds like bad plumbing and someone trying to get a penny out of a coke bottle with a butter knife. <br />
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6. Pretentious setting for art that is beautiful on its own. I feel bad for the art and the artists in these settings. It's as if the gallery owner says "SCREW THE ART, LOOK AT MY DECOR!!!!111!!! I AM SO KEWL!!"<br />
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7. Next to the smelliest restaurant in town. Victims of circumstance, these galleries smell delicious, but you have the impression that anyone who buys a canvas or any cloth art will live the rest of their natural life with a house scented with the #8 dinner special.<br />
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8. Folk Art stores - they're the most cluttered and crazy places. Now, these are the sorts of galleries where my work sells, so I am always attentive to them BUT they are incredibly chaotic, with bits and pieces of stuff that erupt from walls and any spare shelf space. You could go crazy in any one of these places! There's one shop with pottery next to cloth dolls, organic face cream, bonzai fertilizer and jewelry. O.O<br />
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9. Flat art only. These make me sad since I am a sculptor. Paintings only and weirdly two of these so far had by far the nicest and chattiest owners. Wish I could paint.Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-16630484113405939802011-02-16T12:36:00.000-08:002011-02-16T12:37:15.590-08:00Based on a True Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE5oZ0P9eMkly15Vblwdbq-dKe7GkcVV8G1v16YgxAukfeB82NPUVKbyqCmxL-o9JpspPwyxJYNi317wtkiLtTJWO0wVhngUgtTOyy3pMgi76tgjNRxbZxnJmME2KEp3B-ykWyNbNmDtN/s1600/hairloss1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE5oZ0P9eMkly15Vblwdbq-dKe7GkcVV8G1v16YgxAukfeB82NPUVKbyqCmxL-o9JpspPwyxJYNi317wtkiLtTJWO0wVhngUgtTOyy3pMgi76tgjNRxbZxnJmME2KEp3B-ykWyNbNmDtN/s400/hairloss1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMNEdkbd1KdQiH5CjCZ9WRMgFT_R5A69Zm5Lalbn4p5XLEAhrrePsBvP3QhpjKwuzU79VOCTCf2FKEIYX2eZdxXit07Q3s366FKVALdR3vYPK6nN3oxcuyaR9GE-2gxNrkyvekM-Vhf08/s1600/hairloss2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMNEdkbd1KdQiH5CjCZ9WRMgFT_R5A69Zm5Lalbn4p5XLEAhrrePsBvP3QhpjKwuzU79VOCTCf2FKEIYX2eZdxXit07Q3s366FKVALdR3vYPK6nN3oxcuyaR9GE-2gxNrkyvekM-Vhf08/s400/hairloss2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNyivkr9uiPIjKHfvo3_NPrUL5ExEKmmWvoPyTOTWEU_C-WnoiYMkENrNK__E8-_v6kxCH8odSHySKUacamSFXz6Ij33DQnsI8_zRKkHVNw0uojOTn97AWNhUqcE2RShQCiR5PggWGQjM/s1600/hairloss3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNyivkr9uiPIjKHfvo3_NPrUL5ExEKmmWvoPyTOTWEU_C-WnoiYMkENrNK__E8-_v6kxCH8odSHySKUacamSFXz6Ij33DQnsI8_zRKkHVNw0uojOTn97AWNhUqcE2RShQCiR5PggWGQjM/s400/hairloss3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGy1tHOOHygUIzCsGu_kUZdmtXYlYxwoZ6cP3ESN4m9fYdNAdcB-leC2ZGMZKyfTaBbjMs2H7Y5cKksDFh8DVgR8z0dAqLc-OXPpkr1A3bhUoJTZAeQmGpEvxDEm8rNpHBmY2u__fBKiA/s1600/hairloss4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGy1tHOOHygUIzCsGu_kUZdmtXYlYxwoZ6cP3ESN4m9fYdNAdcB-leC2ZGMZKyfTaBbjMs2H7Y5cKksDFh8DVgR8z0dAqLc-OXPpkr1A3bhUoJTZAeQmGpEvxDEm8rNpHBmY2u__fBKiA/s640/hairloss4.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>I promise I will get off the silly doggy stuff now! There will be more clay cartoons! However, this happened to me and I had to document it - it seemed more funny in pictures than in writing. My aussie dog Nami really IS EVIL and obsessive when it comes to toys. My poor hair, it's still frazzled on one side from that ball!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-50552572122484278562011-02-15T20:54:00.000-08:002011-02-15T20:54:24.478-08:00Analog TuesdayUh oh, I have been drawing again! Hide your pens, hide your paints!<br />
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This week, some dog comedy, in particular dogs that like to fetch obsessively. These are all ACEO cards 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches<br />
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This one is The Bribe. Balloons, roses? Play frisbee?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-UdiUzi_cChsXB1ttKuxy2p5_G6W-MgtqNGAN3CufVyIerTv4UwI7Q7kGtD46YES9aCJENzZrrXy3rnu0sR5QbkgQFPTXtHASJ4QGKLpx4hDbTtPWG4MLmVI-ljFjeo0vVE1nAyHl24f/s1600/bribe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-UdiUzi_cChsXB1ttKuxy2p5_G6W-MgtqNGAN3CufVyIerTv4UwI7Q7kGtD46YES9aCJENzZrrXy3rnu0sR5QbkgQFPTXtHASJ4QGKLpx4hDbTtPWG4MLmVI-ljFjeo0vVE1nAyHl24f/s320/bribe.JPG" width="229" /></a></div><br />
This is more or less my australian shepherd Namio, the king of the mountain. He tends to collect all his toys into one place and lay siege to me until he gets to play. If he could have a mountain of tennis balls, he would be very happy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViflqfWGCVX5mWjJT_50T0WpGCqBMRNEWDaniVIOV9cgD7pC5nD-ScImGLYFTUwXp-NwB5B0KfYwo79lfer993_sVZ6T4Ar3e7fCymX_JY6pSy4DdCugK-t94jpaOK6xL7tMLPXPTNh7q/s1600/king.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViflqfWGCVX5mWjJT_50T0WpGCqBMRNEWDaniVIOV9cgD7pC5nD-ScImGLYFTUwXp-NwB5B0KfYwo79lfer993_sVZ6T4Ar3e7fCymX_JY6pSy4DdCugK-t94jpaOK6xL7tMLPXPTNh7q/s320/king.JPG" width="224" /></a></div><br />
And this one is just a pretty white dog and three barn swallows. Just because.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpY_yDqEqTQ2s1WLJ08rrF4Sq9EREtCYLVA_YiDujKkZuqQNFGalcinFtrTQirJfDHA726dg3LIkxNKOQW2oAuDRD386COLF1-W1RbezqgsQ8fTfsR8XyL2epE8PlGIkDN-i0FqvcUEyp/s1600/swallows.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpY_yDqEqTQ2s1WLJ08rrF4Sq9EREtCYLVA_YiDujKkZuqQNFGalcinFtrTQirJfDHA726dg3LIkxNKOQW2oAuDRD386COLF1-W1RbezqgsQ8fTfsR8XyL2epE8PlGIkDN-i0FqvcUEyp/s320/swallows.JPG" width="320" /></a>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-18096120859567555222011-02-14T16:37:00.000-08:002011-02-14T17:28:49.539-08:00Happy Valentine's DayFor everyone I love and even if I have never met you I still send my love - a little movie of the most primitive animation possible, featuring a cameo by Pixie and Moon the cockatiels. Another star of the show, Remington, is apparently very shy - he spent the whole film off screen screaming at the top of his lungs - or maybe he is just the biggest prima donna ever - his crest might have been crooked. "I can't go in front of the camera looking like this!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwH7pOkzPCHS28L8vbwkHYYRvxEmVLHdkzEwkSsLQJWtZsUlc8qhoXm9ypYoppcOjA9iYPngUuSS0_7DJsflw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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It's just a lump of porcelain and it took me about two hours to create - most of which was editing 65 snippets to create the whole thing - each clip was about 3 seconds. It was fun and reminded me of the time I made claymation in high school.<br />
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I hope everyone is spending time with the ones they love today!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-7765709068025900482011-02-11T12:05:00.000-08:002011-02-11T12:14:30.849-08:00Fairytale KilnOnce upon a time, there was a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfEdtnBJjPQ">very happy kiln</a>. It was full of pretty things, big things, tiny things, some things that broke but were beautiful anyhow and a ninja.<br />
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BUT, hiding in the kiln was a witch. Everyone said she was really mean and her cat familiar was mean too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpA0dhtyMk42J-G-W8c-P0INC5j2NIwwsYOdoxCEc8txSl4iKc3GOBUkfreWeQJIAarL0b9mWLMvkv96DjiZw0k6nAZxX89ZjPMrmBymR7EwVtoqXPSDxjK_jWuz0PlyLjuc5M48kzsOY/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpA0dhtyMk42J-G-W8c-P0INC5j2NIwwsYOdoxCEc8txSl4iKc3GOBUkfreWeQJIAarL0b9mWLMvkv96DjiZw0k6nAZxX89ZjPMrmBymR7EwVtoqXPSDxjK_jWuz0PlyLjuc5M48kzsOY/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpA0dhtyMk42J-G-W8c-P0INC5j2NIwwsYOdoxCEc8txSl4iKc3GOBUkfreWeQJIAarL0b9mWLMvkv96DjiZw0k6nAZxX89ZjPMrmBymR7EwVtoqXPSDxjK_jWuz0PlyLjuc5M48kzsOY/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>But Esmerelda did not think she was mean, she just cackled a lot and people found it scary. so they made up stories. Someone who believed ALL the stories was Little Red Riding Hood, who believed everything she heard, why, she even believed the wolf when he said he was a nice wolf and we all know how that ended up!<br />
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So when Little Red heard that the witch was planning to eat her, she talked to the wizards and said "OMG SHE'S GOING TO COOK ME IN A GINGERBREAD PIE!!!!!11!!!!"<br />
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The wizards had more important things to talk about, but eventually they decided to approach the witch and tell her to stop scaring children.<br />
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"So, my dear lady, stop scaring the children." One of them said after flourishing his staff, because wizards are oh so proud of their staves.<br />
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"I am not your dear lady." Esmerelda said, "and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave me alone!"<br />
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"Woah ho! She shows her evil side!" Said the other wizard, who not to be outdone, also showed off his staff by stamping it on the ground. "Begone foul witch!"<br />
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"No."<br />
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"No? You're supposed to flee from my righteous magic." The wizard looked confused a moment and then raised up his arms, "BEGONE AGENT OF SATAN."<br />
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"I am not an agent of Satan. I'm not an agent." The witch rolled her eyes. "Will you go away?"<br />
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"Uh...." The wizards shuffled their feet, unsure what to do next. "Okay. Can we tell the poor little girl that we vanquished you?"<br />
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"Absolutely not." She scowled at them, "Out."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NWSLEkR9MkNKWBrKP6_v8TLyzsnuPDKAz5SMzPb0L_2uzSdS2y1FDJMFwmBKCYPsqk1zrPHElsde8IWZgiAtUIqKkIofW45WLlMe1m7VeaOtllk9Yjj0OXFHAKWQUbtVkAy9Hem9DoaG/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NWSLEkR9MkNKWBrKP6_v8TLyzsnuPDKAz5SMzPb0L_2uzSdS2y1FDJMFwmBKCYPsqk1zrPHElsde8IWZgiAtUIqKkIofW45WLlMe1m7VeaOtllk9Yjj0OXFHAKWQUbtVkAy9Hem9DoaG/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" width="317" /></a></div><br />
"We showed her!"<br />
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"Right on, she'll behave from now on! Hurrah!"<br />
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**** <br />
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Meanwhile, in another part of the enchanted forest, Mrs. Death woke up to find that Mr. Death was gone. She looked under the earth and then looked outside to see if maybe he was polishing his bones in the sunshine, but no luck. She went back inside with a sigh, wondering if he was with that floozy vampiress he had been oggling. Just then, a bony rap on the door, so she opened it up and there he was with a single rose.<br />
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"Happy Valentine's day!"<br />
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"Oh, you sweet thing!" She gave him a passionate, but rather lipless kiss.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TcMoRiSVqy7J3X66GeCSc0XQqG3QLthTL64hhBqmQcQDK7dBO50cSU6x1w2UwGZJuAipXYgpx4GLfmD1ZHtaFydKs0KzNmWoSFI4aqQ71MCZqDmN73PbQNIi8G4_w2Mz8vy2hGEXr-M4/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TcMoRiSVqy7J3X66GeCSc0XQqG3QLthTL64hhBqmQcQDK7dBO50cSU6x1w2UwGZJuAipXYgpx4GLfmD1ZHtaFydKs0KzNmWoSFI4aqQ71MCZqDmN73PbQNIi8G4_w2Mz8vy2hGEXr-M4/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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So the peaceful land of the kiln carried on, with many stories within its bounds.<br />
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The End.Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-10840181322950929352011-02-10T11:49:00.000-08:002011-02-10T11:49:07.867-08:00Don't watch the kiln, the kiln is watching you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFh6iuRUQSWuKYk85kWFjEKjPLmWNZXWLlDg-uB-g0BVPPovCwF0_c9y5iB_rM6k6z9NIXCI_ND5BY7mx4Y-KPmW_DPkwvjW-A_lytiBLLJf6ToZUvDszFatawbezBRFkzNsE5a8pfab6Y/s1600/cooling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFh6iuRUQSWuKYk85kWFjEKjPLmWNZXWLlDg-uB-g0BVPPovCwF0_c9y5iB_rM6k6z9NIXCI_ND5BY7mx4Y-KPmW_DPkwvjW-A_lytiBLLJf6ToZUvDszFatawbezBRFkzNsE5a8pfab6Y/s400/cooling1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I will first admit that I already peeked inside the kiln because I HAD to check on it. I closed the lid quickly, just as soon as I heard the first little TING! Now, the kiln is made for heat but it is not made for rapid changes in heat, so this can damage the bricks and hardware inside. I am well aware of this, and yet I almost always peek because it's like Christmas morning as a child, eager and full of wonder - what is inside the box that has been closed for the last 24 hours? Did that one really neat sculpture turn out, did the new experiment with glazes turn out? Does little red riding hood at 1/2 inch tall look totally adorable?<br />
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All these things I want to know, but I won't know for another couple hours! *glares at kiln*Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-10604708969048542612011-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:002011-02-09T16:01:20.709-08:00Analog Tuesday and a halfI hang out on the Guild Wars 2 Guru forums on occasion. I particularly like the fan art forum and recently there have been art challenges. This week it is sea creatures. I had no intention of doing it, but then the image of a city being born along by a gigantic jellyfish occurred to me and I just had to draw it. Silly but, sometimes you just get an urge! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub5e6UTI_qpIN9VHvGESucjFKO6sn2LspoXKhIVQuLPZDDu_CcQgCVOZLh1i5D9wArfV9M-4MFSActybwCk_Aj2DULUGHnwDrJMYphgttKTeFg47-VWP1dA49kq8iOvjtVpBRp9_nCUCi/s1600/jelly3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub5e6UTI_qpIN9VHvGESucjFKO6sn2LspoXKhIVQuLPZDDu_CcQgCVOZLh1i5D9wArfV9M-4MFSActybwCk_Aj2DULUGHnwDrJMYphgttKTeFg47-VWP1dA49kq8iOvjtVpBRp9_nCUCi/s640/jelly3.jpg" width="464" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did the piece in washes of gouache, followed up with details added in pen and ink. I then scanned it up and made a couple tweaks with photoshop (very few, tbh since I suck at PS). The monsters are my take on the aquatic species of skale that are common in the Guild Wars world. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And last week's challenge was a guardian sylvari. Sylvari are plant people and the guardian is a type of fighting class in Guild Wars. I just couldn't not draw it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_RjnE0u1lP6HKFpcAkUJmE7Zp7f5A20hK9M47h-sECtyb6K0cX5wIWe5zBlEsS4RU-pnSfxM8lEYpx5LHWMy9pzYrqOCDZJZYm3BQJxO0hqn2xL4UE6sb70tulu-uK_5ljp0v-Yw6Ofv/s1600/guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_RjnE0u1lP6HKFpcAkUJmE7Zp7f5A20hK9M47h-sECtyb6K0cX5wIWe5zBlEsS4RU-pnSfxM8lEYpx5LHWMy9pzYrqOCDZJZYm3BQJxO0hqn2xL4UE6sb70tulu-uK_5ljp0v-Yw6Ofv/s640/guard.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-48552194696790288502011-02-06T11:51:00.000-08:002011-02-06T11:51:50.988-08:00Things that get lost in the Studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWqUduDcmiIePf1_VXspLIpVAZJQi2D1LDqhWonjUaTzNkMGy6ASVdq_P3Np74rRpy_13Ocm7l7ACnPlyll-lSVMkETW6kEZ1dgRPBgKKECqChqsTYaRGRjeLFDChdFna6E9sNPlv21f9/s1600/sponge1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWqUduDcmiIePf1_VXspLIpVAZJQi2D1LDqhWonjUaTzNkMGy6ASVdq_P3Np74rRpy_13Ocm7l7ACnPlyll-lSVMkETW6kEZ1dgRPBgKKECqChqsTYaRGRjeLFDChdFna6E9sNPlv21f9/s400/sponge1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Yes, I misplace my sponges all the time, I love the little hand size round yellow ones. I have no idea where they go, so I imagined some possibilities.<br />
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Glazing today. But first I will get some coffee!<br />
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Have a great Sunday!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-28225679499041522662011-02-02T15:26:00.000-08:002011-02-02T15:30:48.887-08:00Bird Watching and creation continuesWent to Discovery Park today and walked a mile or so with Namio dog and binoculars. I saw very few birds but I heard much more than I saw. Hearing birds and knowing them by voice is a pleasure, like hearing a secret language that others around you don't know.<br />
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Birds heard but not seen - Northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, Stellar Jay, Scrub Jay, chestnut backed chickadee, anna's hummingbird, bush tit, song sparrow, white crowned sparrow, winter wren, bewick's wren and one of my favorites of all time - a nuthatch with its silly neep neep neeep call.<br />
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I saw crows (of course), robins, red tailed hawk, black capped chickadee and English sparrow. In a shady area there were birds rattling in the dry leaves - around here you think instantly of the towhee - so I was not that excited but decided to get a visual to confirm (first clue that they weren't towhees - towhees have a very distinctive call and are fond of giving it). After moving around and crouching for a better view I saw some orange - again thought towhee but then everything snapped into focus - STRIPES of orange - a varied thrush. I adore these birds - they have a song that rises over the morning chorus of the old growth forest around here - such an amazing song that I have used adjectives like 'transcendent, ringing, dreamy, incandescent, ethereal' to describe it. They are also beautiful and quite scarce around here, so what a pleasure to see them!<br />
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Really great photo of a <a href="http://www.zuropak.com/photogallery/samples/slides/Varied-Thrush-41.html">varied thrush here </a>and<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Varied_Thrush/sounds"> hear their song here</a>. The only comment I have is that yes it is very loud song, but when it is heard with other songs, in the morning with the fog and forest canopy muffling it, there is no better music.<br />
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When I pulled up to my house there was a big ray of sunshine and a mixed flock of ruby crowned kinglets, golden crowned kinglets and bush tits were foraging around and under my rock rose. That was a nice treat!<br />
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Working on making more bowls and I also made a couple big platters - one engraved and one with sprigged on peacock feathers. The engraved one is still drying out and it has flattened a bit so I am considering boring holes in it to make it a wall hanging. Also, drop plates are on the agenda, as are small animal pendants.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimggJEe0rsMBdULdh2cozdsxkLop9Z6FUHIG6yLnwEsBxxm13vd8F4YXXpwhLv__gVaY-YPMp420W4SBCgoBDLfqQ8KZ8CfgC1Dw_rSG-7jlGd2ycdTTsvaY1yTPzXwg3LifAE9v6Bu638/s1600/IMG_9939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimggJEe0rsMBdULdh2cozdsxkLop9Z6FUHIG6yLnwEsBxxm13vd8F4YXXpwhLv__gVaY-YPMp420W4SBCgoBDLfqQ8KZ8CfgC1Dw_rSG-7jlGd2ycdTTsvaY1yTPzXwg3LifAE9v6Bu638/s640/IMG_9939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-30459256004649136422011-02-01T10:41:00.000-08:002011-02-02T01:20:58.707-08:00Analog Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvdMZuQ8XC8BgRhIIqFWJPMCcAuwjkwpbPauG7ykD7HjTAdjGrW3KcqDkkJPp8GgFUOg4Z9Mb3ZLQUS12YmBZOs9e0oVZblLTNmKIYLtHYIZihEick6Kd_ffY1gc7j9uOYXixt5Kz1Qag/s1600/fox2frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Winter Foxes</b></span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjpifTNtBpGeCCbBTFQIIvLJPYZ3nrEOL6ge08UWtqt0Pf7cnA9vQUY5SLZRby65KI9Vjro5HTwU-T6Fu1cKoyYhieFkKr5WIx30q87glCmnkXuA_M2bXHlbLTpbBR9BPiBqshwkXwaqE/s1600/foxframe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjpifTNtBpGeCCbBTFQIIvLJPYZ3nrEOL6ge08UWtqt0Pf7cnA9vQUY5SLZRby65KI9Vjro5HTwU-T6Fu1cKoyYhieFkKr5WIx30q87glCmnkXuA_M2bXHlbLTpbBR9BPiBqshwkXwaqE/s320/foxframe.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg3fsxIm09-6BnrPcrjjJ14d4O9_i74zL6ZPr7IZFWejXR70HCemBJ3mfdTUfmn2FfxAZRFcTyoqNd4rC5NEiEFRy-oFBXbVtMchpYyL-y-f7A88t2bmuMp9Wt2YUiSEFm1yP7se0LF6n/s1600/fox3frame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvdMZuQ8XC8BgRhIIqFWJPMCcAuwjkwpbPauG7ykD7HjTAdjGrW3KcqDkkJPp8GgFUOg4Z9Mb3ZLQUS12YmBZOs9e0oVZblLTNmKIYLtHYIZihEick6Kd_ffY1gc7j9uOYXixt5Kz1Qag/s1600/fox2frame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvdMZuQ8XC8BgRhIIqFWJPMCcAuwjkwpbPauG7ykD7HjTAdjGrW3KcqDkkJPp8GgFUOg4Z9Mb3ZLQUS12YmBZOs9e0oVZblLTNmKIYLtHYIZihEick6Kd_ffY1gc7j9uOYXixt5Kz1Qag/s320/fox2frame.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg3fsxIm09-6BnrPcrjjJ14d4O9_i74zL6ZPr7IZFWejXR70HCemBJ3mfdTUfmn2FfxAZRFcTyoqNd4rC5NEiEFRy-oFBXbVtMchpYyL-y-f7A88t2bmuMp9Wt2YUiSEFm1yP7se0LF6n/s1600/fox3frame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg3fsxIm09-6BnrPcrjjJ14d4O9_i74zL6ZPr7IZFWejXR70HCemBJ3mfdTUfmn2FfxAZRFcTyoqNd4rC5NEiEFRy-oFBXbVtMchpYyL-y-f7A88t2bmuMp9Wt2YUiSEFm1yP7se0LF6n/s320/fox3frame.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQumtY8olbs1R5ThGKuW22W7IoV3wy6hOqzOSTj24tXxLqSw878TpTqqHiWd1xFBUglyZAX3uhlUW592OvU3yA2R_Ok8jKp-fbeIcDuFOc_5hfiBJtRevV8ovDGeimWb8YLZMCdhb0hPtW/s1600/fox4frame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQumtY8olbs1R5ThGKuW22W7IoV3wy6hOqzOSTj24tXxLqSw878TpTqqHiWd1xFBUglyZAX3uhlUW592OvU3yA2R_Ok8jKp-fbeIcDuFOc_5hfiBJtRevV8ovDGeimWb8YLZMCdhb0hPtW/s320/fox4frame.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuYr2BWxrFcH5SDAUuqASni9yHwKjIr1IEwQjvfF0zP46mLLa4pe6SD7_2vVnZVM7W4-ZG2HcKy2tba2SFsoJu3Q1FD2bpYpMKJdl1edrNx1aTf0pb23rlatmwUrIM_R_WlCZ7NmvxTkx/s1600/fox5frame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuYr2BWxrFcH5SDAUuqASni9yHwKjIr1IEwQjvfF0zP46mLLa4pe6SD7_2vVnZVM7W4-ZG2HcKy2tba2SFsoJu3Q1FD2bpYpMKJdl1edrNx1aTf0pb23rlatmwUrIM_R_WlCZ7NmvxTkx/s320/fox5frame.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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Drawing is nice, you get results in a couple hours rather than the days and weeks that are counted in the ceramics process. I've been wanting to do some pen and ink drawing for a while. I have to say that I feel much more restrained when I draw than when I am sculpting - not in an unpleasant way, but I can tell that a different part of my mind is engaged! I used some photo references but everything is freehand, and I didn't sit there and ruminate over the drawings for an hour before inking them - I'm just as impatient with pen as I am with clay - I like to just go go go!<br />
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I drew them on ACEO cards, so they are available for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67202481/foxes-in-winter-aceo-original-pen-and">sale as a group</a>. I added a black border in editing for a neater appearance in the blog - they don't have that in real life!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-57819956758194835462011-01-30T09:43:00.000-08:002011-01-30T10:07:46.344-08:00IceOnce upon a time, in another life, I braved a world colder than my own.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0X8xmAOr8gSxnyK-xjjhn3NzQ4qQkpmE7p3U7_4bqg69nAIB7kZt6A5QRDzfzag_8hfr_xoeUNlM6U9DJEadFJsaNYmTEAarwlcUzdSzjC3hYD1GoUx-8WcL4L6bTxXP3Vg47ZegFc89t/s1600/IMG_9836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0X8xmAOr8gSxnyK-xjjhn3NzQ4qQkpmE7p3U7_4bqg69nAIB7kZt6A5QRDzfzag_8hfr_xoeUNlM6U9DJEadFJsaNYmTEAarwlcUzdSzjC3hYD1GoUx-8WcL4L6bTxXP3Vg47ZegFc89t/s320/IMG_9836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Across a frozen sea the ice rose and the winds struck my little ship. For on the ocean, all ships are little, no matter their size. In the Antarctic fog, icebergs rose suddenly, as if from the imagination but I could hear the lure of the sea.<br />
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The ice groaned and snarled against the hold, the prow nosed forward and the greedy ice surrounded the ship. I turned to the horizon and the bleak sky, knowing I was lost. A night passed, but I did not sleep. When dawn came, there on the ice a pair of seals were watching me, perhaps puzzled at my peculiar ice-encased vessel. At first I wanted to be alone in my misery and I nearly shouted at them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpTlnXT8pZQndFB_NbzLI5-S87boHoUxGWNVeORRyIv0EyCcKNof06JQgWoIaHRW_ySI-uScfv88NxkMwlnBuPXQjUpJiQVODpwLtugSzQxPMePDys36uFUSMUymB3KC7uUJS3Lf-YtwS/s1600/IMG_9929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpTlnXT8pZQndFB_NbzLI5-S87boHoUxGWNVeORRyIv0EyCcKNof06JQgWoIaHRW_ySI-uScfv88NxkMwlnBuPXQjUpJiQVODpwLtugSzQxPMePDys36uFUSMUymB3KC7uUJS3Lf-YtwS/s320/IMG_9929.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Instead I leaned over the railing and spoke to them. "Do you know a way out of here?"<br />
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They looked at me solemnly, but just at that moment, the ice gave a shattering crack and the ship rocked. I immediately put the ship about and sailed into the open water. When I looked back, the seals were gone. <br />
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I put the ice far behind me, I put the northern stars into my sight. In time I entered another ice cloaked world, where my ship slowed among the treacherous waves. I was cautious though, watching only from afar the inhabitants of this land.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rCU0HCQZqmFYz5CGvnBEY_NWiyk-4YldxUAN7eN6eZzssN7TqKxErn7S4U6NWL2s4GEvQpEsxctMyqIdgi_nPPJqu1vQAJqWZt8nkhrmYaPUD61UNTeIEfKWMWFU-0K_bYyCwkqPK8mZ/s1600/IMG_9851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rCU0HCQZqmFYz5CGvnBEY_NWiyk-4YldxUAN7eN6eZzssN7TqKxErn7S4U6NWL2s4GEvQpEsxctMyqIdgi_nPPJqu1vQAJqWZt8nkhrmYaPUD61UNTeIEfKWMWFU-0K_bYyCwkqPK8mZ/s320/IMG_9851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmnFMAZgPRD2Cr1g8V-6ctNuvKA14Q6CjfJe8dtKDBzdlKwOzkL3Bh-ECy7Kz9nGu5thnjjqYGHPhVAjLwws1XQH15tnKUiWSheuvouWzV7blEn1UimfA_J6bY07KMIFKW4zUbFuPDTpT/s1600/IMG_9841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>In the end it was the orca that found me lost at the edge of that northern place, and I followed her swift dorsal fin through storm and calm. Through many weeks she rarely left my bow, straight and true, better than any bearing, she kept me safe and so I came home at last.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3KL1IbEn575EuJTZqDKIdQ2JFJL1amapR7uPyqR-S30CD66fR6s1uPL4mqEsmx9zZpyD2VoeiyVi-ptiQpOfl0PpU0h3PtgBbm8exQ16bGvxBXm8dqV6xCpn-UaaZN90g0txDCaqLT1p/s1600/IMG_9916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3KL1IbEn575EuJTZqDKIdQ2JFJL1amapR7uPyqR-S30CD66fR6s1uPL4mqEsmx9zZpyD2VoeiyVi-ptiQpOfl0PpU0h3PtgBbm8exQ16bGvxBXm8dqV6xCpn-UaaZN90g0txDCaqLT1p/s320/IMG_9916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The end.<br />
<br />
On the same theme, I created an icy-cold treasury of my etsy team's ceramic art -<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d45a6ec72478eefa774ca02/cold-waters">http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d45a6ec72478eefa774ca02/cold-waters</a>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-73946045395074158232011-01-29T12:53:00.000-08:002011-01-29T14:03:58.190-08:00Captain Wonderful and the Mischief in MeI will now admit my enjoyment of thieves, scoundrels, rogues, ninjas and various other undesirables in literature and popular culture. I understand that maybe such a character is not to be admired or emulated and of course I don't emulate them but oh, what fun it is to imagine being one with shadows, or fooling the corrupt lawman or outwitting a cruel lord or master. I love the book Les Miserables for this reason - that the policeman doesn't win and the hero is a thief - albeit one that deserves our sympathy. I also enjoy folk heroes - the clever foxes, rabbits and coyotes of fables and, of course, the unforgettable Robin Hood.<br />
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I have often felt a bit outside the normal, as undesirable as a rogue, so maybe that is where my enjoyment of them comes from because I can identify. I also tend to be playful, I enjoy being clever and surprising people - which is what the best scoundrels do. I'm not physically strong either, or powerful really - so it is from below, from the shadows that I can express myself - and if things go wrong, I can always run away and disappear. These archetypes influence my art, in furtive faces and sly smiles, in the figures of animals peering forward or the running rabbit who has heard the farmer's gun in the radish patch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9qKiI_E2BqFWequ3fFs9axwJQazKUnyyprwlJK-AeGV3C8mZT90vyYwI7ILn1Ue0OpgP1AMGBca-kRBxD56eVGBZFdQtss4YC-UvoWUXT0oXDQJAvENhnUx9W6W1gR5KkNdLPK-ewKeo/s1600/IMG_9906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9qKiI_E2BqFWequ3fFs9axwJQazKUnyyprwlJK-AeGV3C8mZT90vyYwI7ILn1Ue0OpgP1AMGBca-kRBxD56eVGBZFdQtss4YC-UvoWUXT0oXDQJAvENhnUx9W6W1gR5KkNdLPK-ewKeo/s320/IMG_9906.JPG" width="316" /></a></div> <b>Jack of Oak</b> - <b>10 inch porcelain bottle</b><br />
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I wanted to write about this because I took pictures of Captain Wonderful and Jack of Oak this morning. They both look so darned pleased with themselves! I think Captain Wonderful has accomplished an excellent heist. Jack of Oak looks well fed and confident, farmer and predators be damned!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPQAOjLRrtrINBE4R4Uw4pvDRYZ5jOpTH0ED3YZRDe34TOFzFRrpdVP4g0ZMJe4RSBIhobFUGzWiKBse5B9-2IPd-LLxXPZJV7andTN8y7UPIBbmboP301xFKG-KnScTgyV_Fl-2Kh6M1/s1600/IMG_9907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPQAOjLRrtrINBE4R4Uw4pvDRYZ5jOpTH0ED3YZRDe34TOFzFRrpdVP4g0ZMJe4RSBIhobFUGzWiKBse5B9-2IPd-LLxXPZJV7andTN8y7UPIBbmboP301xFKG-KnScTgyV_Fl-2Kh6M1/s320/IMG_9907.JPG" width="314" /></a></div> <b>Captain Wonderful and his schemes</b><br />
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In online games I almost always find a way to play a roguish type - I rarely play a type of character that is all "bang you're dead!" I like to be at a slight disadvantage - so the bottom of the heap wins, the dark horse crosses the line. Even if my chosen class or profession has ways to make themselves ridiculously powerful, I will often role play them and gimp myself - the assassin in Guild Wars has, on and off, been overpowered for game balance, but I usually stuck to my favorite builds and ignored the craziness that was Shadowform. My characters are the of the trope 'rogue with a heart of gold', I don't normally play evil or wicked characters - there's enough of that in the real world without infesting my fantasies with it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyMd7JHdWj37xifjBcbCycAnaeP7adU4znFgaiBqWdeN6BFeNPlgw0g2pFD09mv99E_KTEyv3VwchBNE7thIL6d-kUktFvLBUD0DbsMSKxlAJYF4sN_HFq66zOvOsb3tL4hWmqARYe-LA/s1600/gosonblack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyMd7JHdWj37xifjBcbCycAnaeP7adU4znFgaiBqWdeN6BFeNPlgw0g2pFD09mv99E_KTEyv3VwchBNE7thIL6d-kUktFvLBUD0DbsMSKxlAJYF4sN_HFq66zOvOsb3tL4hWmqARYe-LA/s1600/gosonblack.JPG" /></a></div> <b>My assassin character in Guild Wars enjoying a bit of darkness.</b>Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-13978119496118158512011-01-28T12:02:00.000-08:002011-01-28T12:14:56.938-08:00A Clay Taster's Guide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7cTcZBZxfAd5QMW5IJRK78hj8IUKaF9lKFyp3XRDmtrm8ngt8NWlrGG-KU8sKywFjo9rPSl_tTtAWNgMbn12uJydHxU7Ogc6nG3SuGn8Dgl0iJmsc1nQG8-l0OoYLQ8YYoQWdh9zSEQM/s1600/clay3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7cTcZBZxfAd5QMW5IJRK78hj8IUKaF9lKFyp3XRDmtrm8ngt8NWlrGG-KU8sKywFjo9rPSl_tTtAWNgMbn12uJydHxU7Ogc6nG3SuGn8Dgl0iJmsc1nQG8-l0OoYLQ8YYoQWdh9zSEQM/s400/clay3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567330216769068898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1_prN5GkMbqgd9Ps-DzBfLWA0TMYErVW5JbZcKO_eeymZmWP-vVfjjHKcKwIZm0Q8dvgyl1Gt4X_LUEi2UYyqH4YGDt8UpHldu74Jt91Cu5lS96FPViGr97vpH93tO2px1YJgKmxZBBn/s1600/clay1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1_prN5GkMbqgd9Ps-DzBfLWA0TMYErVW5JbZcKO_eeymZmWP-vVfjjHKcKwIZm0Q8dvgyl1Gt4X_LUEi2UYyqH4YGDt8UpHldu74Jt91Cu5lS96FPViGr97vpH93tO2px1YJgKmxZBBn/s400/clay1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567330210290048546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUi6XpYqUUdvCLlHJqrfREoPB6MvZosYnG9ipjeIU_fcNG0wsQ70DAIjGPP9JidONamdp3a8X0L9nSQtQ94mQaCuDrQglwws8oe7xrslK6dGTM6BnZOkUAGcu4wxI3h88ydKgoR-3azy2K/s1600/clay2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUi6XpYqUUdvCLlHJqrfREoPB6MvZosYnG9ipjeIU_fcNG0wsQ70DAIjGPP9JidONamdp3a8X0L9nSQtQ94mQaCuDrQglwws8oe7xrslK6dGTM6BnZOkUAGcu4wxI3h88ydKgoR-3azy2K/s400/clay2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567330037704170802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ-pKI_obp_puo7T4SbtvrTK4hMqE-_wO1jTsACuzy8N5B0DbUCaLZ7QJ-36ycQQORmrbJeZpKqOD3UlK7IVWtI_aKOjFgjYVw2IkbjzCPlb_5mdaEUp-v-Q6N2T6NuC0_GhpO_YWEriQ/s1600/clay4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ-pKI_obp_puo7T4SbtvrTK4hMqE-_wO1jTsACuzy8N5B0DbUCaLZ7QJ-36ycQQORmrbJeZpKqOD3UlK7IVWtI_aKOjFgjYVw2IkbjzCPlb_5mdaEUp-v-Q6N2T6NuC0_GhpO_YWEriQ/s400/clay4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567330031403604082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBvAEbqvRqWDHGnT4ivAqPja1lnubyRNZC1eGguzrADtTBOZCVacVBTwsvAnL5l1zJKz1S7WzlauPdRdJcn04zX4GV_TU_JuUFigGlCKnc781WtsZGhRD_Bfz2no2r8MhhyCo1acExwbE/s1600/clay5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBvAEbqvRqWDHGnT4ivAqPja1lnubyRNZC1eGguzrADtTBOZCVacVBTwsvAnL5l1zJKz1S7WzlauPdRdJcn04zX4GV_TU_JuUFigGlCKnc781WtsZGhRD_Bfz2no2r8MhhyCo1acExwbE/s400/clay5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567330028228623522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9vI6s8f3lWy-YIrb76mp5xWsBVgG9s3OU82GeBJ18Xvhx6ByGujYrvhfAY5M_feBZnsZUKWFURTxYGHC7NJ9jHzlZ-YPf0TeUE1GropqhXQKiD4NqSeqFPXRgy5d-LxpRCehAAZfP-_K/s1600/clay6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9vI6s8f3lWy-YIrb76mp5xWsBVgG9s3OU82GeBJ18Xvhx6ByGujYrvhfAY5M_feBZnsZUKWFURTxYGHC7NJ9jHzlZ-YPf0TeUE1GropqhXQKiD4NqSeqFPXRgy5d-LxpRCehAAZfP-_K/s400/clay6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567330027127541506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While I am sculpting I tend to add a little moisture with my tongue, indeed, the best way to stick tiny details onto moist clay is to use a little saliva. So essentially I have tasted various clays with reactions from "this doesn't taste bad" to "omg why did I put this in my mouth after my nose warned me?" I occasionally get made fun of in classes for having 'porcelain lips' - I look like a science fiction film extra with anemia. So far I have not come to any harm and indeed clay is considered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophagy">medicinal or necessary in many parts of the world</a>, so I am merely carrying on a dietary tradition that humans have practiced since prehistoric times.<br /><br />Then there are those extra credit clay tastings - work at a wheel in a classroom setting and sooner or later someone will spray you with liquid clay. My classmates always burst out laughing when the inevitable spray happens - more points for clay on the face or into the mouth. I think though if you splash a porcelain workspace with stoneware, you lose points.Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-42141898862524235412011-01-27T16:31:00.001-08:002011-01-27T17:45:26.384-08:00Computer GutsI was a bit daunted when I started this mini project, but so glad I tried. I don't absolutely need this machine, but it makes life easier having old Burninator thereat the ready (yes Burninator is the machine's name). So if this makes a reader less afraid to fix their computer (or anything else) I feel this post did a service!<br /><br />I have a very nice gaming machine upstairs and an older PC downstairs that is for my studio - the shipping and photo editing machine. About a week ago, my studio machine started making an obnoxious "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" noise, even when I hadn't turned it on, but it was just plugged in. I sorta figured the machine was old but then yesterday I could no longer turn the machine on but the "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" was still happening and I could see the LED on the mother board, but nothing else was happening, not even fans. After some diagnostics and talking with my more hardware savvy friend Mina, it was figured out that the power supply was dying.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4RsKMisnMqbH5PA4NARIw3CCOZCmat7NlBZulw1uIU6M62IscE-GgZtOJnkpH-OiOchVecYvFXXUg-VZpTNoxcWIXnqfBr59XeE1zgA4j2aUdWgbCBEuZ_JQFmWZPJOBAYV8g9lahbVa/s1600/IMG_9873.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4RsKMisnMqbH5PA4NARIw3CCOZCmat7NlBZulw1uIU6M62IscE-GgZtOJnkpH-OiOchVecYvFXXUg-VZpTNoxcWIXnqfBr59XeE1zgA4j2aUdWgbCBEuZ_JQFmWZPJOBAYV8g9lahbVa/s400/IMG_9873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567035538976987378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right after I pulled the power supply out.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Canned air, sharpie, tape, screwdriver and a swiffer duster were my tools.</span><br /><br />So, I opened up the machine and pulled it out. I was not prepared, since I had read how 'simple and straight forward' changing a PSU is (for hardware nerds apparently). I understand that this how a computer gets its power but WTH! It's like techno-cthulu or something...lots of wires. I used a sharpie and tape to label the bits, so when I got the new PSU, I could maybe figure it out. Of course, I opened up the old PSU because I am curious. Hey! More wires! Dirt! Bulging, sick transistors! Oooo, I want that little fan for an art project (no Karen, you will not keep garbage).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARzK8BDC7UtzMiUoSQqweXW_TrlJR-5oDCwKOk24CkWgBhOIPfsP5gxw_mRBds98IhHvxOnOSjTLfRnirUhhDUce7uKJ3op4RiNbULo4LTZ8UUQNvmPXAWwSRym7PCspRn0niDB3b9LiS/s1600/IMG_9874.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARzK8BDC7UtzMiUoSQqweXW_TrlJR-5oDCwKOk24CkWgBhOIPfsP5gxw_mRBds98IhHvxOnOSjTLfRnirUhhDUce7uKJ3op4RiNbULo4LTZ8UUQNvmPXAWwSRym7PCspRn0niDB3b9LiS/s400/IMG_9874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567032981884229234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The old power supply and fan - I've labelled all the wires that were connected.</span><br /><br />So after I pulled that out, plus some crazy exhaust pipe thing - which the case doesn't need according to Mina's tests, it was only too apparent how filthy my case is - 5 years of dirt. It stank too and I instantly snotted up. I got my hepa filter out and turned it on as I blasted away with canned air. The worst dirty part was the face plate between the front and frame. Bleh, disgusting. Now mind you, I had cleaned this machine in the past - but apparently to get really clean, the case needs to be taken apart.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH53pqOQEgjuw67R6xf1Y-Mg9jQMSkTRDRXFNaFp4-bIfz25JwXXaSObdz7on7NSF6ZL4sFktElCPv-8_mGjvfbLE5lOjbBbO9Jr-Ds9JjKPIG6eaSWcyMzPvo6JWM1Cqzet8ee46PRGC/s1600/IMG_9877.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH53pqOQEgjuw67R6xf1Y-Mg9jQMSkTRDRXFNaFp4-bIfz25JwXXaSObdz7on7NSF6ZL4sFktElCPv-8_mGjvfbLE5lOjbBbO9Jr-Ds9JjKPIG6eaSWcyMzPvo6JWM1Cqzet8ee46PRGC/s400/IMG_9877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567032985973382034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Horrible and dirty. It's better now.</span><br /><br />I purchased the cheapest power supply - no wine and caviar for a 5yo machine, plus the guy at the computer store assured me the PSU I got is perfectly trustworthy. It was $32 with tax, not bad considering the cost of replacing a whole computer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nRDv3zQX2cltnu9A1mtcpjnpxeZNp_jbPI8qHyrt9AC4kO-I9mpZk7k9T4zEQPvg78zvWcdcqjKGq3PbMI_XnA270GnEqWKXZMv2E6wl7uHh4LFtzDPWU_CUx-7XKjazry4kIwY1qQk1/s1600/IMG_9879.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nRDv3zQX2cltnu9A1mtcpjnpxeZNp_jbPI8qHyrt9AC4kO-I9mpZk7k9T4zEQPvg78zvWcdcqjKGq3PbMI_XnA270GnEqWKXZMv2E6wl7uHh4LFtzDPWU_CUx-7XKjazry4kIwY1qQk1/s400/IMG_9879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567032996429217090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Everything wired up!</span><br /><br />Wiring it wasn't that bad, glad that I labeled stuff - except I forgot to label one of the hard drive inputs so I kept wondering why when I tested the box I could not get the HD running. I also had a few loose connections that I slowly corrected as I plugged and unplugged the PSU in (the big 20 prong connector to the motherboard is REALLY stubborn, I was afraid I would break it), and then, suddenly, my machine was running. It was quieter than it has been in weeks! Turns out that the problem with the PSU had probably been going on for a long time, it just happened so gradually.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLzp-9QEKoronGfOM7ClRS3lo4eBgfxy0uHqC3DTlKi6kOpzynYYlDYE-iyRox8HB4M4u2K2VW-yFTks2HekLGMVQlxIql76nAcpL-171CndVPjjTDXilfWbAiXyaE4hilrVdPYcK_2HM/s1600/IMG_9880.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLzp-9QEKoronGfOM7ClRS3lo4eBgfxy0uHqC3DTlKi6kOpzynYYlDYE-iyRox8HB4M4u2K2VW-yFTks2HekLGMVQlxIql76nAcpL-171CndVPjjTDXilfWbAiXyaE4hilrVdPYcK_2HM/s400/IMG_9880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567033623709525890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sweet! It works. The label on the new power supply says NIFT, I think it's just nifty!</span><br /><br /><br />So that was my first experience delving into the guts of a PC. It was pretty fun and I didn't kill my PC, so successful!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833683506929648025.post-85018155864452725702011-01-23T12:58:00.000-08:002011-01-23T13:03:09.668-08:00Owl Has a Voice and It's Pompous<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P_Cj6C2bt8YRy0p5t27yESIiYejP_eG5u-5bs62MvJn_fGzC4KRgH_6lnGy2Qy9N-yLoFM5SrX5_Y09FpEQgqkXDYAL29jxjAgYc_XVnKJbN_uvgrH2GJk_U0XVxtEzw0RlD8m7WEO_-/s1600/owl1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P_Cj6C2bt8YRy0p5t27yESIiYejP_eG5u-5bs62MvJn_fGzC4KRgH_6lnGy2Qy9N-yLoFM5SrX5_Y09FpEQgqkXDYAL29jxjAgYc_XVnKJbN_uvgrH2GJk_U0XVxtEzw0RlD8m7WEO_-/s400/owl1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565489147286411154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnpoBwbrIVFrol1Kn9rsaLfPkZNmYuq7eyuHZXnpPOWQEMY3wSThEp_40rnsg4gmmfG3Sf3fgMzm6q7Zy29es2asAjOX6BxRLX-6hvnq_Y97Rg0jMzGEQpX7eUdy5hyphenhyphen2BQue5OhPsFgTW/s1600/owl2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnpoBwbrIVFrol1Kn9rsaLfPkZNmYuq7eyuHZXnpPOWQEMY3wSThEp_40rnsg4gmmfG3Sf3fgMzm6q7Zy29es2asAjOX6BxRLX-6hvnq_Y97Rg0jMzGEQpX7eUdy5hyphenhyphen2BQue5OhPsFgTW/s400/owl2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565489146101390610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn2YXaP1HbPK6bTfe4WLWtPy1SXKw9rrUTtseXXFRzl3GU3OBpGv2xaIbhfnuTnXILHiMzLQVFZxhjTY4qSSUXcmQiBJMiqTm_x1y8DbgGhqrhw8BJehOv9fAfPGD9SQss3uEeGhhRFHO/s1600/owl3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn2YXaP1HbPK6bTfe4WLWtPy1SXKw9rrUTtseXXFRzl3GU3OBpGv2xaIbhfnuTnXILHiMzLQVFZxhjTY4qSSUXcmQiBJMiqTm_x1y8DbgGhqrhw8BJehOv9fAfPGD9SQss3uEeGhhRFHO/s400/owl3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565489145246553794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoWgl2LCULuMZg9gzH-1E-dietCRi1ttNhkbj_c2O3Q2gaqaVNIQ_oR2qwmgVV5IKS3_now0xTntEWEp88uHaMZbyGuipy-6YyNA0YkXqHdrjp9Y39XffhAutabhiszSi9_1x3BwjitXI/s1600/owl4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoWgl2LCULuMZg9gzH-1E-dietCRi1ttNhkbj_c2O3Q2gaqaVNIQ_oR2qwmgVV5IKS3_now0xTntEWEp88uHaMZbyGuipy-6YyNA0YkXqHdrjp9Y39XffhAutabhiszSi9_1x3BwjitXI/s400/owl4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565489140480378610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of the things I sculpt definitely have a character. Maybe not exactly like in the cartoon but there is a dialog between fingers, eyes and ideas. I think the reason I gave owl an attention demanding, pompous character is because I pretty much HAVE to make owls - they sell and it is good to have things that sell. So he has a high opinion of himself :)<br /><br />Enjoy your sunday!Song and Branchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573641725487623502noreply@blogger.com1