Blooming May

 

I've carved out a new corner for painting.

 

 

It started as a sketch for a larger painting, to try out different colors.

But I just kept going and now its nearly done.

 

 

 

(I'm trying to figure out where to add a hedgehog.)

 

 

So mulling, I took a trip through the garden. My pentstemon have never bloomed like this~

 

 

The catmint is soft and smells almost minty. I guess that's why its named catmint.)

 

 

 

The Mexican sage is growing about an inch a day, I think it looks like giant lavender

 What's May without Petunias?

 The Cecile bruenner rose has taken over the stairway

 

I've got new clay things made, and I was so over the lunar scape to buy this vintage wallpaper. Almost enough for a wing wall somewhere. I wish I could make a dress out of it!

 

 

This little corner of the garden is special, because almost everything is a volunteer,

The lemon balm, little ground cranesbill and even the daisy, just popped up.

Only the geranium is planted, an anniversary gift from the Mr.

 

 

After all that mulling, I still can't decide where to put the Hedgehog, she must be in the house, baking a strawberry pie.

 

xx Julie

 

Tea~ish

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Hello!

 

 

I had a tea party for my sister and friends~

We placed the furniture just in time, so there were plenty of seats

 

Pulling up and going through the garden was the start;

Then the gals had to step up one set of stairs,

then another,

then they could look down at how far they'd climbed

and have salad, and sandwiches and tea things

I'm chopping cucumbers here I think.....

Since the tea I've been painting and pottering for a rather large listing this week.

There's the painting 'White Dog'

And donkey domes and spoons,

 

and some vegetables and I'm not sure what all there is~

And then maybe another Tea Party?

Yes!

 

xx

julie

luminous

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

 

I've been making tea lights for the mantle and table.

The right one was the first I made, I cut in a face without thinking.

They look better lit up

At first I made the complete chamber, then decorated it.

But when I decided to add animals, I did it all on the slab;

And added punctures with these spring tools from Dick Blick.

I picked ovals, but there are rounds and squares too. I use lots of other things to vary the size of the holes.  Nails would work, especially a square one would be great if you can find it.

I brought this donkey bowl from my kitchen to the studio, and used it as my model for the tea light

Here we have a deer in the ferns.  This is a new clay for me called Frost. It can be rolled paper thin,

but has a tendency to warp. I don't seem to have the knack of getting things perfectly aligned anyways, so I don't mind.

I've been working in the garden too. Things are budding, and growing inches of green daily.

Walking the boardwalk by the beach each day this week!

Found another secret boardwalk behind this inlet. Someone lives on this floating boat/island.

The sea birds nest here, right in the sea grasses. Its really quite big!

What's a post without a chicken in it??

 

Hope you are having a wonderful April and seeing signs of spring around you~

 xxxjulie

Making spoons

 This is the way I make spoons.

 I form the clay into a sort of scone shape;

 And start to pinch the bowl section of the spoon, working fast so the clay doesn't dry.

When I have a shape I like , I set it aside and pull out a piece for the hande that will complement the bowl.

 I roll out the handle, splaying my fingers using very little pressure so the snake doesn't loose it's shape.

 These are my three favorite tools. A needle tool, a scorer and a milled tool I found in an old tool box, that I use everyday. I'm always looking for things to use, this one has a little square on one end a flat circle on the other.

 I score the fat end of the handle, and the underneath bowl of spoon where I want them to fuse.

Press gently in place.

Then I push in my toolbox find and pass it through. I has to be placed low enough so the weight of the spoon doesn't cause it to weaken after use.

Sometimes I paint the spoons with flowers, because I see them outside and all around the house lately

Golden ranunculus over the mantle,

Alstramarias, button flower chrysanthemums and chamomile in the kitchen

In fact everything is starting to swell and gain volume daily. Pretty soon these peas will be for sale at the roadside stand.

And golden poppies already making the hillsides sunny.

This is a different method of making. Its 'slumped' in an old treen spoon. Next time!

xxx julie