Sunday, April 26, 2009

Let It Go and Freecycle


Over at LifeLoomsLarge there was a struggle with a cactus; ouch! The author ignited all kinds of little fires that we all deal with from time to time. Letting go of something whether it be a long time resident of my life or a newcomer can be painful. First I struggle with how to make it work until the light hits me; well, maybe it is time to let it go. I am using *let it go* rather than *get rid of* because it sounds so much kinder.

That's where Freecycle comes in! I learned one huge lesson from my experience on freecycle. Wonderful lesson. I met a gracious, generous, kind woman who gave me her loom on freecycle, it was folded up and against a wall but I couldn't get to it; there wasn't a pathway to it.

She loved to make things, I felt a connection with her and thought I could just stay with her all day and make things and talk about making things and then make some more things. But there wouldn't be room for me because the house was filled with craft supplies of various kinds. I could not even sit down anyplace. She offered me so many other things besides the loom, I came home with yarn, a swift, 2 shuttles and bobbins, a spool thingy, extra heddles. One wall had a gorgeous handmade unit filled with labeled boxes: jewelry supplies, etc., etc.

Quilting was her latest passion and she need more room....
I could go on and on here but I think I painted the picture. The Sabina loom had been her mothers loom, new in the 40's, her mother gave it to her and she used it for a long time. (Her mother just had laser eye surgery and can see once more and took up weaving again, she is over 90 years old.) Anyway, she showed me some of her weaving and it was very nice...so I knew the loom was functional! I think of her often as I struggle with Sabina.

You know, I've learned some pretty important lessons from weavers in the last few months...

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Amber Waves of Grain

I made this piece for a special purpose, it's named Amber Waves of Grain. It was made to enter into a contest for Daughters of the American Revolution in their crafts division; the clay category. Wednesday I received a phone call that it was selected as the California winner and the SW Division winner also. Then I was informed that it placed 3rd in the national competition. Well, I'm not used to winning anything so I had to do a special happy dance all around the house!! I was asked if I would be going to DC in July to accept the award. Hmmm, I've never won anything like this so I am kind of tempted but I just don't think it's going to happen. July 7th I will be flying home from Seattle after attending the 4th of July celebrations in my home town. The awards are in the morning on July 8th, so...

Today the gas kiln is opened, I can't remember exactly what I have in there except for a pitcher, have I mentioned how much I enjoy making pitchers?
Will trade pitchers for yarn!!!
One addiction feeds another....

Friday, April 24, 2009

I Did Not Make THESE Fish!!!



While I was not the maker, a much better maker made these and OMG....delicious is not a strong enough word. I don't think there is a word to describe how good the wahoo (ono) was last night...and the sushi grade tuna the night before....unbelieveable. My buddy, Joyce, her Steve caught all of these beauties on the Royal Polaris charter fishing boat. He was gone, hmmm, a long time; over a week anyway. The concept of time escapes me right now.
This puppy, no, fish weighed 234 or 324 pounds, the concept of weight escapes me too. What a day they had cleaning, vacuum packing and giving away fish, disposing of fish leftovers, clearing up the traffic jams they caused as cars screeched to a halt in front of their house, drivers with their jaws dropping, lips drooling. Ha,ha, I think half of Pacifica ate fish last night.
Thanks my friend for a beautiful feast.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Heat Wave In April...Pacifica California

So when the temperature rises above 70 degrees I think everyone on the coast starts to get buggy...OMG its going to be hot, I'm not used to the heat, when will the fog return; we suffer so.




And we've had a heat wave, yesterday I heard it was around 90. Tomorrow; 84.

I went for a walk Sunday and here are a few photos I took. The surfers are in wetsuits, the ocean is still pretty cold here!


Look closely and you can see a duck in the creek that runs to the ocean. I am told that steelhead still travel up this stream that travels through our neighborhoods to spawn!

And lastly, a view from the top of my walk-hill!






Saturday, April 18, 2009

Dragonfly Serving Set in Celadon



This set sort of goes with the dragonfly teapot. The dragonfly teapot is going to go to the Davis show in May. The CCACA; California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art. I was going to do one of my boat-journey vessels but as usual when trying to perform on command...blah! But, I will at least participate.
I feel inspired to take my camera to record life today even though I'm only going to throw pots and stuff like that. My fish is supposed to be submitted for a juried show but I don't feel motivated to finish. I see a theme emerging; time to get back to basics I think.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

This Post Has No Title

I have some time before going off to finish my book, "Slumdog Millionaire". This book holds true that the book is better than the movie. I liked the movie but the book is better, it isn't even the same as the movie...wish they could have done it the book way!
I haven't had the time to be a good little blogger, I don't know what I've been doing, life has just been that way lately.

Still weaving and must make time to trot around the blog world again and see what folks are doing. A weaver blogger told me this some time back and I never got around to doing my part to keep the blogger vibes going:
Life Looms Large said...
Thanks for blogging about your creative journey! I put an award for you in my blog, so hopefully some of my blog friends will become your blog friends!

Sue
I'm back Sue, thanks, I'll try to carry thru!

I decided that the yellow/red towels really are ok, once I washed them the nubbies plumped up and made a nice fat absorbent towel, same with the red and white. But, oh, mama, I fell hard for the green color, next is a blue color!