They Come In Peace

It's a spacecraft people, no need to panic. First I threw 2 bowl shapes, let 'em dry a bit, smacked 'em together rim to rim and viola a space ship. Very crazy and fun. This is the mother ship, she'll be blue--ish.

I was encouraged to explore throwing large forms and combining them for even larger forms. I didn't know this would happen but it did.

The Twenty Year Mosaic

I've been wanting to make a mosaic for...hmmm, let's see maybe 20 years. I have the mosaic book, sure, I read it and it just never happened. Lately someone has to light a fire under me to help me accomplish my goals. Hence the 20 year mosaic is complete.

Linda is teaching a class at Clay Creations and what a great class and fun, creative people in the class. soooooooooooooooooo, tonight we grouted This dragonfly will find a place in the house to live. It will be a prominent spot I think, it's not every year that a 20 year mosaic is completed. The little frog on the left is a tiny round tile I made a while back and I glazed it green and fired it just before the class started a few weeks ago. When it all came together; happy, yay. Love the process, must do more, must do more...

Meanwhile back on the loom I have a full width warp on for the first time. (Just to experience the thrill of it). Nothing fancy but I hope I will have enough to make a vest or skirt or something when I'm done.

JoAnn Fabric Prom Dress Contest

This is such a great contest I just want to put it out there for any creative teen that might come across this blog. Make your prom dress, win money, keep those teen hands busy, busy, busy!

Check it out here: http://www.joann.com/joann/common/content_noleftnav.jsp?catName=promContest&utm_source=Joann&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=prombnr&utm_content=HTML&utm_campaign=EML20100214-D&rId=EML20100214-D

This image is from the web, I found here: http://www.electrical-res.com/EX/10-18-01/white-lace-wedding-gown-av.jpg it says it is a wedding gown but what the heck..

Lower Lewis River Falls

Lower Lewis River Falls
Originally uploaded by sweber4507

Another beauty! This is outside of Woodland, Washington on the Lewis River. The photographer has told me that my friend can copy it as a painting. I will be sure to show it to him when it is finished. The other one of the tug tugs at my heart strings and so does this one; in a different kind of way.
As a kid in the 4th grade (I think it was) we visited Merwin Dam, not too far from here. And we learned how electricity was generated. It was exciting and I drew pictures of turbines and everything showing how it worked; I actually got it!
My camera is in the car and I keep meaning to take photos of the ocean since the waves are incredible but...I don't. And part of Pacifica is falling into the ocean, that is pretty sad for the people living in the apartments that will eventually go.
I looked for an old photo of the Toutle River but couldn't find one, I wanted pre-Mt. St. Helens eruption. The Toutle River was so cold it would cramp your toes right up like crazy but that never stopped me from spending hours going up and down that slick rocked river, skinning my knees and shins and all that.
Enough, I don't know why I feel so nostalgic lately...need more sunlight maybe.

Sause Bros. Tugboat

Sause Bros. Tugboat
Originally uploaded by mistymisschristie

Oh how I love this photo! I have contacted the photographer to ask if my friend can paint a picture of the photo. She has told me many times I just have to select the image I want and she will do it. No telling if the owner will allow it or not though.

I just want to put it on my blog so I can come look at it whenever I like.
Too many words spoil the feeling and they can't convey it anyway.

Grandparents, cousins, early morning, rain, riding in the backseat, my parents, home....

Mahjong Madness

It's someone elses fault...

Mahjong on line that is...it's their fault that they told me about it and encouraged me to play. It is way too much fun. Well, fun and occasionally infuriating. There is work to do on the website, it has what I consider some glitches but it is a super fun place to pick up a quick game or play all day. New Years day I spent some time there; at www.Mahjongtime.com/

Since I had this very nice hand I took a pic of it. I coulda been a contender; it was very nice but not a "limit" type of hand. Limit being the very best you can have.

There are 5 different type of mahjong played there, Hong Kong (my favorite), Chinese Official, Riichi (Japanese), Taiwan, EC (European Classical) and American. I was playing Taiwan when I had this hand. The different mahjong games with the exception of American all have a basic format similar to gin rummy...it is runs of 3 or 3 matching and a pair to declare mahjong. They all score different and it's a mystery how that works but I did get my 8 for a pair and declared mahjong winning 30 points.

New Years Non Resolutions

No resolutions here, accountability is not my middle name. Ok, "if" I made resolutions I wouldn't tell anyone because then I might have to keep them. I prefer lists; just writing down what is bouncing around in my head helps.

So, I've already planned next years Christmas cards. I try to write in each one so the recipeints get an inkling about me, ie., I'm still alive, etc. Next years cards will just say, Dear _____, You know how it is. Merry Christmas.

I started my new year off feeling rather defeated by my old Sabina loom. Determined to teach myself how to read and warp a pattern by using my book, I put a warp of linen on, threaded it: 1,3,1,3,1,2,4,2,4,2. A pattern called huck. OK, I did it. After crawling around the floor and re-hooking my treadles so that the proper harnesses are raised and lowered as they should - gah, something went horribly wrong. I don't know what it is, I'm so sad. I can't get a good shed when just one of the harnesses is up and the others are down. I think has to do with the archaic mechanisms that operate my loom. My teacher looked at it and shook his head so I guess I won't call him. The upper shed is all limp, it's really sad. I said that already didn't I? Well, I'll struggle along and finish up and not use a pattern that commands too much of me or my loom next time, it's supposed to be fun.

Yay for getting it almost right though!!!

2010 List 1

1. Take mosaic class?

2. Throw 100 shaving mugs

3. Plan plants for now naked yard

4. Study how to make ceramic wall pieces

5. Break ugly pottery for mosaics

6. Clean craft closet this month