Beat The Heat: January Gems

December Recap:

December definitely had it’s highs, one low and then high again. I started off the month selling my work at the Art League Holiday Show, which was very successful. The month continued to stay busy as I completed special orders and had a steady stream of visitors coming to the house to buy gifts. The low was when I was told two weeks before Christmas I would need back surgery, I was devastated. One week before Christmas, I had to go to John Hopkins to meet the surgeon and get his evaluation, and that’s when I had my Christmas miracle. The doctor told me I didn’t need the surgery, my devastation turned to complete joy. Although that still left me with questions of how to deal with chronic pain and discomfort, my attitude of gratitude gave me a whole new positive perspective of life. I appreciate my health, the love of my family, friends, and a passion for my art.

I’m now waking up to rainbows and a healing mantra to start my day.

I live in my studio! So I began the year taking several days to do a bit of deep cleaning and organizing.

I decided not to take a class this semester and just focus on my own

discovering new ceramic techniques and playing with some creative visions.

I’ve always enjoyed making dolls, so my latest challenge has been to create

ceramic doll sculptures that give the illusion of softness and movement like fabric.

"Handful of Posies" - Received Honorable Mention

I've also been experimenting with texture and design, so I've been making

some simple round shapes as masks and bugs as wall pieces to practice on.

One of the other ideas I've been playing around with is learning how to add decals to my work.

Even though I'm still in the basic stages, I've had fun adding them to my art. I've been making ring bowls with the angels, and have learned how to make my own decals and have been applying those to the soap and whatnot dishes I've been making.