A cup of tea

A cup of tea in my favorite monkey mug!

This mug was made by my friend Phylis. I love her whimsical carving.

Salt Fire

Here is a picture of my latest salt fired pieces. The bowl is handbuild and made from Black Mountain clay. I didn't put any glaze on the piece. The salt becomes the glaze. It also has the "orange peel" effect.

The box was made at the box workshop mentioned in a previous post. I'm not sure what the clay is but it has alot of grog. The color is an ochre color. I hope to make more boxes; similar but with different lids.

Presents

Aria and I each received a present last week.

I received a beautiful new art journal. Ahh, the possibilities! I think this will become my collage journal.

Thank you R & R.

Aria has a new sleeping bag to get twisted up in. She buries herself for hours. I have to lift a corner to make sure she is still alive.

This picture is for Wesley; Aria's new blog friend.

And another thank you to MJ for following my blog.

Holiday Ornaments

A friend of mine invited me to join the holiday show at the Smith and Kirk gallery in Bodega Bay. The ornaments on the left are porcelain snowflakes with low fire glazes and engobes. I also have leaves and flowers.

Had a great day talking with my friend at the gallery then took my dog Aria on a long walk on Bird Watch Coastal access trail. I just found this Blog describing the trail.

Box Workshop

Went to a great pottery workshop building boxes using the hard slab technique. Bill Geisinger lead the workshop. He makes fabulous slab built, wood fired pottery. This is a picture of his wood fired box with a brass lid. Check out his website for more pictures of his pottery and the wood fire kiln.

I've made boxes before but not to this precision. Also learned how to take this form and make other forms such as vases. I've placed many more pictures showing the process on Flickr, under the name of peggyln. Take a look.
This is a picture of a Korean kick wheel. Cool!

Doesn't everyone need a felted pink baret this winter?

Fall Fest at Windrush Farm

Went to the Fall Festival at Windrush Farm today. It's located in a beautiful rural area of the county. Incredible hand spun and hand dyed yarn for sale. Also demonstrations in how to spin, natural dyes (onions=yellow) and felting. I bought some roving; I love to spin and knit. I find it meditative. Dying, cleaning and carding wool would be too much.

More Pottery

Hand built and wheel thrown salt fired. Black Mountain clay

Hand built large salt fired bowl.

Hand built large Salt fired bowl using engobes.

Hand built Pit fired Bowl

What inspires you?

I started thinking about this question on Malle-Gianattassio's blog. My first answer is everything and anything. But lets get specific.

• Being around genuine, loving and positive people inspire me to be a better person.
• Nature, such as Lake Tahoe above.
• Children, their laughter, expressions and questions.
• Dreams
• Imagination
• Colors
• Creating - it's like an addiction, the more I create, the more I need to do so.
• Being around thought provoking, creative people.
• Pets
• Smells, such as pine trees, and fresh clean air
• My hands in clay
• Yarn
• The ocean

What is most important though, is that I am open to the inspiration. If I'm worrying about my problems, then I miss it.

Slow Going

This is the most complicated piece I've ever knitted and it's just a scarf. Its called Falling leaves. I'm about half way through. I fell in love with this yarn; coral mohair. I found the pattern in the book, Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders.

Flying Nun

I just had to post this picture. Aria at doggie camp. Her ears must slow her descent.

Cactus Sculpture

These cactus are out side the pottery studio. How long have I walked by without really looking at them. This time though they looked so sculptural to me.

Morning Nap

We went to the vet this week for her annual visit. She must have had 16 cookies; I lost count. Vet says she is perfect and doing very well for a 14 year old dog. This last year she has started to show her age. She has slowed down but can still run like the wind in spurts. She is now partially deaf. Vet told me to stomp my feet when I come home and use hand signals . Funny though, she seems to hear the word "carrot". Maybe she lip reads

Family Visit

Just got home from a short visit with my family. It was my Dad's 82nd birthday. People ask how does it feel and he says he doesn't know; he's never been 82 before. I'm glad he is doing so well; happy, healthy, and enjoying life.

This is a picture of my Dad and niece bonding over chicken wings! They didn't leave many for the rest of us.

My family lives in Southern California, in a beach town. I forgot how much cooler it is, more humid and foggy than where I live. Even the weather brought back memories. Aria came with me. She is a good traveler. Sits in the back seat, looking out the window, like a passenger. Though she doesn't give any warning when she needs a pit stop!

I also visited with a friend from high school who was in town the same weekend. She lives in another state. We keep in contact via phone, email and now Facebook but haven't' seen each other in many years. It was great to hang out and reminisce. It's also great to know someone for almost 40 years. We've changed and yet we haven't. We met in our high school senior year and couldn't wait to get on with our lives. I'm now happy to take life at a slower pace. I like getting older. I wish I looked like I did when I was younger but I am so much happier, not so self-conscience or worried about the future. I like feeling secure enough in myself to be able to care more for others.

My Reading List

Oprah has posted her summer reading list. It is a list of 25 books. She also has another list of 10 more books. I suppose someone who doesn't do much else could read 25 books in a summer; it would be a little more than 2 books a week. I'll be happy if I finish one or two books this summer.

Below is my book list I hope to finish in the next few years (in no particular order)

• Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
• World Without End - Ken Follett
• Jazz - Toni Morrison
• Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
• Saving Fish From Drowning - Amy Tan
• Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austin
• Daughter of Fortune - Isabel Allende
• Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens
• Founding Mothers - Cokie Roberts
• In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
  
• The World Without Us - Alan Weisman
• We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
• The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx
• Life of Pi - Yann Martel
• Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
• While I Was Gone - Sue Miller
• Switch - Bill Bayer
  

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My Life in France

I'm reading My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme. Great book, reading it makes me want to learn french and make sauces. She was such a joyful and passionate person; can't help but be inspired.

You tube video of Julia making an omlette here

Greenstring Farm

A big thanks to Hylla for the complements on my blog and for her order of tea cups. Check out her website here. She is a wonderful encaustic painter.

We frequent the same organic farm, Greenstring. The picture includes onions, garlic, organic eggs and dried sweet peppers, that smell wonderful. Looks like a good frittata, doesn't it. I've also included one of my micaceous clay pots.

Will post more later about the farm when the luscious tomatoes are available.

Back at Tortuga

Back at Tortuga again after taking a break. Good to be back and I'm glad I took a break. Good to be back with my friends and the creative energy. I joined this pottery studio in 1993 and have been there every week save a few months break. It's like a second home for me. There are a few people who have been there longer. We have watched each other grow up. Its a special place and we love new people also. They bring in new ideas and energy.

Latest Ceramic Work

Here are some pottery pieces I made before I took a break.

High fire hand built tea cups

Wood fire sushi plates and wasabi bowls
High fire and low fire houses

The studio opens again this week. Still not sure what I'm going to work on. I'm thinking of porcelain pieces with drawings using glaze pencils.

The Core Values of Art

1. Art and play are the same practice.


2. Art is life - Life is Art. Create the type that makes you deeply happy.


3. To succeed, allow difficulties to grow and change into self-directed persistence by watering your own root. Persistence is the key to success. Your only job is to remain engaged in creative work.


4. Master self doubt. It is the only force that can keep you imprisoned. There is never a right way to do art.


5. Begin again. The magic gifts of your creative output await you and the world. Imagine if VanGogh would have given up.


6. Just paint. Everything you need will follow. Markets always exist and pay well for truthful art from your heart. Believe me!


7. Practice stepping away and seeing from every possible angle and perspective. This is where you will find the freedom to grow. Try to suspend time. Develop self-compassion.


8. Find mentors who can't possibly teach you what they know in your lifetime and spend infinite time by their sides.


9. Encouragement is the key.

Excerpt from Carole Watanabe's book, The Ecstatic Marriage of Life and Art.

In Progress

I hope to finish these in the next couple of weeks.

Equal Time

ISIS

Her full name is Isisgloria. When I first got her I couldn't decide which name to give her so she got both. She is 16 years old, 6 pounds and has only a couple of teeth left. But that doesn't stop her from eating dry food or her favorite chews.

She is not a sweet cat, except with me. In fact many of my friends have never seen her. She hides anytime someone comes over. What she lacks in size, she makes up in attitude. She D E S P I S E S Aria. Attacks her whenever she sees fit. Aria deserves it sometimes but not always. We have a battle every morning, who gets to go out first. I just open the door and let them battle it out.

Monster Dog Strikes Again

Don't let this face fool you.

So I'm in the back of the house ironing my shirt for work and I hear noises in the kitchen. My first thought is that Aria is into something but I'm sure that I didn't leave anything out on the counter. Wrong! She ate my entire salad! I didn't put the top on after I put the dressing (Raspberry vinaigrette) on it.

It was a good salad, spinach, roasted cauliflower, tomato, cucumber, onion, avocado, almonds, soy meatless something or other, and blue cheese.

She ate it all. Not a spec left. You would have thought it was a clean container except it was on the floor and she was standing over it, licking her chops looking like she wanted more!

Anyone who knows Weimaraners, knows they have boundless energy, an insatiable appetite, and are very loyal and loving. She is 14 years old and is just now starting to act like a normal dog, or so I thought.

BTW, I had cottage cheese for lunch. She would have like that too.

My desk at work

I work for a high end upholstery and drapery editor. I work in Product Development; working with the owner of the company creating two collections a year. Right now I am working on the September 2009 collection and the two collections for next year. Needless to say I am overloaded with samples of fabric. I'd like to organize, but if I move anything, my boss will freak.

I thought I would post some artsy shot of beautiful fabric. But then I thought you should see reality. Here are a couple of photos of my desk. And this is a good day. I can find the phone!

So last night while working on our encaustic paintings, we were discussing memorable visits to the dentist. And Sue says "On my deathbed I will say 'At least I won't have to go to the dentist anymore.'"

I am still laughing!

Birthday Present

Hey look at this.

Spanish yarn from real spanish sheep. Beautiful colors of deep purple and lime green. All you knit is Love. Interesting the way they wrap a skein; I have no idea how much yarn is here. Lately I've been felting anything that isn't nailed down and this is 100% wool. I wonder what I should make?

Many Thanks

to sillyak for adding this blog to his links. Check out his caboose restoration pictures and the jack in the beanstalk cactus!

More Vacation Pictures

I intended to post these pictures last week when I returned home. But promptly caught a cold. And then came down with the worst case of pink eye I have ever had. I couldn't go out in public; I felt like a leper. My boss was the funniest. I went to work, asked if she wanted me to go home because I was still contagious. She handed me a package of anti-bacterial wipes and said "Go to your office and don't touch anything." OK, no problem.


Our hosts, my cousin and her husband.










More cousins, second and third cousins. Dad, do you recognize these two?






A view of the house from the beach. It's for sale. Asking price is 4+ million, and needs alot of work. Lots of leaks and needs an upgrade. But the view is what you are paying for.

The View

Here are some pictures of our ocean view from the deck. We've had a couple of thunderstorms come through but they haven't lasted long. Wish I could get good pictures of the dolphins. Everyday we see many swimming along the breaker line. Mostly see their fins and backs. Also fun to watch the birds diving into the ocean.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Girls Like Us

Just finished a great book, Girls Like Us, by Sheila Weller. The girls are Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and Carole King; their lives, loves and music. Brings back lots of memories for anyone who grew up in the 60's & 70's and listened to their music. I lived in an apartment in Southern California with three other high school friends. We worked, went to college and partied! What's wonderful is that we are still in contact. The place was named Kilnhouse after the Fleetwood Mac album. Those were my Chelsea mornings. Now I listen to my MP3 player and talk to my friends on Facebook, I recycle and look at food labels for fat and sugar content. Who knew?

The Pink House

Thought I'd show my latest encaustic painting. It's not finished yet, but you can see where I am going. I'm learning how to create texture and shading in wax. There will be three of these in different colors. I've used encaustic wax, oil crayon and oil paint on wood.

B & E Parade

Here are a few pictures of the Butter and Eggs Parade. We do take our chickens seriously!

Welcome to Peggy ln

Well, finally!

I've read blogs for several years now and I love the interconnectedness. I care about what happens to my blog friends. So now I'm starting my own blog. Mostly to keep my friends and family current and to share thoughts, musings, pictures, and more.

The banner is a picture of my first finished Encaustic painting. Cupcakes

I'm part of a weekly group painting encaustics. We are learning as we go. Watch out for women with blow torches! Great fun!

Here's a link for the definition of Encaustics, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encaustic_painting

More later; I'm off to the Butter and Eggs parade...