Tinted Mason Jar

Just finished making this tinted mason jar project.  So easy to do!  I did a small jelly jar and am using it as a tea light candle holder.  It is a very easy project!  I found it on a new website called Curious.com.   They have a lot of free educational videos on all sorts of projects.  They also have classes you can buy or gift to someone.  I have been having fun checking it out!

https://curious.com/invited/GF_eHdTVogY

What a difference a year makes!

Mollie and Abbey

Almost a year has passed since we got Mollie.  In June Mollie will turn one and Abbey will be 1 1/2! They have kept us busy and I wouldn't want it any other way!

This picture was snapped while we were waiting to start a 5K walk called jog with your dog in Reno, NV.  This was their Third 5K.  They also did a 5K in Fallon, NV called Paws in the park.  Their very first 5K was in Reno on the river walk set up by the Tahoe Trail Trekkers, via American Volkssport association.  The AVA has walks all over:  they are self guided walks, or they also have events:  walks are usually 5K or 10K.  Most are dog friendly.  A great way to get to know an area.

Mike and I are life members of the AVA:  Mike started in Germany, where the club originated.  I started in Reno many years ago.  Check them out at the following link:


www.ava.org

Mollie

Mollie is our newest member of the family!  We got her from the local shelter.  She was 6 weeks old when we got her.  Abbey and her are great friends!  She has been with us for about a month now!  She is golden lab and very mellow!  She has just fit into our lives perfectly.

She loves to swim!  During our last irrigation, she jumped into the deep part of the ditch and swam around.  At first I thought she fell in, but watching her jump in over and over made me realize she wanted to be in that water.  I think we may have a future dock dog!

Loading The Kiln!

Kiln getting loaded up!

 My husband is getting involved with the ceramics as well.  He is busy loading up our kiln for our first run!  We are both so excited!

He has been playing with glass slumping.  The second picture shows some of his projects!

Glass slumping using beer bottles

Bowls: Calico Style

Bowl

I love how these bowls came out!  I used 3 different colors of clay:  red, brown and white.  The final glazing really brought out the colors of the clay!

Candy Dish

The Pet dish has not been glazed yet.  Quite a difference!

Pet Dish (unglazed)

Catladydi Gone to the Dog!

Abbey is our newest member of the family!  She is part Australian Shepherd, part Border Collie.  She has totally taken over the house and our hearts!

I knew dogs needed more attention than cats and now that I am retired and can devote time to her, it was time to get a pup!  Abbey is a very easy going pup and fits right in with our family.

Abbey is a working dog and knows when it is time to feed the chickens and get the mail.  She gets me out more and that is a good thing.  She and the cats get along quite well (they are all in the kitchen at dinner time and eat together).

I can't imagine life without her!

Class projects done!

Fish plate, double vase and spoon rest

Fish plate

Spoon Rest

 These are last of my clay class projects:  All glazed and fired and ready for use!

Now I can concentrate on new projects!

Double Vase

other side of double vase

Double vase, spoon rest and fish bowl

Cat Plaque Done!

I love how the cat plaque turned out:  I used Duncan Concepts Sprinkles under gloss for the cat (ginger sprinkles, briarwood sprinkles and black sprinkles)

I used 3 coats of underglaze and 3 coats of glaze!

Now that I know how the underglaze turns out, I am ready to try a couple of more cats for the walls!

Wild & Crazy Slab Bowl

This slab bowl was fun.  The first firing of it was pale and plain.  I was able to re-glaze it and I threw on tons of glaze:  literally cleaning out jars of glaze and throwing it on!  I wasn't sure what I would end up with, but I like it!

My next project will be the cat plaque!  I have the paints needed and instructions from a pro!

One bad thing, I had a huge plaque of the sun and moon I came up with.  When I went to pick it up to take in for it's first firing, it fell apart.  Darn it!  It was done with red clay.  I do have some pet bowls made out of the red clay drying.

I am still enjoying the process!  Each piece is a lesson!

Clay Class Projects (so far)

Clay Class Projects 

(so far)

Coil projects

A few of my projects have come back from being glazed and fired.  I still have projects waiting to be fired, glazed and re-fired.  Each piece is a lesson!  I have a lot to learn!  But I am having fun with it!  I have discovered a hidden treasure:  a ceramic shop in Fallon!  Yahoo!  I will be spending more time there for sure!

Coil projects:  Pot: needed to put the glaze on thicker.  My new pencil holder!  Spoon rest:  I love the glaze on this one!  This is now in use by my coffee pot.

Wheel pots

My first couple of throws on the wheel.  Again, a long ways to go.  I really enjoy working the other methods right now:  wheel will come later!

Pinch pots are fun:  The one on the left has a confetti glaze.  I tried to make the one on the right like a big flower:

Pinch Pots

Slab boxes.  The one on the right has every mistake that can possibly be made!  The one on the right has some cat and fish indentions.  The glaze came out interesting.  

Boxes (slab)