Fire & Ice
Ice storm, well more like freezing drizzle, fell over night leaving behind a glaze covering on everything this morning. A good excuse to stay in, light the (season’s) first fire in the studio fireplace and enjoy the view.
Cutting Clay
I still haven’t found the right time for trimming our main tree. Maybe today! I’m not altogether sure, how I want to decorate it this year. For someone who was formerly dubbed “the ornament lady,” surprisingly I always lean toward our simple paper snowflakes, the kids and I cut when they were little.
The alternate choice of course, is none other than, the original, hand painted, made in America, signed by the artist, glazed and fired ceramic ornaments! Chuckle. Here are some of the last produced that I managed to hold on to before Tidings of Great Joy moved into art licensing. You can see how the cookie cutters were utilized to make them and why I began collecting the cutters.
With all of the cookie cutter collection talk on Tuesday, I was reminded of my treasured time and handiwork of years gone by. I unpacked them today. Maybe this year they will make it on to the tree. I’m still trying to find a way to get them back into production. I’ll keep everyone posted.
On each of the Tidings of Great Joy ornament hang tags it reads:
…for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
It was the Christmas story read by Linus in Charles M. Schulz’s ” A Charlie Brown Christmas,” that inspired the (then holiday ornament producing) company’s name. Est. early 1980’s.
Not Again!
Last February in a post titled “Unexpected Guest,” you may remember, was a tale of a large black snake that I discovered in my home studio. This afternoon, after I spent several hours working on the catalog clean up, I decided to make a brief wash room visit. As I stepped toward the door, I found myself face to face with the critter pictured below. His/her head was raised in the strike position, as I was extremely close to stepping in it’s path. Instead, I froze in my tracks. My immediate assessment was that this was a poisonous snake and most likely a Copperhead! Eeks! Two snakes, inside, in the same year? This will never do. Especially the most concerning species in this region.
Living in the woods, I’ve become accustomed to snakes and expect to see them from time to time, outside! However, never did I expect to see one of these guys, inside. With limited resources, I backed up, circled around, picked up a small basket on the way and was able to throw it over the top of him/her from behind. After that, it was a challenge but I manged to get it out the door and into a box. Heart was pounding all the while. Whew. Not going to be at ease in the studio again until I find out if he/she was acting alone. Jeepers-creepers!
Oh, and BTW, my fonts are looking weird on this end again, too.
Can of Worms!
OK, yesterday was golden but today, yikes! Since taking time off, I’ve been catching up on the many areas of the home and studio that needed my attention, desperately. I feel pretty good about the main level, regaining control there, except for a few over due closet renovations, and have even completed a few projects. However, today, I moved to the studio area, dunt, dunt, dunnnnn, a personal stronghold, well one of them. I am determined to conquer the “messy” studio before going back to work. Who can create in chaos, right? I will not give up until I have the organized, artful place restored to it’s original order. I insist.
Perhaps some of you remember my posting several messy studio photos (above) last March, titled “Good, Bad & the Ugly.” Those were suppose to be the before’s and then I planned to share the after’s. Well, these several months later, I looked around this morning, not sure where to begin so, I started with the most dreaded. The shelves of magazines.
Magazines,
magazines…
and more magazines! Oh brother. Does anyone else suffer from this addiction? I mean what do you do with these beauties? Well, they have to go, but not before I sift through them of course. Yikes, how long is that going to take? Can I do it in this lifetime?
The shelves are getting there. Am I half way yet?
No, not even close. Well, it’s a start. Yeah!
Stewardship
Treasured Tuesday’s – Last week I attempted to straighten up some of the messy piles around the studio. One major issue, the many books and vintage “Art News” magazines retrieved from my dad’s work space last summer. Finally, the many volumes spanning from 1952 – 1962, are unpacked, organized and safely stored in my large, school salvaged, book case.
Cover – Donna Canonici da Ferrara, 1477 of the portrait-pair by Frcesco Cossa. The inscriptions read: UT SIT NOSTRA FORMA SUPERSTSES (In order that our image may survive.)
These issues are most likely rich in art history and imagery, however, I’m not sure whats to be done with them. For now, they will remain a part of my studio stuff as they were in my dad’s.
Late Arrival
After running errands all day yesterday, an early birthday present, to myself, arrived late last evening.
Ooooh, what could it be?
Kidding, I knew…
my first lap top!
My only other computer, about seven years old, is an IMac G4 and is filled up and slowing down. So, I took the plunge and ordered something I could sit in the easy chair with. Since the growing demand on an artist/designer to do much more computer generated, product mock-up work, I thought it was time to get comfy.
Admitting, I’m a little intimidated by the change. Good thing I have kids.
Charging….
Hey, kids? Jason, Kate, anybody? Eeeks!
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