Late Summer brings guest calling

When ever I start a batch of tiles I am always thinking about what is new and different that I can put on them. There have been some ideas that come right from my yard, lizards, butterflies, flowers, and now praying mantis.
This female came to visit the other day and I had to get her to pose for me. She was not thrilled to be stopped in her mission of leaving the heavy load of eggs somewhere.

She decided that she would fool me by heading up the side of the house right by the front door.
As soon as I turned my back to do something she was gone.

Look at how menacing she is, ready to eat me up to protect the babies.
She went on her way as I left her be, after all, I have all I need to place her on a tile.

Playing with new idea

I am working on some new sizes in the tiles and I really like the way they are coming out.
Never stop thinking has become my new motto.
You just never know when something might stick.
Have a great week! Spring is a beauty this year!

Slam dunk!

Mark says to me the other day- 45 before noon and all I could think of was-- "show off".

He sets the bar a bit high for me these days on the throwing front.
We are pretty well as ready as we are going to be pot wise next weekend, but-but there is the November show and Christmas orders to roll on.

Someone is getting one of these as a nice surprise.
And you know you have to make more than one for the customer to choose from.

Then there is the 80 mugs we are working on.
They all get a sprigged stamp to go on each one.
On Thursday the stamp came in and while Mark handled mugs I sprigged.
It took a few stamps to work out the stamping and how best to apply to the mug.
I thought the stamp would be wood or metal but it is a plexiglass, or seems to be, material.

I tired nothing, I tried oil and then I found that corn starch lightly brushed on worked great.
The corn starch also helps me see the stamp on the clay.
I think we have it now- 60 more to go.

    

I have also been tossing some cookies and brownies through the oven for the Open house.
I have two rounds of the sesame seed cookies made. This has to be an all time favorite here.
They are not a sweet cookie and I love them with tea or Red wine. Let's see how they go with beer.

Sesame Seed Cookies
1 stick of butter, melted
add:
1/2 c. sugar
1 beaten egg
4 or 5 T. sesame seeds
1 t. vanilla
mix in:
2 cups of flour sifted with ½ teaspoon salt and baking powder- you can use self-rising flour but I never buy it so I figure out how to make my own.

Mix together well and form into a brick or log.
Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and
Chill for about an hour, slice into 1/4 inch thick slices
and bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes.


I have always thought you could add lemon or another flavor to these and they would be very good.
Note- I have also dipped these in chocolate on one end........yum.

Well I could hide away here all day and yet I know that would get nothing done. It is suppose to rain so maybe load a bisque  this morning so I can justify doing some of nothing later.
Hope you all have the Sunday you want.
Cheers!
M

Pots and bugs-

I did snap some more shots of pots.
I just put them on the kiln and shot away.
You will get the jest of what things are so here goes:
Two of my jars.

Two of Mark's vases.





Mark and I have been keeping a close eye on the garden since the butterflies.

As I was looking yesterday I saw two praying mantis.

Below you will find , "are you looking at me?" or "what the hell are you looking at?"

by Mark Heywood

And," what's for lunch ?"

By Mark Heywood.

Please note the pictures we use, no matter how poorly they are taken are the property of Mark and Meredith Heywood.
Please ask if you would like to use one.

I love are you looking at me- it is on my desktop at the moment!

Do you have time for one more bug?
I will be quick!
Mark called for me to bring the cameras and come see a really big caterpillar. I ran out and this is what we found. I have never seen one in all my years here and unfortunately it was not long for this world.

We have speculated all afternoon on how it ended up in the driveway.

We looked it up and here is what we found, It is a "hickory horned devil".

Still no clue- but I might spend another 34 years looking for another one.