Butterfly Tiles

One of the things that I have been doing with the pictures I shoot of the butterflies is to use them as models for some of my tiles.

I am not sure I can capture the true colors that I am seeing, but I figure that I am allowed to make up my own.

I do find that not all butterflies are alike.
There seems to be some variation in them all.
( hey- I think that there is, I could be wrong...)

(Oh- that wall color is not pink but it sure looks pink- please excuse its pinkness..)

In looking back over my fascination with the butterflies I noticed that all I did a few years back was to just take pictures of them.

Then I became fixed on the wings.

This year, I am all about their faces.
It is like someone whacked me on the head and said, " have you really, I mean really looked at these things?"

I am now fascinated with their faces.

They really pay me no attention and fly all around me as if I am a tree or just some mass to get around.
They are fully intent on doing their job.

Just look at this face....!!

I have been going out to be at "one" with the caterpillars.
I have been watching the ones in the parsley as they nub down every bit of the plant they can find.
There were at least 3 different hatches, making for some interesting watching.
I had wee ones, middle size ones and of course the bigger ones.
We counted at least 14 in different stages.
This morning when I went out many of the larger ones had moved on.
I want so badly to see one all cocooned, but I don't think I will be able to find them in their final stage.
I now know how lucky I was to get the one I had a few years back.

do you ever feel you are at the end of the road?

There is no love lost between the caterpillars, when the big one wants your place you need to just move on.

Tomorrow its back to the pottery and I will have to ignore the butterflies and caterpillars so I can get some work done.
But! I am already planning on more parsley next year.
And, some dill.
I need to feed these hungry critters.

Cheers!
M

Trees and Tiles

Catalpa Tree bloom

We have these Catalpa Trees on the other side of the pond. They have bloomed every year we have lived here, but nothing like this year. They are covered.
Mark brought me back a bloom the other night while he was out fishing. I had never seen one up close and I am amazed at their beauty.
Just think they have been right here under my nose all these years and I forgot to look at them!
Funny how we have those moments where we forget to take in what is around us.

A quick congratulations  to Hitomi amd Takuro - baby boy born last night around 8 pm!

The tile back splash is coming along, as long as things dry out the way I want them.
  I say I - but Mark jumped in to help me.
I am using a cone 6 clay body from Highwater Clays.
Red Stone.
I like the red stone for tiles and hand building. It could probably have a bit  more of grog in it for the size of these tiles.
I have high hopes I can pull this off with the clay body as is.
I am rolling the tiles to 3/4 of an inch and then carving away 1/4th of an inch for the design.
The customer wants a heavy relief on the tiles. She loves lots of texture and it shows in everything in the house from the tree and water feature that grace the foyer, to the leaf steps that lead down to the lower portion of the house. Lot's of texture and interesting elements in this house.

It takes about 4 to 5 days after rolling the tiles to be ready to lay down the pattern.
I place my plastic transfer on top and trace with a pen.
Then I lightly go over the design.
Cover, weight and leave.
The next day I start removing a layer of clay.
Cover and weight.
Then I really start moving out the clay.
Cover and weight.
As the tile becomes more dry and  I have hit my mark on the thickness I clean up the design.
Cover and wait.

And cross fingers.....
This group is now under plastic on old refrigerator shelf for air drying- nice and slow.
Meanwhile, it is time for a gas load.
Mark has been busy firing the electric kilns to get all the pots ready for planning.
Today- no tiles on to stoneware.