Pottery Class

The day was so pretty with the blue sky and fluffy clouds I had to snap this picture while walking to class.  This is the Brookside Mansion and the newly planted flower bed around the flagpole. 

Learning how to wedge the clay which is getting all of the air out of it.  That is what causes the bubbles in the piece that was made and could cause it to break in the firing process.  This is a canvas covered table and the clay is rolled on it and then we have to pick it up and throw it down on the table to extract the air.  It's also a good way to take out frustration.



Different tiles showing the different effects of the firing, whether it is in an electric kiln, gas, wood fired or has a salt glaze.  As our instructor said pottery is part art and part chemistry because of how the different elements mix.  He has a whole wall of chemicals to mix the glaze with to get the different results.



My tool kit so far.  A few things I have to add and buy to complete it. 

Our first project is a tile that represents ourselves.  It has to be 20 by 12 inches and it has to contain many textures on it.  I am making a house with windows and a door of course and then added elements which I am still deciding on.  I should have it done Tuesday evening, we are having class critique on Thursday evening.  Then we will get it ready for firing. 

Come back and follow my evolvement through pottery class.

It's gonna be fun!

 

Little Helper

The other morning I was readying the little monkey quilt for quilting.
Putting together the backing and batting with safety pins because I really dislike basting.
My little helper was up with me inspecting the pins, touching them.

Sniffing them

The pins are put where there will be no quilting working from the middle out so it will lay down nicely.  That's the way I hand quilt also, working from the middle out. 

Another close inspection of the pins.  I chose a vibrant red and black sunflower fabric for the backing for interest.

And now making sure there are no hidden foreign objects underneath.  She was a HUGE help and she assured me that she would be there for the next project also.

I look forward to stitching this cute little quilt up. 

Happy Days!
Thanks for stopping.

favorite stuff

Put this little grouping together of some favorite summer things.  Someday I will put a picture of one of my cats in the frame but this little one is so cute.  Haven't even take the tags off the glass...goofy aren't I? 

This little bird with different paper designs is a favorite.

Then the tiny birds and one on the tiny nest of eggs.  My niece had gotten me a dark blue bird once that I had sitting outside and someone came along and stole it.  I have never been able to find one like it since.  I really loved it! Kinda burns me up!

Faux birds nest is a favorite.

Love this little bowl with the bird perched on the edge.

Another faux nest under glass

vase of colorful little flowers. 

Then I have my grouping of funny cats.

The blue guy always makes me smile

Bug-eyed stick cat is funny too!

Hope you enjoyed....Thanks for stopping by.

lasagna roll ups

Sunday evening I did some baking for lunches this week. 
These are lasagna roll ups and are really good and easy. 
The thing that takes the longest is boiling the lasagna noodles, the rest is a snap. 
Here is the recipe:
LASAGNA ROLL UPS

2 pounds of mild Italian ground sausage
30 oz of whole milk ricotta cheese
garlic or garlic seasoning
large bottle of marinara sauce
box of lasagna noodles

• Brown the sausage along with garlic or garlic seasoning.  I used Tastefully Simples-Garlic Garlic. Put in enough that you like.

• When the sausage is browned add 1/2 the container of ricotta cheese to the pan and stir till melted. 

• In the meantime put water on to boil the noodles.  Add a couple tablespoons of olive oil to the water.  When it starts to boil add 4 noodles to cook a bit and become pliable. 

• lay 5 papertowels out on the counter and start putting the cooked noodles on the papertowel to dry off.
• Keep cooking the noodles till the box is empty laying them out on the papertowels.
• Start putting the meat mixture on the layed out noodles, not too heavy.  Roll up and put the seam side down onto a sprayed 9 X 13 pan. 

THE SAUCE

Take the large bottle of marina and pour into a pan over medium heat.  Put the rest of the ricotta cheese in the pan and whisk together.  Add some of the noodle water in to thin the sauce. 

Pour the sauce over the filled noodles and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. 

A pan of bar cookies made with JUMBO chocolate chips.

Before baking



After baking



Always a family favorite. 

Journaling Finished

painted in the rest of the journal page.



Then I outlined with black marker and gave the background a light blue wash.  Could have kept going on, but decided to stop.  It's good to decide when enough is enough. 

Happy Journaling....

School is starting

Well, my first day of school for the semester is tomorrow, which I am looking forward to.  I have only 3 semesters left for my bachelors degree.  I feel all the classes this time are interesting.  1. Human Resource Management  2. Intro to the Bible taught by Sister Felicity.  3.  Ceramics.  I will have so many things to tell you AND show you, the good and the errors.

Above are my texts for Human Resource Management.   



These classes shouldn't be to awful hard.  This semester should be enjoyable.

Stop back later and see how I'm doing.