Category Archives: shards

Friday Freebie: a new series – milagritos, the “little miracles”

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I was working in clay last night and suddenly “saw” an earthenware face with holes at the top for a wire hanger and holes at the bottom for tying sari-silk ribbon and milagro charms. I could see it hanging on my porch beside the front door to welcome guests with a wish for an everyday miracle to come their way. Here’s a prototype (put together this afternoon) from a face I’d made from an earlier firing.

There are a dozen more like this in the kiln right now that will be wired and be-ribboned for the Spring Fling art sale next Saturday. milagrito1_edited-1I call these mixed-media hangings “milagritos,” which means small miracles. And if you are a SHARDS subscriber before midnight on Sunday, you will win one if you name is randomly drawn.

If you do not happen to win this one, you can see more of them at the Spring Fling show and sale this coming Saturday, May 3rd, at the Studio. Prices for these charming hangings will range from $12 to $20 – such a deal. Even better, you’ll get to see work done by my pals Alison Schockner, Lesta Frank and Jan Longfellow when you drop by the Studio on Saturday.

So save the date, encourage your friends to come (and to subscribe to this blog – just click the link on the top right) and maybe a milagrito will come your way! Here is the invitation to Saturday’s fun event. Hope to see you there, and happy spring!

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Frabulous Friday Freebie – so, subscribe to SHARDS!

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I am loading the kiln this morning with some new work for Shades of Green and also some 3-D assemblage pieces that I’ve made for a new sketched-out sculpture concept (stay tuned) – it’s great to be working with clay again. Here’s some of the stuff that’s going to be fired today:kiln1

So in honor of Firing Day (and to bribe new subscribers), this is the Frabulous (?) Friday Freebie (below) – a face shard that’s about 6″ across, already fired and finished with walnut ink, and ready to hang on your gate or your wall or put in a bowl or whatever else your heart desires.

kiln2 Just make sure you’re a SHARDS subscriber by midnight on Sunday and I’ll do a random drawing of all subscribers to pick the winner (and will ship if out-of-town person is drawn) – thanks! And TGIF, y’all.

 

Shard journeys and unfolding myths

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Wow. I was just invited to speak at The Association for the Study of Women and Mythology (ASWM) 2014 National Conference here in San Antonio on March 28-30. How perfect! (Thank you, Susan Carlin and Sid Reger.) One of the great delights in my life is hearing from creative women all over the world who are using my Shard Faces in their own work, transforming them into the most amazing Spirit Dolls and unfolding their own myths. Here are some recent messages with photos:

From Vicki in Brisbane, Australia: It’s my first go at making one . . .she turned out absolutely beautiful and I was really happy with the outcome 🙂

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From Karen in Washington State: I got the faces yesterday and started on my mermaid this afternoon. She is almost done! Her neck & body are all one branch and the arms are a 2nd forked branch I attached to her back. Working with your faces has opened the floodgates of creativity for me, I am having such a good time working with them.

mermaid        And I loved this note and picture from Vicky in Canada: I just had to show you the photo that my boyfriend took of my Spirit Doll this afternoon. The last sliver of sunlight was shining on her before disappearing behind our building. The star in the picture is actually captured in the crown that is on the full moon’s face. I actually cried because I was so touched by the picture and my Spirit Doll.

vicki

Shine on, Mythmakers!

Where has this week gone? . . .and Friday Freebie

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Did this week disappear as fast for you as it did for me? Yikes – so little time, so much to do. As promised, a SHARDS subscriber (new or old or ancient) will receive a Scent Shard of his/her/its very own if his/her/its name is drawn on Sunday night by the Magic Randomizer. Here’s the lovely Shard, a classic face with spirals.shard2

Looking ahead, I’ve just posted a new Celtic Spirit Doll workshops for February – I’ve been doing a little research on the subject, and this should be fun – you, too, can Create a Spirit Doll whose roots lie in Tír na nÓg , the Celtic place of eternal youth and beauty. It should be fun – spirit doll workshops are really such a favorite of mine and everyone else’s.

And if you’re a writer (aren’t we all in one way or another), please consider Nancy West’s Creative Writing Seminar and Workshop at the Studio on two Wednesday evenings, January 15th & 22, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For just $40, this two-part workshop is the literary bargain of the new year – Nancy is funny and creative and a delight to work with. Plus there will be good snacks – yeah! I might even make some of my pal PJ’s Saltine Toffee. It’s sinfully addictive. Happy weekend, All!

Friday Freebie: Scent shard

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Can you say “Specially Selected Scent Shard for SHARDS Subscribers“? And then can you say, “I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit“? That one’s trickier (heh heh). But if you’re a SHARDS blog subscriber (or subscribe by Sunday night), you’ll be in the drawing for this earthenware Scent Shard. It’s pretty, with its little bee and its B Beautiful stamp. I even have a box ready for mailing, so good luck!

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Despite the cold weather, it looks like my art opening at La Vida is a go. Hope to see you there, but if it turns icy and scary, stay home! Here’s something interesting to learn codeacademyif it is, in fact, a stay-at-home weekend. It’s a free program I use with my students called Code Academy. If you have a geek gene, you might like to learn how webpages are made. Take a look – you can even earn badges for your progress. craftartAnd if technology isn’t your thing, then browse the free classes at CraftArtEdu. There are a ton of creative videos there, including mine on composition. Have a lovely weekend!

Scent Shards up on Etsy

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Just a quick note for those of you who suggested I make the Scent Shards available on Etsy – I did! Here’s the link:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthShards

Thanks – they are listed individually. I had to raise the shipping to $4 because of the larger geographic area, but if it costs less to ship to you guys who read SHARDS, I’ll refund the dif. Please share the link – you’re the best!

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Working weekend (and winner)

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Congrats to Dani Wildason, the winner of the Threads of Blessing embroidery – Dani’s been a SHARDS subscriber for almost a year, and she’s a wonderful creator of Spirit Dolls. More Friday Freebies to come.
It was a working weekend in the Studio – I’m getting ready for my show opening at La Vida on the 6th of December and just finished a new triptych (actually, they stand as individual pieces, too):

These small earthenware constructions always remind me of the Canterbury Tales! It would be fun to do a series based on Chaucer’s stories. Hmmm, note to self….

I also had a workshop at the Studio yesterday on Image Transfer, and it confrimed what we all know – digital transfer is unpredictable! Conclusion: The two most reliable products that we used were TAP paper with inkjet prints and TonerAide spray for laser prints. Oh, yeah, and Celine discovered that T-Shirt transfers work great on leather! It was fun, and educational, for sure.

Countdown to Saturday sale with da girlz

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I love being in shows at the Studio with Lesta, Alison, and Jan – they are such inspiring artists. Here’s your personal invitation – If you click on it, you can get a printable version to share with everybody! Sharing is GOOD!nov9

Remember Scent Shards? I found a wonderful 1930’s carved face of a woman to use as a press mold,  and have made a series of new “B Beautiful” Scent Shards for the Saturday show. There are only ten of these, and I think they are the best ever. Any suggestions for essential oils to go with them? I’m thinking lavender and tangerine.scentshards

Last but not least, congrats to Karen Jensen, wonderful writer and all-around creative person, for winning the Shard Adornment kit – it’ll be in the mail today, Karen! Thanks (to everyone) for subscribing to SHARDS.

Herb’s just a face in the crowd . .

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I love these little Sprig Shards! I’ve made 100 of them for the San Antonio Herb Market this Saturday, October 19th. Each one of these kiln-fired earthenware herb pots has its own personality. Designed to hold sprigs of herbs, they hang on the wall in the kitchen or by the door. Did you know that a spring of rosemary by your front door means “Welcome?” And that a sprig of poison ivy means “Go Away?” I made that last one up – it doesn’t really. These Sprig Shards can also hold a key or an emergency chocolate kiss – all kinds of possibilities. And – tadah – they are only $7 each, which in my humble potterly opinion, is a bargain for a one-of-a-kind useful art object handcrafted by moi. So come to the 22nd annual Herb Market at the Pearl and check out my simple but sensational Sprig Shard table as well as all of the wonderful herbal plants and food. The San Antonio Herb Society will be there with its new cookbook, too. Find the thyme to go on Saturday. 🙂

Guest artsts show their faces

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One of the most enjoyable aspects of offering workshops, particularly on how to make face shards, is to see how they are used by the artists who attend. I’ve already posted photos of Spirit Dolls and jewelry – now here are some new ideas.

These are by Sheri Lenora from Austin, who took a class at the Studio recently on building earthenware faces – she’s used them in her beautiful mixed-media hangings – spectacular rich color and texture:

The nebookxt example (left) is the cover of a small book created by Zinnia Galliher, founder of Roses On My Table and a student in my online Making Faces class! I have a already warned her that I’m stealing her idea – it’s wonderful, and the air-dry clay is easier and lighter to work with than earthenware would be for adding to artisan paper constructions.

Don’t forget that there’s a workshop this Sunday at the Studio on making faces with air-dry clay with all kinds of beautiful finishes. Here’s the info, and here’s where to sign up.