How delightful, to open your eyes to a lovely gift, left by your bedside. This lovely pear brought such a wonderful feeling to my morning. Perhaps it was the shape, or the color, or even just the stem. It reminded me that fall was being sprinkled here and there… Yep, lovely Mr. Lovee at it again…
I have had a busy and fulfilling week. I am like a mad woman, making pottery as I have realized my show is only a month away. Yesterday I had the most delightful conversation with Sarah Cotten. She is a pottery instructor, a yoga instructor, mom to the adorable little Lucy (such a character) and wife to Matt Cotten, a master puppeteer (one of the proprieter’s of Tucson Puppet Works). Matt Cotten photo, borrowed from his website, puppet section.
We were talking about the hugely attended, "All Souls Procession" here in Tucson, and the masks and puppets her husband is working on in preparation for the event. The posters for the all souls procession are done by different artists every year. One of my favorites was 2005’s(below), by Daniel Martin Diaz. I forgot to mention Daniel’s music as well (Blind Divine), found here…
I am eager to see this years… Last year’s poster, by Sam Esmoer was pretty wonderful as well. Sam’s work is incredible in person.
Back to puppets. So, Sarah was telling me a bit of what Matt is up too, and I was encouraging her to get him to start a Puppet Blog. Can you imagine?? I would certainly love that!! She then shared the cutest little booklet with me that her friend Charles Swanson made. "How to Make a Giant Puppet."
I was going to share all the instructions with you, however, they are a bit tough if you do not have access to clay. Miss Marjorie put a link in comments for some fun puppets to make!!
If you want to join in the Mask and Puppet making workshops in Tucson, which are currently underway, call Tucson Puppet Works at (520) 770-1533.
Thursday pottery included a bit of glazing the popular little bowls and dishes (45)… I also threw some ring holders in one piece. Oh, and of course, some more Jelly bean holder lady heads in the works…
Made her last night…
You remember last years…. Sadly, I did the one thing every artist hates to do. I forgot to take pictures of all the others from last year. The show opened, and they sold, and once it was over, I realized, no photos…
Last night, the high fire kiln was roaring, and there were these beautiful green reduction flames shooting out through the brick openings… Can you spot them?
I stayed at pottery until 9 p.m.An 11 hour pottery day. I am still recovering today… However, the most lovely thing is that, the Tucson Museum of Art, where Romero House Pottery is, is located in the most wonderful historic neighborhood. Movie quality. There is this one corner barrio house I drive by all of the time. Usually the window coverings are all seeled up…
However, last night all of the plantation shutters were open, sharing a peek of….
I can’t even believe I snapped this shot as I drove by this house… Not only that, but as I was passing my favortie Tudor mansion, I snapped a photo and got this…
Talk about Halloween in the air!!!!!I have so much more to say, but this post is getting out of control so I will talk about dolls and such next time… And, I have to say a sincere thank you, for all your kind words about me weeding out. I did it, I made my move and weeded out. I have decided that I will weed out an advertising program for my other job. Also, after much conversation with my darling friends Carolyn and Diane, they have supported me in the decision not to have my annual Witches party this year. Just taking away those two things makes me feel so much better. I am not going to lose my head now. Deep breath… xoxoxo (and as Diane stated, I can have a witches party after the show and October deadlines)
PS: My darling friend over at E.marie Arts, is having a giveaway, join in!! Trust me, she is an amazing gift giver!!!! She is responsible for my key necklace and the most unreal treasure ball, made of crepe paper.. Remember that??
Okay, off to the studio, see you soon!!
Oh my gosh, oh my golly oh geee wilikers!! Giant puppetry excites me no end!! 🙂 Last year for Halloween Chris and I made a giant flexible giant costume….with a paper mache head and a long pole and a large fabric cloak for the body!! Here is the link for where we learned how:
http://www.victorianhalloween.com/oct/costumes/giant.shtml
Sort of a more simplified version of what you shared, I guess. 🙂
Such fun! 🙂
Those heads are wonderful! Wonderful! WONDERFUL! I have quite an affection for disembodied heads you know. And really, maybe consider a Witch’s Ball in January…nothing terribly exciting happens in January.
xo
OMG those clay faces are fabulous!!!! You have such a talent! I’d really like to buy one so email me, OK? Hugs!
Jill
WOW Lots in this post! I hope your show goes as well this year! Sold out every thing! I love the flames, the jack-o-lanterns, and that house is Beautiful in the dark! Puppets are so cool, I love all of them except for clowns, but we won’t go there. OH yeah and that pear looks delicious!
Love Erin~
Hi, I just found your blog, I love the heads.
Racheal x
oh my, i don’t see any of your little plates. will you have some in your etsy shop? also, i looked thru some of your old posts to see if you have written anything about the kilns. that is so intriguing to me the fire and the kilns 🙂 and finally, is your show thru the museum? the one from the 16-18 nov.? maybe i can come to that!!!!
Is there anything you CAN’T do? 🙂
Lovely pottery! I LOVE the jelly bean holder lady! LOVE it!
I think the jelly bean jar lady needs a bigger mouth. Because otherwise, she’s being too greedy with the jelly beans!
Remember to take time to breath in with all your other activities!
Darling girl you are SO multifaceted in your amazing talent! LOVE all the little bowls and those jelly bean faces are fabulous! You would have been the STAR in that sculpture class I took! I love puppets, most especially marionettes! Some day I hope to find THE one that I know will dance at night while I’m sleeping!
What a little piece of delight to awaken to the juicy pear at your bedside!
AND I’m glad you chose to down size some of what was overwhelming you!
XOXOXO
Love,
Lisa
Ah, the perfect pear. The picture of the Jack-o-lanterns peeking out of the window is priceless. The jelly bean head looks like someone I know… And of course, you can have a Witches Party anytime at all.
Hi honey – good for you to let go of some stuff. & I second the idea of no Witch Party. Maybe in January. Or whenever. Or even never. But Witch Parties sound fun. Or Witch Weekends. Or even Witch Weeks. I wanna go dress up right now.
So have fun.
& make stuff
Okay, you are smart to weed out. Weed away! I have a friend who is celebrating Thanksgiving the week after, so she can avoid holiday panic.
Cool, thinks I.
Postponing holidays until you can feasibly fit them in works for me! Hallowe’en is month long though. Like Christmas starts end of November. You know!!!
Love your jelly bean head woman, she looks a little hungry, like she might gnaw one of your fingers off if you tried to take a bean! Too cute.
The green flames are beyond lovely. I spy them too.
xo
Blue! Boo!
oh miss fancy – pure – yumminess here – those flames – oooooooooooo la la yes honey I love all that…
and – so glad you have accepted release – as part of the creation process – had a big one of those today too…
xox – eb.
that jelly bean holder head is one of the most novel, insane and wonderful things that ever existed!
im quite taken by it, and also those magnificent bowls and pots.
and thankyou for the link to that wonderful artist and musician.
yay!
xxx
LOVE the open windows with the jack o’lanterns. You live in a magical place, I think.
Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater. That’s what I thought of reading your blog.You are this wisp of a girl fleeting about amongst flames, puppets, fairy tales and uh….fruit!
D.
Hey there Miss Fancy Pants what’s shakin? A lot apparently. It’s good to snuggle up on a cool evening and catch up on all of your mind’s wanderings and creations. You are a firestorm of IDEAS and stories. Love every one of them!
Hey there. Hope you are having a happy clay filled day. Your candy holder is fab!!
It’s all fun to read. I’m working on a puppet right now, but not a full size model.
You are d best.
Bye for now.
Constance
Oh I wish I could be there for your show! Please take lots of photos this time. The pottery looks great, as do your photos! Glad you’re prioritizing so as not to become overwhelmed. Take care of YOU, dear darling V. Besos y besos y besos – T.
Oh, those puppets are so cute, and a puppet blog? How much fun!!!
I am so glad you made some decisions to weed out extras in your life, so you can focus on other things! And you are working on so many wonderful things! Those bowls are so pretty! Those heads are kind of scary (you know I get kind of scared by some of your dolls and heads, but I am kind of wimpy!).
Loving the sketch we now have in our home, makes me smile every time I see it because I think of how delightful you are!
Happy happy day,
Melissa
That head is fabulous!! Halloween is almost here!!! 🙂
What beautiful Halloween photos you took! You got those while driving by? Very talented.
So nice of Mr. Lovee to leave a pear at your bedside. I love that!
xo,
Karen Beth 🙂
Yay! You’ve been so busy making wonderful things out of clay!! Everything looks wonderful, and I can’t wait to see pictures of your spread at the show.
Oh! And the key necklace is fantastic.
And I wish you were in my silkscreen class, too! 😉
Those Jellybean holders are Spectacular!!
I didn’t even know you worked in clay, More, More Please!
Sandra Evertson
Your pottery is gorgeous!!! And I loved seeing the kiln in action… what a great blog you have!
I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE!
Wonderful creativity!
KJ
Your talent scares me!
i support your decisions too…i know just taking one thing off your to do list helps clear te mind…i am so proud of you…the pottery is amazing…i had no idea you could do that…is that your kiln??? i have something i am doing just for you my friend…stay tuned…blessings, rebecca
hello dear 1, have you got time to share a pot of jasmine tea in lilac tea cups-you are such a very busy girl, la la la. mmmm- im thinking of tattered old lace tops with millenery flowers stiched on the hem.love jo.
OHH! Fantastigorical WHeee! You live inside a fairytale!! you do ! you really do! You are a magic witch! I LOVE IT !
What wonderful photos! I love when you do ceramics! Course I love when you do anything! Do you have your own kiln or do you go somewhere? My hubby throws pots sometimes and keeps trying to talk me into some kind of kiln. I love what he produces, just not sure I want a kiln as part of my landscaping! I love those colred glazes you use and don’t even get me started on the jelly bean ladies! So amazing! Have a great weekend!
Hi Vanessa,
Been catching up with your blog.
How fortunate to return to such a yummy
visual! Thanks for the recipe.
Love the clay heads…
Keep us posted on your upcoming show.
Love & Light
Rose
Bosc pears are my absolute fa-vor-ite fruit in all the land! So to wake up one morning and have a pear be the first thing I spy? Perfection!
Love the giant puppet heads, your jelly bean holder heads are way too cool, and a “Drink Me” mug is a must for me! As soon as I see one in your shop again I dare say I shall snap it right up!
I am loving all your creativity…you are truly an inspiration Miss Vanessa! 🙂
Very glad to hear you did indeed prune a few things that were not so great from your life! And I agree, have a magical witches party when you are not so busy with everything else…you’ll have a lot more fun!
Absolutely beautiful picture of you! What a magical day in the Pottery studio! Puppets!!!Lovem’ ! Its okay not to have the witches party,I have to constantly edit my over ambitious plans!
That is a perfect pear. And I am most focused on those lovely labels – rusty things. I need some of those, at least then I can have organized chaos. Weeding is good, cutting yourself some slack. I hate that panicked feeling and clock-ticking when there is too much to do, then I get overwhelmed, stymied, and then don’t get much of anything done. Talk about counterproductive. Take care sweetie!
Do you do “portrait” jelly bean heads?! 🙂
Lovely, LOVELY treasures on your blog! Thank you so much for sharing! Take care!
I usually serve mine the day I make it, hot from the oven with brown rice,
and a steamed vegetable of my choice with a little soy sauce on the rice
and veggies for flavor. Have you tried cooking octopus sous vide? And if I were to try doing it what settings would you recommend?