Last Day of Challenge

This is the end of my month as a wall exhibitor in the art room and I have not posted anything between the beginning and the end.

But I did make something every day of the month as I do every month, for I am a maker who loves to make.

Sorry for the delay and the abbreviated posting.

Here are examples of what I made in February.

Spoon/ ladle holders made of clay in Pottery for Pleasure to give
to Cooking Fingers friends at our Valentine tea party

And some earrings I made in Beading and Jewelry Making club.

Two Parentheses and one Spiral pairs of earrings

 I was also working on my contribution to our exhibit Beatlemania at Art Track.

At Tract Logo designed by one of the members of Art in the City Club

There will be an opening reception on Wednesday the 2nd and the exhibition will be up for the month of March.

First Day of Challenge

We have an art club here and every month one of us will be a featured artist,
It so happens that it is my turn in February so I set it up this morning and here are the results

My wall of fame :)

Back in the saddle

I have not written since my Mom Passed. it must have had a stronger effect on me than I ever suspected, although  she lives still in my heart and mind,, I am ready now to return to my blog as the maker that I am.

Beginning tomorrow, it is the make a thing a day challenge.

So for the month of February it is going to be a post a day, small or big, simple or involved I will post something I made that day.

I did this a few years ago but I limited myself to fish, this time however I am leaving my options open and will see if it works better.

Since a picture is worth a .......

Here are a couple of pictures from our last trip to Europe. 

Budapest by night

Vienna by day

It was a wonderful trip even with having to stop before the end destination of Nuremberg for low water on the blue Danube which isn't really blue :)

  

Life interferes

Although I was writing I was not in the mood for socializing.

Mama just a few years ago at home still active as an honorary president of the Red Crescent for life

Since my last post I went to visit my Mom who was in Lebanon as the fighting in Syria reached an unbearable level for such a frail lady. I saw her,smelled her felt her hands and said goodbye as I knew I will not get to see her ever again except in my dreams both sleeping and awake.
My mother Passed away peacefully one Monday in July, she was surrounded by loving family even though it was impossible for me to be there.

My mother was kind, outspoken, courageous loving and loved.
She lived, LIVED actually. she lived long and wide and touched so many people with her volunteerism, kindness, intelligence and brightness.

She was called  "Kamar" which means "moon" in Arabic but she was even brighter, for she was ' Like the Sun emitting light and warmth"

She left a huge foot print that will last a long, long time. I will not count all her virtues, medals, positions held, and goals reached, suffice it to say. she will be remeberd.

Goodbye Mama, I miss you a lot but you live in my heart and mind forever.

Mama sitting at her Desk in the Red Crescent of which she was president (a volunteer) for 25 years

 

NC Potters Conference

Again, this year I went to the potters conference with a friend.
As usual it was great with 3 potters demonstrating simultaneously like a three ring circus. In the middle of the stage Julia Galloway was throwing pitcher and making her delicate pillow lids.

Julia's work exhibited

Julia applying slip

To Julia's right, Tara Wilson was making sugar and creamer among many other things using darting to make her soft structured pots.

Tara's work at the exhibition

Tara's teapot in the leather hard stage

 And to Julia's left, was Peter Beasecker demonstrating his very precise works of sculptural pottery.

Peter refining his teapot.

Pete's work at the exhibition

along with the presenter's work, all the participants in the conference were encouraged to bring 5 pieces to show and sell. I didn't have any new work to show, but there were many  works of exceptional quality.

A flower bowl by Chris Campbell

A favorite delicate works, by Liz Zlot Summerfield.

There were also memorable presentations by Joe Molinaro and Noah Scalin.

Although this is a fringe benefit, but the food this year was superb, from salad to entree to dessert.

And, of course no conference is complete without a visit to Dwight Holland's house, which was as delightful as ever. with the overload of pots and Dwight's knowledge, sharing and hospitality.

Beer, wine, soft drinks and heritage flowed through the house

We counted 142 mugs hanging from the kitchen ceiling

Pots were everywhere floor to ceiling

This year I was able to see the pots much better, because we arrived right on time, before it was too crowded and had a chance to chat with Dwight and ask him about pots.

Most of the pots were the work of famous potters, from Reitz to Voulkos, to Sauldner and Hewitt; to Galloway, Myers, Oestrich and Mackenzie. and the tall to the ceiling Chinese pot acquired 2 years ago when the Chinese potters came to town .

Oh what a stimulating weekend that was. I can hardly wait till next year.

My oh my...

Last week I finished my grand children's portraits. Not too bad for a first timer, although I made Olivia 16 instead of 6, and got William's impish pleasant look, but not his likeness, and Katey, I made her 28 instead of 8 :) But here they are nonetheless. :)

Sam at the pool

                                

Kate, climbing the wall at Blowing Rock NC

Olivia enjoying the sun at Blowing Rock

And William sitting in their backyard

Hiding

I hide in my haven.
I hide from Syria and my worry about her.
I hide from worrying about my Mom and family surviving in Damascus.
I hide from a mad man killing innocent children in Connecticut.
I hide from another slashing children in China.
I hide from the mad world hoping it will not find me.
I hide, yet not. there is no place to hide.
The best I can do is pray, work, create beauty to counter the ugliness and meditate to counter the noise.
Living here provides that, and I am grateful for our decision to move to this community.

 So here are some results of my fighting back:

* From a picture gleaned from a photo on the internet with poetic license.

" Looking at the sun"

 * My grand children are the joy of my life. So of course my first portrait is of my first grandson. From a picture taken by his mom on the last day at the pool, in September.

"Into the future"

 

 

 * And another gleaned from a photo on the internet that went to a friend.

"Bridge over calm water"