The harp and cello turned out nicely, except for the fact that I have the cello being bowed wrong... LOL! - guess that is how you can tell the difference between a tree spirit playing and a human spirit playing. It is funny, because I didn't notice it untill I posted the picture on Facebook. When I picked up the piece of clay, it just went into the shape that reminded me of someone bowing the cello - even had the bow in its hand. You can tell I am more influenced by the clay than the pictures I had in front of me of someone playing the cello. It is also interesting to see how much the bowing arm moved during the firing. It went from almost horizontal (see below, March 21) to about 45 degrees.
I was also told about another old game - maybe as old or older than chess - 9 Mens Morris. It sounded neat, so I looked it up and decided to make some game pieces for that too. It is sort of simmilar to tic-tac-toe I think - Mike says it is more like GO. I did one set of pieces with jugs and mugs and this one with dancers and drummers. It was inspired by me watching the Morris Dancing on YouTube I think - even though the Morris Dancing and 9 Mens Morris have nothing in common. If anyone is interested in finding out more here is a link to the rules And, if you want to try your hand at a game or two, here is an online link. I warn you this one allows flying - but I won anyway.
Here is the first part of the set - they turned out pretty well.
I was inspired to make a little music this morning - Natures music. Thought that would be another good spiritual piece to include in the chess set. Stills on one side and instruments on the other. As you can see - this set is not designed for war - it is more inocent and fun - tag perhaps?
I am so tickled with this one. It turned out just like I expected, right down to the books on the shelf. That just doesn't happen very often.
Making this stuff has been a lot of fun. Trolls, a couple owls - barn owl and barred owl, some stump doors, my tiniest dragon ever, a couple moonshine stills, a toad and a frog. hmmm... seems the frog didn't make it into the picture. I am thinking this may be the beginnings of a new chess set. If the gnomes I made fire well, I think I will continue with the rest of the set.
Finishing up some of the promised things from the Blueridge Potters sale. I hope the mermaid turns out.... They wiggle around in the kiln so much because of the twisted tail. Sometimes they come out looking drunk. I will know next week. I put a fishing net in her hands. It is pretty delicate. Just keep the old fingers crossed.
Here is my latest project - a fantasy chess set. I was disappointed with the last chess set because the pieces had to be so small I couldn't make them look like anything. So this time I made them bigger. I can't make a chess board that size, a flat one will have to do.
It was hard to decide what pieces should be on which side. I just made the pieces in pairs as I thought of them. I made sure the base was the same so they would look like they all belonged together. I like the way the human king and queen turned out. I may do the dragon queen over, she slipped off center in the firing. I didn't take a picture of each piece yet there are two unicorns, and two poison toads and two wizards. I still have to do a few pixies in trees and toadstools for the pawns.
These are some fun things I did - a flying pig and a couple owl pendants and a face pendant. Do you remember the idea we discussed Rob? About the face turning into a branch of flowers? well, after a couple of years, I made it. The face even reminds me a little of you too. I shouldn't have taken them on the cherry table, it is just too red, but you can get the idea of how they turned out.
I am happy with the way the Flying Pig turned out. So many impossible things have happened in my life, I felt I should do one. As it turned out, I sold it to a person who gave it to a friend who needs some surgery. The problem is, she doesn't want to do it and said she wouldn't till PIGS FLY. Here is hoping she is recovering well!!
I'M BACK!
It certainly is great to get back into throwing pots again. Of course I had to make a few dragons and a castle and a tree chalice. What fun. Yes Jeff, the tree chalice can be yours! Your little gnome will have a friend.
My granddaughter Catherine (who is 3), said she liked the dragon on the candle holder 'cause it looked like it was dancing'. She kept a close eye on me while I made those bad little dragons.
I set up my wheel on the new back porch. Thank you Ruby for suggesting I make a deck under the new room we added. It is very enjoyable. Of course that means I will only be able to work during the nice weather, but that is OK.