Hearts For Haiti on Etsy.

This is so amazing, I just have to share...

On Jan 14th some members from etsy opened a shop

to help raise funds for Haiti (specifically Doctors Without Borders)

Many of us have donated items to sell, and many have bought those items...

It may not seem like much, but when it all gets added together

$16000.00 from one group, in 10 days! That's AWESOME!

I know there's so many other good folks and groups, doing

what they can to pitch in & help, I'm just trying to do my part too.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

HeartsForHaiti.etsy.com Currently raised for Doctors Without Borders (after fees): $16491.12
(as of 6:15 pm EST, January 24, 2010)

We can make a difference, together :)
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

and now with blog & facebook!

http://etsyforhaiti.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/heartsforhaiti

A horse with no name

I've always loved horses, and have often thought

about making a sculpture of one.

It's time to stop thinking about it and just doing it...so

I started this clay horse sculpture- over a week ago.

(It's too bad I didn't take photos from the start, but I'm sure

you know what a round ball of clay looks like. That's how it

started.)

I made the legs and hooves first, by rolling out tubes of clay. I formed

the head, added ears and then covered them in plastic so they wouldn't dry

out. Later, I rolled out a slab of clay & formed the body from it.

A couple of days later, I made the neck and assembled all the pieces.

Added the mane, bangs and tail.

(I made him sitting down, as he's going to have a little friend, a bunny,

mouse, snail ?...I'm not sure yet, but I'll be making that soon.)

Here it is a couple more days, and I've been doing touch ups here and there,

and now I can let the piece dry... VERY slowly, with a few more touchups.

Once he's completely dry, I'll carefully clean any rough spots and sponge off

any excess dust, markings, etc.

Then I'll carve my initials in the bottom, and he'll be ready for his first firing.

(Cone 04 bisque firing) Which will take about 8 or so hours, and then

need to cool overnight.

I have a nice light brown (underglaze for bisque) that I plan to use for his coat.

I'll let some of the natural clay show on his belly, it has a nice creamy color.

Then I'll cover him with 2 coats of clear glaze and let it all dry & fire him again,

to Cone 06 this time.

As long as I don't do something stupid and break him while he's still greenware,

he should turn out pretty good!

I'll have to make some other pieces to fire with him, so it may be a while

before he gets fired.

***************************************

Feb 10/10 update:

In case you're wondering... he's finally completely dry, and I've spent quite a bit of time, softening his features. As I've gently cleaned (sanded) his rough edges, he's evolving into

a gentle and curious young horse. I love his round backside view,

but his soft nose and mane have turned out nice too. He's almost ready for his 1st firing, but not likely to happen in the next few weeks.

While he patiently waits, I've got major stress at work to deal with. Sometimes reality bites, this is one of those times... my clay will be an escape.

*********************

Jan 20/12

This poor little guy has been waiting so patiently... I fired him last year (2011). I was going to glaze and then fire him again, but it's going to be a while before I have enough pieces ready to do a glaze firing, so I've started painting him instead.

One of the girls at work suggested I make him a "Paint" horse. I'm not very savvy about horses, but I like the idea, so I looked up photos of paint horses and got to work... he is ... almost finished...

Sharing clay inspiration

If you love to work with clay (or are just interested in it), you don't have to get

messy to be inspired.

Here's a couple of links that I'd like to share with you, ( and I'd be thrilled if you'd add

your own favourite clay links in my comments! )

1) I've subscribed to Ceramics Daily- there's so much amazing info available here:

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/

2) This video is totally inspiring- making whimsical sculptures using a potters wheel:

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-art-and-artists/ceramic-sculpture/ceramic-sculptor-gerit-grimm-discusses-her-wheel-thrown-and-handbuilt-figurative-sculpture/

I've been making ceramics from moulds for years, but have gradually been

doing more hand building and slab work, and rarely use commercial moulds anymore.

As I explore different subjects & techniques, I always run into problems.

Frustrating as they are, it's the successful overcoming of all these obstacles that

make a lovely piece all the more valuable (even if only to my eyes :)

The helpful tips and video demos available on-line are just amazing, and are

reducing the "problems" that I run into.

This past week, I started building a clay sculpture of a horse- something I've been

meaning to do, yet never got around to, until now. (Spurred into action by the video

mentioned above.) *yes, pun intended*.

Anyhow, I wish I'd taken some photos, right from the beginning, but just thought of it now.

I'll try & get some photos & post them here.

I've got 5 days off (from my day job), and plan to spend as much time as I can,

working with clay.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Have a great weekend.

Fanpage on Facebook...

I've recently set up a fan page on Facebook- here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/smilingbluedogsfanpage/215403622327?ref=mf

I hope this works...

Ok, so it didn't work. (It's not a clickable link). ****FIXED***

I guess if you want to see it.. copy & paste will work...

sorry, I'm just not up to mental aerobics this evening and

trying to figure it out is just too much right now.

(My day job keeps my mind trim...if only it would give the

rest of my body a workout, I'd be in fine shape!)

At least I managed to add some Interesting Links (especially the

Ceramic arts- an awesome site for mudders/potters) and a slideshow.

(Will try & fix that link next time...)

Have a great week.