bodner046

This is my world these days. The piggy bank orders keep coming in! Lots of them are personalized and the interesting thing about this year is that many of them are for twins. As I was typing that I realized that I forgot to stamp two pigs with the names "BEN" and "MAX"... I ran out to the studio and did that right away, before they got too dry. I always enjoy learning what names are popular right now. I think I shipped 10 finished pigs this week, and assembled twenty more since yesterday afternoon. Tomorrow I am moving on to salt pigs. While I was assembling the piggy banks, Jeff went to town hall and helped replace light bulbs in the town of Seagrove's holiday lights that line Main St. The lights will be placed on the utility poles, prior to the holiday parade this weekend. We enjoy living in town and are happy to volunteer for the community. The beautiful thing about Seagrove is that you can live in town and still enjoy a rural lifestyle. Have I told you latel...

The Celebration of Seagrove Potters show is behind us and I am happy to say was a very successful weekend. It was our best show to date with good sales in our gallery, and online as well. The pot in the photograph is a collaboration piece that Jeff and I donated to the live auction that takes place during the gala preview party. We were happy that the winning bid was a little more than what we valued the piece at. It's always disappointing if donations are under bid. For that reason, we are selective as to who we donate to. When the show was over we had just a few days to unpack, clean the house, and grocery shop for the next celebration... Thanksgiving! We were the hosts this year and we had quite a gang. There were eighteen of us at the dinner table... which had to stretch from the dining room, into the living room! We even had a few kids to enjoy for the day. They had to humor me with the obligatory tire swing photos. Jeff and I are thankful to have found a home that is a centra...

I think this is the longest I  have been away from the blog since my mother died two years ago. No one died this time, but it's been a rough few weeks. Our Sophie cat has been sick again, Jeff cracked a tooth and is in the process of getting a crown ($$$$$!), and my Dad was hospitalized for a couple of days because he has been having mini-strokes.  And did I mention there was an election squeezed in between all this? But I don't even want to get into that debacle. The cat seems to be recovering, she ate a piece of a dieffenbachia plant which is poisonous and now out of the house (more vet bills $$$), Jeff's tooth is feeling better, and as for Dad... we are starting to look at assisted living options.  On a brighter note, it's Celebration of Seagrove Potters weekend! We have a nice big directional sign in our yard and we managed to make new pots for the show. There is a kiln cooling that will be unloaded on Friday afternoon, just in time for the gala reception in the eve...

The holiday orders for piggy banks are starting to roll in. I was excited to get an order for two large piggy banks. These will be about 9" long and 7 1/2" tall when they are finished.  As soon as the piggy bank is assembled, I stamp the name on the side. I have a few sets of stamps, ranging from a snap together set made for clay, to a variety of rubber stamps in different fonts and sizes. If the pig is going to get a carved design, I cover him loosely with plastic and let the ears stiffen a little overnight. The next morning I can apply white slip to the body and ears. I really like using these mop type of brushes with bamboo handles. They are the same brushes that we use to apply raku glazes.  If it's not too humid, the pigs are ready to carve by afternoon. I usually clean up the name a bit with my carving tool. Especially if the any thick areas of slip filled in the impression. Since creating the first leaf and vine design this fall, I have taken orders for three more ...

My little Sophie cat had a rough weekend. Lets just say we all had a rough weekend! Shortly after Jeff snapped this photo of her in her basket, she stopped eating. She wouldn't sit with us, or play. Her weekend was spent under a bed or laying down in a corner. There was other grossness but I won't share here! By Sunday morning I was worried she would get dehydrated. Jeff and I fed her a little chicken baby food with a syringe. She wasn't happy about it, but did seem to perk up a little afterwards. Monday morning, she ate a little baby food on her own.  We had been using the old timer vet here in town. He was close, inexpensive, Sophie was healthy and only needed vaccines. After her routine visit in February, I told Jeff I didn't want to take her there if she was ever sick. The old doc seemed confused and his lab coat was disgustingly stained with blood. The visit was a complete turn off. So now, here I was with a sick kitty and no vet. I messaged a friend in town who I ...