• Capable

    I am capable. This is something I occasionally have to remind myself. Years ago during the baby-making months, I wasn’t allowed to do things like lift heavy weights, change the cat litter, eat lunch meats, float down a river in an inner-tub or stand on ladders. I also put pottery on hold during my pregnancies out of fear of the possible effects of the glaze and clay dust. Near the end of one pregnancy, I decided to install a shower hook in…

  • Spring Garden Planning Motivation

    Once upon a time, I made a very fancy garden design. Who was this person, and can she come and motivate me to get my act together for 2016? I’m actually impressed by this garden plan and may reuse some aspects of it. The only thing I’ve done this year (and there are 8 – 9 weeks until the last frost date) is rake the weeds on top of my garden soil.  I suppose that’s better than doing nothing, and…

  • Books for boys

    This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through my affiliate links give me a small commission to help run this blog, but don’t cost you any extra. This week my oldest boy turned eight, and the one thing that I caught myself surprised by was the gifts drastically changed. While previous years have brought Lego kits, this year brought books and gift cards for books. In fact, he and his second grade friends take pleasure reading to school every day. As…

  • Will You be Intimidated or Inspired?

    When it comes to following people on various social media platforms, I often feel conflicted when shown something amazing they have made or accomplished. Whether it’s a gorgeous clay creation, a fabulous outing a friend has taken her kids on, or a clever home renovation project, it can be a toss-up as to whether I will predominantly feel intimidated and insecure or whether I’ll be inspired. Which side of the coin I land on is completely dependent on my attitude…

  • How to glaze the whole ceramic spoon

          There’s one question I keep getting via Etsy, on this blog and through email. “How do you glaze your ceramic spoons and keep them from sticking to the kiln shelf?” Clearly, there is a lot of interest in handmade spoons!   So how do you glaze the entire ceramic spoon?    I use kiln stilts! Kiln stilts consist of metal rods that prop up a piece off the shelf, and a durable one may be used multiple…

  • Pulling Spoons

    A while back I shared how I made spoons from a mold. I still have the plaster molds, but after awhile, I found them to be clumsy and frustrating. I’m not patient enough to wait for the mold to release the wet clay. So over the past few days being cooped up inside do to nasty weather, I’ve started back at spoon making without the molds. Instead of pressing clay into a mold, I roll a wedge-shaped coil, press the…