Tuesday, September 3, 2013

If it is September, it must be time for.............

The singing Goddess, a perfect gift for your musical friends!
Cooler weather and the Potter's Market Invitational at the Mint  Museum on Randolph Road, Charlotte on Saturday, the 7th of September (this coming Saturday!). Open from 10-5, the weather is forecast to be perfect. These smallish flasks will make their debut there, small enough to fit in your pocket, and large enough for whatever you might want to store inside them! Flask by Pam Owens, tops by JLK Jewelry.

September 14, 2013 I will have new items at the Historic West End Artsfest, held in Grace Court in Winston-Salem from 10-5. This is an outdoor show in a lovely park, with music and 65 artists. Held every 2 years, this will be my third year attending.

My work is changing, so come and see what new items I am making!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Butterfly Galore........The rain has been so plentiful and wonderus!

We have so many butterflies this year. Is it the rain, that brought the flowers, that brought the butterflies?


Such pretty flowers abound

Bees love the echinachea, such a beautfiul healing plant, lets watch the bees and see where they lead us!

Sun patiens and geraniums, along with an over exuberent iris, she send her seeds all over and though we thought she was a water plants, we have them all over! But really huge in the water garden-time to separate her!

Inside the Rose of Sharon

What a Pretty Lady!

Sphynx like she is, and abundently accompanied in our gardens, we have loved having so many of these beautiful moths, just like a hummingbird but smaller. We have many, many hummingbirds around the feeders this year.

Many butterflies this year, and many zinnias to accommodate them!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Beauty of Rain and State of the Union

What a change this year. It has been a very wet and temperate spring, so very nice and welcomed. But when it is hot, it is hot! The rain brought out a lot of our flowering plants this year.

 I wish I had more time to spend in the gardens because not only are the flowering plants growing by leaps and bounds, so are the weeds!

 I was very pleased that President Obama put forth his climate change plan. It is scary how much we are doing to harm our planet. And it is scary how we are reverting backwards in time with regard to woman and their rights. I thought I left that behind when I left the male dominated corporate world to move to my own little world. How can these people continue to get away with such bad behavior and lack of knowledge? How can we as individuals make changes?


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sunday, Funday, Foodday

This morning we began the day with brunch at Ironwood Cafe in Southern Pines, followed by a bit of shopping. I purchased several new kitchen gadgets and that put me in the cooking mood, along with the steady but gently falling rain.

We picked up some fresh swordfish, that I grilled on my new stainless steel grill grid (a nice big one this time!). I minced up basil, lemon balm and mint, with some olive oil and lemon juice to brush over it. I also roasted some beets from the garden, with a little leftover quinoa and tomato salad with delicious Feta cheese from Bulgaria, it was a delicious feast.

Swordfish right before it went on the grill, too yummy to stop and take a picture when it was ready to eat!
Tomatillos, peppers, onions, garlic
We have loads of vegetables in the frig after our visit to Super G the other day, my favorite international grocery store in Greensboro (we go there at least every 10 days or so!). I roasted tomatillos, onions, garlic a variety of peppers, then pulsed them in the Cusinart with cilantro, cumin and lime juice. It is delicious as is, but sometimes I'll add some chopped avocado to it. I froze half of it, as it does freeze well.

Finish off with cilantro and lime juice

Yummy tomatillo sauce

I am gluten free, and today we were looking at some sites about traveling in France and Italy, and I came across a recipe for Socco, aka Farinata, a street food in southern France and Italy. It is made by stirring chickpea flour into a mixture of water and olive oil to form a loose batter, and baking it in the open oven. A tin-plated copper baking-pan is used, though I ended up using a stainless pan in the oven at 500! It sits for 2 hours before cooking. Traditionally it  is cut into irregularly shaped triangular slices, and enjoyed (with no toppings) on small plates with sea salt and black pepper. I added grated zucchini, cilantro and red pepper flakes, and baked it in the oven. It is good, I did make it too thick so cooking was a challenge, but hey it was my first time. Definitely a keeper, and I think I'll try it with some other vegetables next time and perhaps do it in one of my tart pans. As well as do one without all my own additions. I cannot be trusted to follow a recipe. Plays well with others, doesn't always follow directions too well.

 I always love to find new GF recipes, that are good!  I am working on perfecting a GF pizza crust that is close to the one made by Against the Grain, on of my fav GF pizzas. Way more cost effective to make your own! It is dairy full, but using almond milk and Manchego you can avoid the dairy effect if need be.

Future Socco
Bon Apetit!!


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Mama Mia, Mother Nature

 
April 19, in a matter of minutes, during a strong storm, Mother Nature swept through and knocked over large oaks and took the roof of the barn with her. That was the only damage, though we watched a tree snap in half and fall less than 10 feet from our house.

The next day was Celebration of Spring in Seagrove, and it was a great day, at least in my corner of Seagrove. Many people came out and enjoyed the day. Thanks to everyone who worked to put it togohter and to all that came to Seagrove.
This ought to yield some firewood!
The barn has plans for a remodel,  but it wasn't supposed to be right now!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Freshly Mined

The Celebration of Spring is coming up on April 20. These are mostly refires that I did yesterday. Now they all want to go to the studio to become something pretty to adorn a new person. Jugtown opens at 8:30 on the 20th and we will all have lots of great new work available. There are lots of shops participating, you can get the map here.
 
I will also be participating in the Sanford Arts and Vine Festival May 4-5, 2013 from 9am-4pm. The show is under new management now and I hope you will come out and visit.



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Kind of Almost Wordless Wednesday


I have been making gingko leaf necklaces for over five years now and I don't ever get tired of making them. New pendants and at the bottom on of the more elaborate necklaces that I haven't made for several months. I will be exhibiting at the NEW Sanford Art & Vines on May 4-5, 2013. The show is under new management so I am giving it a try. Hope to see you there.



Monday, March 25, 2013

Thriving in Seagrove


Just back from the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival. It was another good year for me in Hickory, and it was great to see old friends again. Thanks to all who came to the show!

In other news, I recently received some very nice publicity!

THRIVE MAGAZINE, Volume II, Issue 4, April 2013
Mary Anderson of Thrive magazine did an article about me for their recent issue, with lots of photos by Paul Church. They both did a great job, thank you to both of them!







Saturday, March 16, 2013

Neck Lace???

What is the origin of the word necklace? Lace worn around the neck, a cord around the neck?

I am getting ready for the Catawba Pottery Festival next weekend and so have been making some new necklaces. Here are a few of them. Feedback, private or public, is appreciated:) Don't be shy.
Double gingko leaf in sterling with a celadon cabochon

Double gingko leaf pendant with a turquoise with cobalt pottery cabochon and moonstone raindrop

Leaf patterned sterling silver with 14K gold fill, a peachbloom pottery cabochon and garnets

Reticulated sterling silver with a purple and deep peachbloom pottery cabochon, accented with a garnet

Hand stamped sterling with 14K gold fill and a turquoise with copper pottery cabochon

Hand textured sterling with 14K gold fill and a turquoise with cobalt pottery cabochon and labradorite

Friday, March 1, 2013

Like a Lion?

It doesn't seem that way today. March seems to be coming in like a breath of spring. February passed by quickly, and i stayed busy in the studio coming up with new pieces and getting ready for the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival in 3 weeks, as well as starting an etsy shop and updating and upgrading my web site. 
I ended the month with a fun day out shopping with my sister! Bring on spring, I have some new clothes to wear:)
  
The plum tree is flowering

as is the rosemary

Daffodils have been flowering since mid February

as has the vinca!
Even the koi and goldfish are swimming near the top of the fish pond. Lots of good things are happening. Thank you universe!