100 Horses

Colors

2011-12-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

Just changing the colors changes everything........I never get tired of Raku firing. I love seeing the results. I used to make the fish on the red bears a red and peach color, changing to a blue/green fish makes the design "pop".

Raven/Crow Boxes

2011-12-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

The crows that come for breakfast each morning have on occasion invited their friends when the weather happens to be colder than average. I have 4 that come each day. In the summer there were 5. Now on the coldest days there have been 6. The latest beggar is the seagull that has hung out ion the roof of the house behind mine.

Here are two new treasure boxes inspired by my crow and raven friends.

It is pretty clear the crows I feed trust me as they come to eat as soon as I leave the food out for them and go inside and close my door. When I have company they are much more careful about approaching the house and fly back and forth to the fence. It is nice to know that they trust me.

My Mom

2011-12-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

My mother is 95 and still going strong........

Back from the East Coast

2011-12-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

There is nothing quiet as nice as holding a baby. Here I am with my 4 month old great nephew Faelen. He is a sweetie just like his brother and sister!

Mt Baker and Glacier Trip

2011-10-22T09:34:00.001-07:00

Gretchen
Evan, Ruth and Tucker

Our Mushroom Harvest
Coral and Chanterelles

Stunning view not far from the ski area

Basalt!

Mt Baker

My sons both live at the base of Mt Baker in a small village called Glacier. It is s funky place and in the rain forest. The residents are an odd assortment of outdoor enthusiasts and loners. It is an amazing place. It takes 1/2 hour just to get to the top of the mountain where the ski area is. Twice in recent history there has been enough snow to bury the toe lift! Tucker took Gretchen and me mushrooming. I loved the carpet of dense moss. This year it was harder to find Chanterelles. I think other folks had been through before us and got the bulk of the crop.

I dehydrated what we picked for winter use.

A time of Appreciation

2011-10-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

Foam Patterns
patterns created by the current

Ruby Beach

capturing the light

"Balance"
Ruby Beach

"Ancient One"
Quinault Forest

Since returning to the northwest this past spring I have had a new appreciation for just how amazing this part of the world is. I decided I wanted to focus any travel to places in Washington.

I have been to the coast twice, up to the San Juan Islands and most recently to Glacier and Mt Baker. I wish I could spend a month just roaming around.

On these various trips I have had some great company, wonderful meals and an opportunity to capture some of the places I have been in photos.

I have to admit that working on One Hundred Horses has been lower on my priority list than in the past. I am just having too much fun!

Now that the weather is turning grey and wet I'll be back in the studio for longer hours. After the Christmas rush of orders to the galleries and individuals is over I'll be focusing on new work in a new direction. I'll share the results this winter.

Baby Crows

2011-07-01T22:21:00.001-07:00

Two Adult Crows and Baby on the Left

Check out the Feet!

Moments after this photo was taken the pan fell over and the water splashed all over the stairs and 2nd floor landing. The baby crow was startled. I love watching his(her?) clumsy movements and curious nature. The baby crow spent some time yesterday pecking at my dragon flags. Was he thinking food? Not Food? Or just playing?

It is easy to spot the babies right now, from their parents as they still have some downy feathers on their chests and they pitiously beg for food. Their parents are clearly trying to encourage them to get their own food at this point.

The New Raku Kiln Shed

2011-06-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Workhorse in Butterscotch Glaze
Ancient Horse

Donkeys!

Kiln Shed

The new kiln shed works great. This place is very windy and the fiberglass panels keep out the wind but allow in the light. I designed it so I can take it apart and move it when I finally find a place to buy. I have the house all set up and love living in such a sunny spot with views of the Cascade mountains and the water. At night I look out on the next hillside in Port Townsend and enjoy the sound of the clock tower. I have planted some perennials and annuals in pots outside.

I have friends in walking distance and I have been walking all over the neighborhood checking out the trail system. I love snooping around looking at gardens and saying hello to the horses, donkeys, goats and chickens that live nearby.

Today is my birthday and to celebrate I had a party last night and went for a picnic on the beach with my best friend Jenny and my godson Jasper. Perfect day for a birthday. Puffy clouds in the sky, great warm, happy day.

I have been putting out all my treasures and have all my wall art up. The sun stays up very late and in the early morning the sun comes in through 4 skylights so I am not getting a lot of sleep.

I recently worked with a new photographer so I can get new photos up on my website of the new donkeys and a few new glaze options.
http://www.onehundredhorses.com/

My work is now available at Frames of Mind in the Virgin Islands...great new account. They requested the donkey and they seem to be selling well.

2011-04-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

Upstairs sitting/sewing/jewelry making/craft area.
Comfy Bed

Having a mattress after 2 weeks of sleeping on a foam pad is wonderful.

I have my treasures and my special Gnome nearby. You can't see it but there is a stained glass window next to the bed that gives me some privacy. This is the stained glass window Bob had made for me. The lamp was a $2.00 find at the thrift store! The quilt I made anout 28 years ago!

Moving In

2011-04-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

Yikes- Unpacking Hell

Before my stuff arrived...

One HUGE moving van!!!!

Well I am in unpacking hell. Upstairs is mostly done, office needs work and the kitchen is 90% done.. The livingroom is full of boxes. I borrowed a truck and will recycle the boxes and newspaper tomorrow. Exhausted! I have been weed whacking the overgrown grass when i need unpacking breaks. the kiln wiring and raku kiln shed are happening this week! I should be up and running next week and have 6 orders to galleries to get out!

Had dinner with Rex and Carrie Ricetonight.They serve halibut their son caught in Alaska. Excellent.

Now I will take a bath by candlelight. A good book to read in my comfortable bed...yes!

The Great Cross Country Trip

2011-04-11T21:40:00.001-07:00

Lonely Place

Utah

Close up Rock Formation in Eastern Washington

Wind Farm

Into Wyoming

Not Yet Spring

Rock formation just before Yakima Valley

3010 Miles Later....................here are some photos of the trip.

On the road 8 days. these photos of landscapes were taken through my windshield while I was going pretty fast!!!

Back home ..or at least back in Port Townsend in my new place. A completely new experience!

Planning the Trip Back

2011-03-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

Well the plan is to head out on the 27th. The moving van is supposed to get here on the 26th.

My first night I will be in Louisville, KY staying with Meg Wilburn who I know from Port Townsend, WA. I have never been in Kentucky so this will be interesting. My next night will be somewhere in the great borings...Kansas.

Next stop is in Loveland, CO to meet Nancy Zoller in person. She is a potter on wholesalecrafts.com. The next leg is a stay over in Park City, UT where I stayed on my way here. I'll be staying with Rita and Craig Miller. Their daughter is married to Bob Parrish's nephew. I met them when they were vacationing in Port Townsend.

Next stop is to see my nephew Marlen and his wife Dayna and their two sweet boys in southern Idaho.

I'll have one more night in a motel somewhere in eastern Washington on the last night and should arrive in Port Townsend by April 4th. Phew!

There may be an extra day on the road if I decide to take a break at some point.

I have some wiggle room.

Packing up all my "treasures", photo albums, office, studio, kitchen etc...it appears I have very little clothes or furniture and lots of art!

Since I am renting the house I will be moving into I can see I will have to haul all this stuff again if I find a place to buy in the future! Maybe I will find a way to let go of some of my stuff!

I just took a quick trip to Sevierville, TN as my sister Ronnie, her husband Mark and their son and granddaughter were staying there on vacation. I also wanted to meet Billi Rothove in person. She and I have been friends via the internet and phone for several years...another wholesalecrafts.com artist.

TN is beautiful where it hasn't been ruined by commercial development.

I got to meet my great neice for the first time. Charlie is bright, outgoing and full of life.

Billi took me to see a gallery that carries my work in Gatlinburg, The J. Alan Gallery and to see Arrowmont School where she ran several of their galleries. It is a beautiful area.

Today I pack some more and this evening I will be going into Asheville to spend a night on the town with Liz Dickinson. She has been helping me part time in the studio.

Life is Change

2011-03-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

Sweet Kitchen

The view from the 2nd Floor

Ruth's New Home and Studio starting in April

Studio is in the ground level

Three Ravens at Sunset Mirror

New Tile Design

After many months of feeling conflicted I have decided to move back to Port Townsend, WA. It has been difficult decision. I've been living out in the country in Horse Shoe, NC sharing a studio and home with Jim Whalen, Paradox Pottery. Working and living along side of another artist has been a great adventure.

The landscape is beautiful. The summers are hot and humid. I wilt!

I miss Port Townsend, my dear friends there, the cool summers, and my 2 sons. Even though Evan and Tucker are grown up and I know I won't see a lot of them it is nice to know that we could see each other if we wanted or needed to.

I miss the water and the great local, bountiful organic food.

I have not been posting for a long time. I have felt withdrawn, stuck and depressed and less myself.

I had this vision that I could move to NC to be with Jim and rebuild much of what I had in Port Townsend. Not so! So I have had to choose between the two and that has been very hard.

So here I am looking at all this stuff I am so attached to...lots of artwork, a collection of art tiles, big ceramic pots, my office, studio equipment etc and I have to pack it all up again!!

I have some things that will not come back with me but mostly this stuff I call my treasures will.

I am faced with another cross country drive. I'll take a slightly different route this time and look forward to the magic of being on the road......again!

After getting the studio up and running my next order of business will be planting the garden. So dear friends plant a few extra seedlings for me so I can transplant them into my new garden space. If you are thinning perennials I'll take them!

I have a sweet small house with space for a studio in Port Townsend that will become my new home. It comes furnished so getting set up will be easy. My focus will be on the studio when I arrive. I need to get that up and running so I can make my living. My landlord is having 240 electric receptacles installed inside for my bisque kiln and outside for my raku kiln. I will need to build a shelter for the raku kiln to keep it dry and to protect me from the wind while I am firing.

Work has been steady all year and I am grateful to continue to make a living as an artist in these difficult times. I seem to be recession proof. A few of the galleries I have been in for years have folded but new ones also are being opened. I love shipping my work all over the country. If is a great blessing to be able to live where I want and be able to ship the work to the places where there are people who "get" what I am doing.

I do feel supported.

HOT &HUMID and Studio Pets

2010-08-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

Baby

Fred, our neighbor's dog that hangs out in the studio.

Fred is very afraid of thunder and lightening and gun shots. He will hide under my work table and shake with fear. He is old and has bad arthritis and sure could use a serious bath. I have been removing the loose fur that he is shedding. I even broke down and bought a undercoat hair brush so I could finish the job. He doesn't get much TLC at home. He smells awful and I keep threatening to give him a bath. We also have a cat named Baby that hangs out in the studio. She was a wild kitty, and is the last of a litter that has lived in the area for years. She adores Jim and he has taken on feeding her and getting her veterinarian care. The vet guesses she is about 12 years old.

Turquoise Fishing Bear & New Red Small Bear with Fish

The air is so thick and heavy. Can you imagine me doing Raku in this weather? 90 today and 50% humidity....

Picture this: I have to wear a heavy sweatshirt, welder's gloves and open a kiln at 1850 degrees!!!!

The sweat pours down inside my clothes as I take out each piece one at a time and place them in a container of sawdust and whole oats or shredded newspaper. At least I like the way things have been coming out!

I have a new glaze I have been playing with. A red hot red! I like it. I did a Fishing Bear in the new red with a blue and turquoise fish and I also tried the Small Bear with Fish in this color combination. Actually, the colors were suggested by a gallery owner in Seattle. Suzanne owns Afishionado Gallery and has been ordering from me for several years. Thanks for the suggestion Suzanne!

In this photo the fish on the red bear is not as intense as I am now doing them. Picture a fish that is blue and turquoise...deeper in hue.

Talking to myself?

2010-02-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Fish Cigar Box (a long ago project)

From time to time I find out that someone is reading my blog.

Mostly posting feels like I am talking to myself.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......................

Will all you lurkers out there please leave me a comment to let me know you exist and are reading these posts?

Jim's Pottery

2010-02-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

The final firing is done in a barrel.
Sunburst Pot by Jim Whalen, Paradox Pottery
This one is Mine!!!

Ruth and Jim - Thanksgiving 2009

If you would like to see Jim's official website go to: http://www.paradoxpotteryjimwhalen.com/

2010-02-14T09:07:00.000-08:00

Baskets and Pam

Ruth and Pam- The good bye party Sept 09Pam at the basketry workshop spring of 2009Ruth's basket backpack -Spring 2009

My dear friend Pam sent me an email yesterday that was so beautifully written that I want to share her words with you.

My dear friends and family,

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I rarely mark traditional contact days with any sort of card sending or annual report of the doings of Pam and Dave ....Yes, I think sending pre-processed thoughts to numbers of people a lame cop for real contact, but, thinking how much I miss my community of far flung loved ones , I decided tp send this to all the most special people on my mailing list. That decision resulted in scrolling down though my list, visualizing you and feeling your presence with me for a moment. I miss you. If we were spending time together, there is so much that we could/ might do...conversations on hold or unfinished, things we might share that would delight and astound us both.....adventures in action and thought...in creativityand mischief..in stillness and sound...in the mundane and mystical. To be sure, I might not choose to ski down steep slopes anymore or jump high jumps on the back of horses, but, as I now take delight in sending spark to tinder and blowing up fire I know it is not too late for any of us to engage in new adventures together and /or apart. I wish it were possible to have the opportunity to be fully present with you in a way that would nuture our relationship and delight us both at least each week or month if not each day That not being the way of things, I just wanted to let you know that I am thing of you and do think of you and send my love. Pam

A little background:

A few years ago I met Pam and her husband David at a wonderful place called Hanazono, a noodle house next to the Rose Theater in Port Townsend, WA. . Pam and David were recent transplants from New Hampshire not very far from where I had lived in Putney, VT, we even knew a few of the same people. I instantly was drawn to her and we became friends. The transistion for Pam was rough at first, mourning the loss of her friends and family in the east. Being a strong spirit Pam dived into exploring the northwest and all it had to offer. She was a joiner...and tried out all kinds of groups and activities and used her garden building as a way to work through her sorrows and her joys. Saying goodbye at my going away party was very, very hard....Pam and I talk on the phone but I sure miss our meals together, walks on the beach and garden tours. Pam is a deep soul with a bright smile and the kindest of spirits. She is a friend that I miss with all my heart.

Cold Weather, Hot Kilns

2010-01-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

Paradox Pottery

Jim Whalen's Pots

Jim Whalem 12/09

(For the curious readers here is a photo of Jim and a few of his delicious pots.)

1/8/10
In this record cold that we have been having here in the mountains of North Carolina, my focus has returned to getting ready for Valentine's Day orders, developing new work and just making sure the studio and house stay warm and no pipes freeze.

Odd to think I moved from up by the Canadian boarder in Washington where it is warmer, to the cold south! Having lived in the northeast my first 40 years this cold doesn't bother me that much. I know how to dress for the cold and drive in snow and have a great car. The infrastructure to deal with this cold and the snow isn't here since it is so rare for it to stay this cold for this long. What would have been a non-event in Vermont is a really big deal here. The house I am living in wasn't built with such cold weather in mind. I hate to think what our electric and gas bills will total. We have a wood stove in the studio but are heating the back rooms with electricity. Next week we will be doing some bisque firing so that will help heat the studio as well.

I am having to focus on making inventory for orders to ship out in early February. My inventory shelves are very empty. I miss my wonderful helper and talented artist, Rose....she wouldn't move here with me! I was hoping to just focus on new work but I have lots of bills to pay!

Lots of positive energy coming my way in terms of One Hundred Horses. I am sending work to
a group show at:

Gorse Mill Studios
Needham, MA
Mastering Raku The Book and the Art Within
Feb 1 -March 19 2010

Steven Branfman author of "Mastering Raku" by Lark Books has invited all the artists whose work is featured in the book to do a show to celebrate.

I have 4 new galleries in western North Carolina including just getting an order from The Mint Museum Of Art Gift Shop in Charlotte. They will be moving the museum to a larger space and from what I hear their goal is to be the best contemporary fine handcraft museum in the country. All good omens for another good year for One Hundred Horses!

Jim and I did a full page ad with 6 other ceramic artists in the Winter issue of Niche Magazine which just came out. It will be interesting to see what comes of this new exposure. The ad will also appear in the show guide at the February Buyer's Market of American Craft, a well established wholesale show in Philadelphia.

I am getting throwing lessons on the wheel from Jim and decided today that I will pick up some earthenware and practice making flower pots. We have some collaborative pieces in process and I will post photos later if we like the results.

Jim is busy updating his website, making pots for the next round of retail shows
and experimenting with new firing techniques. He thinks the cold weather is "gross".

Shadow my small 15 year old dog has been doing fine. He likes to chase the squirrels and has learned the art of the quick pee when it gets in the teens outside. He wears a polar fleece jacket and still shivers some days when it is just too cold for him.

I am still up and down emotionally. Making so many profound changes in such a short time has taken its toll. All in all I think I am mostly doing OK. I miss my sons, and northwest friends and Port Townsend. It will take me awhile to connect with my new surroundings especially since I work at home. I feel like I now live in a universe of two people most days. I think Jim and I are doing really well at being around each other all the time. This is a whole new territory for me, this being together all the time. Jim and I are very different in many small ways and I find that for me this is OK. I think he is unlike anyone else I have ever known. He is very different than most people, much kinder and very thoughtful and at the same time self contained and very focused.

His desire to push his art as far as he can really drives him. I have much more fun doing what I do. He struggles through the complex process he is developing. With each step there are myriads of technical problems that can crop up. He sure could have picked an easier way to make a living. The end results do make it worth it, when all the stars align and the pots "work".

Setting up my Upstairs Space and the Snow Storm

2009-12-20T18:04:00.000-08:00

Sitting area in my office
Kitchen Window

The House

Pasture next to the Studio

Pond with Trees

We are staying warm. Jim threw pots today and I tackled my paperwork. We ventured up to the road in hopes of getting the mail but it looks like none has been delivered in the past few days. The public road hasn't been plowed. Good thing we have plenty of food and a few good books.

The Studio around the back.

2009-12-16T03:15:00.000-08:00

Raku Ruth- pink dress and all!

Glazing station.

Where the raku process happens.

Here is the side corner of the house (our bedroom) and up above is the studio. There is a good sized area in front of the studio with a high roof for raku and pitfiring. The view from my small corner of the studio is towards the woods, pond and house.

My New Home

2009-12-16T03:10:00.000-08:00

This photo of the house was taken in June 2009.

Hugin and Munin- Thought and Memory

2009-12-02T04:56:00.001-08:00

Hugin and Munin Sculpture

Hugin and Munin are Odin's raven spies. They fly about gathering information and bring it back to Odin. They are known as Thought and Memory.

Thought and Memory

I think therefore I am.

Sometimes I think if others could see my thought processes they might think I am a little crazy.

I especially go into overload in the grocery store but not in the way you might expect. If you know me you know I love to cook and explore new foods and I like to wild harvest food.

What happens to me in a grocery store revolves around my disdain over what we call food and what we accept as reasonable and normal.

I feel like I am in a universe of bad options.

I don't want to bring anything home that comes in Styrofoam. ( I'll rant about that another time, why I HATE the stuff and think it is utter madness.) I wish to reduce or give up on plastic bottles and excess packaging.

OK so that is just a start. Then there is country of origin. Asparagus from Peru? Why do I need to eat out of season food from the other side of the planet?

Organic versus conventionally grown...well you can guess the answer to that one....Local non organic verses organic not local...not so easy. Sometimes local, not organically certified is actually organically grown...but not having jumped through the hoops for certifications...

Ahh, but what about coffee ( don't drink it at home), cooking oils ( I buy them), grains and legumes?

You will find it harder an harder to buy USA grown organic grains. Many come from China now and I take their certification with a grain of salt.

Don't you love that phrase? With a grain of salt? Have to look that one up!

Off to the seafood case. it is harder to shop for seafood here as the labeling requirements in Washington State were stricter. Not everything is labeled farmed or by country of origin.

I don't eat farmed fish even though some are considered OK....they aren't OK by me.

I don't eat fish that has been over fished..That doesn't leave much left and I love fish and could eat it daily.I used to be able to get all my detergents, shampoo, oils,soy, maple syrup, honey and teas, grains and pasta in bulk bringing my own containers. I have many of these sourced out but not all.

Meat...local from small herds or flocks..No Styrofoam. Pretty limiting. I had all this down, living in Port Townsend. I am only half way there living in North Carolina. I haven't had the time to explore all my options yet. There are CSA's and lots of organic farms all around. I'll set up my network again. I'll replant my mint and lemon balm patch for my year's supply of tea and harvest nettles and whatever else I learn to find in the woods and by streams.

It is all part of the adventure.

I do manage to come home with food but often not what I was hoping for. Yesterday at the fancy Fresh Food Market they had only a small amount of tofu and none I could buy unpackaged. There was no organic chicken or bulk teas. Most of the vegetables were not organically grown.

There was very little in the way of rice or soy milk on the shelves. Most of the crackers were not organic. I'll keep looking for a really good place for the winter months and will connect with the Farmer's Market in the spring.

We got an estimate for clearing a small area for me to grow a garden. $1,000 plus will need to bring in dirt ( clay here) and fence out the deer and bunnies...Does it make sense?

That's a lot of veggies to get to zero. I miss my garden...terribly. It made sense in a world that to me does not.

My Port Townsend Garden

Hopefully the world will have to end the transport of food that could be local from far away. Here I see Washington apples imported across the country in an area that is rich in apples! The very same varieties no less. Madness.

Fight back when you shop. One by one it does add up. Or perhaps it doesn't. I don't know, but it is just the way I am wired and I am not likely to change much! It only seems to get worse the more I think about the crazy way we eat.

my bed as it was in Port Townsend

Back to Hugin and Munin

I ponder several ideas....they haunt me actually.

The idea that I, and we, have about objects and places of violent death. You know, the place marked by the roadside where someone was killed in a wreck. The shrines of fake flowers and other mementos. Cemeteries and gravestones...objects given to us by friends or from those now gone or far away, or made by our children, grandchildren and loved ones.

Do we think the soul's of the death hover at the places they died? Why make a memorial to the place they died? Why not of where they were born? We don't fear what we were before we were born but we fear what we are or are not after our death. Why is that? The conscious to the unconscious?

These objects and places take on meaning for us. I kept a bright yellow colander for years that I never liked, because it was a gift from a friend. I recently gave it to my son Tucker.

I no longer in touch with this friend from my Vermont days and was able to let it go. Having moved across the country again I have boxes of mementos. My touchstones to my past. Each object a storehouse of memories.

Last night I slept upstairs in our guest bed because Jim is sick.

He rarely gets sick and has been healthy through a long stretch of stressful times and just finished his last show of the season. I guess his body just decided it was OK for him to shut down and take a break. Chicken soup is on the stove cooking...not organic, and it does have some kashsa and seaweed in it!

What got me thinking about objects and memories. I slept last night in my old bed and sheets and blankets brought here from Port Townsend, Washington. The bed I shared with Bob now here and for the first time since I moved, slept in by me, by myself.

That sure was hard. Yesterday was Bob's ( my soon to be x) 62nd birthday so naturally he was on my mind all day. Wondering how he was doing I sent him a Happy Birthday email and also emailed my list of friends and family that I thought might want to wish him a Happy Birthday as well.

He still is not talking to me.

So here I am with my thoughts and memories trying to weave my past into my present and create a new beginning. Some days it flows and is easy and other days I cry and try to accept the joys and the sorrows. I feel that being here now is the right thing for me to be doing. I wish I did not have to cause so much sorrow for myself and others in order to get here.

There it is: the conundrum.

2009-10-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

"Mastering Raku" by Steven Branfman has just come out and I have photos of two of my critters in this new book. Amazon has a great price on this book.

On the inside of the dust jacket is my White Buffalo which also appears inside the book along with the Running Horse in copper matte. Great for the ego!

2009-10-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

View from the Snake River

South of Moab, Utah

Haybales across the road from Dayna and Marlen's Bellevue, Idaho

Coming Home, home coming....

2009-10-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

I arrived on the evening of October 8th 2009. My moving van came on the 10th and the next few days were a blur of unpacking and exhaustion. I just wanted to do nothing for a week but the pressure of my list of orders was forcing me to get the studio up and running. I have unpacked the studio, most of the kitchen, and my clothes. I haven't found my tea kettle yet!

I have wanted to do a full write up on my cross country trek.
Each day I find myself too tired and it is all starting to blur.
I have many photos to upload. My trip across the country was overwhelming at times, and wonderful and terrible all at once. I cried my way across the country. I sang along with my old tapes. I pulled over when I got too tired. Shadow was my ambassador of good will. I had adventures. I talked to Jim several times a day and also to Gary my truck driver. He (Gary) became my guardian angel and checked in with me each day as we wandered across America. He calls me sister. I think he is an amazing human being and a true gift. Who knew? we met up for lunch in Nashville.
Arriving here was such a relief and overwhelming. The tears continued to flow for many days...but somehow within the last few days I feel differently...more grounded and at peace.
My kiln is up and running and I rakued a few days ago. Somehow being fully back at work made the difference. Living with Jim is the easy part, letting go is the hard part. I do feel guilty for leaving those I hold so dear behind. I do mourn the loss of parts of my old life. I am sure that this is where I am supposed to be. I love being around Jim...it just feels right.
The land here is so beautiful. Great rolling farmland, huge hardwood trees, asters, ragweed, queen anne's lace, pokeweed, mullein, grasses and cattails...cows, donkeys, white squirrels, goats and horses, hay fields and corn. It is much like Vermont but more hardwoods and more open. I still get lost on the backroads and don't have a clear picture in my head of the geographic relationship of the small towns around me.
I wonder if I will get a Southern accent?
I'll post pictures and travel stories soon. I promise!
Tomorrow I will be going to the Southern Highland's Craft Show in Asheville that Jim is selling his work in. I'll meet his friends and check out the other artists and help him break down his booth at the end of the day.
Living with another artist is amazing in so many little ways. It is like we speak the same secret language and flow with the same rhythms that working with clay imposes.

2009-10-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

Misty Mountains of Utah (below), Cortez, CO (right)

Idaho

Abandoned Homestead

Eastern Washington Balloon and Birds

Yakima, WA Lumberyard FIRE!!!

Eastern, WA or Oregon....

Going and Coming

2009-09-30T01:35:00.001-07:00

After seriously underestimating how long it would take to pack up my household things and my studio by about a factor of ten....I was rescued by several friends and my driver Gary Duplex. Gary is from Tennessee and came a day ahead of time and helped me do a marathon packing session along with a great local young man named Blake that a friend recommended for the job.
What I learned from this experience is more than I can easily put into words. The stress just about did me in. The kindness sent my way was very special and still brings me to tears. I am learning so much with each new day. I feel incredibly loved and I also find people has been so incredibly open with me lately. My conversations have so much depth and honesty and sometimes I am even overwhelmed by it all. I have had people releasing some very painful and private feelings and history...none of which I can discuss. I am left with a feeling that we all carry around some very intense hurts, illnesses, loneliness and broken relationships.

I am in Kamas Utah with about 2,000 miles to go on this trip. I have had a very intensely amazing trip so far and I will be posting photos and going into more details. So far I have experienced the immensity of driving through the steep Cascade mountain range, driving through the east sides of Washington and Oregon seeing vast rolls of hay, alfalfa, sugar beets, hops and fruit. In Idaho the rock formations have been intense and remind me of Keflavik,
Iceland.
I have been visiting with family in Idaho and now in Utah..meeting my great nieces and nephews.
The 2 nights I have spent in motels have been a study in contrasts. My first night was in a small old motel full of Hispanic families along with a bunch of kittens and puppies. All the little girls loved petting my small old dog Shadow and I had a great time hanging out with babies , toddlers and middle school aged boys who shared their remote controlled cars and kittens with me. Last night I stayed at a pet friendly Best Western that was luxurious and also had good energy. The restaurant next door was fairly empty and the other guests , our waitress and I had a great conversation. The waitress is a lesbian and she and her partner are trying to decide if they should have a child together. So the conversations ranged far and wide from travel, school to becoming a parent.
I traveled to Salt Lake City today and met up with Stan Roberts of XAZ Beads. He and I met years ago in Seattle at the gift show and we have talked a few times since. He gave me advise on how to build a small electric raku fired kiln. I loved seeing his set up and unique firing tricks. He is a tall slender sweet man with a great smile and lots of wisdom. I will post photos later.
Its is almost 3 am so back to bed...
Reminders to self: write about dumpster diving, keys in the car, cell phone hell, impressions of the places I have been, saying good bye one last night and gifts of the open road....fishing dreams and babies..................
More later..Pictures too.

Upstage Benefit concert for Serena and my Guardian Angel arrives!

2009-09-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of Jasper and me as he played with water in my sink. Just water and bubbles can make the best play things!

Last night I packed until 9:00 pm and thought I should go to bed early. But instead at the last minute I decided to head into town and go to a benefit concert at the Upstage in Port Townsend. Serena's 103 year old cello has broken and is being repaired in Seattle with an estimated cost of $2,000.

She is a beautiful young single mother, composer and passionate musician. The turn out was great and the whole event came together under the direction of Joe Breskin who managed to network through his vast email list and get folks to come and play music and donate to the cause.

The quality of the music was excellent, deep and heartfelt. It was more than special to experience this event.

Today my Guardian Angel arrived in the form of a truck driver from Tennesee. Gary is a special man and he came a day early and is helping me pack. I have been so completely overwhelmed by the volume of stuff that has to be packed. Even with help I was and still am far behind. We just about have the house all done and while he and some local hired help load up what is in boxes I will tackle the rest of the studio packing in the morning. My assistant Rose spend 3 days packing bisqued animals and plaster molds. River helped tape up and pack the glazes over the weekend. I have had so much help with packing and the yardsale.

Many thanks to all my dear sweet loving and kind friends who have brought me food, helped set up and breakdown the yardsale stuff, taken trash to the dump and checked in often. I feel loved.

I do not have a lap top and this computer will get packed up tomorrow morning. So the next entries will be from borrowed computers along the way. I will take photos and upload as I get the opportunity. Tomorrow Jenny is cleaning my car for the trip...sweet!

The last few months have by far been the most difficult in my life. Great highs and lows.

As excited as I am about leaving for North Carolina and living with Jim I am also very sad about leaving this community that has made me feel more loved and enfolded than any other place I have ever lived.

Leaving Jenny and Jasper is heart breaking. I will visit of course, but it just isn't going to be the same.

Crying a River.....

2009-09-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

Last night was my going away party hosted by Jill Beaumont and Tom Lemmons. They set up for the party in a small grove of young trees with a circle of Adirondack chairs, picnic table and a wonderful fire in a deep fire pit. Most of my friends were able to come. Some coming as from as far away as San Juan Island which is 2 ferry rides from the north where I raised my sons. My dear friends River and Chinmayo (the San Juan Island friends) came early and helped me pack and to cheer me up. They are deep souls and among some of the finest women I know. Each have lived through hard times and painful life experiences to only become stronger and more full of life and creativity. They are amazing people. They love deeply and give of them selves fully.

Actually I think I could say that about most of my friends here.

As I looked around I realized that my friends are artists, musicians, writers, story tellers, fishermen and healers, gardeners, great cooks, world travelers, committed community minded seekers after the ideal of a better way of living, sharing and relating to the blessing of living on the fragile planet we call home. Otto, Kristin, Joe and Buzz played music, the potluck was sumptuous and made mostly from local fish and fruit and vegetables. Carrie cooked the huge roast beast I had left from the 1/4 of a beef cattle from a local farm. Had to defrost that freezer!

We live in one of the most bountiful places on the planet.

I can only absorb just so much right now. I am so overwhelmed and fragile and find it hard to let go and say my good byes and hear all the loving words of support and friendship.

Pam danced with me and sang a sweet impromptu love rhyme in my ears.. The tears flowed.

I had to say good bye to my son Tucker early this morning as he headed out to Lopez Island and then home to Mt Baker with a truck load of his broken motorcycle, dirt bike and snow mobile...He sold the broken 1979 Toyota 4x4 pick up to a local off roader and will sell the rest for whatever he can get. He is determined to not accumulate more "projects" that he doesn't actually get to! A great life lesson many of us need to learn. He is most likely headed to Alaska again to continue with Avalanche and Rescue training. He is a certified Heli-sking Guide.

My other son Evan started his first semester at Whatcom Community College and just found out his Pell Grant came through! I think he is going to do very well in school. I am proud of both of them.

I have had some wonderful support with friends helping me pack and even bringing me food. I have lots 10 lbs....combination of stress and being really strict with my new diet to control my diabetes. Feels really good to be losing weigh. 10 lbs to go..seems attainable.

I'll hopefully make my deadline of being ready by Friday for the moving van! It seems impossible to pull off. Hopefully tomorrow will be a day of more packing and less crying! Cavin Richie is going to build a crate for one of my kilns....more kindness and generosity.....My plants are finding new homes and my treasures are mostly packed. If you stop by I will put you to work!

I'm officially tired of crying.

2009-09-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

Today I fired my last raku firing that I'll do on Blossom Lane in Port Townsend, WA. Then I cried.

I shipped several orders to galleries today, even one to The Netherlands! I cried after saying good bye to the staff at the local UPS Store. Audrey, the owner, has become a friend over the years along with Lynn who also works there. They are dog lovers and even have special soft dog treats for my small dog Shadow who is 15 years old. When I first moved here I hardly knew anyone and going to ship my orders out was a treat. Right from the start I felt a special connection to the place. They saved boxes for me and always asked about Shadow if for some reason I didn't bring him, which was rare. I walked out and cried as I drove away.

Tonight I baby sat Jasper my 2 year old godson. This is the last time I will babysit him for a long time.We cuddled on the sofa and I made up stories about rabbits and squirrels with Jasper as the hero in many a tale. I shed more tears sitting in the car as I drove off.

I am getting really tired of crying......

Raven Box

2009-09-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

I was playing with cigar boxes one summer. Transforming them with paint, glass bead feet and embossing velvet for the lining. I had not painted for many years and once again fell in love with the magic of color. I have done a few others but this first one is still my favorite. The handle on this box is from my apple tree in Friday Harbor, WA

Little Surprises

2009-09-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

My son Evan gave me this tiny piece of coral that he found while scuba diving in Panama last year. I think it is one of the most wonderful , beautiful and hilarious gifts I have ever received!
He was amazed that he found it at all. It is right up there with the Raven skull a high aged boy on San Juan Island gave me. Great treasures.

Gallery Walk

2009-09-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

Last night was Gallery Walk in Port Townsend. Lorna Smith has opened a tiny gallery that is all local ceramics and primarily features her work. She recently added my work to the gallery and I went to town after a day of packing to see how my work looked in her shop. I was more than pleased, delighted in fact. My little critters are in the window on glass shelves with great lighting. While I was looking at the display from the outside 2 women came up and commented on the work and went in and picked up several pieces. Lorna says she has been selling at least one of my pieces a day. She is happy and so am I. I'll try and get her as much work as I can before I leave for the southeast.
Here is a photo of me taking my hot critters out of the kiln at 1850F degrees so I can raku them. When it is really hot outside I end up covered in sweat. Fall and winter are better months for this work as you can imagine. I'll most likely will get up really early in the summer months in North Carolina to do the rakuing. I always enjoy firing. I love the spontaneity of the process. All raku artists are pyromaniacs at heart.
My studio and kilns will get packed last. The time I spend in the studio these days is my solace and refuge. The chaos of packing up the house is very upsetting. Yesterday I packed all my wall art and the house looks bare. Next I'll pack my treasures (shells, bird's nests, feathers, bones,rocks etc) and some of my ceramic art collection. Last will be the kitchen and clothes and studio. everyday I end up giving something away or placing things in the box headed for the local Goodwill. Sept 26th is the day I head out.

Cross Country Travels - Life is Change

2009-09-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

I am starting to pack for my move to North Carolina.

To say that my life is changing is an understatement.

My house has sold in record time in a slow market just as Sara Creekmore said it would. By the end of 2009 I will be divorced after 35 years of marriage. My two grown sons will most likely be living in the Northwest so I will be a long ways from them. I have been living alone for the first time in my life.

I don't like it.

I am moving to NC to explore a new relationship and to explore an artistic collaboration. One Hundred Horses will continue as a business and new work will be evolving and added as I am ready to share it with the world. The last few months have been very up and down and full of discovery, pain and joy.

I am overwhelmed by the amount of treasures I want to bring!

Packing up the studio will be interesting to say the least.

Driving across the country will be an adventure. I have no idea what it will be like but usually I enjoy the spontaneity of travel and love being an onlooker and explorer in America and Canada.

My last cross country travels were back when I was 21 and hitch hiking across Canada and America several times in 6 months. I became addicted to the road. Back then I had a small journal that I drew in. Above is some of the work I did back then when pen and ink was my medium. Maybe I should bring the same journal and add to it?

North Carolina Landscape

2009-08-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

2009-08-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

I finally got to fire my first sgrafitto tile. I got up at 6:00am so I could take it out of the kiln after it cooled overnight. I'm hooked. I'd like to make many, many more. It takes me back to the drawings I have always done while sitting in class or talking on the phone. I am a serious doodler.

Salmon Treasure Boxes & New Raven Tiles

2009-08-17T23:07:00.000-07:00

I have been designing some relief tiles and raku firing them. Along with the tiles I am working on some new designs for the Treasure Boxes. I have been experimenting with doing several salmon designs. I have to admit these are a lot of fun to do and I happy that both the tiles and Salmon Boxes are getting ordered by some of the galleries I am in. Expect more new work this spring after Jim and I do our designs this winter. More examples will be posted to my website:

www.onehundredhorses.com

Life is change.

2009-08-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

I am beginning to get organized for my move across the country. My new home will be in Horse Shoe, NC.
Horse Shoe is in the mountains in the far western part of the state, 20 miles from Asheville and 10 miles from Hendersonville. So here I am going back to living in the mountains on the east coast. I spent 20 years in Vermont. I have been out here in the northwest about the same period of time and spent 19 years in CT before that. 20 year itch? So where will I be heading when I am 76?

Moving a studio is a bit daunting. I find myself working happily in the studio trying to get as many orders out as I can before the move. I have kiln anxiety. I sure want little Oscar (my small custom raku kiln) to be well packed. I'll be releived when I am unpacked and up and running in NC.
I have been contacting galleries I am already in in the region to let them know I will be a local soon. One gallery I contacted that I have not sold to in the past has placed an opening order with me.
I am going to explore all my options from retail shows to getting in the Southern Highland Guild that has 5 regional galleries.

I going to NC to live with Jim Whalen. We will be working in the same studio, he doing his amazing pots, me doing One Hundred Horses and then collaborating on Critter Pots together.
Kind of like his, hers and theirs when couple with kids get together and then also have kids of their own!
Packing up my inventory should be interesting. I will have to hit the ground running as this is my busiest season. My house has sold and I have to clear out before the 25th of September. I don't stop shipping until early December so it will be a busy fall.
I am planning on driving across the country with my dog Shadow. I'll see a lot of the country I haven't seen before and I will surely have some adventures along the way. I hope to see some family and friends as I wander south and east.
I know very little about the mountains of NC and I am going to enjoy exploring and learning about this new place I will be calling HOME. I'll miss the northwest. It has been very good for me to live here. If NC is half as good I'll be happy. Someone recently asked me if I have gypsy blood? Who knows?

Love Bunny

2009-07-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

Inspiration, new work

2009-07-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

Often I percolate for quite awhile on a new idea and other times inspiration comes in a flash and I race out to the studio to capture the idea in clay. The Love Bunny came in the early morning hours and I remember going out to the studio in the rain in nightgown and slippers to make the prototype before the idea was lost in sleep.

Sometimes in my dreams I see hundreds of designs that flash before my mind in a rapid frame by frame flash. Usually it is jewelry that I see.

Lately I have been wanting to carve images on pottery like one carves a linoleum block. This process is called scraffito, it involves covering leather hard unfired pottery with a dark slip or glaze and carving through to a clay body that will be light (most likely white) when fired. After the carving is finished a clear coat of glaze is applied before firing.

I am thinking about a visual story of my niece's horse in rural Virgina that loves to share his grain with the chickens. The chickens of course think this is a wonderful relationship. My dear friend Jim will throw the pot and on the lidded top will be one of my workhorses.

I picture tall fir trees and split rail fences, the barnyard and barn...perhaps there is a tractor plowing a field....I'll work on this in early September when I will be in North Carolina working in Jim's studio for a few days.

In the mean time I can start doing some drawings or experiment with scratchboard.

Currently I am working on a new line of deep relief tiles. I will post examples after my appointment with my new photographer is done taking photos. More Ravens of course!!

Production vs One Of A Kind

2009-06-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

I love the rhythm and peacefulness of doing production ceramics. I get into a groove and the work flows. I love the sense of order and accomplishment as the work progresses. Each part from the creation of the piece, bisque firing when there is enough for a kiln load and glazing to order has its' own beauty.
Glazing drives some people crazy. I love glazing. But firing raku is the best. Raku days are exciting and full of promise and usually are just plain fun. I don't like scrubbing the animals and tiles since it stresses my thumb's tendons...so I have my helper do the scrubbing now...Parts start to wear out as one ages. I do love putting the little beads and fish and hearts on the critter, gluing tiles into frames and packing them into their gift boxes with enclosures cards.
Now most people hate that part. I love it. Everything comes together and there is a wonderful sense of accomplishment and order and beauty in seeing a group of work go off to a gallery.
I never would have guessed that this work would suit me 20 years ago. I was a different woman then.....