Into the Fire!

Haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Busy, busy. Here, leaf bowls drying in the sun, and loading into the kiln....

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Be safe, be grateful, be happy!

Photo Wrangling (and failing, for the moment...)

On a whole separate note, I still haven't sat down and puzzled out all the ins-and-outs of blogger. Haven't figured out how to put pictures where & how I want them, or how to keep random extra lines breaks from being added each time I post. Any advice / hints / tips would be appreciated! In the meantime, scattered willy-nilly and completely randomly below, are a couple of pictures of some of the tiles and ornaments I've made in the last few days, in various stages of drying & cleaning.

It's another beautiful, sunny day! Was almost feeling guilty yesterday that I spent most of it indoors--I've spent the last several days cutting out new clay ArtTile shapes. VERY concerned at the moment--I still have lots of ideas, but am running out of clay! I've conned my dear, patient Mom into coming out this afternoon and helping me clean my creations. Wasn't too hard to do--there's a higher rate of attrition when I clean, and that upsets her no end. I won't tell her that a big pelican ornament bit the dust (literally!) last night. I also made a tiny little bowl--I mean TEENY tiny--last night. I don't know what for, but I love it! It's just big enough to put a pair of earrings into--you know, when you finally fall, exhausted and grateful into bed, turn over, and ouch! Realize that you forgot to take your earrings out and now are getting poked every time you move your head. So I guess I do know what that bowl is for. So there!

And yes, Debbie, and thanks for asking: I went to the gym again yesterday. Have been going almost every weekday. Probably not staying as long as I should, but still getting a workout and some cardio in. Kinda thrilled that I'm actually doing it...:)

Grey, clay, and chocolate chips :)

Brand new blog, and already I've fallen behind. It's grey and cold today (what happened to summer?) but a good day to spend in the studio, cutting out clay whales, and cats, and birds, and leaves, and acorns... Came up with some pretty cute spotted seals yesterday, a couple of big, goofy mantees, a cool new way to do D.'s beach fence, and two cute hummingbirds. Finished most of the sheep, and have started on the angels.

Would be a great day for some baking. I may not have time (and every surface in the kitchen is covered with clay at the moment!) but in case you do, here's a great blondie recipe from my friend Jeanne, via Alyssa. The first time I made it I goofed, and they turned out terrible, and I refused to try again for a couple of years. Silly me. Finally had Alyssa send the recipe again, made them (they're super-easy: I have no idea what I could have done wrong that first time!) they were FABULOUS, and now I make them whenever I can. Sometimes I put in 1/2 cup of nuts, as well.

For the person who asked me the other day what 'blondies' are, it's like a giant, soft chocolate-chip cookie / bar in a pan. This recipe makes one 8"x8" pan, but you can easily increase it to make more.
YUM!

Best Blondies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt 1/3 cup butter and set aside.

Sift together and set aside:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add 1 cup light brown sugar to melted butter and mix.
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla to 1 slightly beaten egg, then add to brown sugar & butter mixture.
Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing just to blend.

I put about 1 cup of chocolate chips (and/or 1/2 cup of nuts) in at the last minute and just barely mix in. Press dough gently (it'll seem like there's barely enough) into an 8" x8" pan. (I use glass.)

BAKE at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. (Don't overbake)

Enjoy!