STILL HERE

It's been awhile since I've made time for my blog.

Almost a month I believe.

Life just got busy with senior letters of recommendations,

progress reports,

decorating, shopping & wrapping Xmas presents,

sickness and still going to work (and probably containinating my students),

Xmas parties & hosting,

engagement party for my son,

and our newborn grandson Anthony in the hospital for 5 days.

But we all are better and rested and I'm back to work.

Thank you all for your concern and emails.

I'm starting this New Year with illustrator and textile artist Grace Forrest.

You can find her under Artists I Follow and she is a frequent contributor to this blog

with her insightful comments,

and a great supporter of Whitney High's art students.

I teach with several of her works I have purchased over the years 

when I do my Slow Stitch and Art Quilt Units.

She moved from New Mexico to Northern California this past year

and just went thru that horrible Paradise Fire that came within 3 miles of her home and animals.

She took the time to write to me during this time 

to let me know that one of the things she packed into her car to rescue during the fire

was the special little ceramics pot she bought from my student Sarah Oh.

That touched my heart in such a big way that I wrote to Sarah to let her know.

She was as moved as I was and probably dropped Grace an email.

Last Xmas Grace had commented on the tiny Porcelain Plates that I had made & featured 

for my school staff and how much she liked them.

So what you are seeing is one of the two plates I had saved for myself.

I wanted Grace to have it,

 and I was able to get it into the mail before Xmas was here.

Included in the mailing box was a wonderful illustrated card I had gotten at Taproot.

It's how I think about Grace as she moves thru the forest with her animals.

I also wrapped the tiny box which held the plate with a bit of handspun yarn from Mohair goats

which I know are near and dear to Grace.

This particular piece was made with several of the cut off porcelain pieces from the other plates 

that I didn't have a heart to throw away. 

So I just kept stacking and overlapping them on top of themselves,

gave them a couple of rolls with a rolling pin,

and used my mom's antique pattern sewing wheel to decorate the surface with,

plus a tiny stamp I had made with a seed pod.

I love that Grace now has it among her treasures.

I'm guessing it measured all of 1 3/4" by 3 1/2 ".

Very tiny with a bit of ceramics watercolor and Transparent glaze over top.

Enjoy  Grace!

Happy New Year All!