Insectivore birds go after the cats and get stuck. It's an awful way to die. As bad as glue traps are for mice. The spongy moth population is nearing a peak and people are already reporting signs of the viral/fungal infections that will cause the population to crash, soon hopefully.
I have nettles growing on my property. Here is the recipe I use: https://www.feastingathome.com/nettle-soup-recipe/.
Also read recently about making nettle tea to fertilize plants and repel insects...going to try this next!
Thank you for this! I went to bed thinking it was clouded over but just ran outside and had a great view! Blue Mountain area in Saugerties not too far from you. Clouds rolled in after about 15 minutes.
Yes, the seed pod is probably the easiest thing to differentiate; they are completely different. The fuzzy oval pod of wood poppy adds to its charm. The pod of greater celandine looks like little skinny green beans.
Dolan tools were recommended by my instructor when it was time to "graduate" to higher-end trim tools. There is a distinct difference in the feel and output because they are so much sharper and harder than the beginner versions. They will last forever and can be sharpened. And, they are not all that expensive (I bought a triangle, small pear and large pear, each for less than $15, and they are all that I use...I could honestly get by with just the first and the last). It's a family-run company that has been around for a long time and is highly regarded in the ceramic community.
I'd recommend that you do some research as to whether Spanish bluebells are considered invasive in your area. I don't know where you are, but in the USA of course they are a non-native species and there are widespread reports of them being very hard to eradicate. Virginia bluebells are a much better alternative if you can provide the right conditions, and to my eye are more beautiful. They are a native wildflower and great source of sustenance for early spring pollinators.
In my garden, Virginia bluebells will spread gradually by underground runners and also self-sowing. I wouldn't consider them invasive and in fact I encourage the spread, and am trying to create new colonies in different parts of my yard.
Understood, LOL! I wish you much success at the market. Please come back and update us on how it went!
If you have any friends who garden, that might be a ready source of fresh cut flowers depending on season. I know that I always have plenty to give to friends during the active growing season. Then they can be composted afterwards so there really is no waste (from my perspective). Not to beat a dead horse, but the rest of your display is so elegant and gorgeous; I really feel that fresh flowers would add a special touch. Your work is stunning. Have a great sale!
I hear you and agree 100%! I imagine that this current fad will die down eventually, and hope that the true diehards who remain will discover (if they haven't already) all they can learn from those who have spent their lives in study and practice.
My instructor went to Alfred too! Also old school though only in his 50s. And great sense of humor. And I'm sure would also take exception to many current practices. They sound like two peas in a pod. :)
Story's Nursery in Freehold. Family run, over 70 years in business. They are careful to offer cultivars that are the most likely to do well in our area. I love and shop at AF too, but Story's has expertise that is several levels above.
I remember you posted this on a previous similar thread and it instantly struck me as the best advice I'd ever heard. I use this to judge my own pieces. Way more efficient than actually measuring wall thicknesses. My instructor who is a master potter does the same...he can pick up a piece of mine and instantly know whether I could've raised more clay from the bottom, thrown thinner, trimmed more off, etc.
This is celandine poppy (wood poppy). You can see the fuzzy oval seed pod just behind the flower.
The shino glaze at my cone 10 gas reduction studio is my favorite of all glazes, exactly because of the unpredictability of outcomes. Most of the time, pots come out a deep rich brick orange-red. Sometimes, they come out mostly white with rust overlay, or with areas as on your pot which are close to clear and glassy with gold metallic accents. To me, they are all beautiful and the unpredictability is part of what I love.
You may want to experiment with the aid of your glaze master to see if thickness of glaze, placement in kiln, etc. can reliably manipulate the end results. However, especially with shino, being open to a variety of possible outcomes may be the wisest approach. Your pot is objectively beautiful, and the complexity of the glaze is part of that.
I am going to be a voice of dissent here. You don't need anyone's permission or approval to sell your work. But I feel you would benefit by 1) spending more time learning about the process and refining your throwing and glazing, 2) spending more time refining your drawing skills, 3) developing your own style instead of copying another artist's work. I like your painting/choice of colors. The drawn designs sometimes look a bit crude/amateurish. I feel you have the talent to progress but that it is way too early to be turning your thoughts to monetizing your hobby. Five months is the blink of an eye when it comes to developing a new skill.
Similar experience to you! My extended family and I were in Buffalo. We caught a glimpse of the corona nearing the end of totality and everyone in the park started screaming in excitement (I think we were all fairly sure we'd miss seeing anything at all due to the clouds). I had my glasses off and saw the diamond ring emerge at end of totality...was the brightest flash of white light, but because of the clouds the risk of ocular damage was mitigated (one of my brothers is an ophthalmologist and was there, which is why I knew this). I had such an intense feeling of awe, joy, and (frankly) relief at getting that glimpse, and still carry it with me. The cloud cover also heightened the darkness of totality, and leant much visual drama to the entire proceedings.
Absolutely no disappointment here in the experience. I could've chased fair skies Monday am on my own and been in NE NY easily, but chose to stay to be with my whole family including 4 beloved young nieces/nephews. Experiencing the eclipse with them will be a part of the lifelong memories of that day.
I'm driving over from the Catskills region and the increasing cloud cover forecast has me worried. But I have little flexibility bc am meeting extended family there. I like your optimism! Some (but not too much) cloud cover could add some drama to the whole show. Fingers crossed!
The icing on the cake is that these off-leash dogs have absolutely no recall (which is why their owners have no way to stop them from approaching you). I am a veterinarian and of course love dogs, but also own a reactive dog (ironically, he has amazing recall but is always kept on lead when we might run into other dogs). In this situation, I grab onto my dog and act like he's Cujo and will tear their dog to pieces (he is scared of other dogs and will bark, growl but is just putting on a big show). That usually has the other owner scurrying to grab their dog. Or, I yell "NO" at their dog at the top of my lungs, which usually stops them in their tracks, followed by "GO!" while pointing back at their owner (they don't always obey but usually are confused and hesitant to approach us again). The other dog's owner has usually gotten the point by now and will sheepishly come get their dog.
I had an issue with chattering when I upgraded my trim tools from my beginner Kemper tools, to higher-end Dolan ones. My instructor said that having super sharp edges could contribute. Once I dulled them ever so slightly (by running them along a chuck for a few seconds), things got better. Also, trimming with just a small corner of the tool rather than a longer part of the edge will help because there is less surface area in contact with the clay.
Was there today. Skied all over the mountain. Conditions were amazing. Nary a bare spot to be found, grooming was fantastic, snow was firm but edgeable, very few other people. Love Belleayre!
I have this issue on my left ski too sometimes (my left leg is the weaker one).
Specific things to try: 1) check that left ankle is flexed and that foot is pulled back under you (not in front of you) as you start the turn, 2) check that you have most of your weight on your left leg, 3) make sure you keep your left leg "soft" rather than braced. An extra maneuver that really helps is "hiking" the new inside hip up and forward a bit as you go into the turn (the "barstool" move); this gives an extra "oomph" to the edging process by providing more angulation.
Your bowls look beautiful! I think bowls are "easy" in the sense that someone just starting out on the wheel can create a basic 'bowl shaped form' much more easily than a cylinder. But I agree...producing a beautiful, balanced bowl with a smooth continuous inner curve, proportional foot, etc. is not a beginner skill at all. It takes lots of practice and an eye for good form.
If it's just lawn clippings, you don't need to bag those. Just mow every 7-10 days to keep the clippings short, leave them where they lay, and they will degrade and feed your lawn. The Steele Place site is great for other yard waste, e.g. non-compostable detritus from garden clean up, large branches (if you don't want to make a brush pile for wildlife), etc.
How to dispose of yard waste in Saugerties area?
hudsonvalley