Howdy-hi, folks! This week’s TAD prompt is “Sculpture”. It would be awesome to try my hand at pottery but that’s something I don’t see myself doing anytime soon. While I might not have potter’s wheel there are other ways to do sculpture type art. A few months back I found inspiration from The Apple Street Cottage blog author working with polymer clay making Christmas ornaments. Naturally, I wanted to try this and following her general guides, I am happy to share with you a few of my test ornaments.
I have a two other different test ornament with a more intricate design. They are nearly finished but didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped. That’s okay, it taught me how the clay and the cookie mold worked together. I couldn’t get the mold to release easily which messed up the details or it didn’t make quite a good impression on some parts of the design. I need to figure this out before I can pass my home-made crafts on. Once I get the kinks figured out, I will share the how-tos hopefully before the holiday season arrives. I had a small amount of polymer clay left over from the four ornaments I cut out and instead of reserving it for another time, I got the idea of turning it into a ladybug trinket.
I suppose if I stretch it a wee bit then I can say my trinket is a sculpture, right? I really enjoyed this experiment with the polymer clay. I may invest more time doing other things with it after I get my Christmas ornaments made for the upcoming holiday season. There’s appears to be a lot you can do with this clay.
It’s quite relaxing and awe-inspiring to watch potters turn a block of clay into a beautiful decorative piece or something functional.
This week’s Thankful Thursday include gratitude for the changing seasons with the return of fall. Today’s forecast is calling for a high of 68º with sunny skies and an overnight low in the mid-40s. It’s going to be a cool start for our Friday but I’m not complaining.
I’m thankful for sweatpants and fleece jackets. Two articles of clothing I will be wearing this weekend for sure.
I’m thankful for hot beverages, especially pumpkin pie latte. I bought a new coffee syrup brand that we plan to try out tonight or tomorrow and I’m really excited.
I thankful that with my pumpkin pie latte we can enjoy the new cake recipe I tried at DH’s request. Hopefully, I can get a photo of the cake for you.
I’m thankful that I noticed an email from HBO Max with an offer of 6-months at the price of 3-months (expires on Sept. 26th. Hurry now if you want to take advantage of the deal!). We’ve been curious about the streaming service but the price of $15 per month has kept us at bay. This promotion was enough incentive for us to subscribe.
Frequently by the time I get to this point of the week, I’m wiped out and find difficult to get my brain cells cooperating to use Kat Bouska’s weekly prompts. She has some great ones, too. It’s just me. As luck would have it, inspiration struck almost instantly. I’ll be honest with you, I prepared a poem to serve as a spontaneous double feature for Kat’s creative writing slot as well as for Eugi’s (link below) poetry expression. What happened next surprised me when I came up with another poem using Kat’s prompt, ‘miss’.
I hope you enjoyed the pottery vids and my so-called sculpture. ‘m heading over to Rain’s Garden to browse the gallery of artistry but before I go I want to share with you an oldie that’s new to me by Al Stewart “Songs Out of Clay” off his 1972 album, Orange. If you’d like to read the lyrics, you’ll find them here. Have a doodletastic day! X💋X💋, Cathy
Discover more from Curious as a Cathy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Cathy I LOVE your sculpture art today! Oh wow…the ornaments are so cute and THE LADYBUG!!!! I squeeled with happiness when I saw that, how creative! Your poems are so lovely, very emotional. ☺ I would love to get a potter’s wheel one day…or just try doing some kind of sculpting or ceramic art. Oh I’ll have a piece of that cake when you make it!! ☺
That was such a sweet poem! My oldest is about to turn 18 and I already miss the days when she was little too. 🙁
My apologies for visiting so late. Life got in the way of computer time. I am always delighted to see what you have cooked up for us. I love poly clay. I use it a lot. I like both bells. The green is so pretty, but the silver is elegant. There are several ways to release a mold. Some people use water, but I’ve ever had much success with that. You can use Armor All as a release agent. I’ve had good luck with it. However, I really love using mica powders. I line the molds with it using a brush. The molds release the clay perfectly.
I enjoyed the pottery videos. I have a friend who has a potter’s wheel and a kiln in her basement. I should show her your blog.
I love anything pumpkin and I am off to check out the cake recipe. I really enjoyed this visit, dear. Thanks for dropping by earlier.
Elizabeth,
The mold that I use is a cookie cutter. What can I use on it that won’t be difficult to get off since I may use it for making cookies? Armor All or mica powder might not come completely out of the crevices. What do you think? Thanks for your suggestions!
I so enjoyed watching the pottery and ceramic masters create their beautiful works and your poem said it perfectly. You are talented in so many ways … Also love your personalized Christmas ornaments. I too miss the days when my children could sit on my knee … you captured the feelings of many mothers and said it for them. Loved this post Cathy … and I am enjoying your music as I write this comment. It is a treat to come to your house 🙂
Andrea @ From the Sol
Andrea,
Ahh, thanks! I’m sure all parents can relate to exactly how I feel. These moments just swell up inside sometimes and come out at the right time where I can do something like this in a poem. 🙂
Your poetry? Just wonderful!!
My brain has been floundering on about 3 of its’ normal 8 cylinder operation, since about June! No excuses for me; it’s not like my intended posts haven’t been lining-up like Friday night traffic on the highway!
But, with everything that Fall is bringing our way, like you, I’m carefully planning my “everything fleece” wardrobe for the next few months!
Stay safe!
Patty,
Yep, my poetry. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes I find inspiration and that’s when I share. Thanks for the return visit, my dear. I hear you about running on 3 out of 8 cylinders. It’s hard to keep up sometimes.
Cute ladybugs and such a sweet poem. XO
Ellen,
I’m delighted to have your visit and to read your sweet words. Thanks, my friend!
Those ornaments sure are pretty and so is the cute ladybug! Those are terrific thankfuls too and Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!t
Thanks, Brian! I’m so happy you found time to visit, furriend.
I too would love trying some clay work. But then I have to find a class somewhere to join in. 🙂
Your Christmas ornaments remidned me of my grandmother. She used to create some from suger. She melted suger and put it in a form to dry. At the bottom of the form she put small bookmarks for decoration and made a hole so she could ad yarn to hang it on the christmastree.
Monica,
No class needed with using polymer clay to do these simple Christmas ornaments. It’s so easy to do! I’ll share more on this in the coming weeks. Your grandmother’s homemade sugar ornaments sound quite interesting. Thanks for visiting.
I got stuck on the cake. I love all things pumpkin.
Have a fabulous day, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Sandee,
I’m not a vanilla cake person but this was really good and I’m happy DH asked for me to make it.
I love your Christmas ornaments! Did you take a course or just bought some clay and went from there? I love the bell and would love if they had a pretty angel one(not cutesy). You could make those bell ornaments in all colours. I do gravitate to the green one but I do love the silver and sparkle. I watched the pottery videos and am amazed at their beautiful artwork. I especially love the 4 different colours coming out when he sculpted some mud away. You would love the British show called, “The Great Pottery Throwdown.” There is no back-biting or nastiness which I hate seeing and gets old really quickly. It is really interesting to see what everyone comes up with. One episode, they had to make lamps and the one sweet lady came up with lamps that looked like woolly lambs..they were so cute. There is much to be thankful for especially when there are hard times. A home, a loving husband, the smell of fall in the air, candles, ones’ health, and the love of a pussy cat who must lick you on your face and purrs and purrs.
Birgit,
No, I didn’t take a course in this. I just followed another bloggers how-tos. It was really simple and that’s the best part about it. I will look for The Great Pottery Throwdown to see if its available to us. Thanks for the suggestion.
Those ornaments are lovely! That’s a technique i’d enjoy trying.
The poems are just right.
Mimi,
Working with polymer clay is really easy and it’s something you can involve youngster in, too.
Oh, I love both poems, Cathy! I agree with Thomas Anderson comments on your poems and especially love “More Than Just Clay.”
I love sweatpants and sweatshirts this time of the year, as well. And yes to pumpkin spiced lattes. Take care and thank you for letting me in on your poems and Wild Wednesdays. 😘
Eugenia,
You’re so kind. I’m delighted you and others enjoyed my poetry expressions and I have you to thank with your gentle nudges through your weekly prompts. 😉
My pleasure, Cathy! 😊
I enjoyed your choice of sculptures and am off to see that malted cake recipe!
Christine,
I hope you like the cake recipe. It really turned out good. Thanks for visiting, my dear!
Luv your Christmas ornaments.
Thanks for dropping by my blog today
Much💖love
Thanks, Gillena!
Pretty nice poly art. I have always want to throw clay but never had the room to do it. Really a beautiful poem. Have a wonderful day.
Nicole,
It would be fun to ‘throw clay’ as you put it but like you don’t have the room or the money to invest in that sort of artistry. I’ll have to go a more similar, less expensive route for now.
Your little sculptures are pretty, Cathy, and I especially like the ladybug. And your cake looks delicious! Have a great day, Valerie
Valerie,
Thanks, I’m delighted to know that you like my little ladybug. She is especially sweet, isn’t she?
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Thankful Thursday Art Date With Rain, dear friend!
I enjoyed “The Potter’s Song,” and the video demonstrating the process of making pottery from start to finish. That potter’s art technique reminds me of landscape wizard Bob Ross. I can picture you applying your artistic touches to the finished clay surface as he did, and as you did to those Christmas ornaments. Nice job! I love your cute little smiling ladybug. You should give it to your LA as a keepsake when she’s old enough that it doesn’t pose a choking hazard. She might already be old enough to receive such a gift. Time flies. As I watch artists at work (play) creating things of beauty, and gaze at your artistic achievements, I am envious, because I never had or developed talent in that area.
Your 60s/40s temperature range sounds delightful. Our temp fluxuates wildly from 92 to 88. (LOL) Yessum, get your woolens out of the mothballs and dress in layers this weekend. Be sure to let us know how you liked the pumpkin pie latte. I never even heard of it, but it seems like something I’d love to drink on a chilly day. DH is a lucky man to have a wife who enjoys filling his requests to fill his tummy with homemade cakes.
I appreciated your “I Miss The Day” poem. It is an ideal sentiment to share with one or all of your children and someday with LA. I am also very touched after reading “More Than Just Clay.” It made me misty, Cathy. I especially like “the transformation from nothing into something.” To me, the potter, whom you refer to as the creator (small “c”) is an apt metaphor for the Creator (capital “C”). After reading both poems, I’d say your brain is firing on all cylinders at this point in the week. I also enjoyed Al Stewart’s “Songs Out of Clay.” It’s been quite a while since I heard the Scottish singer’s distinctive “Year of the Cat” vocal style.
Have a happy and Thankful Thursday, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
You’re right those who work with clay work wonders just like Bob Ross does on the canvas. These artists make it all look so effortlessly what they can do but when the untrained or unimaginative hands try to replicate the work it’s usually a disaster. lol I aspire to be this good one day if nothing else in my dreams. I’m thinking about doing just that, my friend. I think the ladybug would be a cute treasure for LA to have. It’s almost as cute as she is, too.
I made the pumpkin pie lattes over the weekend and they did turn out yummy. Watch tomorrow’s post as that’s one thing I’ll talk about. I’m glad the poems I penned moved you in a special way. I read “I Miss The Day” to DH and uttering the words out loud got me all choked up. It’s interesting how voicing something stirs you differently than just reading it oneself. And, yes although I used a small c in creator I was thinking ever bit about the Creator and how there has to be a similar feel for those who work in clay. They can glimpse at things the way He did when He created this world and the first man. What a beauty to experience! Thanks for making me apart of your day, dear friend.