Monday, June 2, 2008

Fun Monday-Something I Have Made


This week's Fun Monday host is Karisma. She wants to see or hear about something we've made. I just didn't know where to begin on this one. You see, I feel best when I'm trying to create something. It's why I write. I'm definitely the artsy, colorful creative type as opposed to the symmetrical, organized mechanical kind of person. I could never be an engineer, but I could sure be happy writing stories or taking pictures for a living. Of course, I would first need to greatly improve my photography skills.

I dabble in a little bit of everything, and I'm no pro at any of it. I love art and have taken several art classes over the course of my 43 years. I love watercolors and oil paints but don't have time to do either one these days. Therefore, my work would not be too good, I'm afraid. In college I discovered ceramics. Not the pick out a teapot, paint it and fire it kind of ceramics. I'm talking about the true art of ceramics where you take a lump of clay, kneed it, throw it on a wheel and use your hands and various tools to mold it into something cool. I took the ceramics class because I needed three extra credit hours of anything, and it sounded fun. I took to it like a duck to water, working my way up to porcelain, which is slick as snot when you're trying to keep it under control on the wheel. My niche was small, delicate finger bowls. I have several but couldn't find them to photograph. They are boxed up in the attic, I think. One day when I'm retired and have a little more space, I'd like to have an art studio in my home to pilfer with clay and paints. I also hope to go back into community theater when Teen Angel goes off to college. Theater was my minor in college, and I really miss it.

I love to bake and create all kinds of cakes and pies and goodies. I learned the art of canning from my mother years ago and annually make jams and jellies from the grapes that grow in my backyard and other fruits I get from the farmer's market. Here are a couple of ribbons I won at the fair two years ago for my peach and plum jellies. It's amazing how happy a blue ribbon can make you...even when you're older than twelve.

I could also be happy baking decadent desserts and decorating cakes for a living. I would love to have my own pastry shop.
One area that I would love to excel at but don't is sewing. I'm just not good at it. I can mend, hem and baste a little, but patching is about the limit of my sewing abilities. I tried making a shirt from scratch when I was about sixteen, and it came out with one arm bigger than the other. I have made a basic skirt that was wearable, but it wasn't nearly as tailored as it should have been, and I never wore it much. That's why I was so proud of this curtain.

I designed it and sewed it from scratch without a pattern a couple of years ago when I couldn't find a curtain I liked for my dressing room. I've decided I can use the sewing machine as long as I stick to curtains and other straight stitch items such as table runners and placemats.

That's about the extent of my creativity. Now hop on over to Karisma's and see who else is playing along today.

18 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Love the window treatment. And ribbon winning awards for your work!! Outstanding!!!!

Happy Fun Monday.

Mia said...

Window treatment A
Jams and jellies A
But....BRING ON THE DECADENT BAKED GOODS!!!

ChrisB said...

Prizes for jellies is very impressive~ I should have come to you for some hints and tips before I made my jam!

Faye said...

HG, reading your profile today just realized that you too are in Kentucky. Small world of blogging. I get your point about ceramics being a true art form. Love the work that comes out of Berea College and Morehead State U. Do you have any favorite artists that work here in KY?

Jientje said...

You did great on that curtain! I can very much relate to that, i have a new sewing machine ( bought it two years ago) but i discovered it las week! had to use a magnifying glass to read the manual! LOL!

storyteller said...

Wow … how impressive to win prizes for your jellies and jams! I enjoyed all you shared here so thanks. My Fun Monday is at Small Reflections.
Hugs and blessings,

Jo Beaufoix said...

Wow, I love the sound of the pots, and an art studio would be fabulous. I hope it happens.

Jan said...

You are definately creative. Call your clay creations pottery, instead of ceramics, and everyone will know what you're talking about.

Pamela said...

I suppose you are beautiful too. hhhhawwwamph!

Sorry -- can't help but be jealous of all you can do. Can I come visit your art studio and eat scones and home made jam (when you build it.)?

Sayre said...

Yet another multi-talented lady! I'd love to see the porcelain finger bowls sometime.

Cruise Mom said...

I've been shopping for a curtain for my bathroom window for weeks, so I can relate to the need to make a curtain. Unfortunately, I can't actually make one - but I love the one you made!

Heather said...

I loved hearing about your pottery work. I have a few different pieces that I love from local artisans on different trips. I always love how pretty all the natural colors are in each piece. I hope you get to make more again someday.

Your curtain is beautiful! I have made two sraight valances I was proud of, but this looks way too difficult!

And I know what you mean on the blue ribbons. I won an apple pie baking contest at my school where I taught, but there were only three entries! I'm still proud of my first place pie, though!

Anonymous said...

I would love to know how to make jam, to win a ribbon for it, that would be awesome, I admire your talent

Molly said...

Maybe you can show us some of your porcelain another day. Your curtain is very nice.

Jason, as himself said...

Wow. Impressive.

Me, not so much.

I don't make stuff.

Alison said...

I love making jams and jellies also!! Your curtain is beautiful, I love it.

karisma said...

I would love to learn how to make jams and preserves. I think its something we should all learn. Your curtains look lovely as well! Thanks for playing!

Hula Girl at Heart said...

Faye: I love the work from Berea, too. I also enjoy the wood creations of Jack Fifield, Sarah Rousch's ceramic sculptures and Julie Shaw's jewelry (Aphrodite Gallery). If you're interested in a wonderful art opportunity in my city, email me at hulagirl@hcis.net, and I'll tell you all about it.
Pamela: Beautiful? Hardly. Don't worry. The list of all the things I cannot do is quite lengthy. You are welcome at my studio any time.
Grace & Karisma: Maybe I'll do a jam and jelly "how to" one day soon.
Jason: You're gonna need a class or maybe even individual tutoring.