Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Pink

 I am not a huge fan of pink normally, never did buy into that idea of dressing Wesley in pink because she was a little girl, in fact I avoided it. I hate going into an outdoor store looking for something to wear for hiking or camping. I have to shop in the men's dept. most of the time, because I don't want to wear lavender or pink or mint green in the woods. I will never understand who the designers are making these clothes for. But all of a sudden I seem drawn to this color, especially when combined with orange and red. I found several skirts at the thrift store last week that looked great together and were $2 a piece, way cheaper than yarn.

 So I cut them up and plan to weave more mats with them. So fitting for the first day of spring, don't you think?
 I sewed buttons and pearls on this mat that I made with the rust dyed strips, love this!

 The women that I took a weaving class with have formed a weaver's support group and are meeting once a month. Last week we met at our instructor's studio, had dinner together and many brought work in progress for critique and show and tell. Isn't this a fabulous studio, and it was so clean, haha!
 She did a short demo for us. Just like many of the pottery teachers I have had, Jean is so giving of her time and weaving knowledge and she is very talented.
I love crafts people. They surround themselves with beauty and calmness and they are, for the most part, happy to share what they have learned with their fellow artisans. Craftspeople tend to form guilds or groups for support and sharing. I like to be able to get together with fellow artists, have a good meal and talk with people who share my interests. I spend so much time alone, it's good to get out there in the world every now and then and see what others are doing.
Gerry is back from covering the ACC tournament. He had Wesley there there helping him, which was fun for both of them, I'm sure. He has been gone since last Wednesday, so I got a lot done around here. My studio got a huge cleaning, much needed, I have a bunch of slabs waiting to become boxes and tiles for Raku, and I have new warp to put on my loom. I did a quick raku fire on Saturday to test some glazes, all failures. I just can't win right now with glazing. I do know why these glazes failed though, because unlike ^6, I understand raku!
Lots to do this week, but the weather has turned cold and gloomy again, I'm less than motivated to do anything in this weather. I have really had enough of this rain, and I know those of  you up north have certainly had enough snow. Some first week of spring this is turning out to be!

15 comments:

Dennis Allen said...

What a great studio.A good dedicated workspace is a big inspiration.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Dennis, that studio was fabulous, and spotless! The walls were cedar panels, so it even smelled good. Jeans husband was killed in a terrible accident and I think he built this just before that happened, very tragic. On the porch there is a plaque dedicated to him, really nice.....there are also several log historic cabins that they rescued. The place is for sale, if only it were closer to something, I would be buying it!

Sandy Miller said...

You are a brave woman! Pink? Really? Had one kid go through a pink but she came to her senses after a year, phew!

What a beautiful studio! Studios we lust after :)

Busy week for you! I often think when people tell me I need to get out more .....but look at all the stuff here in my bubble!

cookingwithgas said...

OH, I need some of that cloth to make things from. I am sewing and there are so many things that I need to look at as in thrifty clothes...I had not thought about that but now you have my wheels spinning.

Tracey Broome said...

Sandy,yeah,pink, who knew?! It's growing on me!
Meredith, a very kind blogger is sending me two boxes of quilting fabrics, I am happy to share! We'll talk:)

Michèle Hastings said...

I really like the pink and orange together... my very girly daughter would LOVE those placemats.
and that studio is to die for!

Tracey Broome said...

It is a great studio! My daughter looked at these colors and said really? she would prefer army green, haha.

Sissy said...

Tracey, I mix only very small amounts of raku glazes and I put a good pinch of sea salt to every small ( 2dl) jar. Plus 1 tsp of liquid gummi arabicum ( 1.5 tsp to blue or green crackle) Then I let the glaze sit for at least 3 days.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Siisy, it wasn't the glaze mixing or firing, it was just ugly recipes I found and some that were way too dry. One red needs way more reduction, blah blah, all the things I can actually figure out with raku! I also mix very small amounts since I brush on everything, makes the testing way easier than glazes you have to dip and pour, right?!

Laura Farrow said...

all that pink just looks like happiness to me! and connecting with other crafters? what could be better????

Lori Buff said...

My potter's eye saw the bowl the buttons are in and started wanting to see more of it.
Craft's people are the best, no matter the craft.

Tracey Broome said...

Laura, all the pink ribbons in the sun just made me smile, definitely happiness!
Lori, the little bowl is a pinch pot by Lindsey Pitchaski, one of the most brilliant clay artists I know. She did a whole series of these many years ago, I think she is out west somewhere now.... She was Christina Cordova's assistant at Penland at one time, miss having her around here, she was fun..

Amy said...

wow, you are quite the weaver and you've learned SO fast. that mat is just beautiful. i like the idea of a pottery support group.... i too have lots of time alone in the studio which I love (I catch upon NPR) but do need to be social every now and then.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Amy, thanks,,yeah weaving is a lot easier than clay!

Shannon said...

nice to see Jean's place after all this time. LOVE pink myself these days, too. I, also, was not one to go near it early in my life. It's a great underpainting color.