RAku Donut

I fired this donut in my microwave...yes, my microwave! I have never been able to do raku in my kiln, because it has exposed elements, and also because it is trunk style and I can't even imagine the blast of heat if I lifted the lid with the temp at 1700. I had heard about microwave kilns for melting glass, but didn't know they would work for ceramic.

How cool is that?

Teal Pinwheel Donut

My teal pinwheel has been included in a treasury on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/c324b47ba7e1cf4b7de7f400

All turquoise and jade treasury

Daisy Pendant Necklace

Beads of Clay is currently doing a pendant exchange. Participants' names were put into a hat and 2 names at a time were drawn. The partners exchanged pendants and made a commitment to create something with the pendant.

I have had this pendant with my bead making things for a couple of years. It was sent to me when I made a group necklace with contributions from BOC members. I wasn't able to use it in the group piece. Since this current necklace exhange is going on, I decided to make a necklace from this. I started out with the idea of making it chunky with stick pearls, but it ended up very delicate, with pearls of all different shapes, sizes and colors. It changed a few times before I came up with a balance I liked.

Flame Tulips

This has nothing to do with clay and beads, although I do get inspiration from nature. The flowers here this spring are so fabulous! The flowering trees are gorgeous, the tulips have never been so full and vibrant with color. Last night my mom, friend and I went to Franklin Park Conservatory where, on Thursdays, they host "Cocktails at the Conservatory". The weather was more like late June, and the tulips lining the path to the conservatory had all their petals open to the sun. The air was redolent with spicy perfume from some kind of flowering bushes. One of the patios has a large display of Chihuly globes with lights inside, and as the sun went down they glowed with color. What a wonderful spring we are having, such a treat after the long, very cold winter with so much snow. I think the flowers liked that period of cold, and have burst into bloom to celebrate spring!

Here is a picture of some flame red tulips that are blooming along my driveway.

Rosewater Donut

Toolis Jewelry has included my Rosewater Donut in her treasury, "Fresh and Dreamy", on Etsy. Please visit and leave a comment! Commenting pushes the treasury up. Thanks!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=95079