This week is the last push, the last week of Clay Camp. There are kilns firing daily. Projects being glazed…Kids coming and going, waiting for finished shiny treasures to emerge from the hot kiln. Hectic and exciting and generally very gratifying.

So when Camp ends, I can return my focus to MY work in the studio. In preparation, I went into a frenzy of cleaning and organizing this past weekend. The basement hasnt been so clean since…the HGTV crew was here to film for an episode of "That’s Clever".  And that was 3 years ago. (No – my episode HAS NOT aired, and I have no clue…)

The glazing area on the left, and the main work zone in the foreground…

Molds, textures, stamps… tools of the trade.

Saturday was the ceramics studio. Putting things away. Throwing things away. Cleaning things. Sweeping! And no – didnt think to take "before" pictures until it was too late. Whew. A dirty dusty mess, and a great sense of accomplishment. The renewed space makes me anxious and eager to go there – and work!

Sunday: the beads. (See this post on bead madness…)

I am a Virgo. Organized to a fault. I know where everything is. And while I  agree with the adage:   ‘a cluttered desk is a sign of genius’  – I also like a blank canvas! To me the organizing is a step in the process; reacquainting oneself with your materials, seeing things in new combinations, letting ideas spark and hazy sketches for designs hover in your vision…I tend to work in  a cyclical fashion, and there is a great creative spell on the horizon… I will keep you posted!

Sales at show in Lewes: many. (I didnt count)

Flavors of water ice consumed: 2 (Mango and coconut)

SPF worn: 90 and 55

Morning walks on beach with latte: 2

Intact clam shells collected: 14

Ideas for said shells in the studio or in shrines: 4

Books read: 2

Dolphins sighted: dozens

Baby dolphins sighted: 6?

Cost of rental umbrella: $18

Safety of the shade: priceless

Pictures taken: 0 (Sand and salt and new iphone? No thanks.)

Well, it is a holiday weekend – and here in the Mid Atlantic everyone seems to be headed to the beach (DE) or the shore (NJ). To any of you in the midwest or on the West Coast – that may seem like a conundrum. Arent they the same ocean and the same style beach, just across a state line? Yes, they are. Its just a regional thing.

I am headed to the beach (DE) – see now you get it – to do a show tomorrow. If you are anywhere near Lewes DE, stop by! Great show in the center of Lewes – St. Peter’s Episcopal hosts this fine art/fine craft show every July.

Today: new tiles came out of the kiln and I packed them already…Will post pix on Facebook tomorrow. Check out my fan page: The Art of Jennifer Davies-Reazor – thats where most in progress pictures are posted.

But I have a few goodies to share:

Textured pendants with gemstone dangles, all fancy and presentable on jewelry cards. Whatever doesnt sell this weekend: look for some new Etsy postings next week!

Alright – off to pack. The weather should be pleasant, not brutal… and I hope to actually immerse myself in the Atlantic while I am there. Have a good holiday!

Just a few shots from my first session of clay camp – a window into the other side of my career. Ironic, isnt it – that my current busiest period is when I used to be free on summer vacation. But I enjoy teaching, more now that it is on my terms!

Clay camp was great. Looking forward to another great 2 week session in July…And a well deserved break , with some scheduled studio time, intil then!

Last week I had a chance to go to a wholesale bead show… Rings and Things, based in Spokane, WA, does a circuit of traveling shows. Holy extravaganza, Batman!

I went after work (Clay camp) with a beader friend/colleague. We headed to Bal’mur, Hon. The show was only open from 1 pm until 5 pm. Yikes! A double conference room, rows of tables, heaped with gemstones.

Please pause for this reality check: I plan to start creating, selling, and otherwise exhibiting necklaces featuring my ceramic pendants. So this is a planned expenditure – and yet still a splurge!

 From the top: emerald, angelite, pyrite, Zambian aquamarine, ambrolite, tiger jasper, citrine, poppy jasper. (Never heard of angelite or ambrolite. Will have to research them in my crystals/gemstones book.)

Aventurine, aquamarine, ocean jasper, smoky quartz, bone, rhyolite.

Moonstone, mystery glass, garnet, blue ribbon jasper. (Love the last two – look like polished river stones.)

And lastly, in a jumble: olive jade, smoky quartz, African turquoise, amazonite, goldstone, blue goldstone, amethyst, tourmilated green quartz. And sterling owl beads – really! Yes, please.

I had a batch of pendants with me at the show and I am quite excited to pair these stones with some of the glazes I use. I will post pix here as they come to be…Right now I just like gazing at the pretties, my preciousssss.  

What is a trip to the East Coast without a stop in the nation’s capital? Cooky had never been to DC – and I was happy to oblige! All the years we lived over the river in Alexandria, DC was a home of sorts. Once a semester I took a mental health day off school to go museum hopping. (I was often planning a field trip, as well.) The Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the Mall… classic tourist destinations; we were determined to fit in as many as possible.

 National Museum of the American Indian – amidst the Neoclassical and marble… a stunning organic building evocative of other landscapes…

 The totem pole on the ground floor – this face was 6 ft? 8 ft? (Carved and painted cedar, Tlingit peoples, 2004)

"Raven steals the sun" Preston Singletary, Tlingit, 2003, glass.

Lunch? The Cascade Cafe at the National Galelry, of course! Only one of my favorite places. This shot – shows the waterfall wall and the skylights. Not mere skylights – they are IM Pei pyramids located in the courtyard above.

Highlights from our day:

Cooky communes with Calder…

 Agnolo Gaddi (painter) Italian,
Madonna Enthroned with Saints and Angels [right panel], 1380/1390
tempera on panel

 Paul Manship American,
Diana and a Hound, 1925, bronze

 Headed back to the Metro – we found a respite from the heat – the gardens at the Arts and Industries Building. This was the original Smithsonian building – late 1800’s. To me it will always be known as the "Castle".

Until next time, DC… we had a great day. Thanks!

So Cooky and I have gazed in awe at a plethora of fibers, and reveled on May Day at Spoutwood. Time to get a little work done…

Monday May 3rd we installed my solo show at the Newark Arts Alliance. That Friday there was an opening reception. (Sadly C had departed…) Thanks to all who made this possible, and especially to A, B, and C for hanging, arranging, and organizing food and art!

The show – seem above in those wider shots of the gallery – included mixed media collages, mixed media assemblages, and ceramic shrines. It was a great pleasure for me to exhibit them in unison. Often at a fair or festival I am limited to one or the other due to restrictions in the jurying process. Here – it was all me – my vision, and it was thrilling to pair collages with corresponding sculptures.

My "poppets" debuted at the show. At times goddesses, at times icons for the soul – in this application I installed 9 as the Muses. It was very satisfying to see them together, and the shadows they cast were an unexpected thrill. At times echoing the sculpted forn, at times – wings…

(Carved symbols from top L: stars, feather, sun, triple spiral, triquetra, moon, key, flame, leaf.)

And – although this post is a long one… a few shots from the reception:

It was a great turn out and a really enjoyable evening. Thanks to everyone!(Thanks to Angela for the pix!)

Next: Cooky and Jenny’s adventures – Metro and Museums…

(I wrote this post once and lost it. My error. Here goes…)

After a day of shopping and sweating at the MD Sheep and wool Festival (Thank heavens WE werent wearing the wool…) Cooky and I decided that our expereince there was complete. Why not expand the road trip East Coast adventure to include Spoutwood Farm’s Faerie Festival? It was close – Glen Rock PA, and I had hinted at the enchantment that would await us there. ( I had never been. Its reputation preceded it – flouncing in with banners and streamers and bells. It has a great reputation!)

After parking and leaving the mundane world behind, we stroll through green paths, over hill, through trees… We catch a glimpse through the dappled canopy, hear laughter, music… until we cross the stream and enter the Realm.

Welcome to Spoutwood Farm’s Faerie Festival!

 Happy May Day! Kubiando!

What an amzing place! CSA farm on the outside; heart of Faerie on the inside! And May Day when the boundaries are thin – let the magic and mayhem begin! How wonderful to chat and discuss folklore, and the “spirit of place” with Ari Berk and Charles Vess?! And to have some books signed as well…

It was great to see artist acquaintances for FaerieCon and RenCon: Goblin Road, Dancing Hands aka Fairy Goddess Mother, and Nicole of Folklore Leathers. And we had a great time chatting and discussing new work with Jeanne of Echo and Wild Jewelry – a MD Ren Fest favorite. (I have a huge collection!)

( Echo and Wild’s Autumn Fairy pictured here.)

And the music! Wonderful!

Albannach – is an old favorite!

And the Gypsy Nomads – a new favorite!

That last picture – Fairy Goddess Mother Dancing Hands – at the Gypsy Nomads set.

So much fun! Such a creative environment! Art, music, folklore, Oh my!

Next: Art. A solo show and museums galore…

Yes – I am fully aware that it is mid June. June 14th, to be exact. I know this as I started teaching my summer Clay Camp today. (Happy to report, all good so far.) But my last post was dated April. Yup, April. So I propose a series of entries – to entertain, amuse…and show you, my handful of readers – what happened in May… 

First there was MD Sheep and Wool Festival. Cooky flew in from SD and after supping on Capriotti’s ( a DE institution!) we road tripped off in search of fibers and yarns…A cast of characters one would expect to meet – angora goats: angelic even in the unnatural May heat… 

 llama and sheep, the happy ones recently shorn! And adorable alpaca… 

Now – I am not a fiber artist. Cooky is – she spins and dyes, knits and felts with glorious results. And the MD Sheep and Wool is one of the top festivals of its kind. We did some shopping!

hand spun dyed with natural plant dyes;   roving waiting to be spun;

 Everywhere you looked gorgeous colors, more delicious than the last… (Cooky fondles the roving… pictured above.) I wish I had the artists and craftspeoples names, addresses, websites to post here. But honestly – there were hundreds, and my brain was melting!

So I bought a drop spindle, and roving…some for spinning and a palette for needle felting. Needle felting is like painting with carded wool fibers. I am eager to experiment. Of course, Cooky taught me all I to know, wet felting, needle felting and spinning. I truly enjoy the repetitive nature of needle felting and spinning. I see meditative applications there. As well as artistic applications. I will keep you posted.

Next: The May adventures continue – Spoutwood Farm May Day Faeire Festival! Stay tuned.