If I were a person who posted on this blog with any regularity – you, the reader (I hope there are readers!) would have noted my absence… But I am an infrequent author here on my blog…and I am working on that. But this past week I was away; at a utopian community nestled in the woods of north-western North Carolina. Yes, I mean Penland.

Going on a retrest for a week – well, my husband is eternally supportive. He was left at home with 2 crazy dogs, 2 (at times) cranky cats, daily trips to the doggy daycare, and a full time job of his own. But he sent me off with encouragement and best wishes.

I went to take a class – albeit a class with two well known and well received artists in their respective genres. One of these artists – I have followed her work for years, a great inspiration to me. On paper, Penland reads like art camp for adults, but it is so much more.

So over the next week or so, I will keep posting about my week and my experiences there. It was inspirational, invigorating, exhausting, and a helluva lot of fun. I am still digesting and settling back into the real world. I am happy to be home, of course – I love my life. But Penland has made its mark on me…

Found a very funny blog: Simple Etiquette. This picture is the heading. It is very well written, amusing, accurate, and thought provoking. Check it out…

Meet Oscar, the Canaan dog.

(I know… I hadn’t heard of them either!)

He sat there last night as I chopped fresh veggies for dinner. Looking so wistful… In  our house, dogs do not get people food. Maybe a raw carrot; good for their teeth – which Oscar will sniff and delicately turn his head away in a " I dont think so…" manner.

He was so focused on the tofu. I put a chunk in his bowl. Mind you this is straight out of the package plain un-adulterated tofu. He gingerly took it in his mouth – and scampered into the other room to savor his treasure!

I tried it again, a few chunks in his dog bowl. Gobbled up immediately.

Hmm. What a dog I have! (This is the same dog that threw up gravel and a LIVE bug at doggy day care earlier this week. Decided to go vegetarian? )

For more info on the breed: www.canaandogrescue.com

I picked it up at Borders, I had seen it before and had not been sure it was for me. But then I took the plunge.

I couldn’t put it down! Staying up way too late when I had to reach the next morning…I enjoyed the author’s writing, her style at once comfortable and cerebral. I loved the format – written chronologically over the course of a year – a year when  Kingsolver and her family are growing their own, raising their own, baking their own…

It was an eye-opener in many ways. I know I want to eat local and organic…but now I feel I know more of the "why". We have been shopping at the Co-op and the Farmer’s Market. This year we bought a share of the harvest – delivered in weekly veggie boxes – from Calvert Farms, a local CSA program. Its heavenly to get gorgeous fresh veggies each week, and there is an element of surprise. For the first time, I feel I am more in tune with the seasons and the harvest.

Off to stir-fry fresh zucchini, peppers, and local mushrooms…Maybe tomorrow I will use one of Kingsolver’s recipes from the book…

I remember when I first saw it… I was 20, studying abroad in London and Madrid was the last stop on my Spring Break Great Museums of Europe extravaganza. It was housed in its own building on the grounds of the Prado, the only occupant; behind an immense sheet of bullet-proof glass. (This was the late 80’s) Literally this painting is a blow to the stomach, sucking the air from your lungs, as you connect with the victims…

Whether or not you like Picasso, and Cubism – this video is sensational. Evocative, inventive, and a homage to the original.

"Picasso’s Guernica in 3D"

Let me know what you think.

Ice cold seltzer with a shot of lemon… hanging out with friends on a shady deck…dogs sunbathing, tired and content…

I have been trying to fit these summer "must-haves" in. Time has been hectic, and satisfying with the summer ceramics program I am teaching. Great kids, and a breakneck pace. Hope summer finds you well…

 More from me later.

It has been over a month! I admit I am still getting a handle on blogging, and it isn’t habit yet. So where has the time gone? The image above – one of the things I have been working on – was a tile commission for the University of Delaware. Nancy Nutt Chase and Angela Seguin, who run the Wellspring Program, contacted me; interested in custom tiles for their graduating student peer counselors. And while graduations were a month ago –  I know! I couldn’t very well blog about the tiles and spoil the surprise, could I?

The quotes: On the labyrinth tile – Little by little, one travels far.

On the landscape – The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. ( Lao Tzu)

On the woman tile – Be the change. (To paraphrase Ghandi…"Be the change you wish to see in the world.")

May the graduates have a great summer, and the beginings of a prosperous, fulfilled life!  

Hello!

As I write this – I am enjoying the open windows, fresh air and flowers of spring. The dogs spend most of their time playing and lounging in the yard. And I am gearing up for the first show of the year.

Moravian Tile Festival May 17^th & 18^th in Doylestown PA. This has to be one of the most fun shows ever. Old friends, new friends, and more tiles than even a tile artist could imagine. For more details: http://www.buckscounty.org/government/departments/Tileworks/TileFestival.aspx . I highly recommend touring the Tile Works and Fonthill, Henry Chapman Mercer’s house. Both are open during the Tile Festival, and a window into tile making, history and an eccentric visionary man…

In June , on the 7^th –  I will be at the Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival in Elmer NJ. (http://www.appelfarm.org/festival/index.html) The line-up of musicians at this annual festival is incredible. My husband likes this show – after I am set up, he can enjoy the music… And I taught at the Appel Farm Arts Summer Camp right out of college. It has changed dramatically, but still holds dear memories for me.

July takes me to the beach – Lewes DE to be exact. And on the weekend of the Fourth! I hope to get in a little ocean time Sunday …The show is Saturday July 5^th, and you can get the full details here: http://www.stpeterslewes.org/Artshow.htm. I know – it’s a holiday weekend and you may be on vacation, but if you are in the area, this show is a good one.

I have been working diligently, on a whole new style of tiles. Tiles that incorporate stamped metal, collages, beads. They are more elaborate and I am pleased with them. I like new options to incorporate text and other media – and the collage tiles are that.  I have also been doing more collage shrines – using a ceramic shrine, and beading a collage into the structure. I really enjoy making them, from start to finish. (PIctures soon!)

Every time I visit, especially in the spring, I have to go to La Jolla and see the seals. I cant describe this view, this coastline, this beauty…you have to see it and breathe it in.

And bougainvillea…gorgeous!

But I was in class most days, loving every second! More on that later…

Here is the finished piece! I mailed it to Mary before I went to San Diego, and it arrived safe and sound. She was pleased; I was pleased. What a pleasure it was to work on!  The shrine is clay, painted, and housing some of her favorite treasures, from the wealth she shared with me.

My favorite:  the little torso that has transformed and has wings. I hope to be in the mixed media studio frequently, and on a regular basis this spring, and use more of these little dear ones in shrines.