The Close of Summer

Labor Day weekend represents the "Close of Summer" for most people.  It seems no one told the weather around the Seattle area, though.  We are looking at a forecast of the upper 80's this week - which is warm for this area.  Not that we're complaining!  We had a terrible spring and almost no summer sunshine until August, so this is a welcome thing. 

The kids are back in school and I've been throwing, rolling and carving up a storm in the studio.  I've been working on some new looks over the summer.  It took me a while to straighten out some issues with crazing, pinholes, and other issues with some clear glazes this summer.  Thankfully, I've figured it out and I'm moving ahead with producing the new pieces.  Everything is drying so quickly with this weather, I've got to work quickly.  I'm excited to get the new work photographed and posted on Etsy so I can see what people think of them.

I was reminded that it's the Close of Summer with this fun treasury that some of my tumblers are featured in.  Cheers! 

Post Nap Results

I am relieved to have this order of tumblers on its way to Alabama for a Celtic themed wedding celebration. And yes, a large nap was taken.

Tumbler Love

This tumbler set is getting a lot of Etsy Treasury love lately - they are featured in the Chocolate Lime Treasury and Brown and Green Treasury - both shown below. Green and brown seem to be the "it" color combo this year. It reminds me of the blue and brown combo that was so popular not long ago.

It's interesting to watch the trends of color combinations that we see in clothing and home decor. I've been seeing a lot of brown and black featured together lately - like the many of the items in this Coffee Break Treasury.

Personally, I won't be sad if I never see a revival of the salmon pink and seafoam green color combo that was so popular back in the late 80's/early 90's. Do you remember it - the Southwest themed colors that were everywhere? I'm sure there were others - ah yes, neon (pink, yellow, green) and black. That was big when I was in college. My kids had neon day at school on Friday. Is that making a come back too? No neon glazes here. :-)

What other color combinations of yesteryear am I missing?

Summer Nights

One of my favorite things to do in the summer here in Woodinville is to go to see concerts at the Chateau Ste Michelle Winery. The evenings are usually warm (a relative term in the Seattle area), the music is great, the setting is perfect and it's not too far from home. I love to see the hot air balloons fly over the venue, while everyone cheers and waves at them.

We've only had bad weather twice, that I can recall, over the years (we used to go to the shows as far back as the '90's - pre-kids). I remember that it was really cold at an early show in June when we saw Crosby, Stills and Nash a few years back. Rain hit us during our pre-show picnic with some friends when we went to see Steely Dan. We had our own little private party under a tarp until the show started. I wish I had some pictures of that - but I was likely having too much fun to get out the camera. Fortunately the rain let up right before the music began. It probably wouldn't have mattered as it was SUCH a great show.

We usually arrive early so we can get a good spot on the lawn, picnic, drink some wine and some of us even like to nap (my sister, Liz, is catching some zzzs).

Here is Lyle Lovett and his LARGE band. I am always amazed at how soft spoken and humble he is - and then how he can really let it rip and be so gregarious in his performance. Ya gotta love their suits and ties.

I've been working on some sets of tumblers lately. I'm thinking they would be great for wine - especially for a picnic or an outdoor concert. Wine glasses are tricky at a picnic. We pack in some great low backpack chairs that have a spot for a beverage in the arm- but wine glasses don't work well in the little pockets. I've seen all kinds of metal wine glass stakes, etc... that just seem gimicky and a hassle to deal with. I'm thinking these tumblers I've been making might be just the ticket. I made some years ago that I put finger/hand grab indents on. We were celebrating our ceramic's teacher's 70th birthday with wine and cake - right in the middle of our class. I still have them to remind me that I don't throw very well after a glass of wine or two. ;-)

This summer we have tickets to see Steve Miller Band, so far. I remember listening to my older brother's tapes and still to this day remember most of the words to the songs. We're thinking about channeling our inner disco with an Earth, Wind and Fire show in August. There are lots of good choices this year. I'll be packin' the tumblers.