Sometimes Less Is More And Sometimes It's Just Less

Well, there it is. It is far from perfect but I am not completely dissatisfied. Once again I believe I learned a few things which I can put in my toolbox or my back pocket or whatever substitutes for a brain these days. I really had hoped and thought that there would be more purple in the center but I am pretty sure I know why there's not and I can test that theory on another piece. I think I tried to do too much mixing of colors and they just didn't work out the way I was hoping. And the yellow anthers got blurred, probably because I was rushing.  
But overall, this one does not make me despair. Even if it does not look exactly like a hibiscus, it certainly has hibiscus energy. 

Pottery was good. Lizzie and I got to do a lot of talking and there was chatting with others too. I thanked the woman who suggested the puzzle board profusely and when she told me about the puzzle she's been working on for quite awhile I was gobsmacked. First of all- 2000 pieces. Secondly...well, I simply could not do it. I am in awe of her for even opening the box on it.

I took an elephant ear leaf into class this morning with the idea of making a platter using it as a pattern and to impress its markings onto the clay. 
Hmmm...
That didn't really take a great deal of time once I got the slab rolled out for the piece and smoothed over. There is such a thing as a slab roller and that is my favorite piece of equipment in the studio. Do not ask me why. It looks like this.

I believe that just turning that wheel and feeling the force being created to press that clay down thrills me. Plus, I always feel a little bit like I'm the captain of a boat of old and that is my ship's wheel. At least for the 24 seconds it takes to operate the thing. 
So I did get the leaf cut and impressed onto the clay and remembered almost at the end of class that I needed to add a base to it. You can't fire a piece that is glazed where the piece meets the kiln or really, really bad things will happen. 
Ask me how I know.
So anyway, I did that. 
It almost felt like cheating to form and build the platter because my flower bowls take forever. There is so much manipulation and speculation and contemplation and frequently frustration involved. 
Anyway, I draped it over a shallow, long oval mold so that it will hopefully dry in that shape. A hump mold. Not to be confused with a slump mold. 
And then I made another slab, giving myself a reason to use the slab roller again. I cut another fish from this one. A quite large one, rather round in shape. Another fish bowl? 
Quite likely. I didn't get this one finished and I just realized a very, very ridiculously stupid mistake I made when I wrapped it up and left it until next week. Hopefully, the clay will still be moist enough to do what I need to do with it. And if it's not? 
La-di-dah. 
Another lesson! 

So that was all good, or rather, somewhat productive, maybe, with a lot of luck. And then I went to Publix and then I took myself to lunch where I got the exact wrong thing because I felt rushed but once again I must say, La-di-dah. 
I went to the very nice little resale store next door to the restaurant and although I did not buy anything, I found two objects worthy of, if not lust, than at least admiration. 

Look at that beautiful piece of American technology. I believe it is from the late 1800's and I also think it's a hand-treadle operated machine rather than a foot-operated one. As you can see, the machine has been set up with fabric and thread so that you can try it for yourself which I did and was blown away by the smoothness of the movement, the sweet, solid feel of it. Would you look at that decoration? Oh for the days when it was deemed only appropriate for a woman's tools to be beautiful as well as functional. 
Am I romanticizing a bygone era just because it's bygone? 
Possibly. 
And possibly not.  
I did not buy it. 

Here's the other thing I did not buy.

A merry-go-round horse. I have always wanted a merry-go-round horse of my own. Sorry about the picture but as you can see, there is a lot going on there and besides that, a cabinet was directly behind it, possibly only three feet away and there was no way to get a direct photo of it and I did the best I could. 
I checked for a price, of course, but it said, "Price coming," which could be, I suppose, to give them time to research it. It does not look old to me unless it has gotten a new tail, saddle, saddle blanket, stirrups, and harnesses. 
But my, it's a handsome steed. I wish you could really, really see it. 

Sometimes, too much is simply too much despite what Waldo Sexton, my decor and decorating inspiration and guru said. 

No wonder my house looks the way it does. 

Off to make supper.

Love...Ms. Moon

P.S. Thank you all SO much for the book and author suggestions. Obviously, we are a readers' community here and nothing could make me happier. 
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