Studiology

The Thanksgiving Theme

There's a new rule in the house, no hunting 3 hours prior to serving the Thanksgiving meal. Prompted by a repeated habit of family members missing in action when it comes to dinner time. As my daughter, son and Melissa (his girlfriend) sat and enjoyed our meal with the grandkids, we discussed the many times this and other events have altered the days plans. The events have boiled down to this, a dog escapes and is chasing the neighbor's cows, husband and son-in-law are turning in a coupon for an extra special deal and are held up in the store, and (most common of all) the deer has to go to the butchers. Of course the timing is perfect, the turkey, prime rib or ham has just come out of the oven and everything is ready. 

But there is plenty to be grateful for; we were together (well most of us), the kids love my New Orleans beads (so glad I kept them), Duke got sick and I thought he was going to die, but he is making a recovery, and there is always fun to be had on the farm (despite the cold). So without a real family portrait this year but plenty of photographs of grandkids and their new dog Scout, here is the Thanksgiving family clan. 

Quinn is holding a dried up ginkgo fruit and asking me what it is. Yes, I have a female ginkgo tree and it was a banner year for stinky seed pods.

Duke is now a 10 year old and I see him aging quickly. He has arthritis of the hips and spends a lot of time sleeping, but he has recovered from something very scary and I think he's going to live for awhile yet. I'm really grateful!

A Saint, Some Race Cars, and a Wand.

With only one more day out in the field, finishing the gardens, I have spent time in the studio. A commission had me revisit the Saint of dentistry, which is now completed and will soon be delivered. She is headed for a dental museum.

The parts and process were nearly identical to the first one I built, but no two are exactly alike. A different set of pliers, a variation on the Saint, these all factored together to change the outcome a bit. Here is a link to the first build of Saint Apollonia.

Then I signed up for Michael DeMeng's Hot Wheels class. A small racetrack and some altered Hot Wheels will be in the gallery. Three completed so far and many more planned, it's been a bit of a challenge finding small enough parts to decorate a Hot Wheels car. I mean really, they are only two to three inches long.

Next come more wands and this one is the "Wand of Pegasus". If there is magic here, the symbolism of the winged horse is wisdom, fame , and an attraction to poetry. Once again I used a magnet to hold the wand in place.

November is about change, at least for me. This last freeze laid the gardens down and another year is behind me. There will be many hours working in the Christmas shop at Merrifield Gardens but also more hours for studio time, and I have some lovely things planned to occupy my time. Also a few things in the works that will be announced later. Life is good!