Hi Friends,
I hope all is well with you and yours. I’m writing this on a plane on the way back from a quick design job in the Bay Area. Although the weather was beautiful, it was still too cold to eat dinners outside, so yes I am looking forward to 105 at home. We installed misters on the patios as well as sun shades so we can still enjoy the outdoors. In progress is an Arizona room, basically a screened in porch, but this one is also an extension of the catio. Finally, we can relax outside with the cats and be safe from critters and pesky biting insects!
I do have a few ongoing design jobs, including a very exciting kitchen and bath remodel for us, but mostly I’ve been happily making art. Hidden in the Hills open studios is only a few months away, in November. I’ve never been one to set goals for myself, other than be happy. That’s still the case now. A dear new friend told me to make “as much as inspiration allows you to pleasantly produce”. Of course it must be that way, or my work would not be good. Confused? It looks like I never hit “send” on that last email to you, very unlike me! If you’d like to catch up here it is: Spring in the Sonoran Desert
It’s fascinating to me how my pieces evolve. Most of the time I take a chunk of clay in my hand with no idea what I am making, and it surprises me when I’m done. I may have shown you my charcuterie bowls with tiny cheese knives and spoons, I’m also making fine trinket bowls and spherical vessels, and organic forms. These pieces are glazed and when they come out of the kiln they are ready to go. It’s much more of a process for my assemblage.
I make many things, including my series of hearts, that I paint with watercolors and seal after they are fired. I’m making little hanging boxes, inspired by the vintage boxes filled with found treasures that I’ve had on my walls for years. They are made of clay and filled with pieces of nature from our land, as well as found treasures and ceramic bits I’ve made (mushrooms, lichen, grass, apples and pomegranates to name a few). I’m making huge rosaries for the wall inspired by the antique French one I have in my collection. I’m making multiples of things that will hang on the wall en masse, as large as you like. These are ceramic feathers, seed pods, turtle shells, whatever I’m feeling inspired by. I’m having the best time and I’m so excited for the show!
Oh, you wanted to know about the kitchen and bathroom renovations? Think Finca! It’s a Spanish estate or country home style, thanks to microcement it’s now possible to emulate it. I found a cabinet maker who is super stoked to be involved in the project and my mason is excited to work with this new product. The microcement will cover the cabinet face frame, the countertop and extend up the walls. No stone countertop, no backsplash, no grout! In most places it will go all the way to the floor. I can’t think of anything more perfect for this house with the Saltillo floors. It can also cover tile if it’s in good condition, so I will be using it in our shower as well, I can’t wait!
I recently had a friend over to help her make some ceramic pieces for her fiber art. I’ve never been a good teacher, but this day was different because I wasn’t about to touch her work. I just told her what she could do and what the rules of clay are. It was such a fun time for me that I would love to do it again. If you’d like to come for a little retreat and get your hands dirty, I’d love to have you for two days of clay and one for fun (ride in the desert?) while your work is fired. Message me for more details, which of course I’m still forming in my mind 🙂
We’re enjoying the monsoons, so much lightening! Riding out the heat really is like hunkering down for winter in places where it snows, although we aren’t technically stuck in the house. Andy is great (although somewhat impatiently waiting for driving season to start back up) The cats are great, Chloe has been such a great addition to our family, it’s so nice! Sophie is yawning in the image above, they were all outside my studio waiting until it was safe to come in. Thanks for still being here and following my journey!
Love,
Scarlett
