garden girls

Last weekend was the Garden Tour here in Cambria. When I wasn't planting or watering, I've been working on a new painting .

In between times I went garden hopping myself. I saw window boxes that defied the laws of physics they were so full and lush.

I picked flowers

I started a new book

It's cover reminded me of an older one, that never does fade in our hearts.

A drive to see wildflowers is always the perfect way to spend a May afternoon , there's lot of mustard and poppys lately and big patches of pink wild sweet peas

This is one of my favorite images to paint, So I put it in my big painting below. I brought it in to photograph and realized I forgot to add the wallpaper design; its going to be pale white primroses. Its a big painting for me, 36 x 24. I looked forward to working on it every morning for weeks, I'm glad I still have a little bit left before I finish.



The kitty is a garden girl too, and wears a bell around her neck to warn the birds.

Thank you for visiting and your kind comments! And thanks too to my new followers~

Happy gardeningxxx julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

hansel and gretel

The animals tried to warn them. The deer stamped its hoof on the earth three times.
The hedgehog sneezed. But Hansel and Gretel did not hear.

Rabbit whistled softly, and mouse put down her radish and let out her loudest squeek.
But Hansel was hungry. He had his mind on ginger cookies
and little tarts and hot chocolate.
Even badger tried to help when he peeked from his den and let out a low growl.
However, Gretel's stomach was growling too , for peach pie. So she didn't hear the warning.
Then , in a clearing in the woods they thought they saw a cottage, with a cookie roof and a walkway made of butterscotch drops. And they smelled woodfire and saw the smoke curling from the candycane chimney. They walked on , feeling sure someone truly wonderful lived in such a delightful house.

*Next time, Hansel and Gretel meet the witch!xxx

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

for good measure

I've been trying to let my customers know what the size of things are by carefully measuring with wooden yardsticks I keep all over the house. But this way you can see how three different sizes of pots compare to eachother.
I think by holding them in my hands like this you can get a better idea of how they would feel in your hands. You don't really need more than say this porcelain beakers is five inches tall and lightweight. I'm going to be adding gold highlights to the beakers today and firing tonight to list tomorrow. The pots too, but no gold there, I'm keeping them old school
I usually put one of the animals from the farm next to something too. for good measure.
By the way, the hills are turning green around here.
And I've been birdwatching. I took this picture of a cedar wax wing in our yard this morning. They are so wild, and to see a big flock land in one of our juniper or other berry trees is enough to get your tail wagging all day.
Bird beaker with hollyhocks. I sewed some cut up hankie pieces on this linen top for spring.
My button hole stitch is my sewing claim to fame.
Here I'm being inspired by a mouse pincusion my friend Nancy gave me.(thank you Nancy, I love it.xx) Its made by Jennifer Murphy, a girl who really knows her way around a needle and thread. She has a charming blog where you can see more of her work: http://www.andothersillythings.blogspot.com/

A bouquet for you!
Thanks for visiting
xxx
juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

you'll never know, dear

I've been thinking about love alot lately. Married love, friendship love, and mother love especially.
Mr. and Mrs. now. I hope they know whats ahead for them , but you never really do, do you?
Just hope there is lots of luck and love in reserve......
Journey's end in lover's meeting, especially for loyal donkeys
How wonderful it is to have a friend to laugh and cry with!
My beautiful mother on the left with me on the right. You can pick your friends and mates, but not your mom. I was lucky with mine. Fun loving, nuturing, art loving and as you can see, stylish. Here we are on one of those rare days, where everything conspires together for happiness. Beautiful Santa Barbara weather, an art show at the beach in the morning, then lunch at El Paseo downtown and visiting grandma and grandpa in the afternoon. I loved my mother so much. miss you , always will. xxxxx
juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

jam session

There I was all set to make plum jam, when I saw a flat of strawberries at farmer's market.

I added a few ripe nectarines too.

And inspired by summer's continuing bounty, I made some new jam jars and even a lid for an old transferware piece.

I saved the stems for the wild birds.

They seemed to enjoy them

After the jam was canned I took a sea break and got there just in time before the fog bank rolled in. It smelled so fresh and briney.

Passed the wild fennel whose stalks I add to my spagetti sauce.

Time to test the jam.

With strawberry tea and scones. The jam is okay. I can taste the lemon and the nectarine adds a nice sharpness.

The red winged blackbirds in the berry bushes are saying fall will visit soon. So I've got a small listing ready.

Wishing you a lovely weekend in your snug house this weekend. I'm now searching for a strawberry jam tart recipie. I think you know why!

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

gold dust

I've always wanted to add gold embellishments to my pottery. I think growing up in California exposes you to gold fever. So there is a brush stroke here and there on the porcelain cups above. Can you see it on the tips of the bird's wings?

Cup backs. These are slab built porcelain.

I panned for gold when I was ten. I remember the little particles of gold dust glinting in the sun.

This is my husband's ancestors from Sutter Creek , California. Gold Rush country.

I visited this house and met Gramps standing up in back on the right. He was 97at the time. I was 20. They had chickens coming in and out of the kitchen and an ancient orchard out the back. The floorboards creaked like a chorus of frogs. I loved it there.
div>
They came out in the 1840's not to strike it rich in mining, but in logging. All those miners needed wood for houses when they struck the mother lode.

The dog's name was Sampson.

An old plate with gold paint next to a beaker.

These are porcelain, so they are light.

My plans for these cups. The instuctions for using the gold are:

Immaculate brush only used for gold. Apply gold to finished piece in its own firing. These pieces were fired three times.Wipe down a glazed piece with rubbing alchohol.

Cleaning brush in the special solution to keep the brush supple. It goes on red, so its easy to see your strokes.

Fire at 018. Which is about 1377 degrees.

A vase shape where the flowers spill out nicely.
my first bud vase!
I'm hoping there is a pink butterfly out there somewhere.
Also did a couple of cups the old school way!

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com