Well,
I intended to take more photos as I filled the moonflower mold but as
usual, I got focused on the work and completely forgot.
Today (Saturday) I start on the first hummingbird mold. I was going to work on it over
at the shop where all my glass is, well, except for the jars that
have already been brought over from when I was working on the
feathers and sand and rock samples (but of course, those are not any
of the colors I need) because of the nice dry cool weather we've been
having except today and tomorrow our hot humid weather is back
because...the curse. Monday is supposed to be nice though. So
I've been over at the shop with two pictures trying to match color
samples and select the appropriate jars of frit (crushed glass) so that hopefully I
will only have to make one more trip over there she says as she
laughs hysterically.
The
flowers are done and it only took me um, maybe five trips, four or
five, over to the shop in all. I could have persevered and got it all
done tonight but it would have been another 3 or 4 hours (make that 5).
In
between stints at the worktable I picked up pecans. It's been very
windy today, gustful, and a lot are falling. I came in with a
shirtful three times today from my three trees. And would you
believe, I had to water today? All that rain and the ground is
already cracking.
This morning (Sunday) was as still as it was windy yesterday but then the breeze picked up some and I've collected more pecans off and on during the day, usually when I take a break from bending over the mold.
This morning (Sunday) was as still as it was windy yesterday but then the breeze picked up some and I've collected more pecans off and on during the day, usually when I take a break from bending over the mold.
I
was better about taking pictures of filling this mold until the very
end when I failed to take a picture after I filled the background in
and before I covered it over with the layers of clear and white.
This
is an Anna's hummingbird, one of the ruby throated. The two colors of
frit I used for the flowers and the throat of the hummingbird are
called strikers and won't become their true colors, ruby pink and
ruby red, until they're fired. So this is what I have been doing all
weekend in between picking up pecans...
They'll
go in the kiln either tonight or tomorrow.
And with that, you have accomplished something I never will.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
that's OK. You do all kinds of stuff that I will never do.
DeleteYour work is coming along nicely. It must be so satisfying for you when one of your lovely pieces are completed.
ReplyDeleteMore lousy, wet weather here also. We are expecting sun for a few hours today. It does not look like that will happen.
some things I'm pretty confident in how they will turn out. others I just never know, like this hummingbird. I'll see in three or four days if my color choices, placement, and amount of frit produced anything like the picture I was looking at.
DeleteYou make me think of the peace of the tedious work of putting it all together.
ReplyDeletewell, at least I'm not thinking about the horrible political situation in this country.
DeleteAll sounds like fun. We have a freeze coming tonight. Had one week of fall and then cold has arrived. Will have to put up all my citrus plants today. Not fun. Commenting anon - Donna@Gather.
ReplyDeleteyeah, it is. must be since I keep doing it.
DeleteHave one feeder for hummers, but think most have gone south
ReplyDeletethey've mostly moved on from here too.
DeleteThis is so fascinating! It never fails that any job takes at least ten times longer than you think. Pecans! I would love to have pecan trees, as they are my favorite nuts.
ReplyDeleteand this process is so tedious. I am ridiculously optimistic about how much time it will take.
DeleteIt really is great to watch your process, and see such beauty emerging. Lucky you to have those pecan trees, too. The way the wind's blowing here today behind the front, you might have a good number to pick up. Enjoy the cooler temperatures -- we've had rain all day.
ReplyDeleteI used 12 different colors in the hummingbird. some just a sprinkle or a tiny area like the eye and feet. I'm so happy to be getting a crop of pecans this year since we had none for the last three years.
DeleteTo not have to bend over, I shop vac hickory nuts to collect. Nuts you cannot buy!
ReplyDeletewell, that's a clever idea but I would need a very long extension cord.
DeleteI really enjoy watching this process. Show us more!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely and fascinating to watch your art unfold!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete