Yesterday I had a lovely surprise… I was doing some voluntary work in the office over at Denmark Farm when Joanna turned up with the little sculptures we had made in her paper porcelain workshops back in October.
I’m really delighted with the results. One of them never even got home to be photographed: I immediately gave it to Mara (who, amongst other things, organises the courses at Denmark Farm) because she admired it when we opened the box. She is going to hang it on her Christmas tree. I have recipients in mind for several of the others, but I am going to keep a few for myself, as I am delighted by the way they have come out.
Just as a reminder, this is what they looked like as they were made:
And here are my creations after glazing:
Not bad for a first attempt, I think!
The Snail of Happiness 
Wild Daffodil
/ December 17, 2014Beautiful!!!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014I’m very pleased… although I’m not sure that porcelain is really my medium!
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margaret21
/ December 17, 2014These are gorgeous. I’ve not tried porcelain work myself, but had to abandon clay some years ago as it seemed to have such a bad effect on my skin. Whch was a shame, as I loved working with it.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014I don’t think I’ve touched clay for about 15 years… the last time was to attempt throwing some pots with my friend Joe Finch (http://www.potteryandpaintings.co.uk/pottery.htm) and that was not a success… at least this time I managed to produce things that looked a bit like I wanted them to!! What a shame you are unable to express yourself using a medium you like 😦
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nanacathy2
/ December 17, 2014Not bad? What do you mean they are amazing. Absolutely love them. Well done you!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014Well, you always know what’s wrong with the things you’ve made yourself!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ December 17, 2014Wow!! I remember you saying it wasn’t your medium – but my goodness Dr Snail – how can that be? I remember that feeling of ‘wow’ when my pathetic attempts were glazed – that so unsatisfactory lump of clay became a thing of [well in my case] okayness – yours are a thousand times better. I adore the blue shells and the blue pine tree [blue of course being my most favourite colour] but everything is just wonderful. Not at all bad for a first attempt indeed! I wonder what you would come up with if yo kept on playing……. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014I might have another go in the future, but for the time being, I’m sticking to yarn!
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Elizabeth
/ December 17, 2014They really turned out gorgeous! So fun to see them once they are baked!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014It’s quite a transformation… I was surprised how ‘finished’ the glazing made them look!
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narf77
/ December 17, 2014Holy manuka, where is the LOVE button! They are purest unmitigated gorgeousness. I loved them prior to glazing but now they are even better. If I could sign up for a course that turned out something gorgeous like that I would be on it like a tick on a dog (forgive me my Aussie colloquialisms but I am overwhelmed by a mix of adoration and green lust at the moment 😉 ). SO very beautiful. To all of your dear constant readers who live in the U.K. “Get on down to Denmark Farm and go make yourselves some of these…Scotland? NO EXCUSE!” 😉
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014Oh, Fran… you do make me smile… perhaps it’s in my genes… my great auntie was Clarice Cliff (famous for her Art Deco pottery)
🙂
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narf77
/ December 17, 2014Are you serious?! I bow to you Ms Snail. Clarice Cliff is one of my absolute dead set favourite ceramic artists :). You just went up in my genetic database of “superior human being genetic material” incredibly :). I love Art Nouveau and Art Deco and all things early 1900’s and simplified and Germanic. Gorgeous stuff full of the essence of the idea. Your gorgeous ceramic painting is just that, the perfect simplified essence of the idea and you NAILED THAT SUCKER Ms Snail 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 18, 2014hehe… yes, I’m serious. I knew her when I was little. I think it may be my only claim to fame!
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narf77
/ December 18, 2014What a claim to fame! Still in awe and how amazing! 🙂
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katechiconi
/ December 17, 2014Just beautiful! I think you could have a sideline of making Christmas tree decorations using natural objects as inspiration. And Clarice Cliff in the family, wow, you really do have the ceramics gene!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 17, 2014I did know her when I was a very little girl… she was quite intimidating, but her house did have a secret passage, which was fun!
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davidprosser
/ December 17, 2014They look really professional. Very well done.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 18, 2014Thank you, David.
xxx festive hugs xxx
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arlingwoman
/ December 18, 2014These are really beautiful. I love your blues and greens.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 18, 2014Yes, we had some lovely pigments to choose from… it was all a bit of an experiment so the outcome is particularly satisfying.
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Nice piece of work
/ December 18, 2014Stunning. Particularly the snails 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 18, 2014The snails were really the thing that I wanted to make before I went… everything else was just the result of playing!
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gentlestitches
/ December 18, 2014I love them all but especially the snails. 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 18, 2014Thank you! I just had to make some snails!
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katythenightowl
/ December 19, 2014These are wonderful, Jan – you should feel really proud of your workmanship! 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 19, 2014I am very pleased with them… and now I realise another week has gone by and still I haven’t called round to see you… maybe Monday!
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katythenightowl
/ December 19, 2014It’d be lovely to see you if you have the time 🙂
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a cheerful living adventure
/ December 27, 2014Goodness, they’re utterly charming, well done!
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