Back Porch Studio: Pottery. Photography. And all things handmade.
While searching for a new blog theme, I lost my original blog theme. š¬ So please bear with me as I redo my blog appearance! I’ve been very unhappy with social media. In fact, I found social media to be very impersonal. My social media pages quickly filled with promoted posts and videos rather than … More Under Construction!
I have been asked by several people about making slow feeder bowls for their pets. I didn’t know how to make them and felt a bit intimidated because there is not much information on how to make a slow feeder. But when my Grand-dog asked me to make one for him, I just couldn’t say … More I Didn’t Think I Could
Prunella vulgaris, the common self-heal, heal-all, woundwort, heart-of-the-earth, carpenter’s herb, brownwort or blue curls, is a herbaceous plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. Wikipedia I usually don’t mind a little heal-all in and around the garden but this year it was extra prolific. It took over the herb bed inside and out. I could hardly … More Weekend In The Weeds
Temperatures in the 70’s this week! I am finally back behind the wheel after a very cold and wet spring! Grand-dog came by for a visit and curious as to what I was doing. Warming up my throwing muscles. Starting with 1/2 pound of clay. Making small bowls to sell as trinket or ring dishes, … More Warming Up!
As a potter, not everything I make comes out how I planned. š± Sometimes my pieces crack or warp. Other times, my pieces never make it off my pottery wheel . . . . . . or a cat decides to sit in or on one of my pieces. And those unfortunate pieces end up … More Reclaiming The Earth One Bucket At A Time!
I meant to publish this yesterday . . . Thursday . . .Now Friday š Posted originally on my other blog, Grandma Is Blogging, in 2018. Slowing moving posts here from there. We used to feed the birds. That was until the cats started feasting on the birds. Inadvertently, we fed the squirrels too.Ā One day, … More Throwback Thursday: Squirrel!
What beautiful weather we had last week! Clear blue sunny sky. Flowers blooming. Birds, bees and kitties busy. Note the elevated Kitty water bowl: a TONKA Toy dump truck. This TONKA dump truck has been through two generations (children & grandchildren) and now serves as our back porch watering hole for cats, birds, squirrels, … More Well, Sleet!
Hooray! Spring sprung! The much anticipated warmer weather, blue skies and tons of sunshine has arrived. Nature rejoices and so do I!!! Spring training on my back porch studio. Warming up with a small lump of clay (about 1/2 pound) this week. Spring training on the soccer field. Our grandson behind the ball and me … More Pop! Spring!
2023 has presented me with challenges. ChallengesĀ that require my energy to be inĀ manyĀ placesĀ otherĀ than my Back Porch Studio.Ā In 2023 -2024Ā I will be sellingĀ only ready to shipĀ itemsĀ as my time allows.Ā Ā I plan to focus on pet dishes, mugs and wine cups May through October in preparation for the 2023 Holiday Season.Ā If you are NOT in a hurry, please … More Throwing Season 2023
Photographs invoke a story to be told. One can travel into the lives and times of people and places especially of those people we hold so dear. Memory is a living thing ~ it too is in transit. But during its moment, all that is remembered joins and lives ~ the old and the young, … More Snapshots: A View of a Story
Back home. . . These two are waiting for warmer weather and long sunny afternoons to return to the back porch. Who needs fancy store bought cat beds when a good old box will do. Notice they are plugged in. Because both are elderly cats, the warmth from the heating pad beneath the blanket makes … More Meanwhile
Traveling. A window seat is a must. The view never fails to take my breath away. āHow sweet to be a cloud. Floating in the blue!āĀ Ā Ā Ā – A. A. Milne
Feeding birds through the winter has been a family activity for over 25 years. It started as a homeschool project where we could observe wildlife first-hand. We learned about bird identification, social behavior (pecking order on and around the feeder), and which physical characteristics of birds dictated food choices (sunflower seeds, thistle, millet, nuts, berries … More Winter Is For The Birds
It is official. I am completely sold out. š³ All of my pottery pieces found new homes in 2022! š„³ Meanwhile, I am enjoying a few of my handmade kitchen prep bowls and wine glass that had slight imperfections such as cracked bottoms or a glaze snafu. These imperfections don’t happen often but when they … More Tooting My Horn! Happy New Year!
Time marches on. Trying to age gracefully. Suffered loss this year. Blessed gain this year. And . . . I still cannot comment on some WordPress blogs. The Happiness Engineers told me I needed to contact Akismet because my comments may be viewed as spam. š Not sure I’m up for this. I’m trying to … More Spam – I – am
December’s photo challenge: (top left) technology, (top center) candle, (top right) Santa, (center left) all wrapped up, (center) 7 pm, (center right) colorful and Christmas song, (bottom) tradition
We have survived husband’s first year of retirement!Ā His retirement started off with a bang when we both came down with covid this time last year. I barely remember last December but we have pictures to prove that we, indeed, celebrated Christmas. Wow! The lawn and building a new deck kept husband busy spring … More December
Trying to regain my footing after the passing of my Aunt last month. The volume of work that needs to be attended to after a death is far greater than I imagined. I found refuge in the clouds during the many flights to and fro. Seemingly heaven.
Last week began on a sad note with the passing of my Aunt as a result of a fall. The week ended on a happy and joyous note celebrating the marriage of our son to the love of his life.
Happy as a clam yesterday as I seized the day with a cup of coffee. Today, not so much. A beloved family member had an accident leaving her in dire need of prayer, positive thoughts and vibes. I am seizing the day with prayer.
Up early this morning. Firing my last kiln load of the season. These two are up to something. I’m not even going to ask. Wedding bells for our son soon! Much deep cleaning, baking and merriment ahead. But first, coffee āļø
When leaves fall as well as the temperature, it is time for me to call an end to my throwing season. Because my back porch is not enclosed, I throw things during the warmer months. The warmer months tend to be May through October around here. But much work remains despite putting my pottery wheel … More The End of A Season
Back Porch Studio 