(no subject)

[nuclearvenus.livejournal.com]

HEY, does anyone know of any GREAT FEMALE ARTISTS???

(no subject)

[anthacat.livejournal.com]

last night, i had such a productive night at pottery. i was really really focused and into it and happy. when i first got there, i glazed a few pieces - the first was a red clay mug that i made by handbuilding. i had pressed into the side using some metal animal toys i got at an antique place in north carolina. when i glazed it, i brushed wax over the sheep prints and the hen. then, i dipped it in a white glaze. the wax resists the glaze, so hopefully (meaning i hope the glaze doesn't drip when it's heated in the kiln), when it's finished, it will be all white except the animals will be the plain red clay. earthy.

the next two pieces were made with red clay and regular stoneware. i rolled out red, rolled out the other, then i put one on top of the other and made a jelly roll, pressing the clay together. then, i cut the roll in half and rolled it out with a rolling pin so it looks marbled. then, i cut a large circle and put it over a round mold, pinching the corners for tautness. i thought this would be neat for a funky kind of serving dish. two of these. i glazed in clear so the marbling would be visible.

then, i decided to try the wheel again - it's been awhile for me on the wheel, so i wasn't expecting much. i only made 2 pieces because i was getting tired, my hands were too. anyway, one is kind of a dessert looking dish. it's not very deep, but it's wide. it's probably the most centered, even piece i've ever made. the instructor really helped me with technique. the other piece is funky. it started to go funky, and i realized that i should just let it be what it is instead of trying to force it to be what it isn't. it's almost mug shaped, but it's got all these fun indentions. (this was with the red clay again, i'm really digging the red clay.)

after the wheel, i made some tiles using two molds (one of which i broke, whoops). i made three tiles: 1 with the tulip mold and two with the fruit mold. i put holes in them to tie together later with a ribbon for hanging in the kitchen. fruit, tulip, fruit. then, i painted them with slips (clay with glaze in it). these will need to be fired, glazed and fired again. but, i think i will not glaze them entirely. i like the idea of the clay showing.

then i cleaned up and raced home for the west wing (which, sadly, was a weird documentary and not an episode. bastards).

ISO dying advice.

[juuudddyyy.livejournal.com]

These are some plain white canvas mary jane type shoes I got really cheap. I like the style and they are comfy as hell, but I hate that they're white. If I wear them outdoors they are going to turn that crappy dishwater color all white shoes eventually do, and plus they make me feel like a nurse when I'm wearing them. (Not that I have anything against nurses, haha, I just don't want to wear white nurse shoes!).

I'm thinking maybe I should dye them, but I have no idea how to do that to shoes. I've only ever colored small garments before, in a pan of RIT type dye on the stove and my shoes will NOT fit in a pan on the stove. I've heard that you can put dye in with a load of wash, but alas I don't have a washing machine and don't think tat kind of thing would fly at a public laundry!

Do you think POURING dye onto the shoes will do the trick? Or is there another option I haven't thought of? And what color would they look good in? Hmm!

Decoupage Question

[ladypeacem.livejournal.com]

I've been finding many pics on the web that I want to use in my decoupaging projects but worry that the picture will run the moment I put the medium on it since it's coming from a printer. I have photopaper but fear that it will be too thick. Has anyone had experience decoupaging printer copies? What about copier copies (is that redundant)? Any help Greatly appreciated.

(no subject)

[rusakko.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if anyone here uses animal hair in their art/craft works. I am making an essay about using the hair of horses, cows, goats, dogs and pigs in fabrics and strings. I would love to have any answers, even a small thing might help. Links would be very helpfull too! Thanks!