I finally got a piece back from the kiln! With the kiln tech in and out and the restrictions on class size due to the pandemic, it was taking a lot longer to get things fired. You see they won’t do a firing unless the kiln is full (for monetary reasons as it costs a lot of time and money to complete a cycle in the gas kiln). I had made this concept orb several times. It was so very popular with coworkers, vet techs, graduate students, and researchers that every time I completed one I felt compelled to give it away. I will likely make this one again, as a gift, but this one is mine!
The clay body is white stoneware. The mice are glazed with a red iron oxide stain applied thickly to give a metallic sheen to the surface. I am very happy with this one. Amazingly all the tails and ears are intact and it came through the firing perfectly!
A Different Perspective 
Wow! That’s intricate and shiny! I can definitely see why you want to keep that one. (And why your friends like the concept.)
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Thanks Carrie! I was very pleased with the glaze and the fact that it survived intact through the bisque and glaze firings!
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I know many women who detest mice but such a composition appears like a jewel bore with pleasure around the neck with a collar. Val, you are an artist! Yes!
Love ❤
Michel
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Thanks Michel! I was very happy with the way this one turned out! It is too heavy to wear but that idea makes me think that I could possible make a pendant! It is a strange (to me) phenomenon that women are afraid of mice yet everyone just loves Mickey Mouse!
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how kewt!
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Hehe! Is that kewt as in eek! cute or more awww! cute??
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kewt = cute!
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Hehe! Yes I knew that but many use cute as a catch all… So hard to “hear” inflection in text!
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Meeces in a ball! SQUEEE!
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Hehe! Dodi I didn’t know you were a fan of the mouse! They are very adorable… and currently next to the computer!
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It is interesting. I am glad you received a piece back.
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I had to wait a long time for it. There are 3 other pieces I’m waiting for. Who knows when they will turn up? I have my fingers crossed!
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Maybe by the end of the school year.
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I hope not that long!! The next session will start soon so it should make it into the kiln soon…
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That is good.
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🙂
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I’m glad that you’re keeping this. It’s cute!
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Thanks! I figure after making 4, and giving them all away, I deserve to keep this 4th one!
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That is adorable!!!
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Haha! I figured you’d like it!
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‘Tis wonderful. (I am wanting a close-up, of course. But then again, wanting to touch, too! 😉 ) What a great idea. Our artist/scientist.
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Hmmm. I’d consider a close up… but I’m not letting it out of my possession. I’d let you hold it if you came to visit….
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No, I was not asking for it, but some day a close up, of one kind or another, yes. 🙂
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Consider this an invitation to visit!
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Oh, wow! Val, this looks great.
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Thank-you Punam! I was very pleased with the end result.
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You are welcome, Val. So you should be. 🙂
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Thanks Punam!!
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I love it, Val — I’m not surprised that you’ve given away some like it! Keep this one lovingly, carefully, and with pride!
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Thanks Janet! I plan on keeping it! I’m trying to decide where to display it – in the computer room where I can see it or in the living room where others will see it. (I’m considering being selfish…)
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wow so super cute, the detail and the glaze are amazing!
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Thanks tons Kate! I’m usually very critical of my own work but this one is near perfection so no complaints (except that it took so long to get it back!)
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that waiting only made the result more exciting!
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I had such low expectations that I was excited! Too often the kiln is not kind to my pieces.
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kilns can kill our creativity … I found the glazes more unknown, they always looked very different to what I expected 🙂
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Glazing is an art in itself! It isn’t like painting because the color you see is not the color you get. It is all chemistry and sometimes it works. Glazing is a very Zen kind of activity. You have to let go of the images in your head and the expectations and accept the result – which is often better than your plan.
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I have nearly zero ceramic talent so I was not going to hang around just to master the glaze when my object was beyond recognition … at least your balls and mice look like balls and mice 🙂
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Twenty years ago clay meditation/praying with clay was all the rage. It didn’t have to look like anything – it was just using the clay to help you focus. What you ended up with was what your subconscious was trying to tell you or depending on your religious bent what the message of the scripture was saying… it was interesting and I still have the blobs (unglazed and pretty hideous so not displayed!)
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Amazing piece.
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Thanks bunches Martha! I’m very satisfied with the result.
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What a perfect memento of your salad days! I heartily suggest making it a staple of your living room.
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I have been debating the display location. Yours is the first vote and that may be enough to tip the scales! I even have a spot picked out!
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On the computer table…juxtaposed to the mouse or in remembrance of such a gadget!
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Currently still next to the computer…
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Ah! 🙂
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Wow! That is amazing skill! it’s quirky. you’re so right about the ears and the tail. They came through! Thank you for sharing.
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Glad you appreciate it! More people look and say “EEK!” than say it is good…
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🙌🏼
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That is a stunning piece!
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Thanks! I’m tickled that you like it!!
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as I was doing my exercise this morning (aka lying flat on my back with 2 tennis balls under my lower back), the image of your art work kept coming to mind. wow – I look forward to seeing more, but this is plenty, in one sense. 🙂
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I’m gratified that the art has made an impression! That is the artist’s dream come true!! Although I have 5 pieces in various stages of completion, when they will be done is all up to the kiln tech. I hope soon but have absolutely no control…
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Adorable. I like this one.
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Shucks! I’m glad you like it… I was very pleased with the way it came out!
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Sadly because covid I cant do my hobby 😦
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That is a problem for everyone…
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