Angels Among Us

I have so many angels in my life!

Angels made of love...

and a few different clays.

This is greenware - (still needs to dry)

I created each one using a wide range of textures.

After the first firing....

Fresh from the kiln and ready for a little color.

Each angel comprises of  a body, head, halo and wings.

No two are alike!

I was striving for a folk art or primitive art look. 

With that in mind, I did not want all the clay body under glaze.

Here you can see the green glaze in confined areas.

The wings are as individualistic as the angel itself.

The final firing...

Firebrick red glaze

I so enjoy their individuality!

And the combination of the 2 types of clay:

Speckled Stoneware and Red Clay

Other angels I made~

A beautiful white glaze expressing the iron bits from the clay.

Heart for wings...

Texture, texture everywhere!!

Thanks to Pam for the inspiration - 

I took it and ran!!

I had so much fun creating each angel and using my vast array of texture tools

to achieve such unique patterns.

Glazing has always been my least favortie part of working with clay,

but I am enjoying that more because of this project!

I decided to put perameters on myself with this project;

each one had to be made fast, no redos, use what tools at hand (even if I left something at home, it could not stop me), use what I had available at that moment, use what clay I had available at that moment too!

Enjoy the process and let the clay guide me.

Results:  Whipped out quite a few angels, used a combination of clay I never would have tried otherwise, used more of my texture tools than I thought possible, so pleased with my clay and glazing results!

Pushing myself and stretching my comfort zone as I am falling more and more in love with clay

on this artist holiday,

hannah

Artist Collaboration & Imagine No Malaria

You may remember just recently I shared my goal of

raising funds for Imagine No Malaria.

Well, the reaction was amazing and humbling!

I sold all 100 cards in 24 hours!

And if you missed my - Original Blogpost

Just one seed of an idea has spiraled into many other

opportunities and inspirational stories!

Here is one of those stories I am so excited to share-

My very talented, gentle-spirited and kind-hearted friend, 
Betsy Monk began this journey.

May you be inspired by her story...

Beautiful both inside and out, 

Betsy found a way to push herself and me to do more for this cause!

Here's her story...

November was our rotation to teach art in Sunday School and Pam, our Children's Minister, mentioned wanting to offer our collective piece of artwork (a mixed media painting) we were working on for silent auction to benefit Imagine No Malaria.  I thought this was a wonderful idea, as I had just learned that the child we sponsor in Burkina Faso Africa, had just recently recovered from the same disease!

The "ah-ha" moment came when I read Hannah's blogpost about the cards and her effort to raise funds for Imagine No Malaria.

I wanted my own HOK mosquito stamp to emboss hand-thrown ceramic mugs.  I reached out to Hannah and she delivered.  Then I got to work...

Betsy's photos as she began her work with the mosquito stamp and clay.

I started taking pottery classes last year, as my youngest of three, Adam, entered kindergarten.

When I am not working at home or at the clinic as a nurse, I work at the wheel.


Wheel thrown mugs with the INM mosquito stamp
and pasta lettering that spells...
Imagine

Currently, I have one completed and three others in various stages of progress.  
I will make as many as needed and hope this will help raise funds and awareness.

I believe $20.00 is a fair price for each mug.
Each will vary, of course, as all handmade items do.

The mugs I make typically hold 8-10 oz.

I am currently using red rock and phoenix clay.

I look forward to experimenting with forms and glazes.

For now, as long as I can afford, all funds collected will go to 

Imagine No Malaria.

The finished mug...

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Betsy's story gives me goose bumps - 
sponsoring a child in Africa that has fought this disease and thankfully overcame it.

I am so honored Betsy asked me to create a mosquito stamp
for her to pursue this creative endeavor on behalf of INM.

Thank you Betsy for stepping out and asking
and believing in your seed of an idea.


Her work is gorgeous and I can't wait to place my order.


If you would like to place an order for a
handmade ceramic mosquito mug
made by Betsy Monk-

Please send an email to:
hkoch@nccumc.org

Make sure to leave a comment for Betsy below...

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being shown that one idea, one creative pursuit can alter our world 
and how humbling it can be
on this artist holiday,
hannah

My Secret Life of Bees

I found inspiration in 

this wonderful book

by Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life of Bees

I read it a few years ago and I won't write any book reviews,

but I enjoyed it very much.

It's one of those books I was told for years that I should read.

Finally I did!

As with any good read,

somehow something bubbles to the surface

in my psyche.

Before I knew it,

I had a symbol~

The bee.

I began to play with the bee in clay.

This is what I created~

Fragments, made to look old and cherished.

I told a fellow artist friend...

I don't really know why I am making these

or 

what I am going to do with them?

She gave me great advice (as she always does)~

"Just keep going with it."

So, I continued and as any artist will tell you~

eventually it comes back around.

I began to create necklaces and these fragmented pieces

became the focal point.

Using twine,

various beads, and sometimes wire

I have taken this symbol

and created something from nothing.

A joy when I get to use my jewelry background

with my own ceramic creations.

What does the bee symbolize for me?

Strength, curiosity, courage and unwavering faith in your God -given abilities.

Other pieces...

A small bowl

The glaze collected inside the bees

and it gives them a few specks of white in the blue.

A very small piece~

More of a glaze experiment than functional pottery.

The bee I use to share my inspiration.

More bees will be coming, but now you know where this inspiration took me.

Necklaces will be going to my etsy shop.

Thank you Pam for finally pushing me to read it and share your copy

and Marsha for giving great advice!

finding strength to create, courage to share and settled curiosity

while continuing to believe in my God-given abilities

on this artist holiday,

hannah

Appalachian Trail - NC

 During our stay in Hot Springs, NC

We were able to explore just a tiny little bit of the Appalachian Trail!

The beautiful French Broad River behind me!

It was very very cold!

But before I was there...

I was here~

The Appalachian Trail or AT as they call it goes

right through the town of Hot Springs.

So you cross this bridge to get beyond the river.

This is the symbol through out the town

that guides those on the trail.

Crossing the bridge~

Another AT sign on the road.

Rock detail

Such a large river!

This is another symbol that hikers see to know they are on the trail.

Other river views~

Me at a white mark,

certainly does not mean very much to me on this short hike.

I must say I enjoy my short hikes right now, 

but I can appreciate the hikers that reach these white marks

and feel such accomplishment!

It says "Keep Steppin"

Learn more here

Taking some inspiration from the AT back with me,

on this artist holiday~

hannah