parrot feathers and otis adventures

phoenix matsuri 2011

2011-02-20T19:50:00.002-07:00

hello local arizonans...ins....ians??
what up locals of the arizona persuasion!?

please come and join us in cultural celebration at the phoenix matsuri, (japanese cultural festival) next weekend
February 26th and 27th from 10am to 5 pm
don't know the phoenix matsuri? check out their website http://azmatsuri.org
among my favorite things to do there is gawp at the martial artists, gawp more at the dancers, and finish up the gawpiness with all the amazing hand made clothing.
then i like to get a bowl of some of the most heavenly fresh udon i have ever had the pleasure of putting in my mouth.
it's an amazing way to spend the weekend and admission is free.

Chado Urasenke Tankokai Arizona Association Inc. NPO will be providing Japanese Tea Ceremony Demonstrations throughout both days of the festival.

as far as i know at the moment we will be located directly downstairs from them. we are listed on the program as "parrot feathers ceramics"
we will be offering various kinds of tea ware as well as serving pieces, decorative pieces for the home, and vessels for ikebana.
it's going to be downright tea-tastic!

here is a very humble sampling of some of the items you will see, (sorry about the stickers in the cups-i wasn't thinking ahead about pictures when i put the tags on them).

n.p.
denki groove "shonen young"

pyromaniac prayers

2011-01-07T12:11:00.001-07:00

I realize in internet time this is already old news...but ironically i've been busy in the studio setting things on fire in garbage cans so i haven't been keeping up with much news.
but i just heard on slipcast blog that Paul Soldner has passed away.
wow. what a legacy that guy left us with though!
i think the majority of the work that my friends and i do every day at the studio wouldn't have even been possible without his influence and innovation.

well, Mr Soldner, if ever i am to attend a naked potter hot tub party I'll be thinking of you. in the mean time i'll set some more things on fire and offer my prayers.

kiln slaves unite!

2010-12-09T23:41:00.001-07:00

so it is the end of the semester again.
and we've been loading and firing off the 4 big daddy kilns every day.
and some studio techs at this point i'll bet are getting pretty sore.

so to psyche myself up to get out of bed, heh, i have turned to a higher inspirational power.
that's right.
tetris. NES oldschool style. or gameboy if you prefer.
and i want to bring this message to all of you wherever you are, however bad the beginner glaze blops are sticking to those pricey shelves you are cursing, however many times you yelled "&*^*&%*&%!!! why do i only have half a shelf worth of under four inch !%$#$$!!! pieces".

so listen good my dusty sisters and brothers and have hope
THE WORD

and before you go to bed be soothed before you get dirty tomorrow

Nerd Time

2010-11-30T11:06:00.002-07:00

today i happened upon another person's blog post which included a really confusing mix of old timey idioms. so i had to go look it up. long story short i found this website and i've been stuck on it for like an hour now.

so go check out fun with idioms...all that you never cared to understand about the origins of sayings :)

n.p.
"ambe too hai jagdambe" by Shri Narendra Chanchal

fan mail

2010-05-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

i love fan mail!!
i have a wonderful customer that sent me some pictures of my ware in action a while ago. i confess i took some time getting this up as i was preoccupied making silk and wool felt...i had some small "vacation" between semesters so i'm getting my fiber intake while i can. hyuk hyuk.

few things are as precious to me as when i know something i have created is loved and appreciated.

thanks again, jeff!

now playing:
tv; star trek tng "suddenly human"

2010 mesa community college student show

2010-04-09T22:14:00.001-07:00

hello locals of the greater phoenix, az area.
you will come and see me live at the 2010 mesa community college student art show. OBEY, for i am red with crusty crusty glaze!!

and the show this year is really awesome. opening monday 12 april 9 am. free to everyone.

for better information click here

now playing
gary numan "are friends electric"

in which i discuss zombies

2010-04-02T00:02:00.001-07:00

i used to have a friend that refused to eat mushrooms because they were the zombies of the plant world and eating mushrooms would make you a zombie eater.

so i was blasterizing my way through fontaine futuristics for the third time this fine night and my mind wandered to zombies....and i wonder now if that person was incorrect. that perhaps fermented foods are the true zombies of the great food pyramid because what are fermented foods...and drinks....but RE-ANIMATED DEAD!!!???
so along that line of thinking i started musing about zombie tofu covered in zombie tamari.
zombie kombucha. the zombie cabernet my father gave me a bottle of. bottled zombies. oh dear what have we done?

now playing:

spooky bioshock background music

sale sale sale!!

2010-03-19T20:16:00.003-07:00

SALE SALE SALE!!!!

click on the above magic words to go to etsy for all kinds of stuff. go look! i'm being excited! with excited yelling! yay! go treat yourself!

n.p.
bessie smith "i need a little sugar in my bowl"

it's the little things

2010-03-18T21:29:00.002-07:00

not much to report....but i'll share a song with you since you've been so quiet

2010-02-05T13:05:00.002-07:00

ok this is just funny:
i was looking for stuff on shino slip so i googled it like ya do.... search "shino slip"
and my flickr stream shows up as number 7 on the first page. how cool is that!?

now playing:
ink spots "if i didn't care"

food pr0n

2010-02-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

the local japanese market has mushroom muffins. these taste AMAZING.

i went there to actually buy daikon sprouts...i'm on a kick right now.

i also got some makings for making sushi. be nice this was my first time. it was really good though...full of spicy, sprouty, mushroomy goodness.

now playing: reine pelagie "biande"

hee hee hee!

2010-01-23T20:41:00.005-07:00

brainstorming for the new body of work
unglazed high reduction fire porcelain skeleton, wet felted cotton flax roving, wet felted commercial merino roving, uncombed lincoln locks

n.p.
passion pit "little secrets"

stop. otis time.

2010-01-23T20:07:00.003-07:00

waaaah!!
and we're back in the studio. again. did i even take a break? i'm not sure any more. neither is otis. but here he is singing a "beautiful" song in an oh so parroty way.

some new stuffs for you

2010-01-18T20:49:00.001-07:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
parrotfeathers.etsy.com

yarn pirate returns

2010-01-11T23:52:00.004-07:00

did you miss me?
yes.
yes you did.
because i made you some nice yarn. and i know how you like yarn. yes. you do.
i also found this for you. you need this.

n.p.
steel pulse "your house"

obscene multi-level geekery

2009-10-22T11:39:00.006-07:00

pond scum shino + silicon carbide = bigod's bog monster shino

(you have only yourself to blame). heh heh heh.

n.p.
bigod20 "carpe diem"

applying to grad school

2009-10-09T22:27:00.004-07:00

ack! yes i'm really going to do it! my hands are raw my head is empty but by darn i'm doing it.

i've never had to write a formal artist statement before. ok, i mean little ones here and there in classes...but nothing profound that has the potential to make or break me.
so i've been poking around online for ideas and i found this great thing. the market o matic fine arts version.
and while i'm not a graphic artist this thing is still hilarious.
this is what it gave me:

Work of Meta-Art in the Age of Symbiotic Reproduction

The flux creates, the empire profligates. In the synaptic reality, art objects are deprecations of the iterations of the flux -- a flux that uses the empire as a zeitgeist to deconstruct ideas, patterns, and emotions. With the synergy of the electronic environment, the flux is conceiving a point where it will be free from the empire to transcend immersions into the contortions of the delphic reality. Work of Meta-Art in the Age of Symbiotic Reproduction contains 10 minimal flash engines (also refered to as "memes") that enable the user to make conceptual audio/visual compositions.

measuring chains, constructing realities
putting into place forms
a matrix of illusion and disillusion
a strange attracting force
so that a seduced reality will be able to spontaneously feed on it

alecia tye's work investigates the nuances of modulations through the use of jumpcut motion and close-ups which emphasize the Symbiotic nature of digital media. tye explores abstract and soft scenery as motifs to describe the idea of hyper-real reality. Using dual loops, vectors, and allegorical images as patterns, tye creates meditative environments which suggest the expansion of culture...

<-- Obligatory ascii sig. Repeat until desired cyborg effect is achieved. -->

/u[0]{)]|]]-] -------------/u/u!@#$%^~!@#$%^&*()) __++_)(*&^%$--------/u/u!@#$%^~!@#$ %^&*())__++_)(*&^%$--------/u/u!@#$ %^~!@#$%^&*())__+, etc., etc.

<-- End obligatory ascii sig. -->

my actual statement so far reads as thus "i am at my personal best when i can be left alone to play in the dirt". beat that with your gender discrimination immersive class cultural miasma sculpture concepts blah blah blah.

now playing: steel pulse "your house"

empty bowls!!

2009-10-01T00:22:00.004-07:00

food is good

2009-09-04T18:38:00.002-07:00

getting ready for empty bowls at mesa community college for the past couple weeks. glazing glazing glazing.....
and we'll,(as in parrot feathers) be donating some, (hopefully) sweet incense/offering bowls with hand ground incense at the silent auction.
of course you can just pick up a beautiful hand thrown or even hand built bowl with food too.
date posted soon. this too i hope. :P

the good, the bad, and what was i thinking?

2009-08-11T20:28:00.002-07:00

still waiting on the final firing for the sculptures...some cups now up on flickr and in the etsy shop...see previous post.
it's very hot out. so hot that i gave in and cut off four years worth of dreadlocks.
otis is very sad he has nothing to land on anymore and i think the new, spiky do scares him a little.

since i had a small vacation i have been spinning wool and knitting and dreaming of snow. this happens every summer. the more hot days in a row the more chunky my yarn becomes.

i've also been renewing my friendship with yerba mate tea.
there are various sites around the net that will make some mighty large claims concerning this plant and some more conservative.
i have to be honest with you though: i mix it with organic cinnamon chips and i find it just plain tasty.
while i do believe there are numerous health benefits to this plant i will leave you to find your own opinions.

mid summer edition

2009-07-24T13:00:00.002-07:00

not just for masochists and pretty glazes

2009-07-06T21:35:00.003-07:00

i sit here this scorching...er...lovely... 90something degree evening after another bout of yoga to classic jazz tunes...man that is addicting!
sipping on one of my all time favorite infusions: stinging nettle and south african honeybush.
ok the honeybush is mostly for flavor though it is supposed to be high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium....but it's not all about you, honeybush!
this is nettle's time! have some class, lady!
but why drink nettle infusions? i mean it's that scary dark green color and it smells kinda...well...*green*.
well fear not the green! love the green nettlyness of it all.
and over ice it is both light and refreshing and a tiny bit sweet. i promise. :)
and here's the good part; when considered for traditional medicinal uses it is highly beneficial to the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs. this is good news for your body in hot weather where you tend to sweat and pant a lot...or all day every day if you live in arizona.

this is another way of showing what nettles can bring to you:
calcium, chromium, cobalt, fiber, magnesium, manganese, niacin (B3), phosphorus, potassium, protein, riboflavin (B2), selenium, silica, thiamine (B1), vitamin A, and zinc and a whole host of other nutrients which may or may not survive the infusion process...the jury is still out on that one i think.
i have been told that if you're going for straight mineral content nettles may be decocted.

for infusions, decoctions, and tisanes (especially if none of these words make any sense to you) this might help you.

take that, alecia!

2009-06-19T14:53:00.003-07:00

been working on a series of a minimum of 50 tea bowls in 8 weeks.
yikes! i decided i needed to challenge myself on the potter's wheel since i find throwing very difficult and here was my chance to improve a skill. it's also a good lesson for me in personal discipline as this sort of thing really takes a solid commitment to get on the wheel every day i can.

one of the series within the series is a collection of real terra cotta cups/bowls, (another challenge for me...i am spoiled with throwing creamy dreamy porcelain. real terra cotta is full of random large and small particles that try to bite me).

i'm toying with ideas on how to present them when all is critiqued and done at the end of july.
i was thinking for the terra cotta to offer sets of 1 and 2 with root based tea blends to celebrate all things earthy and dark. of course i will keep prices in the affordable range.

i'd like to know what you think. i know it's difficult to imagine without actually seeing the pieces and i'll post some pictures as soon as things are dry enough to actually handle ;)
but the point is i'd like to give you an opportunity to tell me what you'd like to see in the store.
any input would be appreciated.
thanks forever!

this is MY house

2009-06-17T22:53:00.006-07:00

doing yoga to hits of the 1920's 30's and 40's every day for about two weeks. i gotta say...i feel pretty sweet.
nothing makes your poses feel strong like the hot club of france. billie holiday helps too. :)

we also made a new summer tea with roses...will debut on etsy very soon.

mrs big stuff

2009-06-12T12:14:00.005-07:00

i started this thinking about making a very big bowl...which somehow lead to me drifting off thinking about a hike up a very neat mountain last year to this mysterious cave.
in real life the cave and valley below it are guarded by many spirits and this on in particular must have caught my eye because here she is, guarding her cave and giving you mean looks because she is huge and seriously what you going to do to the rock lady anyways.

well here she is soaking wet and freshly paddled and feathered in low fire clays.
i know she's going to look completely different after the kiln...but i almost kind of like her this way. raw. :D

i almost forgot

2009-05-21T21:42:00.002-07:00

i love this so...

broken computers are awful

2009-05-21T21:07:00.004-07:00

i know i've been awol.

it's been a rough spot with many household repairs, then more things breaking, followed by more repairs still. and my computer has been sitting cold and half dead all this time.

despite this i've been busy creating and working in the ceramics lab at school so at least i can't be accused for wasting time.

today we have some updates for etsy. tea cups!!! freekin finally!!

i also had some fun making these...inspired by an artist i really dig

hand built, homemade paper porcelain. celedon glaze, iron wash. imprinted with my favorite cat claw acacia that lives outside the studio where i work.

tea recipe

2009-03-25T23:07:00.005-07:00

this is an easy one

1 part milky oat tops
1/2 part jasmine flowers

steep for at least 10 minutes...i go for 30 though. :)

refreshing iced in the afternoon....but my favorite is hot taken an hour or two before bed after a very very very long day. i wrap my hands around a cup and just inhale for a bit before i take a sip...the tea is elegant but comforting as well.
oats are traditionally used when one is suffering from nervous exhaustion; they have a delicately sweet taste.
jasmine, (besides smelling and tasting amazing in tea) is traditionally used as a gentle anti-inflammatory. it can be mildly sedating for some but i find it more relaxing. jasmine should not be consumed by women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.

the first thing i ever did in porcelain

2009-03-23T23:03:00.004-07:00

i look at this every day but today all i can think about is how badly i want an omlette

yay music time!

2009-03-20T19:01:00.004-07:00

original photo by Miguel Angel Reyes 2008

well who is this swanky fellow? it's Joel Evan that's who!
a bright, young, and talented local star you can check out his sweet tunes right here.
he takes his influences from Tori Amos, Celine Dion, LU, DJ Kane, Alejandro Fernandez, Ishida Yoko, Utada Hikaru, Susie Suh, Sailor Moon ^.^, Dream (jpop band), Alanis Morissette, Erasure, Reik, Sophie B Hawkins, Roxette, Ace of Base, A*teens...you know...to name a few ;)

and ok i'll admit it, he's my little brother and i will totally with no little humility take credit for the erasure influence. heh heh. what? i can't pretend things sometimes?

free preview only 3 payments of $19.95

2009-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Etsy
Buy Handmade
parrotfeathers

food medicine

2009-03-20T12:23:00.005-07:00

FREE RICE:
i posted this some months back on myspace but i think perhaps it could do some good here as well.
plus, as a bonafide geek, i can play this vocabulary game for HOURS, (i just filled up three bowls when i went there to make a link).
i know it's hard to give right now when so many of us are fighting tooth and nail just to keep a roof over our heads so i find that this is a great compromise and all you have to give is a little time and some minor brain power.

help out with the world food program and give free rice!!

elsewhere on the wfp website there are videos where you can see how the rice is distributed along with some very interesting articles.

join us in celebration of earth hour

2009-03-19T13:41:00.003-07:00

yep. earth hour.
28 march, 2009 8:30 pm the lights go out, the computer turns off, etc etc, total shut down for an hour. won't you join us?
do it for the wild otises!

and maybe for the so-called "domestic" otis who is giving up his cartoons

HI YOU!

2009-03-17T13:00:00.007-07:00

the beginnings of a dirt junkie, yarn pirate, and a foul-mouthed CEO parrot.
welcome to parrot feathers botanicals' attempt at social networking!
since this is the first post of (hopefully) many i will take a moment to advertise at you:

www.parrotfeathersbotanicals.com (home)
www.parrotfeathers.etsy.com (sisters in crime)

and sometimes i spend way to long playing with this:
www.flickr.com/photos/parrotfeathers/

i've also been known to cruise ravelry :D

so i guess i'm a little more social than i thought!

hope you are having a nice day; i'm on here hanging out with a soaking wet parrot, avoiding working on a term paper on cuttlefish.