mid summer edition

not just for masochists and pretty glazes

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!

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

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

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

i love this so...

broken computers are awful

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

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

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

yay music time!

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

Etsy Buy Handmade parrotfeathers

food medicine

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

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