Sunday, September 25, 2011

HYPERTUFA 9- THE LAST STUDIO FOR THE SEASON

 Weekend weather was dandy and this group finished off the 2011 Studio season with plenty of flash n 'dash.

 They really got into the hand mixing of the hypertufa- a real flurry of activity...and a pretty good workout too!

 Joan brought an elephant ear leaf ...

 ...and cast it as a water basin.

 A large single leaf can be very dramatic...

 ...but smaller leaves arranged in a chasing pattern also make a pleasing water basin.

 Brenda, an advanced tufaf-maker,  made an awesome two-part fountain.  Here she is touching up a bunch of grapes she sculpted from concrete for the upper portion of the fountain.  Water will pour out of a whole drilled near the bunch of grapes on each of the four sides.  I'll be sure to post shots of this fountain when she completes her project.

 Marsha begins packing hypertufa into her box mold.

 Jo completes the top edge which must be packed hard and finished well to withstand repeated lifting and planting.

 Ann added a scalloped detail to her planter edge using a cardboard paper towl tube.

 Deanna hammered small flat stones vertically into the edge of her planter.

Hand-sculpted stepping stones featuring several mosaic techniques.

Friday, September 23, 2011

MEMORIAL STONE


A group of mothers got together and had us make this memorial stepping stone for one of their friends and fellow teachers.  She lost her baby to SIDS last year.  I can remember reading this book to my kids, from which this excerpt came, ...could never make it through without getting a lump in my throat.


Sunday, September 11, 2011

HYPERTUFA STUDIO 8

 This week the group spent extra time making their stepping stones...

 ...Janet made a mosaic angel using one of my stones as inspiration.

 Pat made a butterfly with sections she planned to paint later.

 We also had a dog, a cat and I couldn't resist making an elf getting ready for our upcoming holiday retail event, Here Comes Santa Claus!

Kystal used large blue marbles for eyes on her grot...

 ...and Marilyn added more teeth to her grot's mouth. 
These will be ready to go for Halloween fun!

Sheryl brought some metal leaves she purchased at a garagre sale and arranged them into a wreath on the front of her box planter.  This is a great idea...I may have to try this myself!