Spring is Inspiring Me

                         Ceramic Flowers in Porcelain and  Stoneware by Mary Harding

It is 5:50 AM and it is already fully light outside, the temperature is almost 50 degrees and the grass in our pastures is so green  it looks fake.  The willows down at the river are breaking out into a lovely light green, the birds are signing and the frogs are playing their banjos, slowly, deeply and woeing me into a state of Spring Fever.
I have been in my studio quite a bit lately and often without the heat turned on.  I though I would share some new pieces with you created with the freedom that comes when the air warms up and the stress of cold and ice is no longer a concern.  I have probably also been especially inspired this Spring because I missed out on this time of year studio time last April, May and for even long due to my ankle injury.  It just feels so good to be free to walk around on soft unfrozen soil and breathe in the warm fragrant air.  I am so grateful to be here.

Stoneware Clover Pendant by Mary Harding

Stoneware Pendant of Small Daisies by Mary Harding

Stoneware Daisy Head Pendant by Mary Harding

Small Thistle Pendant Stoneware by Mary Harding

Golden Flowers Leaf Pendant Stoneware by Mary Harding

Stoneware Lavender and Green Wild Flower Leaf Pendant by Mary Harding

Stoneware Flower and Hollow Bead by Mary Harding

I made  most of these pieces for the Artisans Create Together Trunk Show this last week.  I want to thank all of you for you enthusiasm, kind and inspiring feedback and purchases.  It was a wonderful event made possible by Janice Everett and her Co Admins Lesley Watt and Karen Vincent.

I  hope that wherever  you are  you are having a great Spring or maybe it is a great Fall, thinking of friends in Australia and that part of the world.
Thanks for stopping by.
Mary

Inspired By Reading Book Club: Where Did You Go Bernadette?

                         Where Did You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple   Close up of its book cover

Just a few days ago, the Inspired By Reading Book Club had its 4th Birthday.  I  have enjoyed being a member since day one but have to admit that I have not participated much in the last year.  I wanted to post for the March selection, partly because it was my choice for one of the books this year, and also because I just loved reading this book and was inspired.  My inspiration came primarily from the part of the book that had to do with Antarctica.  It was my favorite part and the landscape I knew least about.  It seemed so surreal and so very QUIET.  During this time I had come across a ceramic blue glaze that I thought was the perfect color for Antarctic ice in sunshine.

.  I checked out some pictures and there it was that ice cold beautiful blue in the water around this iceberg.
                                       I made the beads out of porcelain ceramic clay.

                                         Iceberg blue ceramic beads by Mary Harding

The story of the rest of the inspiration for this necklace is rather long but I will keep it short. My fellow team mate at Art Bead Scene, Michelle McCarthy  of  Firefly Design Studio came up with a challenge last month based on a necklace designed by Lorelei Eurto in the book she co-authored with Erin Siegel: Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry. You can see that post HERE. I was intrigued and purchased some ultra white peanut beads and some white O rings. Then the light went off: I could use them with these blue beads and create a cold antarctic atmosphere. I more or less did that. I changed up Lorelei's design by making some handmade chain with soldered links that looked ice like as well. When I put it all together, I folded the necklace in half to intensify the juxtaposition of the icy elements and here is what I got.

In case you noticed the two toggle clasps, that could be an error or it could be a nod to the zaniness of Bernadette, the main character  in the story!!
Where Did you Go Bernadette is a fun and heart warming read.  I hope you will try it out.  You can check out the other creations this month in the Inspired By Reading Book Club Facebook page HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Mary