By fromskilledhands (
May 25, 2010 at 1:44 pm)
· Filed under Art
Tuesday, teapots and tiles. We’re back in the studio today after a couple of days at home. Gardens, mowing, dealing with a leaky rotting porch roof, and taking a sick dog to the vet were on the agenda. Here are some photos of new work in the gallery:
Each piece comes from the heart through the hands, and is made one at a time. If you are interested in these or our other pieces, let me know here.
And, as always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.
Kim Ayres is the winner of our Ugly Mug Contest, not because he has one, but because he won the drawing.
Kim is an extraordinary fellow. His writing is honest and clear, and his photographic images touch my being. They are as honest and clear as his writing. Some months ago, I wrote this about photography:
“When I look at a photograph, I feel like I have a glimpse into how the photographer sees the world. That’s what I like about photographic images—it’s not the “prettiness” of a view—it’s the quality of the light, the slant of the sun, the place where the shadow meets the light.
And once in a while, I come across someone who sees the quiet spaces, the places where my heart stops to linger and to rest. A person who sees the extraordinary beauty in ordinary objects, and who appreciates the sacredness of it all.”
Thanks to everyone who entered. If you are so inclined, you can order your own mug here. And, as always, feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know that you’ve stopped by.
Join us in the Village of Peninsula next Saturday, May 22nd, as we stroll into Spring. We will have some faerie houses for you to discover, and a faerie marketplace too. Here are some photos of some of our faerie house builders, and a sample of what you’ll find, both at our Elements Gallery, and around the Village.
In May of 2009, the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, hosted a village-wide display of fairy houses and gardens. Here is a look at some of them, starting with those at Elements Gallery.
Wander on over to My Town Monday for a look at what other folks have to say about their necks of the woods.
It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is no question that most mugs are functional: they hold the liquid which has been placed inside. There are, it seems, other factors that make a mug “work.” The size and weight of the vessel, and the size, weight and position of the handle are important to the user. And then there are other factors. How has the piece been decorated? For me a question is: has it been made by hand?
Some mugs are beyond description—- and that, my friends, is why we are having an Ugly Mug Contest. Send me a photo of your ugly mug and I will enter your name in the contest. The prize? One of our favorite mugs! Send your photo to: from skilled hands AT g mail DOT com (remove spaces).
Here are some photos:
And here is the mug and the comment that inspired this contest:
Kris stated, “I didn’t send a picture last time because I *hate my mugs! I don’t have a one that I love. I can tell by the image above that the handles of those mugs are perfect – plenty of space for more than two fingers, which I like. Want me to send you a picture of the mug I use but don’t love??”
You still have time to enter our Ugly Mug Contest. Don’t forget to send me a photo of your ugly cup for a chance to win one of our favorite mugs. Send your photo to: from skilled hands AT g mail DOT com. I’ll start posting photos tomorrow.
By fromskilledhands (
May 10, 2010 at 9:19 pm)
· Filed under Giveaway, Mug Shots, Mug
Kris stated, “I didn’t send a picture last time because I *hate my mugs! I don’t have a one that I love. I can tell by the image above that the handles of those mugs are perfect – plenty of space for more than two fingers, which I like. Want me to send you a picture of the mug I use but don’t love??”
When I thought about it, I figured that if a slipcover company can have an ugly couch contest, then I can have an ugly mug contest. So send me a photo of your ugliest mug (from which you drink . I will do another high tech drawing during which I will draw a name from a mug. The winner will receive one of our favorite mugs.
**The deadline for sending me the photo is May 15, at 11:59 PM DST. I will post the winner on Monday, May 17. Email to from skilled hands AT g mail DOT com (remove spaces.)
By fromskilledhands (
May 10, 2010 at 9:25 am)
· Filed under My Town Monday
When my youngest daughter was small, she delighted in running through the woods looking at all the new things that were growing. So much to discover! Walks were what we did on a daily basis, and it was a joy to see how things had changed. My daughter loved to look for Jacks-in-the Pulpit, and would stop at each one to see if Jack were home. “Hi, Jack!” she would softly say, “I knew you’d be home.”
These days my walks are mostly with the dogs, the birds and my thoughts, which is fine with me. The other day, I walked with my father-in-law.
I always see new things when I walk with him—or old things in a new way. We take our time when we walk together, he with his walking stick, and me with my camera. We saw the families of May apples that come up each year, their umbrella-like leaves sheltering the blossom that will become an edible fruit. And there on that day, my father-in-law looked to see where Jack was growing. All through the woods.
The joy of discovery is an amazing thing. It put a spring in the step and a smile on the face of a man who has spent many years walking in these woods.
As always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by. And wander on over to My Town Monday to see what other folks have to say about their towns.
Kris stated, “I didn’t send a picture last time because I *hate my mugs! I don’t have a one that I love. I can tell by the image above that the handles of those mugs are perfect – plenty of space for more than two fingers, which I like. Want me to send you a picture of the mug I use but don’t love??”
. I will do another high tech drawing during which I will draw a name from a mug. The winner will receive one of our favorite mugs. 
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