Thursday 1 September 2016

Hanging hearts

I have some bunny news to start with.  A few weeks ago we lost Kate, our newest bunny.  She had been paired with Harry, who is now on his own again.  She wasn't ill so I can only think that she had a heart attack, she was a very nervous girl.  It's a shame that I only got to spend a few months with her, but at least she had found her forever home and was, I hope, happy with Harry.  Harry has had an eye infection this week, I took him to the vet on Tuesday and discovered that he has cataracts and is most probably blind!  It does explain why I'd been finding it so easy to catch him, apparently I'd been sneaking up on him, poor fella.

Totally unrelated to bunnies, today I wanted to show you the results of a workshop at Debbie Bryan with the very talented Katie Almond.  It was to make a hanging plaque, or a series of hanging plaques.  I went in with an idea of what I was going to make.... and made something completely different!



The photo above shows the pieces just as I was starting to paint them, prior to firing.  We used Katie's usual techniques of cutting shapes, adding texture with lace or stamps or rollers, adding cut out pieces and then painting to highlight.  This is my best job yet with the paint, I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of it!



I'd used a textured roller and I highlighted the flowers only.  Painting does take a long time and so I didn't get time to do as much painting as I wanted on the largest heart. 



But I'm really happy with the results!  The picture above and those below are of the fired items.  Katie uses porcelain clay which has such a different finish to the earthenwear clay we've been using on workshops with Katherine Fortnum.  



I punched holes top and bottom (except on one) using a heart punch and a flower punch, just for something a bit different.



I strung them together using Fireline which is a jewellery making material which is very similar to fishing line.  If you're thinking it's very invisible, it's because I didn't string them until I'd taken these pictures!




I didn't know where I was going to hang these, I've got a large collection of hanging hearts, some made by me, some by other individuals and some mass produced.  I decided to hang it in the kitchen.  I've been avoiding hanging anything in the kitchen as I STILL haven't finished painting (3 years after the kitchen was fitted...), but now it's time.



See that silicone on the wall??  That's why I've been avoiding finishing the decorating.  Anyone know how to get it off?  Mr CA said to just keep painting over it but that's not working!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

They really are gorgeous and the porcelain finish makes such a difference.

Rhona said...

What a lovely project! The hearts are gorgeous!

Rachel said...

Can you shave the silicone off the wall with a craft razor blade?

You do seem to be getting the hang of painting the patterns!

Bethany said...

I love the backgrounds on the hearts! Your little hanging hearts are adorable--totally something I would have :)

Joy from Days Filled With Joy said...

Sorry to hear about Kate... :( Even though you only had her a short time it is still hard to lose a pet... can you do anything about Harry's cataracts? Love your hearts, they look so pretty in your kitchen xx

Jane said...

sorry to hear about the bunnies. Love the hearts, they've turned out really well

Celtic Thistle said...

Sorry to hear of the loss of Kate, at least you have the consolation of knowing that her last few months were comfortable and loving.

I love the look of.the porcelain clay, the hearts look great hanging in your kitchen

Sarah in Stitches said...

I'm so sorry about your bunny! That's so sad. I absolutely love the heart you made, fantastic job! :D

Sandra :) said...

Well for heavens' sakes, those hearts are adorable - and perfect in the kitchen!

So sorry about Kate :( At least she was at HOME for her last while - that's a lovely gift :) Sorry about poor Harry's eyesight - you'll have to stop sneaking up on him, LOL! Sometimes people put bells on cats to help save the birds - you'll have to put bells on YOU to help Harry ;)

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Sorry to read about the bunnies. I hope Harry is happy, despite his probable blindness.

The hearts are delightful and look really nice hung as a set like this. I like the combination of 3-dimensional decoration and delicate painting.