I got a call last Tuesday from a lady near Red Deer Alberta. She raises Australian Swans. They are a beautiful large black bird. She sells the eggs and the Momma bird get upset when the egg has left the nest. What the lady needed was a replacement egg to calm the Momma. She wanted me to make six multicoloured eggs out of clay to try to fool the Momma and keep her happy. They have to be waterproof, as Momma likes to continually fill her beak with water and pour it over the eggs. I convinced the caller she could make her own eggs. If they were fired and then painted with acrylic paint they would …..perhaps…. fool the Momma. She is going to try, but I know she has as good as chance as any to fool the poor Mamma.
I went home for lunch to find an email from a teacher in New Zealand looking for some workshop help. We emailed back and forth and her students made some great pieces. The theme was Charlotte’s Web. I read the book as a child, but I don’t remember the dragons, kittens, or large faces but there might have been a cow in the barn.
The kids had a blast and with only a little help from The Clay Teacher website and a lot of help from their teacher and parents. They did a wonderful job, even if they did wander a bit from the topic. It was great to see a teacher that will give the kids the clay and the freedom to do whatever they like. From the other side of the world, I was able to be a small part of it. The experience has lit a fire in their teacher and I hope she runs with it.
I had my Tuesday night ladies clay class later that day and one of the ladies there wanted her next project to be Arch Angel Michael. We/she had done a few coil pots and now she wanted me to show her how to sculpt Michael. I suggested that it was a little ambitious for her third lesson and we could make a few angles and work up to Michael. She is a great “girl” and we will make some wonderful angles, but we will have to leave Michael for the masters.
I am settling in to our new life here. I love Coutts, the new studio and the people. Some days you never know what to expect, but that’s what makes it fun, that’s what makes it home.
Until next time.
AKA Mrs. Clay