–it had to happen eventually.
We have been loading the kiln and firing our own work for almost 3 years now.
We’ve had remarkably great luck for a coupla kiln beginners. Yes, we’ve had a few cracked tiles, but that’s mostly been from clay imperfections or unseen weak areas. Even though it’s very disappointing to discover any cracks in a completed glazed piece, it’s not worrisome for the other tile and doesn’t put the kiln furniture in jeopardy. And it occurs very rarely.
Then it happened. Kabloom! Kapow!
Yes, we flew too close to the sun, as they say…when we had a recent cloudy week. We were scheduled to run a bisque load (going from clay to hard ceramic) when we noticed that some tile were not perfectly dry. Since this kiln-load was full of tile sizes that we really needed, we decided to fire the load using a carefully calculated, slow preheat-mode to completely dry out the tile prior to the actual firing.
I think not!
Not only did several tile on several shelves explode but there was collateral damage to neighboring pieces. Opening the kiln to see ceramic shards everywhere was rather horrifying.
Luckily this bark was worse than the bite. About 7 or 8 tile were damaged out of an estimated 80 or so tile.
I believe we have learned our lesson. We’ll keep our little mascot here with the big hole… to remind us.
–homework
The summer homework assignment for Ramona Paloma is:
1. take a field trip
2. try something new.
So, we took a nice little train ride to Little Tokyo yesterday. Sure it was a bit warm, but it’s July in Los Angeles…to be expected. We took in the textures, the architecture, the fragrance of many cafes and bakeries, along with a bit of browsing at the bookstore, and the beauty of a colorful wishing tree.
We delighted in a brief mochilato before heading back on the train.
–What’d you get Tracy?
–toasted almond. What’d you get Soozee?
–guava. It was yummy.
–new adventures in garden art
To gnome him is to love him…
We are often inspired by a good adventure! That’s why we squeeze in field trips whenever possible. And sometimes, the journey happens right in our own studio–when we venture out of the known.
We have been experimenting with garden totems–something slightly different than our usual tile fare, but greatly influenced by the themes on our tiles. These garden art pieces are made up of several mini-sculptures stacked and held in place with re-bar. They can be placed in a pot or amongst the plants.
Could this be Gerome, the fishing gnome? He sits atop a tree stub, that sits on a rock and all on top of a mushroom. I believe he’s caught a wee blue fish.
Stay tuned for Tracy’s dog totem–in the works…
–tile installed.
Our friend Jenny purchased some tile from us, trusting that she had an ultimate plan on how she wanted to display them…but that plan had not quite made itself known to her…yet.
Then the idea struck!
She met a woodworker named Michael who opened his studio next door to where she works. (She happens to work for one of the best leaded glass artisans in the area.) Soon the story unfolded as Jenny put her woodworker friend together with the 4 tile . Michael perfectly placed the tile into a gorgeous hunk of mahogany, accented with craftsman style wood plugs.
This piece is now ready to be installed into a little nook in the stone fireplace of her craftsman’s style bungalow in the Sierra Madre canyon. And yes, they plan to live happily ever after…together.
Art on Palm, Spring 2013
We’re off to Palm Street in Altadena, California!
You’re invited to Art On Palm–a lovely art show to be held in Wildwood Park on May 25 in a tranquil setting of meandering pathways and shady oak trees. Saturday, 9:30 am – 5:00pm, 1419 E. Palm Street.
We are listed as Tracy Chamberlin. You will find us under a white canopy with our usual rustic “stadium” display of colorful handmade ceramic tile. (…and look for Tracy’s ‘yellow dog with a leash’ tile on the postcard above!)
We are so pleased to be a part of this group of artists–we’ll be accompanied by some beautiful and unique handmade artwork in this garden of delights. Please stop by to say hello.
–O. H. I. O….here we come
What do you do when the kids (tile) get invited to a huge party in Ohio? Well, you pack them up with a snack and a good book to read, then off they go to Cincinnati via USPS.
Yes, we are quite delighted to be sending our work to Indigenous Handcrafted Galleryin O’Bryonville–a beautiful gallery in an artsy & historic shopping district in Cincinnati,Ohio. Their ArtTILE event will feature 35 ceramic tile artists from across the country beginning April 27th.
Can you believe it?…about 1000 tile will be shown at his exhibit!
You can call us sentimental…we know we are…as we wished our boxes ‘safe travel’ when they were loaded into the postal cart. Funny thing is…while we waited in line at the post office, the guy behind us mentioned that writing “fragile” on the boxes was secret code for “throw me”…so there’s that…
–Spring Fair on April 27
Greetings friends of Ramona Paloma!
We are pleased to invite you to attend a festive Spring Fair on April 27th, to be held at Norma Coombs School located at 2600 Paloma Street in Pasadena. The school is right across the street from Victory Park so there will be loads of parking. Plus the farmers market will be happening at PHS.
So, pick up your fresh produce for the week, and come by the fair for a grilled cheese, some cookies, good music and unique handcrafted goodies from local artists.
Happy Spring! See you there.
Yelp – http://www.yelp.com/events/pasadena-spring-fair-norma-coombs-alternative-school
p.s…next show is on May 25 at Wildwood Park, Altadena…Art On Palm.
–studio visit
…now for something completely different…
I think we’ve mentioned how much we like field trips!
And we haven’t been on one in a while, so we decided on a reverse field trip.
Last week, we had the art department from Trader Joe’s over to our studio for a visit. We demonstrated our process and gave a quick glazing lesson. Everyone completed their own tile piece and much fun was had by all on a beautiful Spring day.
In about 2 weeks, we’ll fire the tiles then pop over to TJ’s to deliver some special art work to our new friends–Sonny, Jeannie, Sherry, Bobbi and Alexa.
We had so much fun that we even pulled out our viking helmets! (…okay, just for the record–that is definitely different than putting a lamp shade on our head)
–Wisteria Fest 2013
Third time’s a charm!
After two years of torrential downpour during the Wisteria Festival in Sierra Madre, this (our third try) seems destined for sun.
This Sunday, March 17th, we have been invited to show our current tile work with the Sierra Madre Friends of the Arts, a special venue established along side the Wisteria Fest to feature local artists.
Should you find yourself walking around Sierra Madre on the sunny Sunday afternoon of March 17, please stop by our corner at Windsor Lane and Sierra Madre Boulevard (by the local Jail/Bed and Breakfast) to see what’s cooking with local artwork.
Enjoy this preview week of sun, (good for the vine too!) and we’ll look forward to seeing your sunny dispositions popping by our tent to say hello. (okay, you caught me trying to influence the weather by using the word “sun” often in this post. Was that wrong?)
See you Sunday!
–stretching the ceramic wings
Several months ago, a very nice gentleman from New Mexico asked Tracy if she could make a special piece for him.
Through their conversation, the story of a charming furry friend named Griffin, emerged. Tracy came to learn that this gentleman had gotten Griffin as an 8-week old pup form Cornish, Maine. They had been pals for 17 and a half years. When Griffin passed, the man knew he wanted to honor the memory of his faithful companion, but hadn’t really decided how yet.
When talking to Tracy about tile, an idea was sparked…and he asked her if she would make an urn. He provided many photos of his smiling yellow-dog with the dark eyes.
It was decided.
Tracy was honored to create a final resting place for Griffin–a rustic ceramic jar, handmade with great sincerity.
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