Carol's Carousel Creations

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics
Astros won 4 to 2

We drove into Oakland for the game at the Oakland Coliseum which houses both the baseball team, Oakland Athletics, and the football team, Oakland Raiders. Next door the basketball team had a game at the same time, causing attendance at the baseball game to be rather sparse. The Coliseum is an old stadium. We had a nice, but faraway, view of the field but couldn’t see the scoreboard from where we were sitting. The only thing nice was a table to put our food on. (I took a few pictures but for some reason cannot download them to the computer.)

Ceramic  Specials for Today

Smiley Boy Baseball Players

finished for $20.00 (regular price $25.00)
State your hair, eye, and team colors when ordering.
We do not have this mold so will not be shipping bisque.
Studio customers can paint one, bisque is $15.00.

Order by emailing CarolsCarouselCreations@gmail.com or PM the Facebook page.
I will order the bisque while traveling and pick it up the beginning of June.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Monday, May 5, 2018
David Hoff Seminar

David’s workshop was also held at the Duncan facility and was an all-day class. We learned how to do a textured landscape painting, similar to painting with oil, on a large square plate.  The entire piece was painted with Concepts, but thickener was used for the foliage.  After we traced the design using clay carbon, we painted in the background and added in some small horizon trees. Then we applied the thickened medium where we wanted foliage on the larger trees. It needed to dry completely so we broke for lunch.

After lunch we added loads of color to our trees, using three, four, or five shades on each tree. Finally we added trunks to the large trees and did detailing. To finish we will paint the back with black Concepts. Most of us were anxious to get on the road and decided to finish and fire at home.

We travelled today from Fresno to the Doubletree Inn in Newark-Freemont where we will stay for eight days. Tomorrow is a game day but the next game isn’t for a week so we will have some time to recuperate from the hectic painting schedule and also do some sightseeing.

Ceramic Workshop

Today’s workshop will need to be a two-evening event when we teach it in the studio. I imagine doing this technique with trees that are a little more open than the bushy trees I painted, like cherry blossom trees in the spring. And also doing a fall foliage workshop. David mentioned we can even use this medium on evergreen trees.

Since there are so many new techniques to learn, it will be hard to decide what to offer when. Note that with David’s workshop, and Friday night’s Make-n-Bake-n-Take rainbow plate, we have done six new projects and want to share every one of them with you. So feedback please — which projects interest you the most?

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Sunday, May 6, 2018
I.A.D.C.C.T. Cyberflyer Chapter
Regional Education Program

We did two more projects today. (Jim didn’t make it so he had a chance to catch up on his rest. Besides being worn out, we found out later the pillows were duck down and he is allergic.)

Platter Background

In the morning we started our pen & ink project. Arlene was unable to come so David Hoff stepped in and taught her class. It was a very interesting, unusual technique to make the marbleized background on the platter. Since this needed to dry completely before painting on the pen & ink design, we went on to the next project.

Pumpkin on a Jar

Next we did a pumpkin design on a mason jar plate. Our instructor was Margie Bordner. We transferred the design using clay carbon, and painted with Concepts, loading our brush with two shades of color at a time, then detailing with a darker shade of the same color. It was a brush-stroke workshop.

[We use the same double-loading technique for shading in the Faces of the World projects. Many of  you already know about us buying molds to make African -American figures. We will schedule a workshop sometime this summer and teach you how to do this on any skin color.]

Pen & Ink Picture

Because we already painted the background on our platter clay carbon will not work, so we used tissue paper and fine permanent markers to transfer the design. Arlene had already drawn the designs onto the tissue for us (what a timesaver). We then executed the design with EZ-stroke black and a liner brush. After it is fired we will finish the border and the back with a new matte glaze called Leather Jacket.

Entertainment

After dinner on our own, most of the group went to David Hoff’s house in Fresno for an ice cream social. He had a selection of ice creams, toppings, cookies, and brownies for us. It was a nice opportunity to visit with new friends as you are so busy painting during the day that visiting is impossible.  We also got to see David’s studio and many of the pieces he has done. His tables only seat eight students, which surprised me, but he does have seminars at his house.

We have taken David’s classes before and also belong to “Club David” where we can download a new technique every month. Several of the workshops we have offered are his designs — like the bluebird plate, the snowman we painted on a sled, and the pumpkins & mums platter.

Ceramic Workshops

• The Mason Jar Plate is a fun, colorful project for fall that is pretty easy to do.
• The Pen & Ink drawing is a great new technique and if we do a workshop, it  would have to be on two nights to allow time for drying.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Saturday, May 5, 2018
I.A.D.C.C.T. Cyberflyer Chapter
Regional Education Program

We did the Make-n-Bake-n-Take Friday night, taught by a Duncan instructor. Then Saturday there were two Cyberflyer teachers; Sunday two more Cyberflyer teachers, and David’s class on Monday. We did a total of six projects and were kept busy in the evenings as well. That is why you haven’t seen any posts — we didn’t have time!

Lace Ice Cream Bowl

Saturday morning we did a lace pattern with roses in the short ice cream bowl, using EZ strokes over a matt glaze. Our instructor was Marge Quick. This is the same bowl I posted to make “base bowls” out of.

[Marge may be coming to our studio from Alaska in August. She has to check her schedule. Watch for more information after I hear back from her. She is a Duncan Ambassador and an excellent teacher!]

Kite Trivet

Saturday afternoon we did a kite scene on a trivet. We used concepts (including sprinkles on the path), masking tape (two different sizes), contact paper (for the kites), and shimmers (on the flowers). Dru Woodward taught this class. (Can’t find pictures of our projects but they are here somewhere! LOL)

[Dru will be coming to our studio from Florida to teach Essentials I & II on Saturday, July 7th and a FUN piggy bank sand-painting workshop on Sunday, July 8th, The Essentials classes are full but you can still sign up for the piggy bank.]

Entertainment

Saturday evening most of us went to Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater in Fresno to see Mamma Mia! Picture-taking during the show was prohibited due to licensing but here are pictures of our group.

Ceramic Workshops

Both of these projects are interesting new techniques that everyone can learn to do. So often people don’t sign up for a workshop because they think it is too hard. Come on out and challenge yourself. These are FUN projects.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Friday, May 4, 2018

Today is a ceramics day. We started with a lengthy tour of the Duncan facility; their offices, development, photography, and plant. We will be posting pictures of the tour as soon as we get them edited.

This evening we had a Make-n-Take session from 6:00 to 9:00.
Actually, it became a Make-n-Bake-n-Take because we made something that had to be fired.

The project we did was a rainbow plate (Duncan bisque). It is painted with Concepts and then we added Color Burst Crystals. Pictures of the participants working on their project.

Dru Woodward and Jim Warneke painting their plates.
We each got an apron and I just had to add some color to ours.

CERAMIC PROJECT

We will be teaching this technique later this summer.
Watch for the announcement of an event.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Today was a travel day. We left Colton, CA where we stayed for over a week and drove to Clovis, CA which is near Fresno, in the central part of the state. It was fortunate that we were able to schedule our trip to coincide with the ceramic conference.

Jim and I are both Certified Duncan Teachers and belong to I.A.D.C.C.T.  (International Association of Duncan Certified Ceramic Teachers). Their annual conference was the end of February, the same weekend as our 50th Anniversary. (But maybe we can go next year.) We also belong to two “local” chapters, North Coast Clay Pots and Cyberflyers. The first is based in the Toledo, OH area and is the closest chapter to Youngstown. The second is a cyber group that meets by conference call and Skype.

Cyberflyers is sponsoring a ceramic conference this weekend, called “Soaring with Duncan”. Tomorrow morning we will get to tour the Duncan plant; then registration and make-n-takes in the evening. Saturday and Sunday are classes all day. Monday there is a David Hoff workshop. This is a nice break in our baseball schedule. I am looking forward to meeting the folks we talk to every month on the phone, and to having a chance to paint something.

Special of the Day

So we are thinking about painting ceramics tonight, not about baseball.  Here are two items that might make it easier:

Kelly 0719 UTENSIL HOLDER, Bisque $5.00, Finished $7.50 (for brushes).
Byron 0895 PAINT PALLET, Bisque $2.00, Glazed $3.50 (for paints)

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

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May 2, 2018
A Day at Disneyland

Just something that I wanted to do since we were near Anaheim anyway. It was a long walk from where we parked to the shuttles —  we took the Mickey Van — and another long walk from the bus drop-off to where they rent the scooters, but I survived! We rented an electric scooter for me (like the kind they have at Walmart) so I was zipping right along with Jim throughout the park.

We had a nice dinner at the Blue Bayou, an upscale restaurant in New Orleans Square. Then we checked out the activities and shops in several different sections of the park. The shows were all earlier in the day but we did get to hear a barbershop quartet called the Dapper Dans.  We were able to go into the Star Wars Launch Bay and also took a ride on the monorail. My favorite part was the shopping and we picked up a few souvenirs for ourselves and gifts for those who helped out while we were gone.

Today’s Special

Leisureamics DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE, Bisque only $10.00
Leisureamics DISNEY MINNIE MOUSE 8 ½”, Bisque only $10.00
Come and paint your very own Minnie & Mickey. Not selling finished pieces.
We also have a selection of other Disney characters for you to choose from.

It’s Cookie Time!

We bought a cookie cutter. Now getting me to actually make and roll out sugar cookie dough is a real challenge. However, I just might roll out some clay. OR You can roll out your own clay and cut out your own cookies. Watch for a Kids Krafts workshop or just make one during regular open classes. (about 4″‘ tall X 5″ wide)

Bisque will be poured in June.
To order email CarolsCarouselCreations@gmail.com
or send a PM to our Facebook page.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Thanks for following the carousel!

Tuesday, May 1, 2018
May Day

Another day of rest. We had planned to do some sightseeing today but Jim’s chair didn’t get charged so we stayed close to home. Stopped at the local Walmart to pick up a few groceries and some other things we needed.

Movie Matinee

Then we went to see Ready Player One

Mar 28, 2018 · Directed by Steven Spielberg. With Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe. When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.

It was a nice movie complex, we found a parking place right up front, and wheelchair patrons don’t pay in California!

Original McDonald’s Museum

We drove by the museum in San Bernardino but it was closed after we got out of the movie. I took a couple of outside photos but the inside photo is from the website.

Girl’s Softball Day

Sunday’s Game was Girls Softball Family Day at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Over 4000 girls marched around the field, coming in from right field and exiting in left field. They just kept coming, and coming. . . [picture from the website]

Today’s Special

In honor of all the girls who play softball, we are offering the

Happy Girl Softball Player

finished for $20.00 (regular price $25.00)
State your hair, eye, and team colors when ordering.
We do not have this mold so will not be shipping bisque.
Studio customers can paint one, bisque is $15.00.

Order by emailing CarolsCarouselCreations@gmail.com or PM the Facebook page.
I will order the bisque while traveling and pick it up the beginning of June.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Thanks for Following the Carousel

As many of you already know, we can now bring the party to you. We just load up everything on a cart, wheel it into the Van, add our logo signs to the doors and take off. Check out the new page we just added. party van  If you know of someone who might be interested in having us come, please let us know and show them this page on our website.

Monday, April 30, 2018

Today is a day of rest following another night game yesterday. Jim seems to be especially tired today so we are just hanging out in our room. This is a pretty strenuous trip for someone recovering from shingles so I am just letting him catch up on his rest so we can go again tomorrow.

I can’t help thinking about something I saw at the park.

Dodger Stadium has apparently caught on to how trendy it is to eat food out of bowls, so new for the 2017 season is a lineup of “Base Bowls” (go on, say it aloud). You can choose between a Hawaiian poke bowl (because there’s apparently not enough poke in LA), a teriyaki chicken bowl, a Vietnamese rice … [this from an article on the web]

I can’t find a picture of it online, and the food was not something of interest so I didn’t buy one, but think how much fun it would be to make our own “Base Bowls”

Idea of the Day

These are some ideas from a search online:
The baseball bowl, a smiling baseball bowl, or even soccer or basketball bowls.

Duncan Bisque has a baseball cup and a baseball bank that we can purchase.
They sell for $7.20 & $7.60.

Duncan Bisque also has these items:
Cereal bowl ($5.80), Jumbo latte/soup mug ($6.00),
Short ice cream dish ($7.10), and a yarn bowl ($12.20)

Although we have molds in the studio for nearly five dozen mugs and cups, none of the plain ones are the right shape. However, we do have this round ball Christmas ornament ($3.50) that would be nice. (Duncan bisque is $4.60) It could be a plain baseball, or add a smiley face, or a name, or even a team logo. What a nice gift for the sports fans in your family.

So I need some feedback here from our students and others local to the Youngstown area. Is anyone interested? Should we have a Kids Krafts workshop to do this? If six or more are interested I will order the bisque.  (This is not something to order and have shipped as you can purchase them at a local Duncan distributor. If you want us to paint them for you send a pm to the Facebook page.)

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Jim & Carol Warneke

Thanks for following the carousel!