Carol's Carousel Creations

August is just around the corner. Folks are coming back from vacations and starting to get ready for school. We have just twenty weeks to get ready for Christmas. Now that may be a lot of time to shop, but if you are making gifts it’s time to get busy. And don’t forget your own Fall Décor including Harvest Time, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Must leave a few classes open to work on those.

The Christmas in July Sale is underway. Remember, it is 20% off any trees ordered and paid for between July 25th and August 25th. We will pour as soon as your order is complete. (PayPal account is Carolwarneke@sbcglobal.net. You do not have to have a PayPal account to send money,  you can use a credit card.)

If you plan to make a nativity set, either  for yourself or for a gift, those will take you multiple classes. The time involved will depend on both size and type of finish. A clear glaze or semi-translucent glaze that fills in detail is the quickest way to go.  But I like to paint all the colors and details with acrylics and add metallics, jewels, and glitter to mine. Shown here is the large Holland nativity. If you want one you should order it soon. (Jim can build you a wooden stable if you want one.)

Take a gander through the catalog and start your gift list now. Trees are on the “Oh Tannenbaum” tab at the top of the page. “Carousel” items have their own tab, too. Everything else is under “Bisque”. You might also want to consider bringing the kids (or grandkids) so they can make their own gifts to give this year.

Carousel Creations
Where having  Fun is why we come!

So let’s get that list started.
And remember, almost anything can be personalized
or painted with team colors and logos.

It’s hard to know what to write about when all you can think of is your best friend, whose husband passed away this week. I wrote a tribute yesterday on my personal Facebook page. Denny was an avid golfer so we made him this ceramic picture to help cheer him up.

What does ceramics have to do with someone dying? Not a whole lot that I can think of.  However, some people do use ceramic urns for their loved one’s ashes. I know that I have been approached about making one, but the buyer was looking for a different design of Indian decanter than what we have on hand. Here is what we have available.

Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

We also come to get away from the stress and sadness in our lives, to immerse ourselves in a creative project, and to share with those who have now become friends. Sometimes the studio is thought of as Dr. Carol’s Counseling Services.

I received some good news this morning about delivery of my mold order for Christmas tree bases. You see, we have been pouring trees for the last two years but had to improvise with other bases that would work. So this year we ordered the proper bases for all of the trees.  [The only one not available was for the tall soft tree.]

Also, we have the base for the tall Spruce Tree so we ordered the tree to go with it (shown here).  Sue at OSC replied that one shipment is in already (one mold company), one is due in today, and the last is due in on August 2nd (which is Tuesday). So we have them just in time for the Christmas in July Sale Orders. Remember it is 20% off trees from 7/25 to 8/25. Must be ordered and paid for during the time of the sale to receive the discount.

The new Nowell 1694 (15″) Sierra Spruce Tree looks just like the Nowell 1681 (7″) Spruce Tree that the kids have been making. This catalog picture shows some ceramics ornaments and a tree topper. We  do have  Nowell 1683 snowflake, angel, and bear tree toppers for the small tree and Nowell 1658 (3/4″) mini tree ornaments, 10 designs.

Carousel Creations
Where having Fun in why we come!

So start your trees early this year and save.

Jim & I have been pouring molds;  Alice & I have been cleaning greenware. Today will be the 4th day in a row for pouring–large gnomes, Ziggys, unicorns, and lots of cups for the Steel City Comic Con in August. If there is something you want poured get your order in and I will try and find the mold. LOL

In between pouring and cleaning I keep painting more Christmas ornaments.

Remember when I was elated at having finally cleared off the pool table? Well, it’s full of molds once again. I just finished unloading 3 metal shelf units in the mud room so that we can replace them with a large wooden shelf unit. (Metal bends from the weight and also rusts if the molds are wet.) This is why I said I would try to find your mold. Some of them are hiding.

One of the metal shelves has been turned into a shipping center. There is not really room to pack back there, but it houses the USPS boxes, bubble wrap, priority mail tape, and various small boxes if they will fit. There is a large grey garbage can full of packing peanuts sitting in front of it with a box full of Styrofoam pieces on top. We mostly ship bisque but sometimes molds and sometimes even finished pieces. So if you are out of town, please keep this in mind.

Yesterday I posted about the Christmas in July sale, Beautiful Butterflies workshop, Kids Krafts Magical Unicorns workshop, and Date Night gnomes and fairies.  If you are interested in any of these, please register  as soon as possible to we can get your bisque poured. All pieces have to be poured, cleaned, and fired. Each step takes a day and we can only pour a mold once each day.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

So sign up soon and learn something new.

Christmas in July SALE

July 25th to August 25th we are having a Christmas in July sale on Christmas trees. Prices have gone up a little this year, especially on the very large trees. Any tree ordered and paid for during the sale is 20% off the listed price. This includes, bisque, paints, light kit, plastic lights, star if needed, snow, and glitter. The studio fee is an additional $5.00. You can usually glaze a large tree or several small trees in one session. Once ordered, we will contact you as soon as your tree is poured, cleaned, fired, and ready to paint–usually a week but could be longer depending on the backlog of orders. Please keep in mind that we can only pour a mold once a day. So if a group of 8 want the same tree it takes 8 days to pour them. See the tab on the menu bar “Oh Tannenbaum” for pictures, sizes, and prices. The large tree can also take a music box which is extra. Oh Tannenbaum

Beautiful Butterflies

Workshop is this Thursday at 6:30. It is also an Open Class time so make sure to specify that you want to do the workshop. Teens and adults are welcome. Cost is $20 which includes a brush.Summer Workshops

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Magical Unicorns

This is a Kids Krafts workshop on Saturday at 1:00. However, teens and adults are also welcome. Cost is $10. Kids Krafts & Date Nights, Unicorns

Gnomes and Fairies

This is a Date Night Workshop on Saturday at 6:30 for couples only. Please register soon and order your bisque. Cost is $25 unless you want the very large gnomes. Kids Krafts & Date Nights, Fairies & Fairy Gardens, Gnome, Sweet Gnome, Garden Gnomes

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

This is a busy week, so call or PM and make your reservations asap.

We are moving molds from the metal shelves onto the pool table (again!) and I can only work at it for short periods of time.  So in between I have been painting sample Christmas Ornaments.

These Twelve Days of Christmas Bells are flat and double-sided with a different day on each side. We just picked up the second mold recently and need to pour the rest of them. Then I can post the complete set.

These soft-reindeer ornaments are a set of three but I did them differently to show various ways of painting. We also have free-standing soft reindeer in a variety of sizes. We like to use the small ones on our spinning carousel.

These four cute “Wee Ones” elves are dressed alike in metallic green suits with gold slippers and belt. Each is wearing a red metallic Santa hat with a silver jingle-bell. Here we see elves with a toy soldier, a teddy bear, a Christmas package, and a jack-in-the-box. These are free-standing three-dimensional pieces that also could be set on a shelf.

This set of three Christmas geese is painted as Canada geese. They are flat, two-sided ornaments with the same design front and back.

More “Wee Ones”.

Here are seven “Wee Ones”; the last is a flat two-sided rocking horse.

These are just the ornament samples that I painted starting Thursday night during class. We have nearly 300 ornaments, many of which have not yet been poured. Our goal is to have all of them in plastic boxes on the shelf ready for you to paint. Most ornaments are $2.00 in bisque.

Keep in mind that ornaments are not just for trees. I hang mine from the dining room chandelier, from kitchen cabinet handles, and from door knobs throughout the house. They also make nice add-ons for packages. The flat ones make nice refrigerator magnets. And not all ornaments are for Christmas–we have Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Plus occupations and other types. See Alberta Ornament Collection (two-sided), Cookie-Cutter Ornaments (flat–can write on the back), and Assorted Ornaments (everything else).

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

So when you have some time left at the end of class,
why not start on your Christmas ornaments.
Or buy some bisque to paint at home.
Or buy some for the kids to paint.

We had a nice mini-vacation this week and picked up a few new molds (well, new to us anyway). As predicted, we got the two extra large Doc Holliday carousel horse molds. As shown in the pictures, they are each 22″. I  hope that we will be able to pour them as they are very heavy; also that they will fit in the kiln for firing. I am looking forward to making them for myself when we get a chance.

Doc Holliday 1764 and Doc Holliday 1197

Other molds are:

• Arnel 964 egg plate
• Image 669 “Jesus is Lord” angels (3) 2 1/2″
• Bil-Mac 1064 and 1065 open pour angel plaques 4″ x 6″
• Morning Star 734 “Jesus Is Lord” flat-back angel with children 5 1/4″
• Rocking Horse Molds 1267 angels (3) 3 1/2″
• Suburban 451 Cow Scrubby Holder
• Doc Holliday 830 large unicorn 12″

I do not have pictures of the others. However, I did take a snapshot of the inside of the molds for my catalog until we have a chance to make samples.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

We are going to Kentucky to pick up our extra-large carousel horse molds. Therefore, classes on Monday and Wednesday this week are cancelled. There will be an Open Class on Thursday but no Thursday Workshop. Friday’s class is also cancelled so that we can attend the showing of Star Trek Beyond. Join us at the USS Renegade table in the lobby of Regal Cinema in Austintown.

Next week regular Open Classes will resume, with the Beautiful Butterflies Workshop on Thursday. It is important that I know who is coming so that we can set up. There will be a new policy regarding making and keeping reservations, including prepayment for workshops.  Watch for it next week.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

Please follow this blog or check the Facebook page
for information on classes and workshops.

Stepping Stone Workshop

Last night was our Stepping Stone Workshop where we learned to  use Fashenhues, a translucent stain that really brings out the detail. The Welcome Iris (insert for a wreath) was the featured item and the one shown here was painted by Linda. The Welcome Friends Insert with geese and the Easter Insert with bunny and daffodils are ones that I painted. The Mouse in Daisies is actually a lid but it also makes a good stepping stone. It is one that I painted last year. Most of the students were new to Fashenhues and a couple had been here before.  Check out today’s Facebook post for pictures taken at the workshop.

Upcoming Fashenhues Workshops

The next Fashenhues workshop will be Fall Fun with Fashenhues on Thursday, August 25th and we will be making the Fall Harvest jar.

The Silly Scarecrows Workshop on September 15th can be done in Fashenhues or acrylic if you prefer.

The Old World Santa Workshop will be on the Fall Workshop Schedule and they are best done in Fashenhues because there is so much detail. Watch for the Fall Schedule later.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

So come on over and learn a new technique.
This week Fashenhues, next up is a Brushstroke Workshop.

Conflict of Interest

Those of you who know our son, Jeremy, are certainly aware of his interest in Star Trek. On the other hand, I guess that would be his obsession with Star Trek! It has come to our attention that some of the  events on our Carousel Creations calendar conflict with events on the USS Renegade calendar.

USS Renegade

is the local chapter of Starfleet, the International Star Trek Fan Association. If you are interested in Star Trek, or know someone who is, please join us at the Denny’s on Belmont Avenue the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00. (We like to arrive at 6:30 so our meals are served before the meeting begins.) The August meeting is an exception–we are having our Annual Picnic at the Warneke Residence on Tuesday, August 9th at 6:00. Just let us know you are coming and bring a covered dish.

Star Trek Beyond

FRIDAY, July 22nd there will be no Open Class. The new Star Trek Movie, Star Trek Beyond, is premiering Thursday through Saturday, July 21st through 23rd. We will be at the Austintown Regal Cinema on Friday to help man the USS Renegade table and also to see the movie. Come and see us there.

Steel City Comic Con

SATURDAY, August 13th. Kids Krafts Dolls & Dragons will be rescheduled to August 7th at the same time. We will be attending the Steel City Comic Con on the 13th where the USS Renegade will share a table with the Pittsburgh Chapter.

 

Star Trek Ceramics.

We are planning to make several ceramic items to share with fellow Renegade members and to sell at the show. On the right are the cookie cutters we purchased and plan to use for coasters,  hot plates, and patterns for other items. On the left are the Klingon cups we made before they were fired. For the design, we transferred clipart to the bisque using clay carbon.  You can do this with any picture, thus personalizing your mug, plate, or other plain item.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

As Mr. Spock says, “Live Long and Prosper”

So if you are a  fan, come and make yourself a Star Trek mug!