We are adding some black-and-white coloring book sketches of dragons to our website.  Clay carbon can be used  to transfer images to plain bisque.  If there is something that you have drawn, found in a coloring book, or found online, you can put it on a mug, plate, bowl, vase, or any other plain piece of bisque. Then finish by painting the design and adding color using Concepts underglazes or acrylic stains. Dragon Drawings are found under the tab for Classes, then Patterns.  In addition to the coloring-book page, I have included a color picture and just a little information on each dragon.

Clay carbon was used on these as well. I downloaded clown pictures, scaled them to the size I wanted, and made children’s cups with them. I also did this for some Klingons in our Star Trek club.  Both of these pictures were taken after painting with Concepts, but before being glazed and fired. Cups and other utility items must be glazed to make them hold water and also to be food safe.

The design on this Cleveland Brown’s Tree was from a logo I found on the internet. I am not making these to sell, only for our personal use and to show students what can be done with any design and clay carbon.

So maybe you want to make a tree for someone who is an avid Ohio State fan, or Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Use your imagination. Measure the space where the design will go, download what you want to use, and scale the picture to fit the space before printing it out.

There is another set of pictures from Club David that you can find in the same location on this website. Patterns  Jim and I each took some brush-stroke classes  from David Hoff, a traveling Duncan instructor, and will share those with our students as time permits.  Club David is a subscription service where we can download a new project from him each month. The pieces that we did in class are displayed in the studio. Again, we used clay carbon to transfer his designs to our plates before painting them. Here are a couple of his projects.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

Logos, Holiday themes, pictures, names–
personalize anything using clay carbon and paint.

This post was made yesterday on our Facebook page but it is important to make everyone aware.

TO-DO-LIST FOR REMODEL

Now that the lights are up, next on the list is building another shelf for molds before starting on the bathroom. This means that the pouring table will be out of commission for a few days. So if there is something you need poured right away, PM me so we can pour it this weekend. We plan to start the remodel project on Monday.

Reminder:  Open Class tonight and Date Night tomorrow. Just call and let us know you are coming.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

There are several people who help me with marketing; that is, setting up and managing the website (Lesa), posting the workshops on Buy-Sell-Trade (Deana), and arranging homeschool and other groups (Bonnie). Last night we had a Brainstorming Session on how to reach more people.  Most businesses run ads in the newspaper but we don’t want to actually advertise because we are in a residential setting.

The best way to let people know about us is YOU. So what can you do?  Here are some ideas:

1. Tell a friend. Word-of-mouth and personal recommendations are always the best form of flattery.  If you tell someone else about your experience at our studio, you must have had some fun here.
2. Comment on Facebook posts. When you see a workshop posted on Buy-Sell Trade, your comment makes the post go to the top of the list. So make a comment or ask a question. One disadvantage of posting here is how fast they disappear. So please check it out. You can sign up on the Buy-Sell-Trade page to get a notification every time I post. We post on pages in communities within about a half-hour drive of the studio.
3. Share Carousel Facebook posts. When you see a post on my Facebook page (Carol’s Carousel Creations) share it to your page. That way people who are friends of yours can see it too. And they can share it as well, if they want to.
4. Bring a Friend. We have a card that was created for Carol’s Birthday Party event called a BOZO card. You get a free lesson ($5.00) and your friend gets a free lesson + free bisque up to $10.00. In other words, their first visit to the studio is free. You can use this card for anyone who has not been here before. You can use this more than one time by bringing more that one new person.
5. Birthday Club. Tell your friends about our birthday club. First they must register and they get a Birthday Club Card to keep. This is especially fun for the kids. Usually when they come they will bring someone else with them.
6. Groups.  Do you or your kids belong to a group? We have had classes for Girl Scouts, 4-H, homeschoolers, card clubs, and just a group of friends. Check out the tab on this page for more information.
7. Parties. Do you know someone who is getting married or having a baby?  We have showers where the guests all make something for the bride or for the baby. Do you know someone who is having a birthday? We can do birthday parties. Each person at the party gets to make something to take home. Check out the tab on this page for more information.
8. Feedback. Let us know what you want to make, or what technique you want to learn. Tell us about what you like or what you want to see changed, both in the studio and in the online posts.
9. Follow our blog by signing up on the webpage and giving your email address. You will then get an email each time I post a blog (usually daily). You will not get notified when I add a page or make changes but these things will be mentioned in the blog.

Thanks for listening and thanks, in advance, for helping. We can seat up to twenty for parties but would prefer that workshops and open classes have only eight to twelve at a time.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

Big Bugs & Let’s Go Camping

Wednesday we have six kids coming to make Ziggy, the chameleon, another making Droogie, the dragonfly. Then there are a couple of campers and the VW bug (car).

Date Night Saturday

Saturday we are making plates with dragons and dragonflies on them. This is a silkscreen workshop (and there are lots more bugs on the silkscreen). If you have never done silk-screening before it is an easy technique and a quick way to apply intricate designs to a plain piece. So grab a date and give us a call to make a reservation.

What’s up for July?

• Celebrate America ( next week) is items for the Fourth of July
• Fashenhues stepping stones
• Magical Butterflies brush workshop
• Woodland critters for your yard
• Christmas in July
• Marbleized designs

Workshop dates to be determined. Let me know your vacation schedule and we will try to work around it. We can always repeat workshops if needed.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

How would you like to have fun in July? Tell us and we’ll try to make it happen.

We had a nice Father’s Day Picnic here with my sister and her granddaughter visiting from Florida.  They have been here all week and will stay until Friday evening. Jim did a mixed grill with steaks for the three fathers. The kids played Corn Hole and Jeremy had a great time playing with the family.

What’s Up This Week?

Monday, Open class
Wednesday, Kids Krafts Big Bugs & Let’s Go Camping Workshop

Wednesday Classes

We have had a request to open another weekday evening for classes. So beginning next week we will also have an Open Class on Wednesday evening.

Afternoon Classes

Please remember that classes are scheduled for Thursday afternoons at 1:00. Presently no one is attending this session. We are very flexible and can make it another day or time if that suits your schedule better.

We can also schedule Kids Krafts classes for weekdays, during the day or in the evenings. Just let us know.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

So let us know when you can come.

We had a wonderful time at the Carrousel in Mansfield on Wednesday. Here are a few of the pictures we took. We were unable to get a nice full-view picture of the carrousel because it is in a building. But Jim took many pictures of the horses and other animals to get ideas for painting. Our animals are not exactly like these, different position or different saddle and other decorations on the animals.  One thing that I found interesting is the lack of decoration on the inside of the animals. It is painted, but not detailed or jeweled.

We also visited the gift shop where they have a varied selection of souvenirs. However, I was disappointed at the selection of actual carrousel items. My sister and her granddaughter each got a beautiful throw which actually has the Richland Carrousel logo on it. They had quite a few small, music box carrousels but that was about it.

Sharon, the Co-Director, was showing me some items under glass that are on consignment. We got to talking and she may be interested in taking some of our items to sell. Of course, she would have to see them first and we would have to agree on prices.  So now my mind is racing… they don’t have any individual animals, or jewelry, or mugs, or a cookie jar, or …

But first we have to build another mold shelf and a bathroom. Then I can actually start painting them.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

So why not come over and make your own carousel?
We have lions and tigers and bears and zebras and giraffes and . . .

Today is the day that we are taking the family to Mansfield to ride the Carrousel. (They use the French spelling.) Here is a little info from their website in case you would like to go.

Carrousel Rides

Rides on the Carrousel are so much fun lasting more than four minutes.
The outside animals & sleighs are stationary while the two inside rows move up & down!

• First new, hand-carved wooden Carrousel to be built and operated
  in the U.S. since the 1930’s.
• Large turn-of-the-century, G.A. Dentzel-style carrousel with
  52 wooden animals and 2 chariots.
• Indoor, year-round facility.
• Wheelchair accessible. Comfortable rocking chairs for non-riders.
• Stinson Band Organ made in Bellefontaine, Ohio.
• Gift Shop
• Concession Items: Candy, Chips, Cotton Candy, Nuts, Pop, Popcorn, Slushes, etc.
• History of the Carrousel Presentation available at no charge.

Memorial Day – Labor Day: Saturday 10:00 – 5:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Thursday 10 am – 5 pm , Friday 10  am – 8 pm | 5 pm – 8 pm is Family Night. Five (5) rides for only $2. Tickets are good for date purchased!  Tickets change weekly. Cost: 1 ride is $1.00 per person, 6 rides are $5.00, 50 rides are $35.00

This is a different place, also located in Mansfield, but I am not sure whether the public is invited inside. They actually make the carousels. There is a virtual tour on their website that I found very interesting. http://www.carouselworks.com/home.htm Here is a description from their website:

Carousel Works

is the largest manufacturer of wooden carousels in the world. We specialize in making carousel magic by pioneering the production of over 45 new innovative wooden carousels located in cities across the country. We take pride in providing our customers with the utmost quality of craftsmanship; the unique aesthetics of its experienced artisans; and the dream-like quality of the wooden and brass carousel. Our strength is the ability to manage your carousel project from conception to installation all under one roof. Carousel Works is bringing back the lights, music and magic of the carousel one city at a time! View our Carousel Gallery for photos and detailed information about each carousel.

I am so excited to be going and hope that the weather cooperates. Jim says not to worry because the carrousel is under roof anyway but pictures are always better with sunshine.

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

And we are going to have fun today riding the carrousel!

The birthday party event the day before is over. The birthday itself is over. And, as happens every year, the day after my birthday is flag day. So that got me to thinking about what kinds of flags we have in ceramics.  Ceramics are not very flexible but we still have items that represent things that are soft and flexible.

The flag items will be found in the album God Bless America. We are having a Celebrate America weeklong event at the end of the month to make things for the Fourth of July. Scroll down to see an earlier post about that.  These items are all shown in that post also. We do have a flag for you if  you choose to make Aunt Betsy. The last set of items make pins or magnets.

We also have a U.S. Historic Flag plate and a Fife and Drum plate. The first can be painted in underglazes and used with food. The second is decorative and can be painted in either underglazes or acrylic stains. Although not a flag, the last item here is actually a nine-inch diameter ashtray that reminds me of the Presidential Seal. All three of these molds were brought back from Weaver last month and are new additions to our collection.

When do I fly my flag?

Yesterday was the Birthday Party Event but today is the actual birthday. Mine and my youngest son, Jeremy’s. He is 32 today and I am 71. When you get to be this old you no longer hide your age. At least that’s what Betty White said (“I’m 84 and 1/2”)

Just taking it easy and answering all the Facebook chatter. Between the birthday wishes, responses to my post with a picture of the studio lights, and responses to the latest Buy-Sell-Trade ad I have been kept pretty busy. We did a lot of work getting ready for yesterday’s event and I wore myself out.

Jim went to the airport to pick up my sister Linda and her granddaughter Faith. They will be visiting until the 24th and we have lots of things planned.  This includes classes tonight and Thursday night but not Friday. We are taking Faith and Jeremy to the Opening Night Scrappers Game with fireworks. (That’s an Indians team here in Niles, Ohio).

One of our events is a day trip to see Richland Carrousel Park in Mansfield on Wednesday.  I am hoping for a nice sunny day so Jim can take some professional pictures that we can print and frame.  If it happens, and if they turn out nice, they will be for sale.  We have some wonderful pictures he did from our trip out west. If you are by the house, stop in the sewing area upstairs and take a look. He loves to travel and if this works out I would like to add other carousels as well. Just one more dimension to Carousel Creations.

The BST event posted today is Big Bugs & Let’s Go Camping. It’s a Kids Krafts event on Wednesday, June 22nd at 6:30 and the cost is $20. There is also a camper & VW car combo for the same price (or $15 for one).

Carousel Creations
Where having FUN is why we come!

So bug on over and have some fun making these giant bugs!