Carol's Carousel Creations

We have scheduled two workshops to make bowls for the MVCT Empty Bowls fundraiser in October.

Empty Bowls WS I — Sunday, August 29 at 1:00

Empty Bowls WS II –Sunday September 19th at 1:00

Please come and bring your friends.
There is no charge unless you want to Buy Your Own Bowl for $10.

Patrons purchase a hand-painted ceramic bowl for $10 and get a lunch of soup at no charge. Last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID but we made $1500 for the church’s food pantry in 2019.

You do not have to know how to paint. We have stencils, silkscreens, and patterns to trace. OR you can use a crystal glaze or dripping glaze. There are all kinds of possibilities and we have a printout with some ideas. Last time we had 19 painters and hope that they can all come back this year. Most were able to paint two bowls during the 3-hour workshop. Some of the bowls we did were adding decals to Dollar Tree pre-glazed white bowls. Easy to do. Our goal is 100 bowls.

Want to Play with Clay? We have clay puzzling molds and a pattern to make a flower dish. Or you can hand build. Need to do these at Workshop I so they can dry and be painted at Workshop II.

If you are still in isolation, you can pick up bowls to paint at home (or we can deliver)

If you can’t make the workshop dates you can come at another time.

Monetary donations are also accepted to purchase supplies. Or you can donate items for the Chinese Auction.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Mahoning Valley Ceramic Teachers (MVCT)

Wow! It is August already and folks are finishing up with family and group picnics, day trips, and vacations.

It is time to start thinking about Harvest Decorations, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

It is time to think about coming back to ceramics after the lengthy COVID restrictions.

Post-COVID ways to do ceramics

How would you like to work on your creations?

1. Come to the studio for an Open Class?

2. Schedule a Personal Session in the studio?

3. Come to the studio for a new Technique Workshop?

4. Participate in a Paint-together Facebook Live?

5. Have the Party Van come to your home or other location?

6. Have To-Go Kits delivered or mailed to your home?

Time to place orders

If you want to make trees (for Christmas or other holidays) please order early.

See you soon!

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!

Something went wrong and the National Lillipop Day workshop never posted. We actually did it, Jim thinks it has somehting to do with Facebook updating their program. We will try to do better next week and will repeat the Lollipop Day WS.

This week is NATIONAL MERRY-GO-ROUND DAY.

Check out our Carousel Catalog from the menu bar above or go to our Etsy store Carol’s Carousel Shoppe. Also see our dedicated Facebook page, Carol’s Carousel Shoppe. This holiday is especially important to us as we are Carol’s Carousel Creations!

Carousel Animals come in various sizes: ornament, music box size, small, large, and extra large. Each size is listed separately with several varieties of horses plus other menangerie animals. These can be ordered in bisque, painted, or complete, which includes a base and pole.

Complete Carousels come in several sizes. Some can also accommodate a music box. We will be showing off our music Box size carousel during this week’s Facebook Live. There is a center circular floor, center piece, and roof. The floor sections form three rings — ring one has five, ring two has five, and ring three has seven. This is seventeem separate floor sections but can probably hold about twenty animals if staggared.

We plan to paint the Scioto Carousel during the Live this Thursday.

Spinning Carousels are platforms that hang from the top of a pole by four ribbons. There are two special carousels with designs in the base piece, Country (farm animals) and Woodland (raccoon, skunk, etc.). The third is generic and can be made for varioius occassions –Witches & Ghosts, Pilgrims, Santas, Soft Deer, Snowmen, and so on. Young children like to set the platform spinning and watch it unwind. Set one on a low table and watch them have fun. We have not had any problems with them breaking the piece.

Carousel Related Items include a horsehead (makes a good lamp), basket, wall plaques (horses), plate (CH atachment), and so on.

Non-Ceramic Carousel Items include jewelry (necklace, earrings, charm bracelet), confections (chocolate candy, cupcakes, cakes, cupcake boxes), and quilts (child-size with carousel panel).

No matter what you call it
a Merry-Go-Round, a Carousel, or a Carrousel,
taking a ride is joyful treat for kids of all ages.

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!

Planning a summer picnic for a group such as your family, card club, or Star Trek Club?
Here are some suggestions for using ceramics in your event:

Serving Dishes

top hat ice bicket
pitchers for iced tea, lemonade, and Crystal Lite
lazy susan serving dish with 4 dishes and a center covered dish
potato bowl for potato salad or chips (comes with sour cream bowl)
corn bowl for corn on the cob (also corn s/p, single-ear dishes, and butter warmer)
watermelon bowl for fruit salad (comes with small bowl for fruit topping
BBQ S/P for the cook (large size)

Decorating the porch or patio

lanterns with candles or lights
wind chimes in various styles
hanging planters or ashtrays
flower pots
wall decorations

Party Pieces

themed coasters for party favors
themed mugs to fill with candy for game prizes
themed centerpieces
Our Star Trek Picnic Theme this year is Star Ships

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Isn’t it Great that we can enjoy a picnic again this year?

Come to the studio on Sunday, July 25th and make your own lighted Christmas tree at our special Christmas in July event. Studio opens at 1:00 and will remain open as long as needed. Order large trees ahead of time or just choose something from the shelf. For this special event only, all trees will be 25% off. You can paint them here in the studio on Sunday or purchase them to take home and paint on you own time. Prices include bisque, stain or glaze, snow, glitter, lights, star, and wiring kit. This is a good kids project, even the little ones can paint glaze with some help from a grownup. Price list is available upon request (PM or text).

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun in why we come!

Americana is always a popular theme in home deco both indoors and out. We have a few plates and wall plaques along with some figurines, I still can’t upload pictures so will try and put them on the Facebook Page.

Upcoming Events for July

In the studio:

Traditional Fruit Bowl

A Club David brushstroke class we will be painting on a large shallow bowl. Saturday, July 10th at 1:00. Cost of $20 includes bisque, paints, and firing.

Just Like Me

A workshop for African American Kids ages 10 to 110. Saturday, July 17th 1:00 to 4:00. Special price of $10 only for this day. That includes everything you need to paint one African American figure.

A Walk in the Park

Saturday, July 24th at 1:00. This is a David Hoff Virtual Workshop that we are hosting here in the studio. Cost is $27 + $11 for the bisque & paints.

Christmas in July

Sunday, July 25th starting at 1:00. Come and paint a tree. 25% off trees that you paint today in the studio or purchase today to paint at home. You can request a copy of the 2021 Tree Price list by sending a PM or an email to CarolsCarouselCreations@gmail.com. The prices quoted includes the wiring kit, stain or glaze, snow, and everything you need to make the tree. Finished trees are more. If you want one of the larger trees please order it as soon as possible, Or you can simple choose one of the smaller trees from the shelf.

Plant Lady

Saturday, July 31st at 1:00 This is another Club David technique in which we will paint wisteria vines on a round footed planter. The words “plant lady” are optional. Cost of $20 includes lesson, bisque, paints, and firing.

Facebook Live Events

All virtual classes are on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 EDT. Go to Carol’s Carousel Classes Facebook Group.

Column 2 is the actual day of the holiday. We already did the Ice Cream workshop. Check it out by watching the posted video.

Open Classes

You can come and paint on whatever you want on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00. Cost is $5.00 plus cost of bisque and glazes.

If you want something poured for you please allow at least a week.

Please call, text, or PM to let us know you are coming so we have enough painting stations set up. The classroom is also used for painting and packing orders and often needs to be rearranged.

Party Van

This month we are visiting the Primary Class at the Austintown Community Church where we will paint ceramic donut banks or boxes.

Last Monday we visited their Preschool Class where thirteen 3 and 4 year old kids painted cupcake banks or boxes.

If you have a group and would like us to brinig a workshop to you just let us know. Before COVID we visited a number if nursing homes. Cost is usually $5.00 – $10.00 per person,

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!

Pansy, Pansy, Pansy We had a wonderful class Saturday with Ceramic Educator David Hoff in California via Zoom. Students came here and we painted together, watching it on our big-screen TV. A Walk in the Woods is David’s next workshop on Saturday, July 24th at 1:00 EDT. You can come here and paint along. Arrive at 12:30 to transfer pattern. Cost is $27 + $11 for bisque and paints. You do not have to be a member of MVCT to participate. Let me know ahead of time if you are coming so I will print enough patterns.

lTraditional Fruit Bowl is a Club David project that I will be teaching on Saturday, July 10th. We will paint on a large bowl and the cost is $20 which includes all supplies, the tech sheet, and the lesson.

Plant Lady is a large planter with lilacs all around. It is the next Club David project and I will teach it if there is any interest. Workshops that I teach are typically $20.

Stroke & Coat Mayco Product Workshop is on Wendesday, June 30th at 11:00. There is no charge except for supplies.

Desisgner Liner Mayco Product Workshop is on July 22nd, 11:00-1:00. No charge except for supplies.

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!

We had so many Etsy orders that we put both of the stores “on vacation” so that we could get caught up. Jesse has been hired to help witih the pouring and most orders have now been shipped out. So today we reopened both stores: AfAmKidsNFriends has all of our African American pieces as well as some white folks, too; CarolsCarouselShoppe has various carousels, carousel horses & critters, and other carousel-related pieces.

New Molds

For some reason I am not able to upload pictures at this time.

Clay Magic 1520/1521 (body / 2 heads & 2 left hands) CHECKER PLAYER (white/black) Set bisque $40.00 Finished $55.00, One man bisque 11.75 One man finished $16.25 Set is 2 men (one white & one black) sitting on 2 twig chairs, with a checkerboard on a barrel/

SALE

Now on sale — 15% discount on all orders over $50.00 Use code SUMMERSALE when ordering.

Thanks for following our web page. Please tell you friends to join.

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!

Sunday was the third and final day of the MVCT Fishing with Friends retreat. Blogging that day did not even occur to me so here goes…

Twenty people participated in some way, whether teaching, painting, or behind the camers. Some were here for the whole thing — made all eight projects — and some just for one class or one day. Some joined us on Zoom from Pennsylvanis, Texas, Arizona, and California. Some even drove here from Alabama! It was a great experience and we all learned something new. As occurs with any event, there were a few hiccups but we finally got through all of the projects.

If you registered for the retreat you should have gotten a link for the Zoom recording so that you can watch it again to complete your projects.

If you didn’t make it to the retreat we can teach any of the projects in class, just ask. Pictures of projects, painters, and teachers are on the MVCT page. Videos of us painting door prizes and drawing prizes can be found on Carol’s Carousel Classes Group under Fishing Fridays.

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!

Come and join us Monday or Wednesday evenings at 6:00 for Open classes.

Watch the unusual holiday series on Facebook Live which is moving to Thursdays @ 7:30
(see Carol’s Carousel Classes group).

Look for special workshops, usually on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Every Friday evening at 7:00 EDT we do a Facebook Live on Carol’s Carousel Classes called Fishing Fridays. During these online classes we are making a variety of fishing themed pieces to hand out at the…

MVCT Fishing with Friends Retreat being held June 11-13.

The Retreat

There are three options for participating in the retreat: come to the studio ($90) OR watch via Zoom with a to-go kit of supplies ($115) OR watch via Zoom but use your own supplies ($20). There is also an option to purchase a Fashenhues kit for the Saturday morning Koi class ($17.30 which is a 30% discount). Send me a message if you would like a registration form. A $30 deposit is required with the balance due June 1st. If you cannot make it to the studio for the entire retreat, you can do one day only for $30. Please note that these are costs only for materials and paints, we are not permitted to make money on a retreat. However, presenters will get IADCCT credit for presenting. The Zoom video will be available after the retreat is over in case you miss a day.

The Projects

We are making a total of 8 projects. Friday afternoon & evening is four Make & Takes (quick projects) including silkscreens, sponge-its, bubbles, and cobblestone. Saturday morning is the Fashenhues Koi Fish with Sheryl and Saturday afternoon is a clay puzzling Ugly Fish with Jim. Sunday finishes up the retreat with a Duncan U brushstroke class called “Gone Fishing” with Larry Knight and a stained-glass look fishing scene with French dimensions and glazes by Carol. Pictures of the projects are on the registration form.

The Prizes

There will be a drawing each day: Friday for the Fishing with Friends tree (with a fishing scene) painted in stains. Saturday the drawing will be for the Fishing Kids on a bench done in Fashenhues. And finally, Sunday’s drawing will be for the Fishing Boy with Dog done in underglazes.

Throughout each day there will be drawings for small items for door prizes. These include several fish dishes & shell dishes, windchimes, a planter, a cotton box, a shell box, fish family wall plaques, undersea tile sets, and coffee mugs. Also, each partipitant will get a shell party favor (most are painted with True Matte glazes) filled with candy.

Paperwork

Supply lists will be sent to anyone choosing to use their own bisque and paints. We can send these out as soon as we receive your registration.

Project Tech Sheets for all eight projects will be given to studio participants as we paint each project and will be sent with the to-go kits of supplies.

Prize Tech Sheets will be available for anyone participating in the Retreat. They are also available for purchase at $5.00 each by sending a message to Carol. These are for all of the projects done on the Fishing Friday Facebook Live videos. None of the items are up for sale since they are being made for the retreat. However, bisque & paints (with tech sheet), or finished pieces can be ordered for most items.

That’s it for tonight! Hope to see you at the Retreat!

Carol’s Carousel Creations

Where having Fun is why we come!