First workshop was last Friday, Learning to Mud

If you missed it go the Facebook page

Carol’s Carousel Creations 

and look on the left side of the page for videos. We did the Learning to Mud workshop and painted flowers on the salt & pepper shakers. To –go kits are still available.

Getting Ready for Workshop #2 Flower of Hawaii

Friday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m.
We will be painting Flower of Hawaii on Duncan’s hyacinth vase. The original David Hoff piece is painted on a large platter. You will be getting several different sizes of the pattern. The smallest is what I used on the sample. However, you could use a larger size and put one flower on the front and more around the vase. I will be demonstrating the large pattern on a platter so that you can more easily see the lesson. As with workshop #1, you can order the to-go bag ahead of time and paint along with the broadcast. This workshop is only $15.00.

Workshop #3 is Friday, June 5th,
National Donut Day

Workshop #4 is Friday , June 12th,
Happy Birthday to Me!

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come?

We will just have to have our Fun from home for a while.

This is yesterday’s Facebook post.

PREPPING FOR ONLINE CLASSES.

1. First is the Learning to Mud scheduled for next Monday 5/18 at 6:00 p.m. Have you registered yet? Come to the studio and wear a mask or order a to-go kit and work at home on Facebook Live.

Making samples for the ten workshops we have coming up.
2. Flower of Hawaii on the hyacinth vase
3. Metallic Rub-On Paste on angel animals (includes rub-ons)
4. Artful Daisies (Garden) on the lattice plate (cover coats)
5. Lemons Times Two on a pie plate
6.
7. Wine & Cheese Board on a cutting board
8. Wild Rose on a pitcher
9. Ziggy with Azure markers (picture not Azure)
10. Poppy Silkscreen on a large planter or vase (choice)

Don’t forget to register ahead of time for wither in-studio or online classes.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

Step 1: Making Masks

Pulled out the carousel fabrics and choose a couple for our masks: carousel animals and balloons for the ladies; bold stripes for the gents. And the carousel picnic scene for the bathroom curtain. ordered some elastic and downloaded a pattern.

Step 2: Topping Tables

We need to clear the tables; wipe down with soap and bleach; and set the stations for social distancing.  The six-foot tables will have two stations; the eight-foot table will have three stations. That means we only have seating for six students and a teacher at any one time for workshops. For open classes we could set up two more five-foot tables in the kitchen, for a total of ten plus teacher. It is not quite the recommended six-foot social distancing (more like 3 1/2 to 5) but better than our usual setup.

Step 3: Visiting Video

That is, learning how to make and upload a video of our lesson OR how to broadcast live for those who wish to do the workshops at home.

Step 4: Creating Classes

1. Learning to Mud — Kelly salt & pepper shakers
   
2. “Flower of Hawaii” — brushstroke workshop on Hyacinth Vase
   
   

   
3. Metallic Rub-On Paste — on animal angels
   
   

   

   

   

   
4. Flower Garden Plaque — “Artful Daisies” on lattice plate (similar to this one)
   
   

   
5. “Lemons Times Two” — on pie plat
   
   

   

   Carol’s Carousel Creations
   Where having Fun is why we come!
   Hope to see everyone again soon.

I started a new Facebook Page to feature our teapots.

Welcome to my new Facebook page where we will feature all kinds of teapots and tea-related items. As many of you know, we hold an Annual Cookie Exchange Christmas Tea in our home and often others throughout the year. I have a personal collection of about seventy-five teapots which resides upstairs in the dining room. And we have molds for nearly a dozen teapots that you can make yourself or have us make for you. I will be sharing pictures of teapots that we have (or catalog pictures if I don’t have a sample made). Eventually I will add pictures of teapots in my personal collection as well.

TODAY’S FEATURE IS TEAPOTS FOR YOUR TABLE

This is our fruit and lattice teapot and it is rather large, 11″ wide from handle to spout. I painted this with a variety of semi-translucent glazes to bring out the details, and Concepts for some of the fruits. It won several awards for me at the Midwest Ceramic Show including the coveted Peggy Award.

Molds for these three teapots were purchased together. I really wanted the Carousel Teapot because of our name Carousel Creations. First picture is from a catalog, the second one is painted in stains with Christmas colors (glazed inside, it can still be used). The Flower teapot and the Strawberry teapot are both catalog pictures. We have had teapot workshops in the past where everyone painted one.

This Plain Teapot lends itself to multiple decorating techniques. The catalog picture on the left shows decals and sponging. The one on the right is done with sand painting a design that was traced on. This teapot could be cut out for a light or a candle or hung by the handle for a birdhouse. [Sorry about the  blue tape — this was taken at a ceramic show and the pieces were taped together.]

These are the latest addition to our teapot molds at the request of a student. They are two different brands of Dragon Teapots. First picture is a catalog picture; second was painted in a variety of shimmer glazes and accented in white gold for a Christmas gift. The third picture shows optional lids — Bavarian Lady on the teapot and Wizard in the lower left corner. Last picture is that teapot done all on one color shimmer glaze (unfortunately, if cracked and is not usable).

NEXT POST WAS TEAPOTS FOR YOUR GARDEN

We have molds for the Cozy Fairy House Teapot and the Enchanted Fair House Teapot. The first two are calatog pictures and show the houses cut out for lights. However, if putting outside in your garden it would be best not to. On the right we see a student piece and then a Facebook picture of painting it as a Nightmare Before Christmas piece. At the bottom there are two views of one that I painted. These molds are purchased from Clay Magic who has four additional Fairy House Teapots. Go to ClayMagic.com to see them. If there is interest we can purchase additional molds.

Here we see a unique way to use a teapot as a birdhouse in your garden.

Today’s post on the new page is Tea–for-one. Check it out!

Future posts will include teabag holders, magnets, picture frames, planters, clocks, and so on.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

We are planning a tea after social distancing restrictions are lifted.
Please plan to come and bring a daughter, a mom, or a friend.

In these days of Social Distancing to keep us all safe from Covid19, we reflect on better times, being able to go to work and being able to spend quality time with friends and family.

Spending time alone at home requires us to find things to keep us busy — cooking and cleaning can only go so far. Having a creative outlet soothes the soul and gives us a purpose in life. We can create things for our home or garden, or can make gifts for the not so distant holidays. And the kids need to keep busy, too.

Drive-by-Ceramics

• If there is something on your shelf you want to take home and work on
• If there is bisque on our shelves you would like to purchase
•  If there is something in our catalog you want us to pour

We have put together Easter buckets in the past. We included two pieces of bisque, paints, and a cheap brush as well as coupons for studio time. The paints in the buskets are a strip of several acrylic paint colors.

We have a supply of Cute Kitty, Scottie Dog, and Comic Mouse on the shelf. They sell for $5.00 in bisque.

We also have a supply of small realistic bunnies. If you have Fashenhues paints at home, they work well on the rabbits. If not, simply use acrylic paints. They also sell for $5.00 in bisque. Large realistic rabbits are available on order. Small bunnies are 6″; large rabbits are 12″ & 15″ and sell for $12.50 in bisque.

And, of course, we have chocolate bunnies, baskets, and eggs which we poured for the Easter workshop. If interested in these please inquire.

What to order

• You can purchase paints or borrow paints.
• If you wish to spray your painted pieces you can use any spray including hairspray. Or we can sell you a can from our stock.
• If you wish to work on fired pieces with underglazes or glazes, that is okay, too. just drop off when ready to fire.

How to get your supplies

• Stop at the house and pick up your order from the front porch. You can pay through Facebook or PayPal or leave cash or check in an envelope.
• Can’t get here? We can deliver if you are within a half-hour drive of Austintown.
• Too far away? We can ship.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

We can still have Fun painting. We just have to do it at home!

Monthly Drawing

The winner of the drawing for March is baddkham36. Please contact me by sending an email to CarolsCarouselCreations@gmail.com to discuss your prize. You may order from our online catalog and receive a $20 credit or you may come to the studio when we reopen. The February winner was indianeskitchen. I have not received a response so please contact me by email as well.

The drawing is discontinued due to lack of participation.

Studio is closed

Until the government lifts the social distancing rules we will not be not open.

Etsy orders delayed

Etsy orders and other bisque orders will be filled as soon as we can. I realize that Etsy orders are already paid for and will refund money if you wish to cancel your order. The reasons for the delay are that Jim has been unwell and Carol needs to do the pouring. Now Carol has been dealing with a bum right leg since before convention in February and last week she fell and scraped up the left knee pretty badly. Walking is rather difficult right now so moving heavy molds and standing at the pouring table is next to impossible. She is mostly sitting in her chair with her legs elevated. That being said, we will try and get something done this week.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

Looking forward to everyone coming back after the all clear:
Technique workshops, open class, birthday parties,
and Party Van workshops at the nursing homes

There isn’t much news to relate since the studio is closed. However, the following activities are still on the schedule:

• Drawing for March follower coupon. So if you aren’t following this page please do so. The winner gets a $20 gift certificate.
• Easter Workshop to be rescheduled: it will probably be after the holiday so you can choose either the Easter basket, chocolate bunny, and eggs OR you can learn to MUD on another piece. Just choose from the shelf.
• Spring Fling Tea to be scheduled after the social distancing is revoked.  This is NOT a ceramic event but just a fun social time. All friends, family, and followers will be invited and are welcome to bring their mothers, daughters, or other ladies that are special to them. Keeping watching for the invite.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun in why we come!

Something you can do at home is search out the catalogs on this website and order what you want to make when we are open again. There is “Af-Am Kids”, “Carousel”, & “Catalog” (everything else).

I can’t believe that last week’s post never got published! Guess I didn’t press the final button — but you can read it today.

UPDATE

We are listening to the government and staying home. We are also not having anyone in so the studio is officially closed until further notice. IF you want to pick up something that is on your shelf, or was fired, or you want to pick up some bisque to work on at home, please contact me and I will box it up for you. This includes greenware to clean at home.

EVENTS CANCELLED

Birthday Party, March 22th

• 10 teens + 7 adults, to be rescheduled (getting their order ready)

Easter Workshop — learn how to MUD, March 29th

• since this is only a week away, it is cancelled for that date
• We are pouring Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies, and Easter eggs for the event.
  IF the quarantine is lifted and we can reschedule before Easter the items will be ready.
• IF the quarantine is in effect through Easter we will reschedule the workshop later in the spring. Other items will be available for the MUD activity if you do not want to do eggs.

Party Van Event, Inn at Ironweed, March 31

• Spring/Easter piece, to be rescheduled

Fashenhues Certification Training, April 18 & 19

• 
  Ruth Ann was coming to the Midwest Ceramic Show, since the show is cancelled so is the training.
• September does not suit the people who signed up for the event, so we are rescheduling for 2021 the week before or after the Midwest Ceramic Show.

Midwest Ceramic Show, April 24 & 25

• It will be combined with the Fall show, September 11 & 12.
• competition entries will be taken then so keep working on your pieces.
• classes scheduled for April will be taught in September
• MVCT will help with the IADCCT table and demonstrate techniques

ACTIVITY

So what are we doing in the meantime?

• firing pieces that are on the firing rack
• pouring pieces requested in greenware
• pouring, cleaning, and firing items requested by students
• pouring, cleaning, and firing Etsy orders
• pouring, cleaning, and firing items for events that were postponed.
• pouring new molds and painting samples

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

Remember — We Do Take-Out!

You can still have Fun at home!
And let the kids have some Fun, too!
Call or message that you want a To-Go box,
then come and pick it up.
We will pack up some bisque for you and
can include paints & brushes if needed.

With all the news and social media discussion, I suppose we should also address the pandemic that has been declared over the coronavirus. Some share statistics of other viruses that have come and gone, or other practices that cause death at a much higher rate than this virus, and ask what the panic is all about.

For our family, we have decided to keep Jeremy home from the workshop since the government has declared the schools closed. I see that now the bars and restaurants are closed as well. Hopefully, all this caution and precautions being taken will slow down the spread of this virus. We are doing without milk and toilet paper as some folks found it necessary to deplete the grocery shelves of these items, rather than share them with the rest of us.

However, it is still business as usual. We are here and no one is sick (other than the usual sinus drainage, arthritis, and PPS pain that lives here). So IF you want to come and paint ceramics you are welcome. Or IF you want to come and pick up pieces to paint at home, you are also welcome to do that. We do have some things on the shelf that the kids might like to do.

And we also have some “Easter buckets” if you want to make up one for your kids or grandkids. We premade these last year and have some supplies left. Included were two pieces of bisque, paint & brush, candy, and coupons for free lesson for a child and one for an adult. We sold them for $15 or two for $25.

I also want to remind you of the upcoming Easter workshop which had been moved to Sunday, March 29th. We have allowed extended time as the workshop includes an Easter basket and chocolate bunny as well as a new technique called mudding. This is a special thickened product which is applied with a small bottle and cake decorating tip, then drawn through with a liner brush to make the design. The technique can be done on glass, on unfired ceramic glaze (then fired), or on non-fired products. We will be painting our Easter eggs with acrylic paints in spring colors before applying the mud. Here is the poster.

Carol’s Carousel Creations
Where having Fun is why we come!

So whenever you are feeling well
and not afraid to go out in public
come on over and have some fun!