No ordinary cookies here… cardamom and cloves make these a spicy treat.  My first experiment, am somewhat pleased with myself.  The cookies are a bit on the dry side but remind me of biscotti culture… must eat with your favorite brewed beverage, rose hips tea for me.  Think they would also go great with a savory dish like a yummy stew! Life is good.

A handful of glazes, endless combinations in layering and combining!  Unloading the kiln is like opening one present after another as I get to see the result of a test-tile run.  There are a couple of gems among them, what a discovery!  I can’t wait to use my favorite recipes on, well, who knows!

You can send this image as an ecard!

It’s happening, the North Tower is taking shape, this is SO exciting!

The giant slice of Oak, a friendly smile… Silver Maple that stood where now the studio sits.  But she took out my beloved Volvo with one of her limbs, so she left a legacy.  Oh, do I need to look for a photo of the crush?

I spent last weekend painting, for no other reason than to let it out and let it in.  In a room with 27 other folks, there were life size paintings, bright and not so bright colors and a whole lotta processing!  See The Painting Experience.  I haven’t quite digested the experience, so more on that later.  However, as part of the workshop, we watched a one-hour documentary called “The Fire Within“ about M. C. Richards, an inspiring artist and teacher who was a central figure at Black Mountain College.  I was very moved by M.C.’s commitment to and practice of authentic living and creating, what a treat to get to know her a little bit in this way!  Her way of being and letting herself create was exactly what we were practicing that weekend… painting from source.

Three days later, in the course of lightening her physical stuff, my friend, painter Robin Sierra, gave me two boxes of books, most of them art related, she thought I may appreciate them.   I put one of the boxes on the arm chair in my studio and sat down on the floor, reaching up and into the box to pull out one book at a time, one surprise after another!!!  If I had been sitting on a chair, I would have fallen off of it when I pulled out M.C. Richards’ “The Crossing Point”!  I love synchronicities, they just make my heart jump and put a huge smile on my face.  I examined the fragile paperback and jumped up, holding it with two hands, shouting “thank you!”  After I calmed myself down and started back into the process of surprise-surprise!, here came “Centering”, M.C. Richards’ classic work!  It was mentioned numerous times in the documentary I saw three days earlier.  That did it.  I must start reading!  Thank you Robin, thank you M.C., and thanks to the folks at The Painting Experience!

A favorite spot for snack time or to check out the water garden.

Yes, Fairies speak French!

Are you in?

Centipede Dog greets visitors on the South side. 
Ricki welded him into being… I got to play with colorful glass. 
The sun adds a dance, we smile.

 
Click thumbnail for larger view.

Fairy Doors are magical portals that open our lives to more than
what the eye can see.  It’s an enchanting world of mystery!

Get yours at WoolWorthWalk downtown Asheville.

Enjoy!

Fairy Doors are magical portals that open our lives to more than
what the eye can see.  It’s an enchanting world of mystery!

Get yours at WoolWorthWalk downtown Asheville.

Enjoy!

Dylan created this gorgeous stepping stone, complete with his handprints, crystals, stones, a skull and a star! Way to go Dylan! Who knows what’s next…

They paint the most fascinating pictures!

Whether I’m working on a sculpting project, like the transformation of the fairy garden entrance here, or grooming a flower bed, this little seat is helping my (somewhat, ahem) aging body to deal with all this low to the ground work.
It folds down, as shown, for a low seat, flips over for kneeling, or can be used as a stool. All that with weather proof padding and a robust frame. Spotted it at Improvements Catalog.

Diane Cassada creates original handbags from one of society’s most abundant trash items: grocery bags. And there is a never ending supply of “thread”!

Grocery bags must be cut in strips that are then used to crochet these sturdy and very handy bags. Diane sells them to friends and family, currently hardly keeping up with the demand. No surprise: she sells them for around $25-30, only a token for the hours spent creating each bag. She delights in “creating something out of nothing” and absolutely loves that her materials are free. She’s experimented with different colors, too, some bags come in bright yellow, green, or blue.

This is, in my eyes, the ultimate form of recycling: Re-using, re-purposing (although the purpose actually stays the same here). If you are interested in buying one of Diane’s bags, carry them in your environmentally friendly retail inventory, or would like more information, please email me for Diane’s contact information.

Damaris Pierce
www.IAmThankful.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Asheville, NC Artist Launches National I Am Thankful Postcard Art Project-Submit Postcards Now

Asheville, North Carolina—This November, artist Damaris Pierce launches her new, national postcard art project just in time to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. The project, entitled I Am Thankful, encourages individuals of all ages and organizations such as craft guilds, public schools and counseling centers to create original postcard artwork expressing gratitude. Postcards submitted can honor people, places, things or circumstances and artwork can be simple or elaborate as long as it remains two-dimensional. Once completed, postcards can be mailed to Pierce’s attention at her studio located at 69 Wamboldt Avenue Asheville, North Carolina 28806. All postcards will be considered for public display. In January 2008 Pierce will feature the submitted gratitude postcards on her newly redesigned web site http://www.IAmThankful.com.

“Gratitude is more than a concept”, states Pierce, “it is a state of being that can be cultivated every day”. “I believe when you focus on the things you are thankful for each day you begin to live a more joyful, fulfilled and pleasurable life,” she continues, “I want to share this with others and create a public display of gratitude that ripples around the globe!” Pierce hopes to attract a variety of people and groups to the project including elementary school classrooms, art students, scrapbook enthusiasts, spiritual communities and more. “All people understand what thankfulness is, it is universal, it crosses all cultural boundaries, “ adds Pierce, “I want to encourage them to express, share and live it.” For more information on how to submit postcards contact Damaris Pierce at or visit www.IAmThankful.com

Pierce, a German native, is a self-taught “outsider” artist who works with many mediums including stone, wood, paint and glass. She moved to the United States in 1990 and has resided in Asheville, North Carolina since 1998. After a successful corporate career Pierce was inspired to make a dramatic transformation in her life. She chose to relocate to the mountains to begin living a more conscious and meaningful life dedicated to creative expression. Her original artwork is currently featured in multiple Asheville art galleries and she consults one-on-one with clients as a creative and spiritual mentor. Pierce was also recently chosen to be the German translator for the EMOTO PROJECT. This project is the latest from Dr. Masaru Emoto, who is currently developing a children’s book of his nationally recognized studies of water crystals, The Hidden Messages From Water.