Comments on: Porcelain Birds, Juicy Color Combos and Update http://coloradoartstudio.com/2008/10/04/porcelain-birds-juicy-color-combo-and-update/ Handmade Pottery and Ceramic Jewelry by Cynthia Guajardo Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:09:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cynthia http://coloradoartstudio.com/2008/10/04/porcelain-birds-juicy-color-combo-and-update/comment-page-1/#comment-4433 Cynthia Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:25:14 +0000 http://coloradoartstudio.com/?p=1162#comment-4433 <b>Noelle</b> - I finally found the info about the workshop I took at University of Southern Maine while I was a student at the time. Ray Chen - who was then ceramic's chair at USM, organized an all clay event and exhibition at USM the fall of 2002 called "Pushing Clay" <a href="http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_02-03/clay.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_02-03/clay.htm</a>. There were a lot of events that week, including a hands on workshop taught by Carol Grant, an instructor at Coppin State University in Baltimore. She's had an interesting path on the road to becoming a ceramic person and I remember her as a very warm, thoughtful and generous instructor. It wasn't so much a mold making workshop as it was how to use unique molds as embellishment for pots or as architectural pieces. During the workshop, she constructed a ceramic arch for installation above a doorway. Thanks <b>Patricia</b> - By the time I decided to go the drug route, I was exasperated. It was as if my body had reset itself and wouldn't budge. While a part of my desire to lose weight was inspired by vanity, it really is a health issue for me - my father died of a heart attack at age 43, and my paternal grandmother was plagued by heart problems her whole life - had bypass surgery in her 60's and then a series of smaller heart attacks. When my weight is high, my cholesterol levels sky rocket. Our thyroid gland controls metabolism among other things - so frustrating. I'm not sure why the drugs worked when intense exercise and minimal calories didn't. From what I learned about the drug is that it alters the brain's chemistry in addition to inhibiting appetite. In the beginning, I had to remind myself to eat - I'd forget...and that is weird. Meanwhile, my Dr. wants me to stay on it one more month because my thyroid hormone levels have probably changed due to weight loss. The less a person weighs, generally, the less thyroid hormone a person requires to maintain "normal" levels. I'm ready to go off the drug because I really don't like taking anything that's not necessary. And, I doubt I'll ever fit into those super skinny jeans I've been carting around since college ;) I'm okay with that. I feel better now, have more energy and am not out of breath if climbing stairs. I really hope I can maintain the loss now so I don't have to get on the roller coaster again. You are so right about clay - so many possibilities and not enough time to explore it all. <b>Judy</b> - I postponed having my crown redone since it was just done in 2004 when I lived in Maine - just ticks me off to have to pay for it again 4 years later. I have pretty good teeth and don't really ever see the dentist and stayed at the practice in Maine because I loved the hygienist - unfortunately, the dentist wasn't as good as she was. Luckily I have dental insurance through my husband's job, but I still had to cough up $500 + change to have the crown replaced here in Denver. $500 represents a lot of clay or maybe even a new piece of equipment! :) I dragged my feet for 2 years, and luckily, when the dentist took my old (new) crown off, there wasn't any damage or decay to the surrounding teeth. I guess I can count myself lucky. Funny thing is that I needed a crown because I am apparently a nocturnal teeth grinder and cracked my tooth in half - I woke up one morning in Maine and took my dog out in sub 10 degree F weather and when I sucked in the cold air - ouch. Thanks <b>Denise</b> - the colors are so intense right now. I'm going to bring my camera to the park this morning and hope that the garden beds are still there.... It's about that time of the year when they're put to sleep for the winter. Speaking of winter - the mountains were supposed to get 6-12" of snow last night. Luckily it only rained in Denver last night. <b>Janet</b> - Yes, the colors are that intense right now! I'm not sure that will translate well to ceramics, but I sure love that pop of color. My husband and I love to move - though with each subsequent move we make, it becomes harder. It's sort of a time for cleansing and purging. I think I told you that my husband graduated from Rutgers in NJ and it's a lovely area - especially if you find a home on the coast. Congrats on your loss too - Noelle – I finally found the info about the workshop I took at University of Southern Maine while I was a student at the time. Ray Chen – who was then ceramic’s chair at USM, organized an all clay event and exhibition at USM the fall of 2002 called “Pushing Clay” http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_02-03/clay.htm. There were a lot of events that week, including a hands on workshop taught by Carol Grant, an instructor at Coppin State University in Baltimore. She’s had an interesting path on the road to becoming a ceramic person and I remember her as a very warm, thoughtful and generous instructor. It wasn’t so much a mold making workshop as it was how to use unique molds as embellishment for pots or as architectural pieces. During the workshop, she constructed a ceramic arch for installation above a doorway.

Thanks Patricia – By the time I decided to go the drug route, I was exasperated. It was as if my body had reset itself and wouldn’t budge. While a part of my desire to lose weight was inspired by vanity, it really is a health issue for me – my father died of a heart attack at age 43, and my paternal grandmother was plagued by heart problems her whole life – had bypass surgery in her 60′s and then a series of smaller heart attacks. When my weight is high, my cholesterol levels sky rocket. Our thyroid gland controls metabolism among other things – so frustrating. I’m not sure why the drugs worked when intense exercise and minimal calories didn’t. From what I learned about the drug is that it alters the brain’s chemistry in addition to inhibiting appetite. In the beginning, I had to remind myself to eat – I’d forget…and that is weird. Meanwhile, my Dr. wants me to stay on it one more month because my thyroid hormone levels have probably changed due to weight loss. The less a person weighs, generally, the less thyroid hormone a person requires to maintain “normal” levels. I’m ready to go off the drug because I really don’t like taking anything that’s not necessary. And, I doubt I’ll ever fit into those super skinny jeans I’ve been carting around since college ;) I’m okay with that. I feel better now, have more energy and am not out of breath if climbing stairs. I really hope I can maintain the loss now so I don’t have to get on the roller coaster again.

You are so right about clay – so many possibilities and not enough time to explore it all.

Judy – I postponed having my crown redone since it was just done in 2004 when I lived in Maine – just ticks me off to have to pay for it again 4 years later. I have pretty good teeth and don’t really ever see the dentist and stayed at the practice in Maine because I loved the hygienist – unfortunately, the dentist wasn’t as good as she was. Luckily I have dental insurance through my husband’s job, but I still had to cough up $500 + change to have the crown replaced here in Denver. $500 represents a lot of clay or maybe even a new piece of equipment! :) I dragged my feet for 2 years, and luckily, when the dentist took my old (new) crown off, there wasn’t any damage or decay to the surrounding teeth. I guess I can count myself lucky. Funny thing is that I needed a crown because I am apparently a nocturnal teeth grinder and cracked my tooth in half – I woke up one morning in Maine and took my dog out in sub 10 degree F weather and when I sucked in the cold air – ouch.

Thanks Denise – the colors are so intense right now. I’m going to bring my camera to the park this morning and hope that the garden beds are still there…. It’s about that time of the year when they’re put to sleep for the winter. Speaking of winter – the mountains were supposed to get 6-12″ of snow last night. Luckily it only rained in Denver last night.

Janet – Yes, the colors are that intense right now! I’m not sure that will translate well to ceramics, but I sure love that pop of color. My husband and I love to move – though with each subsequent move we make, it becomes harder. It’s sort of a time for cleansing and purging. I think I told you that my husband graduated from Rutgers in NJ and it’s a lovely area – especially if you find a home on the coast. Congrats on your loss too -

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