FireHorse Designs of Texas

Moving on but never forgetting

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:57:00 +0000

It's been four weeks since our Rissa passed over the rainbow bridge, leaving our home but never our hearts. The day I brought her ashes home I also brought home a little puppy-mill Chihuahua to foster from the vet. It's taken a lot of gentle care and love but she is finally coming out of her shell. However she decided to bond with one person and that person is my husband. So we decided to find a rescue poodle that would help the Chihuahua and us. Last weekend we drove to Houston and decided to adopt "Buzz" a wonderful extroverted two year old male poodle. He and Shadow get along fine and both love long rides in the car and van. It's good to have something to cuddle and take care of again. We're helping them and they are definitely helping us.

We renamed "Buzz" to Sam (for Sam Houston). The group we adopted Sam from is k-9 angels rescue and they are doing wonderful work!

Three weeks and counting

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Three weeks ago, on January 18, Rissa told us it was time to say goodbye. It has been so very hard not having her joyful greeting for me when I come home but it is even harder for my husband, who is retired and has the empty house. We are grateful for the time we had with our little angel and know we did the right thing by her. But oh how I miss my little girl.

There is never enough time when you love something.

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

One of the hard parts of adopting a rescue animal is that you don't know all their history and they are usually older animals so that when you bond, it can be for a shorter time period. I'm learning this personally with a little rescue dog we adopted in May 2008. She was about 5 or 6, a toy poodle who had been mistreated and was very shy about people. But when she bonded with my husband and myself, it was a fierce bond the likes of which I'd never experienced. We became her world. Not just because we fed her, but because we didn't hurt her and I think that was a new experience for her.

Suffice it to say, I have never had a dog like Rissa, and I knew she was older so I would be lucky to have her 9 or so years assuming she lived to the same age as my other toy poodles, who lived to be 15 or 16. That was not to be.

Last July she was diagnosed with breast cancer. We did surgery and chemo (yes on a dog, but sometimes you have to do things that in the past you would have thought ridiculous). So the time frame slipped to the point we were looking at having her maybe another 2 years or so. Now it may be today that we lose her.

I don't regret adopting her but I am angry with the short time she was given to us and I only hope we made up for the abuse she had in the first part of her life. It hurts so much to love them and know they will leave you all too soon. I understand why people are leery of adopting an older animal because of this exact situation but they need us, oh how they need us. And they will give back more than you can imagine.

I love you Rissa and I will do what is right for you, that I promise you, little girl.

Season's Greetings to All!

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:13:00 +0000

See a need, fill it.

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:29:00 +0000

Having lost quite a few pets over the years and currently having a terminally ill dog, I realized that there may be a need for small affordable pet creamtion urns for cremains. So I am going to offer porcelain urns as part of my art inventory. It may not be a pleasant product but I think it may fill a need. My supplier for the plain glazed urns will be Maryland China and I will keep a few of their urns in stock for china painting names, dates, artwork etc. Inquiries welcome.

Moving out of my artistic comfort zone

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:57:00 +0000

I started working on a fleabit gray on the Chaney striking-out arabian sculpture, which is a favorite of mine from Animal Artistry in the UK. I've never done a fleabit gray, let alone one in a fired finish, so this is a real stretch for me! He's not done yet but here are two in-progress shots.

New items in my Etsy shop!

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:15:00 +0000

I've put some new items in my Etsy show and will be adding more during the holiday season. I'll also be stocking some local stores with my items (Rockwall/Greenville TX) and will be taking custom orders. Here is a link to my shop: FireHorse Designs on Etsy

Cheryl

New fused glass items coming to my Etsy shop this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:19:00 +0000

I have three kiln loads of goodies that will be uploaded to my Etsy store this weekend, November 26-27. The link is Etsy Shop for FireHorse Designs

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Cheryl

FireHorse Designs, makers of Pottery, Ceramics & Fused Glass, since 1980
www.appaloosas.org
http://www.firehorsedesigns.org/
Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/firehorsedesigns
blog: http://firehorsedesignxtx.blogspot.com/
FB: http://www.facebook.com/#!/FireHorseDesigns

Fusing again!

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:43:00 +0000

Now that the weather has cooled off some, I'm working with the kiln again. Yesterday I made some fused glass cabs and also played with an electric engraver and some dichroic glass. Here are the results! I plan on making more, in different colors and patterns, to list to my Etsy store for holiday shopping. The first photo is of a bracelet made from tourquoise and black cabs. The second is a necklace made from etched dichroic glass.

A Day to Reflect, to Enjoy our Freedom, and to give Service

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:42:00 +0000

I remember where I was on 9/11/2001. Tomorrow I will use some of my class time to teach my students, who were 8 years of age or less then, what September 11 means, not only in terms of history but in terms of the future and what it means to serve.

This particular piece by Budweiser always manages to bring tears to my eyes.

Bud Clydesdales 9/11/2001 Tribute

Thank you to our young men and women who serve in the armed forces, as firefighters, and as police. God speed.

Items listed to Etsy!

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:41:00 +0000

I've uploaded many items to Etsy. There is jewelry, home decor items, etc. Please check them out at FireHorse Designs Shop At Etsy

OOAK Handcrafted Jewelry: orders being taken now

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Offered for your consideration, for you or your holiday gift recipient, OOAK custom glazed earthenware and fused glass jewelry. All pieces can be customized to your color and breed preference. Glazes and glass colors can also be customized. Pictured are pieces finished in crackle glaze.

Each piece is handcast from earthenware clay, fired to bisque, glazed, and then china painted. Detailing such as mother-of-pearl, gold and silver overglazing, etc. can also be added. Item will be crafted to the design of your choosing, be it equine, canine, feline, floral, etc.

Depending on the complexity of the design, allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. Pricing will be dependent up design of piece and the type/style of necklace, earrings, pin, etc. chosen for the piece. For example, a necklace with beads or semiprecious stones will cost more than a simple black velvet necklace.

A 50% deposit will be required at the time of ordering. Please e-mail me at firehorsedesigns@aol.com or cherylfarrens@aol.com for a price quote. PayPal accepted. Thank you!

CG Lakeshores for sale through Cindy Neuhaus

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Cindy Neuhaus of The Lakeshore Collection has listed for sale many CG and tests finished by me. Please go here Lakeshore CG by Cheryl Farrens to view the pieces.
They have all garnered NAN cards and some have earned championships.

Donation to a good cause and a tea pot!

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:29:00 +0000

I have been laid up with the silly leg ulcer again and my beloved toy poodle, Rissa, has been hospitalized since last Wednesday. Add to that a burned out element in my kiln, and you have a REALLY bad start to July. So I have thrown myself into some china painting and digging through some older work to find a donation piece for a silent auction a friend is hosting, which will assist a great rescue operation.

On a positive note, the vet thinks I may be able to bring Rissa home tomorrow and the leg isn't hurting nearly as badly as it was before I got to see the doctor on Friday. Gotta love pain meds LOL.

So without further ado, here is the abstract tile I'm donating to the Breakables at Breyerfest silent auction. I used underglaze watercolors and then applied gloss clear glaze using a sponge, giving it a pebbled effect. I then mounted it in a rosewood frame.

I am also working on a porcelain teapot. I have tried to emulate the Chinese brush-art style by using dilute black china paint and a calligraphy brush. I like what I have so far but I think it's a bit too stark and am debating where to go from here. I don't want to stray too far from the Chinese style so I am thinking about adding some minor detailing like bamboo leaves. Hmmm.

Before I can fire the china paint though, I will need to fire the kiln empty so that the element will form its oxidation coating properly though.

Lastly, here is a photo of my little girl, whom I miss greatly and hope to bring her home soon to convalesce.

Finished tiles

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:04:00 +0000

The day after my last post I ended up in the ER due to a bladder infection. It took about 2 weeks to get over it and gain my strength back. I finally got back into the studio last week and finished the tiles. I did them in decorator china paints over a glossy clear glaze and then added mother-of-pearl overglaze.

The top tile I am donating to the Breakables at Breyerfest show as an award for my Lakeshore challenge. The highest placing fired Lakeshore finished by me will receive it as a prize. So if you are going to Breakables at Breyerfest, make sure you stop by the Lakeshore suite and check out my latest custom glazes, tests, and SR!

For more information visit The Lakeshore Collection or BreyerFest Breakables

Photos of hand-cast bas relief projects

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:02:00 +0000

I've been working on some hand-cast, self-sculpted bas-relief tiles the past two weeks. I want to try to do some of my own molds and to do so I have to create my own work. So I decided to do bas-relief tiles, which are easy to create, fun, and can be done in decorator colors. The two horse-heads were sculpted in low-fire white clay, fired to cone 04 bisque, and then glazed a clear gloss.

The medallion at the bottom was cast in low-fire terracotta clay that had a small amount of native clay added to it, hence the rough texture. It was glazed with dilute translucent white glaze for the background and with dilute translucent blue glaze. These medallions were made for the school that I teach at, as end-of-year speciality awards. Mixing the clay from the school property made them unique and a keepsake for the students. I was pleasantly surprised that they all made it through the bisque firing without doing something like cracking or exploding LOL.

Box fan recall. Check your homes, barns, and studios.

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Lasko has again recalled some of its box fans. I know I have them in my barn and studio. If you use box fans or know someone who does, please pass the word. I know that many elderly and shut-ins use them this time of year. Here is a link to the models affected: CPSC Lasko and this photo is an example of one of the models involved.

Thank you, Dad.

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:11:00 +0000

My father was an 18 year old farm boy from Virginia, freshly graduated from Rocky Mount High School in 1941, when he was drafted into the army air corps during WW II. He was sent to England after basic training. He was stationed in England for 4 years and during that time he learned how to repair air craft engines and was promoted to a staff sergeant. During that time he met an English girl whom he married and sent back to the states as a war bride. I came along 10 years later. For all my father did for his country and for me, I dedicate this page to him. I love you Dad and I really really miss you.

Luther Paul Martin

June 2, 1923 - May 23, 2004

Wyakin is here!

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:13:00 +0000

Happy dance! When I came home today the bisque Wyakin had made it from across the pond to my doorstep. Wyakin was sculpted by Michelle Platt and produced in porcelain by Donna Chaney and Animal Artistry. I unpacked her and took some photos. The next step is to clear glaze her, which will happen this weekend.

Starting summer vacation a bit early

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:19:00 +0000

While my summer break doesn't actually start until June 1, I started working on some projects. I'm going to finish my next SR for Lakeshore by the end of June and do some slab-building of bas relief tiles ala the four seasons.

Here is the first tile in all its muddy glory. It's made out of low fire white clay and about 4 x 4 inches in size. Once it dries to leather hardness I will straffito more detail into it and clean it up. Then it will be dried fully, bisque fired, and glazed. I'm looking at producing 4 sets of 4 in different colors, each season being a different style.

First look at a glazed Wyakin

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sat, 14 May 2011 18:48:00 +0000

I am so excited! I ordered a bisque Wyakin, sculpted by Michelle Platt and cast by Donna Chaney, when the edition was first announced. I've been told the bisques are beginning to ship! I can't wait to get my hands on her. The pictures below are of one of the OF versions that Animal Artistry is producing on the Wyakin china mold.

Too close for comfort

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:17:00 +0000

On Easter Monday a small squall suddenly popped up near us. A hard rain, some pea-sized hail, and then a loud wall-rattling bang-bang. The power stayed on (which out here is unheard of!) but there was a smell of ozone and then the TVs and dish came on by themselves and then went dead. We checked the attic and didn't see a fire so didn't realize until today that the lightning had entered the house from under the overhang on the far side of the house where my studio is. The DirecTV guy was amazed at how the cables and gold-connectors had melted. We were blessed that the rain put the fire out before it did any more damage. We lost the TVs and receivers but the kiln and computer are fine. So are the horses and other critters. God was good to us.

Show results and a new CG

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:57:00 +0000

I went to another show this past Saturday and am pleased with how my pieces placed. I had a CG Lakeshore Touch of the Sky bring home a Res Champion for its division and my AA Tagus came in third in workmanship in a tough Spanish breeds class.

While showing is not the primary reason I create, I do like getting opinions on my work from knowledgeable judges. In May there is a juried fired arts show that I will enter some pieces in. I've learned that pleasing my inner muse is critical to being happy as an artist though. So while I enjoy entering art competitions I have also developed a thick hide to criticism LOL. For example, on one juror's card I once received the comment "Obviously not your best work." I mean what do you do with a comment like that other than laugh and move on? For whatever it's worth, that particular piece had won several times in other shows in large divisions, so I did think it was one of my better pieces LOL.

Res Champion Custom Glaze Marshall on eBay

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:15:00 +0000

I have listed one of my recent custom glazes to eBay CG Marshall by FireHorse Designs. He will come with his rosette, NAN card, and Lakeshore pin. He will also be shown again before the auction ends. Auction runs from April 10 to April 17.

Having fun with decorator art glazes

noreply@blogger.com (FireHorse Designs of Texas) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Okay, I admit I am not usually fond on decorator colors on realistic horse sculptures. But I have a bunch of crystal glazes and decided to play with a Lakeshore "Status Symbol" to see how it would come out. I have to say I was very surprised and pleased with the results. I used a Mayco Jungle Glaze that is a high gloss black with blue and violet crystals in it. Then I overglazed with Mardi Gras pearl luster and added silver metallic highlights. He is a real pain to photography with all the natural reflective surfaces but here is what he looks like: