Love Sown

6 Tips for Growing Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:17:00 +0000

Over the past few years, I've picked up some valuable tips for growing tomatoes. This by no means implies that each summer I'm guaranteed a beautiful crop, and in fact am yearly frustrated by the usual problems - pests, disease, cracking, blossom end rot. These tips can help improve crops.

1. Pinch those suckers. Different gardeners will tell you different types of tomatoes should or shouldn't have the suckers removed. If you are planting in a small space and deal with crowding, go ahead and pinch them to make sure to keep the growth in check and allow plenty of air movement around plants. My first crop of indeterminate tomatoes (they will keep vining out all summer) had plants with 5 - 8 main stems. I got tons of tomatoes, but all the other crops that I had interplanted were shaded out. Also, the tomatoes dwindled in size as the summer went on and eventually succumbed to disease because they were all up in each others' business.

2. Remove the bottoms sets of leaves so that none are touching the ground. Continue removing old, yellow foliage. When you water the garden or it rains, the leaves on the bottom are easily splashed and can pick up undesirables from the surrounding ground. Also, the bottom leaves don't do as much to support the plant growth the more they are shaded as the plant grows. Help the plant conserve energy for tomato production.

3. Plant the suckers. This is something new I am trying this year. This is really only valuable if you have a longer growing season and can start new plants on into the spring or early summer. If you end up losing some plants early on, no sweat! Just bring in the sucker reserves. Here's a useful site for guidance of how to make the most of suckers: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/how-to-get-a-second-crop-of-tomatoes-for-free

4. If you spot a diseased plant, ditch it. So many times I've babied a diseased plant, pulling leaves and branches, only to wish I'd ditched it at the first sight of a problem. Pests such as thrips will hop from one plant to the next spreading the disease, so yank them and bag them, and take them to the curb for the yard waste pickup.

5. Water less frequently but more deeply. Early in the spring while seeds are germinating, you need a daily moisture mist for shallow, tender roots. As the season progresses, tomatoes will thrive if their roots are given a chance to dig down deep. Watering less frequently but with a greater volume allows the water to sink down deeper and support that root growth. This will also help them be less sensitive to the hot, dry days as the roots will have access to water stored in the soil.

6. Water in the early morning. When possible, water in the early morning to prevent excessive evaporation losses.Think twice about watering in the evening, as plants covered in moisture all night long are more prone to mildew growth. If you are able to water with a drip hose, applying water directly to the soil, that is even better!

Pinched suckers in a jar

What tips would you add to this list?

Exploration of Dill and Dew

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:01:00 +0000

With its feathery leaves, dill is such a lovely herb, especially after a light rainfall or covered in morning dew. I've enjoyed watching the changes, the flowers opening and all the bugs that are attracted to it. I'll continue to grow this collection of dill photographs and look forward to the seed formation that is just around the corner.

Insplosure!

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:40:00 +0000

This Saturday I'll have a little table at the Pour House for the 7th annual Insplosure. It is a free event and a nice way to step indoors while hanging out at Artsplosure. I still have several mugs, succulent gardens, some tall vases and PLENTY of pendent necklaces. I'll bring along the nature prints too. This is probably the last show of the spring season before I get back to the wheel. Production completely halted the beginning of May to give my shoulder time to rest, so now I need to build up some new inventory, and plan on focusing on mugs, small planters, and small kitchen prep bowls.

On the other end of my work spectrum, this summer I'll be proposing and developing two new distance courses on compensatory mitigation (focus on streams, wetlands and buffers in NC) and on water rights (local and international focus). As a graduate student, I took a course in Political Science on International Environmental Law, which I loved, and am excited to explore this in light of Bio and Ag Engineering.

And here is my crazy child jumping off our treehouse.

Succulent Pottery Planters

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Mon, 06 May 2013 01:17:00 +0000

The afternoon before The Handmade Market, my love of gardening collided with my love of ceramics, and the result was little succulent gardens. I enjoyed piecing these together so much that once my shoulder is good an rested, I will keep headed down this rabbit hole of fun. I've replanted the leftover succulents and pieces that broke off during handling and will save them for later. The fuzzy cactus is soft and so adorable that I may not be able to let it go.

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis "Thimble Cactus" and Crassula argentea "Gollum"

Echiveria minima and Crassula argentea "Gollum"

Pachyveria blue pearl and Rebutia albiflora

Pachyveria blue pearl and Rebutia albiflora - but I think the fuzzy one might actually be Rebutia albipilosa

The Handmade Market

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Thu, 02 May 2013 01:06:00 +0000

The Handmade Market is this Saturday. Do you know what this means? It means I've got to get planning and packing! Now that I've amassed these new ceramic pendants, I need an efficient way to display them other than spreading them out on the table. I swore I wasn't going to get into jewelry making, but with the crazy shoulder pain I've been experiencing, the work on smaller pieces is a welcome reprieve. Also, I'm thinking of having some new prints on display even though I told Joe that I was I was done printing stock and would just work on selling what I had.

Dill and Dew

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:48:00 +0000

After a spell of dry weather and pollen, we've had several days of rain, and there has been much rejoicing in the garden. All the peppers and tomatoes are in, and nearly everything else has been seeded. Beans sprouts are popping up along with thousands of weeds. I have my work cut out for me over the next couple weeks. Last year, I waited to pull the weeds and they dropped seeds. This is a great idea to employ on herbs and lettuces - not on weeds.

While I've been exploring new life in the garden, I've been testing out my new camera. I really should read the manual as the two of us get into regular battles of will. I get the focus just right, press the button, and nothing happens. It is probably just that I am trying to use the wrong setting for the light, and the camera realizes I'm an idiot. Here are some shots of dew drops on dill from this morning's garden walk.

Rogue Oregano - Orogueano?

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:25:00 +0000

This week I've been finding sprouts of oregano in places I didn't plant oregano. This is just one more benefit of taking care of the bees. The pruning rule is that once a sprig of oregano is 6" long, it should be cut back to the ground. This keeps the new growth coming. However, oregano left to grow makes lovely clusters of flowers that the bees seem to love. Last year, I let it grow out, blossom and seed, and now little oregano seedlings have sprouted up everywhere. Any local friends who are looking to start an herb garden should come see me before buying plants. I'll hook you up!

Rock and Shop is this Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:03:00 +0000

Over 100 juried emerging artisans will be selling their wares at the Durham Armory on Saturday alongside live bands, J-Memory, The Durham Ukulele Band & The Al Strong Trio. The Rock & Shop Market runs from 11-7pm and will be held alongside the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. The cost is $5. See you there!

Samples of what I'll have at my table:

More Signs of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:11:00 +0000

I planted new asparagus, and today it is pushing up through the soil, and one tulip has opened up. Also, the borage that seeded itself beside the large patio pot is in full bloom.

Spicy Swiss Chard and Fried Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

This morning as I was misting the new lettuce and carrot sprouts in the garden, I looked over at the Swiss Chard and was overcome with a pang of guilt for not using it. I love growing things, but eating them is another story. So I gathered about 5 - 7 leaves from the center (forgoing the older, larger ones), and found a quick saute recipe online (here), which I tweaked to my own tastes. The trick to this recipe being so good and fresh, is the greens went straight from my back yard to the kitchen. My plants have overwintered, so I'm assuming the cold weather and newer leaves warded off any bitter taste. Also, from what I read, the red-stemmed chard is a little sweeter.

Spicy Swiss Chard and Fried Egg:

Ingredients: 1 bunch of Swiss Chard (red stem), 1 clove garlic, 1 1/2 tbs butter, 1 tbs grated Parmesean, dash of red pepper flakes, dash of salt.

1. Pick the newer mid-sized leaves off your Swiss Chard.

2. Rinse well and cut into 3/4" strips. It is fine to use the stem until you get to the bottom of the leaf, where it may be too tough for your liking.

3. Slice a clove of garlic.

4. Melt 1 tbs of butter in a saucepan over medium head and add the sliced garlic and a dash of crushed red pepper.

5. Cook for about a minute before tossing in the chard, a dash of salt and 1 tbs of water.

6. Saute until beginning to brown and add 1 tbs grated Parmesean.

7. When the cheese starts to pop and turn golden, scoop out the Swiss chard onto your plate. Add another 1/2 tbs of butter and fry your egg in the same pan.

Making a Bead Tree for the Kiln

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:06:00 +0000

My newest ceramic project has been making pendants using lace imprints. While I only glaze one side of star ornaments, pendants, I felt should be glazed all the way around. After all, whenever I wear jewelry, it always manages to flop around to the wrong side. Therefore, I needed bead tree, but after spending hours trying to find the most affordable option that also made sense for pendants, I came up empty. Even the sturdy replacement wires for the commercial bead trees were costly to purchase.

So I decided to make my own. I found Nichrome, 14 gauge wire on eBay, the same wire used in the high-fire stilts I bought, and ran one load with it propped on kiln posts. The wire sagged when the span between posts was larger 3", and the posts were prone to falling over, especially when stacked (I'd run out of tall ones). I lost a few pendants on that first firing, but there was good information learned: 1) I needed a short span with a prop that wouldn't shift, and 2) I needed tile protection for my kiln shelves.

The width of my kiln shelves determined the size of my bead tree. I have 20" x 10" half rounds. My finished bead tree is 10" long, 4" wide and 2 3/4" tall. The span between the four vertical supports is 3". At first I cut out holes to run the wire through, but then considered it would be easier to load up the wire and let it rest in grooves. I also intially made the design for two parallel wires, but added a center run in case I needed to fire wider pieces in the future or wanted to sneak in a row of little beads between the pendants. The setup provides some flexibility of use. The long horizontal slab that the tree is built on provides the kiln shelves protection from accidental drips.

How to build a bead or pendant tree. Shucks, let's call this bit a "Pendant Castle".

This is my original design. Go make one for your own use, but please don't reproduce this for sale.

1. Measure your kiln shelf and determine how you will orient your pendant castle on the shelf and choose the desired length of your castle and number of vertical supports needed. I could have made mine much longer, but I wanted to be able to turn it on the short side and leave room for other pieces on the shelf, so I went with 10" wide. With an approximate 3" span, this required four vertical 1/4" thick vertical supports.

2. Determine the needed height of your vertical supports. My pendants are usually not taller than 2", but most have been 1.75". Figure that the hole for the wire will be about 1/2" down from the top edge and leave 1/2" clearance at the bottom. This is the height of your center supports. Add in another 1/4" inch for the thickness of the castle base, and you will have the height of your end supports.

3. Determine the needed width. My outer holes are 2 1/4" apart. This leaves room to run two wires of 2" wide pendants at a time. Granted, they would extend beyond the drip base on the outer edges, but I'll forgive them that. I'm currently making oval letter pendants that are only 1" wide. If you want to add a third wire, figure in your desired pendant width with an extra 1/2" clearance (1/4" for each side).

4. Roll out a 1/4" thick slab and cut out your base and walls. Since I wanted 10" total length, I ended cut out a 9 1/2" long by 4" wide base. (TIP: Don't lift the base up. If you pull it off your work table, it may not lay flat after it is fired. I rolled it and left it alone until it was firm enough to turn the whole castle over so I could clean up the edges.) I then cut two 4" x 2.75" vertical supports for the ends and two 4" x 2.5" supports for the middle. Here's where I went wrong - I attached them to the base slab BEFORE cutting out holes. Don't do that. Mark where your holes need to be and punch them out before building the castle.This is the same if you choose to use grooves on the top edge, though they are easier to add later. Depending on how fresh your clay is, score and slip or just gently compress the joints together. The reason I chose to attach the end supports to the outer edge of the base has to do with the moment arm. If that wire got heavy, the outer supports would have a little more protection against that pulling rotation. (There was a little engineering for you... alas, education not wasted after all.)

This is my original design. Go make one for your own use, but please don't reproduce this for sale. Thanks!

Upcoming Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:04:00 +0000

Two big local shows are coming up. The Rock and Shop Market takes place in downtown Durham, and The Handmade Market is in downtown Raleigh. I will be set up at both of those events. Keep and eye out on my facebook page for specials leading up to the events. As always, my Etsy site stays freshly stocked for those of you who aren't local. Local friends who wish to shop online but pickup at my house are invited to use the code "RDUPICKUP" at checkout so you won't be charged for shipping.

April 6, Durham, NC

May 4, Raleigh, NC

Post PPD, Church, and The Struggle to Believe

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:56:00 +0000

My feelings towards my church of 10+ years are ambiguous at best. Where I've landed today is with gratitude for and love of my immediate community of believers, those I’ve held close and who have done the same with me, yet disengagement with and distrust of my church. I won't say exactly what events have led to this place, but I know the ache in my heart I feel over those on the fringe - those whose marriage status, gender, age, personal struggles, season of doubt, past sins or current sins feel less than - not in the eyes of Jesus of course, but in their value to the church.

And yet I know I am deeply and unwaveringly loved by God.

As I’ve shared in the past, the last five years have not only brought two amazing children to our family, but they have also brought two miscarriages, severe insomnia, and postpartum depression brought on by the sleep deprivation, which coincidentally have overlapped with the church struggles. Thankfully, my doctor helped me out and I found emotional stability and sleep for the better part of two years. I’m very thankful for the medical intervention that pulled me from a dark place and enabled me to care for my family and myself. Then a few months back, seeing Matthew’s reaction to my tears, I realized he had never seen me cry. I could only remember a couple of times that I'd cried since being on antidepressants, but I could feel the numbness and my calm façade of spiritual apathy beginning to form cracks.

This season of frustration with the church, which began shortly after Daniel was born, was tucked away for a while (I thought I had moved past it) before resurfacing in the past year as my entire perception of it was blown to bits. This was accompanied by severe distance from God. I began to question His very existence and wasn't too troubled about the depth of my doubts. I could blame it on the winter blues, but this felt darker. I was actually quite overcome with cynicism and began to view believers as those simply seeking peace over or a consolation prize for enduring the harshness of life. I observed the smiley Christians, and saw their joy as foolish, their love, insincere, and I wanted nothing to do with that. I saw others crush each other and say mean things about each other. I saw reconciliation and apologies but a lack of restoration. I found religious projections verbal or written doused in smug-faux-holiness that only served to alienate me farther from the church – quite the opposite of the intentions of the authors.

Then in January I got a random text from my friend that Jesus was going to seek me out that day. Actually, she said “Today God’s gunna be all up in your biznass… He’s got something for you.” Immediately I assumed I would find myself in a car wreck and hospitalized, because God (if He were in fact real) would obviously have to cause me pain to turn me back towards Him. I drove as carefully as possible to pick up Daniel from preschool and waited the rest of the day for something bad to happen. As I relayed this bit to her semi-shocked self, it became quite evident that I had trust issues with Jesus and it was time to start a new conversation with Him. I've always leaned strongly into Him in times of hurt and loss, but during seasons of "normalcy" or at least of minimal drama, I've never learned how to lean in. So I assume that in order to reconnect, He's going to bring pain. My response to her text was a bit of a shock to my system, and I knew it was time to wean of my medication and begin the other side of healing.

After carefully coming off a two and a half year relationship with a low dose antidepressant (with my doctor’s permission) and coming off a prescription sleep aid, I began to feel and process again. The thought that crossed my mind several days after my last dose as I was driving through downtown Raleigh was that a world without the Father was a very sad, very scary and hopeless place. Then I chose to remember the times He had carried me. I remembered how He was my sole companion many nights during my early college years and I remembered how He wept with me during my second miscarriage as I twelve weeks pregnant sat alone to the silence on the sonogram. Also I heard my five year old child’s heart seeking to know more about God and heaven and looking to me for answers and preaching to me about grace. Finally, I didn’t feel shunned or judged. I saw that He was there regardless of my anxiety about the church keeping me outside its doors. I felt His patience with me, and I cried out. I know You are there, and I know You aren't letting me go. I just don’t know what I believe. When I chose in that moment to believe that He was there, my soul was responding to that seed of faith He planted 25 years ago. And I cried. I answered a friend's phone call after sending her a heartfelt "this is where I'm at" email, and I was a blubbering yet joyful and awake mess.

As I’ve continued to deal with my doubts, I’ve seen that maybe there is a difference between faith and belief.

Ephesians 2:8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Faith is something God gives us. It is His grasp on our souls that is steadfast no matter how far we wander off, no matter how much we kick and scream with our hands over our eyes pretending that He can't see us. He lets us go out in the world, reject Him, and while we are headed back His way, He's there waiting. And while we're out on the town face in the pig slop (even this internalized kind), He doesn't love us any less. His affection doesn't wane. We are just as valuable to Him and as precious to him as the most steadfast long-suffering deacon who serves week in and week out. We are approved.

And sometimes, I think we need to see that. We need to drop all the balls we are juggling and be reminded that though we fail, though we absolutely do nothing, though we may not even be able to believe, God is still on his throne sustaining us and He isn’t talking smack about us to the people that actually seem to get it right. Though the church grows up all around us so that no one recognizes our faces any longer and we feel like a complete stranger in a place that once felt like home, there is an eternal home and Kingdom and a loving father that is always welcoming us in. Always has the table set for us. Always stoops to wash our feet – our dirty pig-slop, tired and weary feet.

And then there is belief: the choice to drown out the lies with truth, the struggle to see Jesus' face amongst the crowd, the climbing up the tree to catch a glimpse as he walks by, rowing the boat to the other side of the lake to spend a moment with God. Perhaps belief is the struggle to respond in truth to the person of Jesus.

Mark 9: 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

This unbelief that has been plaguing my heart, in some regards is a choice. I've heard the phrase, "Doubt your doubts," and while that is a fantastic idea that I wish I'd employed, I've instead leaned into my doubts. Has this changed my status before God? No, but it has made me spiritually ill.

Psalm 42:1-2. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? God is the water for our soul.

Choosing unbelief or opting to pull away from God is choosing liquor over water when we are parched. When we pull away from God, we deceive ourselves into thinking we are better off alone, but what we actually experience are echoes of death. However, God doesn't let us go. There's no spiritual hospice, because we were created in God's image as eternal beings. Our souls don't die. They either rage on in defiance masked in enlightenment, apathy or tolerance or they relent to Him. The fire of the Holy Spirit that burns inside is constantly whispering to us and crying out to the Father on our behalf.

Romans 8:28. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

I’m now struggling to accept that my church attendance has nothing to do with God’s hold over me. As my same friend who sent the poorly received text of encouragement says, even if I stayed on the couch and ate Cheetos the rest of my life, God would still love me just the same. However for so long, I’ve allowed my involvement in and usefulness to the church to define my value to God. And this error of identity is what has caused so much friction and pain. While God doesn’t let us go, sometimes the local church does let us go, and sometimes it fails to love and blames others for its failings. So due to that issue of transferring God’s role onto a corruptible institution, as I have struggled with the church’s shortcomings and use for me, I have struggled with God.

Until I believe that God alone is worthy of my worship and defines who I am, my connections with the church are bound to get warped. I do believe in loving the local church – the local church is part of the body of Jesus, and you know what? I do. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be hurting for it and constantly thinking about it. I just feel I’ve had an unhealthy relationship with it as I’ve sought it to provide me with the security and identity that can only be found in Jesus. And yeah, the church has really made some mistakes.

Eventually God does win us back, having never truly lost us in the first place. He wins back our belief, our love, our obedience, our enjoyment and worship of Him. And if we can learn to forgive and trust that His design for Godly community here on earth is possible, though broken as it will be, He wins us back to a local body of believers. This past Sunday I knew it was time, and as I slid into one of the back rows a few minutes late, it was okay. I felt I was supposed to be there. And appropriately, we sang the line, "if you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all."

My Life in Piles

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:45:00 +0000

Years ago, my friend Andrea did a photo series of her life in piles. This morning as I was surveying the downstairs living area, it struck me that I currently am living in piles. These piles represent daily chores, impending projects, and dumping grounds for things not in use or waiting to be sold. These are only the physical manifestation of the even larger number of mental and emotional piles that my brain is constantly sorting through.

First Day of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:17:00 +0000

borage about to flower

arugula in blossom

Regrets and Insecurities

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:38:00 +0000

What looks like a highly productive and diverse life, to me often feels like a smattering of shallow wading pools across the surface of a life that was meant to go much deeper. As I've rounded the corner of 30 and am well on my way to 33, I'm proud of my accomplishments - stable marriage, two kids, PhD in engineering, small pottery business, funky little vegetable garden, and yet I can't help a feeling of disappointment that creeps in when I am making strides towards gratitude for the life I've been given.

Here's where I struggle. As an engineering Adjunct Professor, I recognize that in the world of academics, I'm nothing. I teach distance courses from home, but that is the current extent of my involvement in academics. I'm okay with being a nothing. However, I look at the 8 years of schooling and people who invested in my education and feel like I'm letting them down. No, not a one of them probably reflects, "What happened to Paige? What a waste!". We make a much bigger deal of ourselves than anyone else does. I chose to stay home with kids rather than putting in 14 hour days to constantly prove myself and work towards the next level. I don't regret the decision, but I do feel like I've squandered something.

As a wife, I hate that my husband carries the brunt of the finances when I am so heavily educated. It just seems stupid that I am pursuing a business in ceramics, which pays next to nothing, when I could likely find a lucrative position in my field of study. Also, as proven last weekend while I was away at a pottery show, Joe is far better at running the house and caring for the boys than I am. I'm not looking for pity here - it is just the fact of the matter. My husband is amazing, through and through, and I feel like he got the raw end of the deal. I suppose I owe him a really awesome mug for his desk at work - you know - to remind him that I get to pursue this artsy passion while he grinds away at the cubical life.

Then there is the fact that from the age of 10 to the age of 23, I was so certain that I would be an overseas missionary, that it was my response when asked what I would do with my life. Guess what? I live in Raleigh, NC, US of freakin' A. I think of all those friends that invested in my short-term trips and feel like I have let them down. Yet once again, not a one of them is reflecting, "Wow. Paige sure was a big fat liar." But still, I carry that guilt. Not only am I in Raleigh, but as I've grown into this adult self who stays home with her kids, I find that I'm a bit of a hermit - as in I'm relieved when friends have to cancel their plans with me.

Then my 32 year old self steps back, swallowing that knot forming in the throat and says, "It's all dust in the wind. Your identity CANNOT be in your earning power, your sphere of influence, your accomplishments. It cannot be in how people perceive you." Everything I ever needed to accomplish was accomplished for me on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago. His love for me doesn't waver when I struggle to believe in His existence. His approval of me doesn't wane even in the midst of self-loathing. His joy over me doesn't dissipate when I fail to fully live up to my potential.

My choice now is to try to enjoy God. For me, this involves gratitude, observing his creation, and working with my hands. I can't express how thankful I am for what I've been given, and for the Giver himself. I'm thankful that there's more than this life. I'm thankful that it's okay if we never get to travel to paradise islands, the Alps or even take our kids to Disney, because there is so much more beauty and fun and fulfillment to come. And there is so much beauty now - in the plants as they unfurl their first leaves, in the taste of cheese as it mingles with tomato sauce, in the laughter shared between my boys, in seeing clay formed into a vessel. Knowing there is more to come makes dealing with these current disappointments possible. Knowing I am loved and approved lets me be okay with self-disappointment and move forward in confidence.

Art for All - First Away Show

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:43:00 +0000

Tomorrow I head to Wilmington for my first art show outside of the Triangle. I have spent the week doing a little preparation each day, which involved pricing pieces, buying a 6' and 4' folding table, boxing up pieces, buying special treats and easy dinners to make the weekend go smoothly at home for the boys, cleaning off my iphone so it runs smoothly, going to Ornamentea to finish off some necklaces and pendants, and buying a second card reader. Today is the dreaded task of clearing out the Jeep, which is in such a state of disarray that I may wear gloves while I clean it out.

Perhaps most exciting about this show is that I'll be in the company of some diverse and impressive artists.

I'm really excited to have a place to crash. It's no big deal - just a second row beach house. That's right. Saturday morning I'm going to stick my toes in the sand and take in the salt air before heading back to my booth. The best part is the friend who has let me join her is just so very fun.

If you are in Wilmington this weekend, please come visit Art for All and be sure to stop by and visit.

Bone Meal

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:08:00 +0000

I made a genius discovery this week, perhaps several. By genius, I mean that I pulled a dumb gardener stunt. Last year, I used Alaska brand liquid fertilizers and fish emulsion on the seedlings for phosphorus, but this year, as my favorite plant store is closed on Sundays, I found myself at Lowes where the only liquid fertilizer options were of the electric blue, just add water nature. Most options on the shelves were geared towards Nitrogen (Lowes shoppers really love green leaves and green lawns, I suppose). So I grabbed a bag of bone meal, which published a higher P value than N value. At home, I swished it around in a cup of water hoping it could suspend long enough to pour over the tray of seedlings. First, bone chunks sink. They don't suspend. They don't even pretend to suspend. Bone powder does suspend for a bit, so I managed to pour out the water sludge combo over one tray and figured I'd wait to do the other. The next day, I kept smelling poo. After nearly a full day of blaming the foul odor on the boys, and after a thorough search for random poo, I took a big whiff of the seed tray and found the culprit. Fortunately, I had one dome lid on hand tall enough for my leggy seedlings, and the odor is now contained.

UPDATE 3/2/13. Today I discovered about 70% of the tomato seedlings completely withered. So don't directly apply bone meal to the soil surface around plants.

The scoop on bone meal:

1. Bone meal is crushed beef animal bones, typically used for phosphorus needs which boosts root and bulb growth. Fish bone meal has higher levels of phosphorus.
2. Bone meal is insoluble in water. Mix it into the soil when starting seeds or bulbs or use as a side dressing. If you've already planted your seeds in little seed pods or trays, use fish emulsion for your immediate phosphorus needs.
3. It doesn't smell so great. Use it outside.
4. Not all bone meal is created equal. Check the bag for the N-P-K percentages.

Espoma is 4-12-0
Dr. Earth Fish Bone Meal 3-18-0
Green Thumb 6-12-0
Miracle-Gro Organics 6-9-0 (This is what Lowes carried. Notice the Scott's brand has less P than the other options on the market and higher N than most. I'll likely return one bag and find Espoma.)

5. Fish bones have been used to nullify lead. If you suspect your soil might have lead, probably not uncommon in urban areas, do your research.

Bird Prints

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:39:00 +0000

There are about three years of bird photographs on my hard drive, which I’ve been altering in photoshop by lifting the birds and turning either into graphic pen sketches or stamps. On the newest three (chickadee, nuthatch and mourning dove), I've included their calls, which any bird lover should recognize. “Yank-yank-yank” is the call of the Nuthatch we hear almost daily around here.

Chickadee. Order this print on Etsy

Nuthatch. Order this print on Etsy

Mourning Dove. Order this print on Etsy

Zone 7b - 8a February Planting

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 01:29:00 +0000

Spring is on the way, and I'm seeing signs of it outside in the garden and in stores, where seed stock is in.

You can start the following indoors: kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, lettuce, sage, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon, thyme, mint, chives, oregano, artichokes, onions, celery, leeks, and peppers.

The following can be planted in the ground now: asparagus, cabbage, onion sets or plants, peas, radishes, rutabagas and turnips.

We got snow this past weekend, but there are already some pea sprouts coming up!

Daffodils in the Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:41:00 +0000

Making spoons from a mold (Pictorial)

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:38:00 +0000

How to make and use a spoon mold

1. Pick some spoon you like, roll out a slab, and press the spoon into the clay. If you are using a spoon with a slick surface, spray on cooking oil first. I didn't coat my wood spoons, and they didn't stick.

2. Trim the excess clay and clean up the edges.

3. The spoons should pop out fairly easily once the clay starts to firm.

4. Bisque the molds. See how my big one has a lip at the top? Don't compress your clay back around the spoon when you first press it into the clay to avoid creating this. It will save you a lot of trouble later when using the mold.

5. Press your clay into the mold and trim/sponge the excess. I used fairly damp clay, wedged it and started on the bowl end, pushing in the clay as it expanded up the length of the mold. This helped reduce cracks from adding in small lumps.*One big clay lump = good, Many little lumps = bad*

6. The spoons should easily release as they become more firm, unless your molds have a lip. Then you are in for some fun. I like to remove mine while they are sill soft so I can manipulate them without cracking. The thinner the handle, the easier it breaks.

7. Roll on texture texture or let them be smooth.

8. Add curvature to the transition to make a ladle and finish with a nice burnish.

Hand Building Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:02:00 +0000

After two cycles of predominantly wheel-thrown pieces, I've returned to hand building. Since I can do it at the kitchen table, it is perfect for these days when the garage is too cold.

Later this month, I'm helping throw a birthday party for a friend, and we are making spoon rests. To prepare, I've been practicing and looking for good textures to use ... and gluing the letters back on my rubber stamps. Yesterday, I went to the flea market in search of crocheted doilies and landed this lovely one. The thread is a stiff and not too absorbent, so it is working great with the clay. I created a set of 5" dessert plates today.

While I've been browsing Pinterest for spoon rest ideas, I've come across ceramic spoons and a blog by Jeanette Zeis on how to make them. I have these three little wood spoons that came with a cutting board, so I used them to make molds.

My Etsy site has been updated with a few herb spoon rests and many other fun items.

Super Sow Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:49:00 +0000

Super Sow Sunday. Well.... I was all set to do my indoor seeding next weekend, and my Twitter feed blew up with #SuperSowSunday. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Daniel and I planted one type of tomato in our plastic egg crate and peat pods.

Earlier this week, we had some spring-like weather and planted peas, carrots, turnips, onions, and more garlic. I plan on doing more tomatoes and peppers indoor next weekend, but we are out of the trays, so the dirty fun is over for this evening.

Quick tips for indoor seeding!

Seed starting kits are perfect if you haven't been saving up your clear egg crates and those plastic trays that come with the fabulous apple pies from Trader Joe's.
Last year I found that my local plant place sold seed trays piece meal, and I was able to get a tall dome. Tall domes are great if all your seeds don't germinate at the same time and some plants need more head room.
Use a good seed starting soil or potting mix. Don't grab dirt from the garden. I did this once, and pests tore up my seedlings from inside the stems. I believe they were corn seed maggots - can we say "NASTY"?
Water and feed the seedlings. I always water them well (probably too much), but last year was the first time I used a little fertilizer. The seedlings were amazing because of it.
Pick the sunniest spot you can, even if you have to move a couch. I took over the entire corner of our living room because it faced the South-East sunny side.
Determine your last frost date and read the back of seed packets to get the planting date right.

Throwing Cake Stands on the Wheel (Update)

noreply@blogger.com (Paige Puckett) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Last week I posted "Throwing Ruffle-Edged Cake Stands". I attempted to fire too quickly, and the one from the demo blew up in the kiln. Upon inspection, I could see where the ball used for the pedestal connected to the plate. If it had been bone dry, there wouldn't have been an issue, but it still led me to throwing as one solid piece another to prevent any weak spots.

Right as I was starting back at the process, my hair dryer bit the dust. It may have even melted out the outlet on the power strip. I suppose clay and electronics do not mix well. I ended up picking up a Wagner 10 Amp Heat Gun that night at Home Depot. It isn't too powerful - no flames shoot out the end - so I think I'll manage to control it.

One step in the process was giving me grief. I wanted to be able to cut the plate off the bat while it was still wet so that when applying the heat, there wouldn't be added stress by the bottom sticking and the top drying. So I added enough heat to the pedestal and arm to lift the plate and inserted a paper towel underneath, compressed the plate again to reset the memory of the clay, and continued to add heat until it was firm enough to turn over.

I'm still dealing with the flatness of the surface and having to trim a little bit and continue to throw it out an up to create a little bowling effect. So much for an elegant process - but at least the end result it looking fairly elegant. In the bottom picture, the one the right is my latest stab at the process. The one on the left looks a little lopsided to me, although it could just be the picture or the base it is standing on.

I had a potential Etsy customer ask if I could do a custom order 11" plate, so I'm currently working on making larger pieces. With 10% clay shrinkage, I have to throw it at least 12.2" wide and leave some play room for the ruffles.