Cabbages in Disguise

We have traditions. For our Thanksgiving Dinner we must have turkey and bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry chutney and blue hubbard squash, red cabbage and "Cabbages in Disguise".

The table is set with the finest antique lace and the "good silver". The crystal chandelier gets a new face.

And the sideboard gets a little more attention

And then there is apple pie with whipping cream laced with kirschwasser for dessert

Gina

My students worked hard

Here are a few more tiles from our tile painting workshop. There are many more to come.





Robert, our young man, a young father, an excellent student who also holds down a full time job, surprised all of us with his artistic talents.

Robert and Richae sharing the spotlight. Richae is a charming 14 year old with lots of talent. She is a dancer with the renown BYU (Brigham Young University) Dance Group.

The talented and lovely sisters, Ricky and Sherri painted these wonderful tiles.

Little Richae (she is as big as a minute) and wears flowers in her hair, painted this colorful tile.

This is Shallan's interesting tile.Some of her tiles
are still in the Kiln. She has taken tile painting
lessons from me before. Her talent always shines
through.




Robert painted this Delft Tile. I think his ancestors spoke to him.


Joan painted traditional dutch designs, albeit with a new color twist. These whimsical tiles, and a dozen more, will be installed in her new (but historic house) kitchen.

May, Richae, Shallan and Cindy painted these fabulous tiles. I can't wait to see what will come out of the kiln tomorrow. May is a really fine artist. She does not follow the rest but comes up with very original designs of her own. And Cindy is one of my most talented students. Cindy can continue without instructions, she will do well.

Gina

They are out of the Kiln

I have a bunch of great students. Their work is as varied as their personalities and their ages.

Cindy, student, mother, and housewife has taken an earlier workshop from me. She is painting 42 more tiles, all putti, for her little boys' bathroom.


May has never painted a tile nor has Ricky

Not too bad for a first timer




May is an artist, you can tell.

Many more tiles will come out of the kiln today. Everyone had a very busy day yesterday. Today, last day, is always the most productive. The kiln will be working overtime. I will keep you posted.

Gina

Today is the Day

Today begins the 3-day historic tile Painting Workshop. I never know what my students will be like. I could have a genius amongst them . . . . we will see.







This is "my" desk at the Scuola d' Arte in Deruta, Italy. My very first attempt painting ceramics in the maiolica style. Nothing was familiar, especially the brushes. I have since been to many places in the world and have learned many new (at least to me) techniques and, hopefully, I will have the opportunity to learn many more.


Pictures of failures and successes of my students' work is forthcoming.

Gina

The most beautiful milk store in the world

Every available space is covered with hand painted ceramic tiles in Farmer Pfunds milkstore of 1879

Detail of hand painted Ceramic Tiles made by Villeroy & Boch specifically for the Pfund Milk Store

The "Most Beautiful Milk Store in the World", as you can see it today, made it into the Guinnes Book of World Records in 1998.

Farmer Paul Pfund had a new idea. Milk should not be delivered in open wagons. Milk should be dispensed from a milk store. At the end of the 19th c. he moved from his farm with his family, 6 cows and 6 pigs to Dresden and opened the "most beautiful milk store in the world."

During the time of the East German regime, this beautiful shop was to be destroyed, along with thousands of hand painted ceramic tiles. It just didn't get done. They didn't get around to it. Pfunds Milk store is now a wonderful place to visit.

In a couple of days I will be teaching an intensive, 3-day historic tile painting workshop. I will have 9 students, the perfect number of students. They will receive lots of personal attention.

The workshop is being taught at the Traditional Building Skills Institute (TBSI), Ephraim, Utah. As in the past, my students will learn an old world technique, seldom taught in the United States.


Some of my students will continue learning. There is no limit to what they can achieve.

Gina

So easy to make and so special

This time of year you will find plain glass balls in craft and even grocery stores. They are so easy to decorate. They make inexpensive and lovely gifts. These Christmas balls look very complicated but they are very easy to make. If hand painting is not your forte then this first group of Christmas balls only requires a little ordinary glue and very fine paper cocktail napkins. Cut out images and glue them onto the surface, add white dots, helter skelter, with acrylic paints to give them a little extra umph.

Cocktail napkins and white dot design

Fill a clear glass ball with several acrylic paint colors , one at a time, and swirl until inside is covered. Then paint simple design on outside.

These are all hand painted with acrylic paint. Simple designs such as Christmas candles on branches or a snowman here and there make for colorful decorations. I think it is the white dots that make them extra special.

I like to place them in a large bowl or tall glass jar, all together, for a big impact. Happy Painting!

Gina