HAPPY NEW YEAR--2014

Welcome 2014!  I pray each of you health, happiness, and love!  I'll be back!

take care and thanks for stopping by

Black Friday Weekend SALE!

There is a 20% discount on totals of $15.00 or more at Marti's Buttons-n-Beads Etsy shop beginning now thru Dec. 1, 2013.

My link is here:   https://www.etsy.com/shop/MartisButtonsnBeads

Thanks to Marsha for having these sales and keeping me as updated as possible!

Hope you find something you like, thanks for stopping by, take care!

From Beginning to End, the Making of a Ceramic Button

I just got some new clay last month and it comes pretty well ready to use. 

   But clay has a memory and can cause warping if it is not conditioned before use.  So, I roll it around in my hands, squeeze it and play with it for a bit.

  Then I get the mold ready to use.  This design was from an old piece of jewelry.  It was pressed into clay and fired to cone 06.  I spray it with vegetable oil before I press the clay into it.

The round of clay is pushed into the mold and pulled off then cut out.

 The holes are added and it is initialed on the back.

The piece is allowed to dry.  I then use a wet sponge to rub off imperfections, little nuggets of clay, I just try to get it as perfect as possible.   I bisque fire it to cone 06.  This process burns out some of the gasses in the clay that happens when it gets to 100's of degrees. 

Then it is under-glazed and glazed to cone six which is over 2000 degrees.  I think mine goes to 2260 degrees, but not exactly sure.

The finished buttons:

I hope you have enjoyed the making of a button, please let me know!

and as always, thanks for stopping by and take care

Here are the BEADS!

Here are the beads with the dog comb textures and all!  They turned out okay, kind of disappointed with a couple of the glazes...it sort of fell off the bead.

The first and second bead set on the bottom row, see how the glaze fell to the bottom of the bead?  I am no clay expert, I've said that many times, but I guess this is not a good "fit" of glaze on the clay?  Anyone out there that knows, please tell me...thanks! 

But, you can see the textures, right?  So much fun!  

thanks for stopping by, take care!

Always Looking for TEXTURES...

While looking around the house looking for textures for new beads, here is what I came up with.  Some are new, some are standbys.

Years ago when I quilted I saw old fabric stamps and fell in love with the idea of hand stamping with wood blocks.  I never had the opportunity to buy any until just a few weeks ago and I ran across what I thought was a great deal so I bought some old wooden hand stamps.  Here are a couple and the wet beads just impressed with them...

Here are a few of the textures around the house that I used on a few batch of beads this evening.

From my dog comb,

a glass coaster,

an old hair band,

the cat brush and a straw.

One thing that did not work out as well as I expected was from an old colander...

These beads will dry in a couple of days and then I will wet sand them, bisque fire, glaze, re-fire them to cone six and show them off later.  These were made with my new very dark clay and I can hardly wait to see them finished myself.  

Hope you enjoyed this time together, let me know, please leave a comment!  Check out my Etsy store where there are some things ready and let me know what you think!  If you are a Facebook fan, I have a page there called Marti's Buttons-n-Beads, please look it up...

and as always, thanks for stopping by, take care!

Bisque Firing Today and more...

Today I am running a bisque fire in the baby kiln, it has angels and new pendants in it.  Hope it turns out.

Also getting ready for the set up in Cairo next weekend.

I went to Zane Trace Button Club last week, first time I had been all year.  A couple of new faces and that is always nice, a beautiful trip and some great new buttons.

Here is a couple of pics of the new stash...

I love black glass buttons, the selection is unbelievable, finishes and designs are just remarkable.  My favorite of this stash is the bowling ball and pin that dangles from the ball.  It is a wooden button and I think it's adorable.  I think it will be a great feature on a wood tray!

The weather is so cool today, had to break out the sweats.  

So as always, thanks for stopping by and take care.

Major Fail

I had a major fail today and made a total a$$ out of myself.  Now mind you, years ago, I would have taken that in stride without so much as a shake of my head, but, as I grow older, I am trying so hard to also grow up...mature...become a gracious woman...that is, until I get behind the wheel of my car and become this crazy woman.  Where is this coming from???

The young man was flagging, poorly, like he had never done it before and he drove me to madness...I said things today I haven't said for a long time and it's so embarrassing to me.  Of course, nothing was said to him, just me acting up in front of my husband and then letting a few other people know how mad I became at the guy.

He was flagging traffic for a race inside a little town-why? I have no idea why-they would have had it in town, but they did and he let 20-30 cars come from one end of town and would not let but one car at a time go from our lane...I was incensed by the time we got where we were going, because, I could have thrown a rock and hit the place we were heading for...UGGGGHHHH, I hate acting like that.

So, once more, some where down the road, I will come onto another waiting situation and the next time, I'm going to try to remember today and take it in stride, not act like a crazy person...Lord, I've had to ask You to forgive me...again...and I'm just sorry that I acted like that and that for that reason You had to bother with me today...Thank You...I will try not to act like that again, I promise!

And even though some people will see this, it makes me feel better to confess it and hopefully, someone else will learn from my mistake and not act like I did today...


take care, and thanks for stopping by!

Wet Sanding

I am wet sanding today.  This is probably the messiest part of working in the clay for me.  Just after the pieces are dry to the touch, I use a damp sponge and rub off the sharp edges or little clay clumps...pretty them up a bit before the bisque fire.  After the bisque fire, they are so much harder to fine tune, so I do it now.  Here are some things I'm working on.  I still have a few things in the white stoneware to work up.

These are just a few of the pieces I have done.  The little kiln can be loaded with lots of these pieces, but after they are glazed, I have to be careful to have room between each piece because the glaze will stick to whatever it touches.  

Okay, I better get back to work, hope you all have a good day, and as always...

take care and thanks for stopping by!

Revisited New Fort Salem

Today I set up at New Fort Salem again and it was a fun day.  I enjoy setting up and showing off my wares even if not many are there to see them, as it was today.

When I left for the Fort, it was pouring down the rain so hard, I couldn't even drive the speed limit!  It was pouring and driving would have been scary for me at 65 MPH.  But I got there safely, got wet going in, and I was in the building they use for the Apothecary.  A really nice sized building with hand hewn logs, white washed ceiling and beautiful dark flooring.  Dried flowers and herbs hanging here and there.

Of course, I forgot my camera, so I have no new pics, but you can go look at my first Fort New Salem entry and see some pics of the fort.

The best part about it was, I listened to the rain all day, well, six hours of it anyway.  Rain, a pretty good downpour at first, it just roared and then the weather settled down some and it just rained, a beautiful nature song of rain--for hours.  Every once in a while, there was the obvious big plunk of a drop of water into the water barrel.  No blaring TV, no phones, just the far away drone now and then of traffic...so peaceful and nice.  Thank you LORD for a lovely day, even a few sales and a safe drive both ways!

as always, thanks for stopping by and take care...

Out and About Harrisville, WV

Let me preface this by saying I am not a good writer or blogger, but this Challenge Of Travel sounded like fun.  I am always interested in seeing new places.  Continue on if you'd like as this is as much about me as it is the town I live in, Harrisville, WV.  Thank you, Erin, for including me and I hope you all enjoy it.  

It's the fifth of August, a simply gorgeous day, so I thought I run out and get a few pics for this blog.  This is the scene from my front porch.  The parking lot you see across the street belongs to the Baptist Church you see in the picture below.  

Harrisville is a small and very quaint town in rural West Virginia.  It has a population according to the 2010 census of 1876 people.  Some of our architecture is old and beautiful, while the new is quickly built, it is not nearly are pretty.

I was about four days out of high school from a neighboring county when I got my first job at Pineview Nursing Home.  There were patients there in ages from their 40's to one or two that lived to their 100's. I loved each and every one of them that I worked with and cried many, many tears all the way home many evenings.  Thirty some miles one way and I did that for almost a year.  I promised my mom and dad that would never happen to them, but little did I know...

After the nursing home, I got a job at one of our blouse factories.  Sadly, the one I worked at has long been closed down and now just looks like a storage shed, but a huge storage shed!  

In it's heyday, there were busloads of people that would come down from Ohio and other places, I guess, to come to the outlet for fashionable clothes back in the 1980's or so.  This is just one end, it is a huge building.

Just across from the factory was one of our grocery stores and and the second floor there are apartments.  I lived in the first one along with a roommate that was one of my best friends in High School.  We were so poor, but we had a good time!   This building now is stuffed full of collectibles and antiques.

Harrisville High School is where my husband graduated from in 1955.  The building now has doctors offices and I'm not sure what else.  It is a beautiful three story building sitting high on a hill. 

We actually have eight stop lights, but they are all in one intersection of Main Street...

We have several beauty shops, as well as several churches, two gas stations-one that has sandwiches, two auto body shops, a dentist, a couple Pharmacies, funeral home, a museum, a Laundromat, two flower shops, a radio station, two used car lots, telephone company, water plant, Courthouse, two hardware stores, even a Moose Lodge, a Napa store, five or more places to sit and eat or grab a sandwich, a Golf course, two eye doctors who share the same building, a volunteer fire department and emergency squad, a Dollar Store and Family Dollar, Shop and Save and IGA, elementary school, the list goes on, but it's fairly small.

  

I cannot go on without mentioning Berdine's Five and Dime.  I'm sure you can Google it.  Berdine's is West Virginia's oldest Five and Dime and quite famous in its own right.  Check it out if you ever come to town, it will take you back in time all on it's own.  There are wonderful things to purchase in a shop that hasn't changed much in all these years!  By the way, I have nothing in it, just like the shop.

Harrisville is a nice place to live, quiet most of the time, but we do make the local News on occasion and if we do, it's usually not good, so I like it quiet.  Almost everyone knows everyone else or is quick to find out who the newbies are.  Everyone knows your name, who you are married to and sometimes they know more of your business than you do, but that's life in a small town for you...lol

North Bend State Park is just a few miles outside of town where you can camp or stay over in a nice Lodge or Cabin and you can fish in our newly built lake or just lounge around.  The dam project was huge for us and this is just one picture of the lake that covers acres of ground, small hills and hollows.  

A lot of people around here still have horses...here are mine.  I worked on these this month.  Horses brought people to Harrisville years ago as they did most everywhere else.

Check out the other blogs here:  

http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2013/08/2nd-annual-challenge-of-travel-stevens.html

So there you have it, Harrisville, West Virginia at it's best.  Come on down, we'd love to meet you!

As always, thanks for stopping by and take care.

Some New Things

Here are some new things from the Baby kiln today.  Summer is going by so quickly!  Hope you are doing well, I've been busy, just not posting so much.

The orange and black Twisted Stars are spoken for and the LOVE beads.  I have multi colored beads this time, most of mine are done in single colors.  And the X & O beads have large holes to be put on cording of some kind.  

Millie is not feeling good this morning...I am keeping my eye on her.  I think it's just an upset stomach.  Bless her heart, I would rather be sick than her...

thanks for stopping by, take care!

Ol' Blue

My brother came over today and took me for a ride in Ol' Blue.  He only scared me once when we left rubber on the road!

Here is Ol' Blue and if you look real close, you can see me taking pics of her!

Brother is real proud of the 15" back tires! 

Beautiful wood in the back!

Black and that beautiful metallic blue interior.

Shiny chrome front, so pretty!

He said he didn't want his picture taken!  Can you see me?

Bye little brother, thanks for the ride..sure got my heart to pumping!  

Red, White and Blue

When I decided I would make something for the Beads of Clay blog, it only took a minute to decide what month I wanted.  July.  My younger brother was born in July so it's always been a special month to us.  And then of course, the 4th.  What a special day for our country!

While I was making these turquoise beads I got to thinking about what I was doing.  I took some clay and smashed and rolled it on my sidewalk out front.  Old cement, rock steady, trustworthy, and every now and then a big crack.  Yes, that reminded me much of my brother.  Rock steady and trustworthy with a wacky sense of humor.  And with a voice like an angel.  He sings all around our part of this wonderful world, for celebrations, funerals and just for fun.

  

Since we've grown up and he became a man and then a father, I can say, he is someone I am just proud to know, let alone be related to.  He provides for and cherishes his family.  He tears up when he talks about his girls…what a great daddy!  

So, here is my tribute to my brother, Calvin Lee Wilson, and what he means to me is so far beyond this…I love you, brother!

Here is my July treasury...hope you like it!

https://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTIyMDEwNHwyNzIyMTA3ODc5/red-white-and-blue?index=0&atr_uid=

thanks for stopping by and take care!

New Things Today...Finally!

thanks for stopping by, take care!

Kiln is On Again!

Kiln is filled again and I must say, this was the hardest job getting it filled than I have ever had before.  Lots of odds and ends, odd sizes of things, different items than I've made before and I made a promise to myself, I am not going to do that again!   Well, not very often anyway!

I have bowls this time, my second and third, Frozen Charlottes with clothes on, a heart shaped wall pocket, and the regular cuffs and beads.  I know there is something else, but I cannot remember what.

One thing that made it especially hard to load was after I had put most things in, I didn't have enough room, so I took everything out to start over, dropped a piece that went to the floor of course, and had to do it all over again.  What a pain!  But, I am excited about it and pray all goes well.  Tomorrow we shall see!

thanks for stopping by and take care!

A Few New Things

A few new things out of the kiln from late last week and it's an odd pic, but I am too today!  

Thanks for stopping by, take care!

New Fort Salem, Chef Challenge

Today I did something I've never done before.  My button buddy and I went to a food tasting, a food challenge if you will, of local chefs and pioneer West Virginia foods.  This is Eleanor, my button buddy, walking around the colony of New Fort Salem.

First stop, the church...

Don't those pews look comfy?  A fireplace and a stand for the preacher.  Can you imagine sitting here for hours, maybe cold because there was only one fireplace and very uncomfortable on such seating...

We hardly stay in church for more than an hour anymore, I think the folks that worshipped here had a lot to be thankful for if they were full and had a roof over their heads...how spoiled we have become, blessed for sure, but so spoiled.

But anyway, on to the food.  

We opened with samples of tea.  I had a sample of Rose tea and Lemon Lavender.  I preferred the LL, it had a delightful aftertaste.  The teas were okay, glad to have tried them.

The first of the foods I forgot to take a picture of.  It was Wilted Lettuce Salad and potatoes and ramps flavored with bacon.  I can tell you the Wilted Lettuce Salad was my favorite dish and only because it reminded me so much of my Mama's Wilted Lettuce salad.  It was delicious, I could have eaten half the bowl of it and forgot all the rest!

Second dish was venison, grits with fish, red potatoes with ramps and bacon, fried green tomato, pickled egg and peach cobbler.  The green fried tomato and peach cobbler was for sure my favorite of this bunch.  The venison, grits and potatoes had little flavor except pepper.  Very bland, hardly any taste at all...just my opinion remember!

This dish was my favorite.  Pork tenderloin, mushroom gravy, greens with bacon and grits that were delicious...Absolutely scrumptious!  Could have eaten a big meal of this!

Last but not least was a sample of Venison stew with lots of potatoes and cornbread and a rhubarb dessert.  I almost forgot to take a picture, the stew was very good and the rhubarb dessert was delightful.  The cornbread was very good, but too sweet for my taste and it didn't need that butter at all, but she slathered it on there before I could ask her not to..lol.

There was a man there that also made Fodder Beans, green beans of a sort with pork and a few ramps I think.  They were so salty it was not pleasant to eat them, so most remained on the plate.

Bored yet?  Well, I'm done.  Hope you enjoyed this blog, it was a fun afternoon and Fort New Salem is hanging in there.  This summer there are several things to go to, I hope you'll check it out!

thanks for stopping by and take care!