Choosing Six ...

Several friends and acquaintances have suggested or asked that I offer a choice in my notecards, so I spent the day setting up the first 18 to allow exactly that.  I like the idea because, since I print to order anyway, it isn't much more complicated to do this for people, and it will tell me over a few months which people respond to most.  I have dozens and dozens of cats so it's good to know.  
I really enjoy doing this, though I will admit I'm looking forward to getting back to creating new works on a steady basis. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/171846059/choose-your-mix-of-six-from-18-cat?ref=pr_shop

Oh Julius ... You've been a Long Time Coming ...

On Sunday, I completed the first painting I had done in about 3 years, and the first cat painting in perhaps 4.  It's not that I lost my love of or fascination with cats, it's that living with eight has given me a bit of that "Coals to Newcastle " syndrome.

So without further adieu, here is Oh, Julius a composite of six creamsicle-marmalade-gingers I have known over the past 25.  Three lived or are living with our son, two with us and one a darling rescue from New York who it seems, half the social networking country fell in love with.  

The painting is 5 x 7 inches, his eyes follow you, and he is very sweet.  I will keep him for a time as a talisman which I hope will encourage me to get back to painting on a regular basis, but may do a limited number full-sized prints on canvas. 

I've just added a new blank notecard to my Etsy shop (Pati Bannister).  It's titled "Sonny with Flowers" and is pretty charming, if I must say so myself.   

 

I'm also working on a Christmas card.  First painting in a long time.  Rusty, Rusty.  

I'm hungry right now so will post a snapshot of Friday's supper.  While we are not vegetarians, most days you wouldn't know it.  This dish is collard greens, Yukon gold potatoes, onion, mushrooms, with red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, salt and pepper.  I served with a simple side of scrambled eggs seasoned with fresh Mexican tarragon, salt and pepper.  Served with Pacifico beer. 

Ivory Keepsake Box

I am in the process of pulling things together for the "Misadventure" box, so took the opportunity this morning to photograph a box I completed about two weeks ago.  
I am very happy with the flow of the design, which reminds me of the sea .... it is quite elegant and feminine in feel.
This box is cedar, and covered in textured and carved pieces of  white-ecru polymer clay.  Graceful curved areas were left and then filled with handmade circular motifs, also carved.  In some, tiny aquarmine beads were inserted for delicate contrast.
The interior of the box as been antiqued, as has the bottom.  The underside of the lift-off lid has been signed. 

Cedar Faux Ivory Cigar Box

I am so pleased with this box, and as often happens in such cases, I've held onto it for a long time. I made it out of a white-ecru mix which I textured, then cut into I don't know how many narrow strips and covered the entire exterior, including the bottom. Once that was done, and the box cured, I sanded and buffed and then applied a glaze of raw sienna and burnt umber. A striped agate bead I especially liked was then fixed to the top, a narrow black bezel created and the piece was cured again to fuse the glaze and cure the clay bezel. I've left the interior natural to allow it to be used for proper cigar storage, and cut a removable dark brown suede piece for the base. The box is 5 3/4 inches long, 4 1/2 inches wide and 4 3/8 inches tall. The entire exterior of the box is covered, including the bottom. I have signed the underside of the lid.

My Cat Bookmarks and Polymer Clay Daily

I was so happy to see my bookmarks featured in Polymer Clay Daily on the 20th of this month...of course, if I had even thought this could happen my blog would have been more up to date. That said, creating this little family as well as others who are in various stages of completion has been such fun, allowing me to combine my love of cats, carving, painting and polymer clay into something whimsical and even useful.