work today, play tomorrow

mr ladybug catching some z's

Today was a very productive day even though I feel like I didn't get anything accomplished.

Ever have one of those days?

a couple pieces I threw today

some mexican hats surviving the fall heat

and this is what I'll be doing tomorrow!

hints of change

The cool mornings are a constant reminder that fall is definitely here. The horses are starting to get their winter coat, the garden is starting to die, and the mums are beautiful as ever...

...here are a few more shots from the botanical garden trip.

So Proud of My Children

by

Nicholas Kadzungura

a beautiful stone pathway that we'd love to replicate someday...

bells in the Riki house (I think that's what it was called)

a work in progress

It's been almost two weeks since I've been in the pottery studio. Instead of getting down on myself for neglecting my work, I've decided to take this time as an opportunity to make the transition back into the painting studio. Here are a few images of my newest work in progress that was inspired by the beauty of the botanical gardens in Denver. As of now, it is a watercolor on canvas, but I'm predicting it will end up a mixed media.

A Day of Culture

Last Saturday, my husband whisked me away to Denver for a much needed break from the studio. We went to the Denver Art Museum and to the Botanical Gardens. It was the first time I've ever gone to the museum to see just one exhibit, but this one was extraordinary, Tutankhamen: the Golden King and Great Pharaohs. There is usually a wait to purchase tickets, but we arrived at the perfect time and were able to get right in. It was breathtaking! As a sculptor I am always intrigued with different types of stone and what has been carved from them. I still have a difficult time grasping the idea of how these ancient people lived and what they accomplished in their life time. To see these statues of pharaohs in person and the furniture and jewelry...it just blows my mind. I love it! One of the ideas that I liked about this time in history is the symbolism that they used. Images of birds, beatles and cats keep entering my mind as I replay what I saw. The gold and beads that were used in the jewelry. The idea of keeping internal organs in an urn for the afterlife. There was art in everything they did.

...and then we went to the Botanical Gardens! Ever since my friend Suzanne brought back pictures of Henry Moore sculptures from NY, I knew I had to see them for myself. And were they beautiful! I couldn't imagine them being anywhere else. If you are ever in Denver and get the chance, I highly recommend the trip to the gardens. David and I arrived around 5 and couldn't have planned it better. The lighting for pictures was perfect and there weren't a lot of people. I kept telling him, if we lived here, I would work here. I could come here everyday! It was the perfect day!

and the winner is...

...Jennifer@ Studio JRU!

Congratulations Jennifer!

Thank you ALL so much for all of your entries! I am still overwhelmed by the response I received from my 1st giveaway! I have met so many wonderful creative souls from across the globe. I look forward to reading about you in all your future endeavors.

Have a great weekend!

ooxx

~samos

*the winner was chosen randomly with random.org

Trust the Process

i don't know about you, but i find myself in this constant battle with myself. so many ideas floating around in my head and being so overwhelmed that i don't know what to do first. lately i've been very involved in my pottery, which has been great (for my pottery) but there's an emptiness inside me. a sadness i suppose, longing to get back to my canvas and paints. today, my sis asked me if i'd paint her a dragon. of course i said yes even though dragons really aren't my thing, but i broke out the paper and paint anyways. i haven't finished it yet. the painting part is done, but i can't seem to find the black sharpie i want to use, so there it sits. unfinished. and i have two blank canvases sitting on the easel constantly yelling out my name when i'm in the studio. oh, i hear them. but why can't i just drop what i'm doing and answer their call? everyday i say, "I'm going to paint today!" and then, i don't. i guess part of me is trying to find my niche and the other part of me is saying who gives a flying BLEEP? who needs a niche? just create! paint! throw! sculpt! take a picture! create!!! this is where Trust the Process comes in. a dear friend lent me this book by Shaun McNiff. i started reading it the other day and i like it, but for those of you that know me, it takes me f o r e v e r to finish a book. we're talking years and sometimes never. but i WILL finish this one. it's good therapy for me...

...today is wednesday already? you know what that means don't you? two more days to enter the blog giveaway! post your comment on monday's post for your chance to win a handmade r e d poPPies bowl and plate made by yours truly!

FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY

I asked if you would be interested in a giveaway and I was blown away by the response!I love giving, so why not give YOU a gift from me? I think it should be fun, so let's start!

giveaway guidelines

Visit my blog and post a comment telling me what your favorite number is and why. Mine is 27 because I could never for the life of me remember that 9x3=27 when I was a kid. My dad would quiz me so much until I finally got it and now the product has become my fav. (Worth 1 entry)

Each worth 1 additional entry if you would like to:

• LIKE samos on facebook



• Follow stephanieamos on Twitter



• Follow samos via google on my blog sidebar (If you already follow me, it counts!)



• Tweet daily using retweet
  


• The contest will end on Friday, September 17th, 2010 at 10pm EST. The winner will be picked randomly through random.org and will be announced Saturday, September 18th. The winning entry will win a handmade R E D poPPies Bowl and Plate by me, samos! Let the games begin and have fun! Oh, and feel free to pass this along to your friends!
  love~samos

This giveaway is listed at All Things Bloggy.

H a p p y B i r t h d a y S I S !!!! xoxo

Today is my sister's birthday! Just wanted to give her a shout and share it with the world!

H a p p y B i r t h d a y S I S !!!! I love you!

...and has anyone ever been so taken with a restaurant that they took a picture of...um...the bathroom? Well, my friend and I met for breakfast this morning at the new Michael's on Main in Canon City. It is very modern for this town, but loved every bit of it! They have an amazing art gallery upstairs, gelato, coffee, good food...what more can you ask for? And check out this sink! It looked like it was made out of wood, but it was some kind of stone, I think. I absolutely loved it!

pottery and pickles

Yesterday I glazed some new pieces and here's a sneak peak of what came out! I am really loving the botanical series. And I forgot how much I like the red clay!

I also canned 7 jars of bread and butter pickles. It was my first time doing it by myself. Well, kind of. I called my mother about a million times to make sure I was doing everything right. And of course I had to make a quick trip into town to pick up a few spices I didn't have. When I returned home, I started taking the lids off the jars to put them in the dishwasher and POP! There went the lid!!! Oh no! I hope I don't need new lids! I just came back from town. As I took off each lid, they did the same as the first. POP! POP! All 12 of them! So that was the first call to Mom. She said to call the extension office to make sure they were still okay. So I did, and they were. Guess the elevation change makes them do that even if they aren't sealed yet. Glad to know... Anyways, they all popped after the bath and are good to go! This is my first year canning.

R E D poPPies plate

missing you

I just met a neighbor after being here for two years. It's funny how we get so comfortable in our own surroundings and hesitate to venture out into the unknown. I'm grateful to those who inspire.

g o o d b y e SUMMER, h e l l o FALL

splash dish

R E D feRn vase

lotus jar

BLacK PoPpies bud vase


As we embark on my 2nd favorite season of the year, I look back at the summer that has come and gone so fast. It has been a great one. David and I have been camping a couple times, I've taken the kayak out a few times, had nice visits with family and friends...and that's not counting what's happened with my art and creative business. I took the Flying Lessons ecourse with Kelly Rae, made new friends with creative souls all over the world, started working with a new gallery in Livingston, TX...I could go on and on, but I don't want to bore anyone. Let's just say it's been a great summer and leave it at that!

Here are a few of the new additions to the botanical section at muddypotts. I'm growing fond of the black and white pieces. Simple. I've been painting mostly poppies or ferns, but there is one vase that turned out to be dandelions, so I am going to start doing more of them too!