WAITING for NAMIBIA

With the Holidays over I start to think about returning to Namibia. Unfortunately we have to wait for our return visas  and it could be many months yet. In the mean time I am enjoying my ceramics studio and of course my grandchildren !

Here's 2 out of 3.

stoneware candle cottage

garlic pot experiment

Here's a couple of days work on Paper Clay jewelry components.

 And some fired ones in stoneware.

GIVE AWAY & HOW WE GOT STARTED

Hibiscus brooch 

I am not the best blogger, It's like dieting, I have good intentions, but then life takes over ! So, just to see if anybody is actually out there, I am having a give away. ( Not a subscriber? become a new  subscriber and your name goes in the "hat" twice.)

To be eligible, either ask a question pertaining to the video, or tell me what you would like to read about in the future. For example: More about African life, more about the artisans, more tutorials, more about our products ? etc.

At the end of January 2013 I will draw the winner.

The link below is a video about how I got to Africa and how Work Of Our Hands got started.

Merry Christmas to all ! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSyDiiMcIbw#

SOME NEW WORK

Things are a little slow getting into production right now because some of my artisans took farm jobs while I was in the USA.  Our winter is coming soon, so hopefully they will be back and eager to work once the fields are harvested. In the mean time I am training some new gals.

GIFTS FOR THE FIRST LADY

The artisans of Work Of Our Hands are quite excited. On Saturday they will present gifts of the work of their hands to the first lady of Namibia. There is quite a cleaning frenzy going on in all parts of our community center and ceramic studio.

HOT FROM THE KILN

 Blue Leopard mug

 Flowers and zebra vase

 Francie's poka dot mugs

 Protea mug

 Safari mug

 Herero container

girl mug: Ok, the earrings mean she can't go in the microwave, but I still like the earrings

I mentioned we were getting a ceramic equipment donation, but even I didn't understand the extent of it. Three potter's wheels, a slab roller, an extra kiln and every tool a clay artist could dream of. In fact I had been dreaming of some of them, just had no money ! We are jumping up and down with joy. Clay heaven!

Four ladies have signed up, and started the initial potter's wheel class, and we have a week long seminar coming up with an excellent teacher, the first week of August.