Helena c studios

Exhausted In A Good Way

Hey buddies,
Sorry I was quiet lately but I have been extra busy and I am officially pooped.
I was working all last week on the deadline for the new Arts A Flutter site, went on a fun field trip with Hope and her fourth grade class, and have been decluttering the house and working on the yard.(thanks Michael)
Matthew comes tomorrow with Liss (and their Golden Retriever to play with Teddy)~we're so excited!! As soon as they leave Matt returns from Massachusetts with mum. There is lots more gardening in store and visits to Beaufort's adorable shops. I can't wait!
I am off to plop on the couch with a scary book that Hope has been reading.
I'll be back tomorrow hopefully.
Hugs,
Helena

A New Pottery Platter

Hey buddies,
I just got home from an amazing pottery class.As much as I love the wheel, the hand building class is so relaxing.
Trevor our instructor is out of town, but come to find out the girl who stood in for him today is from Plymouth, MA. Such a small world.  I grew up in MA and have many fond memories of Plymouth so it was fun to chat about the area.

I decided since our next DIY project after the fence, is to paint our cabinets white, I wanted to switch out some of my antiques and primitives and add, you guessed it some beachy items. The most inexpensive way is to make the items yourself, so that's where my platter idea came in. Don't look at the red flannel shirt underneath, that's just so the clay won't stick to the platter I have it on. You can use fresh leaves and flowers and they'll burn off in the kiln leaving the impression.So cool. (thanks for the ivy Martha)
This piece hasn'tbeen fired so it is in it', "earthy state."
 The other item I made is a bird feeder. I'm not sure if I like it, it looks like a pie plate, I guess the birds won't complain though.
I am off to make some miniature watercolor paintings before I pick up Miss Hope.
Have a great afternoon,
Hugs,
Helena

Hey buddies,

I am off to listen to Hope play cello but wanted to share a few southern spring shots.Hopefully it will be sunny tomorrow and I can get some more.

For my latest carving take a peek Here.
We, I mean Matt is busy putting up crown molding. What a difference a million trips up a ladder and some white trim make~wow!! Kind of boring but maybe I'll share tomorrow, don't say I didn't warn you.
Hugs,
Helena

One Man's Trash

Hey buddies,
Look what I got from a very talented and generous potter named KH Phillips in North Carolina!!
 He was cleaning out his studio and put out a call on the Etsy forums to anyone who wanted these free shards from his beautiful pottery. Can you imagine not wanting them?

Miss Hope just happened to be home sick, and I just happened to be missing pottery class, so we took the super overloaded box outside and sorted the shards into color groups for my mosaic projects to come. I'm so glad that Hope has fun doing the simple things with me:)

I'm picturing some really funky flower pots or another mirror project (did you hear that Matt?)

I'll be showing off my earthy color shards here for my prim loving friends, and to give KH Phillips an extra shout out:) Thanks again.
Hugs,
Helena

A Beach Cottage Mirror

Hey buddies,
Well I am missing the beach cottage but I have the mirror:)
Matt says we will be taking this with us if by chance we move to our house by the sea, because he won't be recreating it anytime soon. ha ha

The two of us gluing the individual pieces and trying to fit them in without gaps took the longest. My color choices once I whitewashed, them looked very similar in the bathroom light which made things a bit difficult, but it is finished and I LOVE it, if I may say so myself. Thanks Matt.xoxo
Hugs,
Helena

A Sea Of Yellow

Hey buddies,
Matt and I just finished the frame for our master bathroom mirror. I painted and distressed the wood and Matt worked his fingers to the bone and has to be up in a few hours for a flight to Oregon~love ya even more Matt.
I will show you the frame tomorrow that I am in awe over, and will leave you with the Daffodil pix I promised I would share.
Heather I would send you some if they would make the trip to Massachusetts.xo
Going go spend some time with Matt.
Hugs,
Helena
See the top photo? Matt and Hope picked them while I was taking pictures.

Mosaic Jars And Daffodils

Hey buddies,
We just returned from picking Daffodils at the Kane Island Daffodil Farm, and I want to give some to my neighbors and enjoy the rest of this 80 degree day. I wanted to show you the semi finished mosaic jar. It still is a little bit too messy for my liking but I have hundreds of Daffodils to put in vases and it has already come in handy.
I have so many pictures to share, and will try to tonight.
The Daffodil farm was gorgeous, and the flowers were free! Many thanks to the Trask family.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Hugs,
Helena

A Mosaic in The Making

Hey buddies,
Another week has flown by, and Matt comes home tonight from Indiana, hooray!!
I have such a strong feeling that I have shown you this before but can't find it anywhere so....
 Two Christmases Matt bought the supplies for a project to work on together. He bought a glass hurricane jar and some faux beach glass and we had the BEST time gluing each piece on. OK I confess I had the best time gluing each piece on and Matt daydreamed of ....Fig Newtons, The Red Sox, watching a Patriots game and or all of the above:)
This lovely beachy jar sat in my studio holding my water color brushes for the past 2 years just waiting for some grout. I wasn't sure that I wanted to grout it, I liked it as is but I became adventurous one day. Note to whoever is reading this~
Do not attempt to grout if life is about to get crazy. Hope needing major project help, hungry family wanting dinner, including goldfish giving me the evil eye etc etc.
I snuck outside to grout and while I let it set up I ventured in to start dinner etc. etc. and remembered to go back and check it once, and then completely forgot until the morning.
Now I am chiseling the rock hard grout off of each piece of glass, determined to have a beautiful Mosaic jar.
Live and learn they say, grout while no one is home I say:0
I'll share the results hopefully tomorrow.
Hugs,
Helena
If you want to see my latest pottery bowl with Magnolia leaf impressions take a peek here.

Arts A Flutter

Morning buddies,
I have a very heavy cat sleeping on my shoulder while trying to write this, and severe weather alert warnings going on (don't worry mum the sun is coming out or should I worry because of that:)
but I just wanted to pop in and say hello and tell you about a new website that is coming to town.

I have been selling my carvings and primitives here  for the past year, but it is now changing over and will have a more artsy/whimsical feel as of April 1st, and be called,"Arts A Flutter. You can check out the new blog to see what's going on.
I will be creating my cottagy coastal items and selling as Helena C Studios, which I'm really excited about.
I'll have my jewelry, carved birds, paintings and I want to offer lots of pottery.

I have to go sneak some flan for breakfast and check on the weather.
Have a great Sunday.
Hugs,
Helena

PS ~ Happy 21st Birthday Michael xo