This handbuilding pottery project — slab-built cups — perhaps has been one of my favorites thus far. As you can see I incorporated two main textures, the rigid honeycomb and the more flowing organic leaves and lines. The overall glaze is “donkey brown” and I added “rutile mt” to the inner layer of leaves and lines.

The larger cup is full-sized, while the two smaller cups may be better for sake, tea, or other drinks that you may wish to sip.

While the studio is closed for break between semesters, I have four pieces in the queue for glaze firing. These include a mug, a small dish, a drink pitcher, and a watering pitcher. I am most excited about the mug and small dish as they match and were made with underglaze. I don’t have much experience with underglaze, but I think the results will be worth sharing (stay tuned).

Looking at this summer, I am having to take a break from classes due to finances — two vet bills have set me back for a few months.

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I do have another project in the works — I am to paint a small section in my home hallways with a botanical mural. I have thought of incorporating linework, high gloss paint, and other patterns and textures. This will be an experiment with the intention of seeing whether I want to paint larger murals in my home.

One of my most recent successes are two new garden beds that have hostas, marigolds, oxalis, cosmos, strawberries, yarrow, catmint, coral bells, rosemary, butterfly weed, siberian irises, cherry peppers, and hens & chicks (a succulent). I have already noticed the bees and butterflies frequenting those flowers as well as my established lambs ear.

Perennials that have returned this year include: lambs ear, bleeding heart, dianthus, coral bells, hellebore, columbine, azalea, woodruff, bearded iris, and hyacinths.

I think having a green thumb is a combination of three things: knowledge, passion, and consistency. You need to have an understanding of what you are working with, an inspiration to see your work succeed, and need to be consistent with caretaking.

Take my catmint as an example — a dependable perennial in the mint family.

(Knowledge) After one or two years, it becomes a large, established flowering mound that can be readily deadheaded and cutback as needed. It also attracts pollinators.

(Passion) I want it to succeed — which is measurable by its ability to root, grow, and attract. I enjoy it’s contributions to the overall garden and am thrilled to see bumblebees every day.

(Consistency) I will deadhead it as necessary, water if needed, and will keep competing plants from impeding its growth. If required, I will add a slow release fertilizer to maintain its size and growth.

Each of these contribute to my skill as a gardener.