AKitchens on wed 20 oct 99
Phyllis,
I live on the top of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. The indigenous
rock here is very porous limestone. When a stone wall or bridge is built
the stone masons make it a point to use mossy, lichen covered rocks for
their beauty. (although if you build the stone wall in the sun you must
keep watering it to keep the green growing) The old sages say if you
want to grow the moss and lichens faster pour buttermilk on the rock and
keep it in heavy shade. I haven't been here long enough to try it, but
these are old mountain folks with generations of experience behind them
and they are usually right.
Good Luck,
Nan
Phyllis E Tilton wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> Arlene: Maybe someone else has answered you on the sun faces. I am
> waaaaay
> behind in reading my messages. I have made many sunfaces. I found that
> I had
> better luck(no cracks) if I drew a pattern, rays included, and cut
> around
> that. I also made a round form out of clay and bisqued it. I put the
> round on
> a plastic covered piece of wall board, and put a piece of drycleaner
> plastic
> over the bisqued round. Then the rolled clay goes on top. The plastic
> lets me
> lift the clay til I have it centered on the clay round. That's where
> the fun
> begins-adding clay for puffed cheeks, cutting designs into the rays,
> stretching that clay and whatever else you want to do to create the
> face.
> Then, I let it dry slowly. One of the pizza places has these little
> plastic
> things with legs to keep the lid from touching the pizza toppiing. I
> save
> those and use them to protect pieces and let air circulate a bit. I
> use
> A.R.T.'s orangestone clay for these and fire to ^6. It does darken
> with the
> heat but I like that-adds to the contrast. Some people leave them out
> doors
> the year around-in all kinds of weather- ice, snow,etc. One person
> called
> wanting to know how to make it mossy. After seeing their garden, I
> concur
> that it would enhance it but I'm not sure how to do that. Anyone have
> ideas
> on that? Like putting it under moist shrubs facing north? I hope my
> input
> will help.
>
> Phyllis Tilton
> Daisypet@aol,com
| |
|
