Thursday, October 15, 2015

Beads, Balls, Berries and Baubles



“Nope,” says the first guy, “I want plain leaves, no little gewgaws or whatever those are.” “Be sure it has lots of those little doodads,” says the next customer, “I love the little dark balls and berries.” 

“Doodads” are like anything else: people love them or hate them! I started adding little balls to my pumpkin pots many years ago. I think they soften them, sometimes help balance them, or simply add interest. Nature is full of little pods, galls, and nuts, so the tiny additions look to me like they belong there. It took me awhile to figure out how to make acorns out of clay; for a long time I made little balls and left it at that. These little additions are likely to occur anywhere on the pot, although it is generally only the ones on the rim that people have to have or to avoid. They may or may not notice the others.

I long ago fell into the habit of putting a metallic “Saturation Gold” edge on my pot rims, and that goes on the “beads, balls, berries and baubles” too. It is food safe when properly fired and helps finish the pieces. What do you think? Are you pro or con baubles, doodads, and gewgaws?

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