Fun with clay in Singhampton

Everything is wet and mosquito-y this morning at the farmette. Already hot and humid and it's supposed to clear up and be sunny.

On Thursday, sister Sandy and I went to a clay workshop at Studio 124 in the Singhampton Sculpture Forest. It was a Probus event. This is an organization dedicated to helping retired folks stay active and busy. They have clubs all over the country, and the one in Grey Highlands is especially popular.

Marion Bartlett is the owner/artist of the studio. Here she is in the yellow shirt with apron. Carolyn West is beside her. She organizes the horticultural sub-club and worked with Marion to give us this opporunity.

Marion is an amazing teacher. She is patient and encouraging and can make your clay piece come to life with just a knife flick here and a crunched up paper plump there. Her property is on the outskirts of the wee town about 40 minutes from the farmette. Rick Bino is Marion's partner and a talented woodworking artist. All their wares are on display, both inside and through three acres of forest that surrounds the house and studio.

Here's what I made. It started out as a Green Man mask, and ended up more like Old Man Winter.

It felt good to get my hands dirty and make something I can hang on our back fence. It will be fired at the end of August, when I'll paint it and maybe do a show and tell.

We were a smallish group, but everyone was very inventive with their projects. Carolyn opted to make a frog head for her garden. Cool.

After the class, Sandy and I toured the sculpture forest, and what a revelation that was. So many thoughtful and whimsical pieces placed along the walking path.

We stopped to get a selfie at this decorative mirror. Per usual, I'm more concentrated on the smartphone than smiling for the shot. Sandy's her usual photogenic self.

It was a scorcher of a morning, topped off by a lovely salad and chicken bits lunch at Mylar and Loretta's.

All in all, it was an amazing experience. I highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area. The sculpture forest is free all the time to enjoy, with a donation box if you're so inclined.

The studio is open by chance or by appointment, and you can buy some of Marion's really funky and cool art. I couldn't resist the vase on the left.

It works perfectly with my silver dollar plant and dried hydrangea, doncha think? Until next week.

Gratuitous cat photo courtesy of another of Marion's goodies.