Sparks in the Kiln: Let's try this again, shall we?

I love to write.

I am full of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and guilty of over using ". . ." if you can handle that, I welcome you!

This blog was created to display my current pottery and art work, not at all to get it "Pinned" or "Liked".  This Sparks in the Kiln was just a place for my friends and family to see what I've been up to in my pottery and crafting.

I've neglected it for nearly a year, and really it's not such a big deal. I, like most of you have 5.2 billion other things that are calling my attention. Two of them literally call my attention. . . they are nearly 7 and 3 and it sounds like this "Muuuuuuum" "Mummmmmyyyyyy".

I've decided I need a space not only to share my art, but also my love of writing.

I can't promise you it will make much sense, be pretty, or even entertaining. It may just be something I am learning at the moment. I may just share a mum moment or you might get a pouring out of the heart.  I don't know, we shall see.

I would just like to say that no matter what I put on this blog: pottery, art, writings, know this. . . it's from the heart.  I will not rant or talk politics. I will not tear down others. I will not bash our president. I will not talk fashion, make up or hair, because listen I am no fashion expert! ( I may break that rule if I get my haircut and I feel like the world needs to know!)   I will share my faith. I will talk about Jesus. I will share my story.

The www. is a pretty big and scary place when you decide to put your words out there for anyone to read! I am happy for you to read, otherwise I wouldn't be here. I just ask that if ever you read something you don't agree with, let's just agree to disagree.  I'm not here to argue or debate. I am here to write from my heart, about my life, where I have been and what I am learning.

So here I go, I'm going to try this whole blog thing again!

If all that didn't just scare you off feel free to follow Spark in the Kiln!

I'm glad you are here and I thank you for reading.

Sara

Sparks in the Kiln: In Memory of Caleb

Sparks in the Kiln: Kiddo Birthday Gifts

There are so many kid birthday parties once your child is in school!

I've tried to make some gifts to cut back on cost and overloading children with toys.

Here are a few recent gifts:

Decoupage jewelry boxes.

 This recipe makes HEAPS!
I fill large mason jars and keep it on hand for last minute gifts! 

It's not overly sweet, so if you like your cocoa sweeter you may want to add some extra conf. sugar.

Sparks in the Kiln: Paintings

A few paintings I've done this year for gifts.

This is the painting that I was wishing for an easel.

Sparks in the Kiln: Scripture Bunting, Oh How I Love Thee

Last year was a rough year for me, during one of the really rubbish times my sweet girlfriends back home sent me 2 buntings both bursting with scriptures written by them.

It has to be one of my most favorite and cherished gifts, the beautiful Words of the Lord, comforting me and encouraging me every time I look up above my kitchen sink and at my bathroom mirror. And to see the different hand writing of each of my cherished friends. I love it.

It's inspired me to make a few of my own to send off to some pretty special ladies.

Sparks in the Kiln: Crafting Sisterhood

Oh the catching up I have to do here at Sparks in the Kiln!!

So this year I decided I was going to create a once a month craft night for some of my close friends.  It's a small group of ladies whom I love and adore.  After last years ups and downs, and really struggling to invest in others when I felt like such a mess myself, I decided to make up for lost time, conversations and crafting.

So I plan a craft or two or three, buy the supplies, make a dessert and invite the ladies on over. The real magic behind the night are the conversations, laughs, and friendships. . . and sometimes we actually complete a project.

After the first gathering, we decided to take turns planning craft: 

First session: we made picture frame dry erase boards and bok choy stationary

Second session: We went with an Asian theme, Pauline taught us how to make fried rice and I planned washi tape crafts: 

stationary ,  jewelry, candle holders

Third session: Rachel taught us how to make our own, all natural, chemical free hand creams.

Behold, the crafting sisterhood.

Session #1: As a new Pinterest addict (can we say time sucking vortex?) 

 I found most of our craft ideas for the night there. 

First session: overly organized and stoked.

Session #2 : Pauline taught us how to make fried rice. You all need to know that she happens to make the best fried rice ever. I think I fell in love with Pauline when she brought me several batches of fried rice after Sammie was born, I hardly knew her then. It was such a blessing, super good and a major comfort food after having a baby on the other side of the world. We also celebrated Grandma Bekah's birthday!

I love this girl! 

I mean really, who can laugh like that with a knife!! 

Not me people, not me.

FODMAP friendly: no onion or garlic, made with gluten free soy sauce. . . 

Gosh I love Pauline and her fried rice is the bomb! 

Session #3: Rachel my most favorite hippie friend taught us how to make our own lotions with no chemicals. Note:

 Rachel is also my friend that always smells the best. . . just sayin.

No offense other friends ;) 

 Happy Hippies.

 This would be Catherine: she is my friend who always has the best facial expression. always.

 There was HEAPS of stirring done that night.

 Counting essential oil drops is serious business. 

 Catherine can stir all these ingredients into lotion super fast.

 I think it's her mutant power.

 Bekah in full blown concentration . . . we take lotion making very serious. 

I think deep down we're all hippies.

 Still stirring.

The sad nes is, one of the sisters will be leaving us really soon. Lotion night was our last craft night with Grandma Bekah . . . I can't even think about it. Makes my heart terribly sad to be saying good bye (for now) to such an important part of our life here in Oz.  I'll save the rest for another blog post.