It has been exactly a month ago that I wrote a blog. Too long, but lots happened.
Of course, the holidays and we went to Hawaii with the whole family (almost). Unfortunately, the girlfriend of my oldest could not come, because her Grandma was very terribly ill. Luckily, it seems she is somewhat better now.
We had a nice time and some of us did some diving; we all snorkeled with the Manta Rays!; we did some deep sea fishing and could a tuna!; we traveled some around the island; had a wonderful Luau dinner and relaxed near the pool and the sea with lots of snorkeling. We saw also dolphins and some turtles! How lucky can you get!

After the New Year I went finally back into my workshop after 3 1/2 months. I tried during and after the radiation period, but somehow I was quite tired. Not that I did not do anything (I did go to Holland), but I got another breast infection and having two antibiotics is tiring your body.
I started first with spraying some small works and checking if it still all worked and that the kiln was working properly. Then I sprayed 2 big plates (17.75″ x 19″ x 1″ or 45cm x 48 cm x 2.5cm) for an order and today they choose one of them and will hang it on their wall. It turned out very well. The plate is called “Schellen” (Shell) plate. Their last name starts with schellen, so, it is a very appropriate plate!!!

A wonderful start!!!!

My life is still planned around my Herceptin treatments. They go all fine and you kind of get in the habit of going to the hospital. They know you by now and it is a welcoming place in the sense that they are there to help you. It feels to me like that. I understand that for others it may and will be completely different. Again, I just feel very lucky and thankful.

Next week, I will go to Israel for a week with Adriaan. Can you believe that? It is just wonderful. It is my birthday next week and he has a boardmeeting there and I don’t want to be by myself, so, we make it a little vacation. We are looking into this already for some time but every time there was something else and the company is about to be sold or they are working on it and the temperature is very nice now. So, it seemed like the right time before the chance is gone.

I will keep you posted!

Today, (Monday, August the 1st) I had my 3rd chemo. Everything went well. You are there the whole day, but they take good care of you. The medications also keeps you going. So, I quickly want to show you some pictures of the decorations I finished on 3 big plates. They are still green ware, not fired yet. The clay has a red color and on the 3rd plate you see it is still drying. The 1st and 2nd plate I already put the black slip on (a liquid paint able clay which you have to put on before the 1st firing).

19.75″ x 2.5″; 50cm x 6cm

It is already Friday. I didn’t succeed to put on the pictures. The chemo got to me, especially yesterday and today. Tomorrow, may be better.

21.25″ x 2.75″; 53,5cm x 7cm

The engravings on the plates are inspired by the Flower of Life symbol, which dates to at least 400AD, and is possibly much older that that. Throughout human history, philosophers, artists, and architects around the world have known the Flower of Life for its perfect form, proportion, and harmony. It is considered to be a symbol of sacred geometry, depicting the fundamental forms of space and time. It is the form beneath our being and points to a divine order in our reality. It is a visual expression of the connections life weaves through all mankind. A Flower of Life pattern can be constructed with a pen, compass and paper, by creating multiple series of interlinking circles. The Flower of Life can be found in the temples, art, and manuscripts of cultures all over the world.

21″ x 6,5″ ; 53cm x 16,5cm

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This month I would have been on a visiting pottery tour in China organized by Guangzhen “Po” Zhou. Of course, I could not join, but Po Zhou was so wonderful to take pictures of my Kamakura-red Bamboo Teapot, which is permanently displayed in the exhibition hall for international teapots in the Yixing Ceramic Museum. Please, see the blog of July 8, 2010 and May 5, 2010.

These are 3-in-1 Kamakura-Red “Sakura” boxes.
















The big Kamakura-Red “Sakura” Box.

The smallest of the three.

Big Kamakura-Red “Sakura” Plate.

Kamakura-Red “Sakura Branch” Platter.

Kamakura-Red “5-leaf Sakura” Platter.









Kamakura-Red “Small 5-leaf Sakura” Platter.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnyUNEK90Ls

A movie made of my show by Steve Tootell, Head of Creative and Performing Arts at the Sacred Heart International School in Tokyo:

http://gallery.me.com/s.tootell#100330

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New set of “Angel” Kamakura-Red teapots.

“Ripples” Kamakura-Red Plate.

“Rolling Wave”

“Flowing River”

“Chrysantheum Box”

“Toward the Middle”









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“Reaching for the stars”










“Flying high”



























“Flying towards  the Sun”












“Swooping”





Sorry, have to go. Some more later. Watch for the videos!!

Ceramic Horsehair and Kamakura-Red Exhibition: “Wings: love is a bird, she needs to fly”

Toko gallery

postcode 321-4218, Jonaizaka 2, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi

The dates of the show:Saturday November 27 – Thursday December 9.

Opening hours:10-6pm.Last day till 5pm.Closed on Friday December 3rd.

Reception on Saturday November 27 from 6-9pm.

With performance of a dance by KAN-ICHI-san (Segawa)

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