Derby Wrap Up
We got back home yesterday, dog tired but what an experience! Here's a tidbit I was going to post about while in Louisville but ran out of time:
Last winter, I started working on a Derby memento. I felt so strongly about Street Sense's chances of winning that I wanted to create a ceramic bead in his honor, a memento to wear at the Derby. I made 20, and gave them to a list of ladies attending the Derby who are close friends of Carl and Wanda's or associated with Street Sense. If you look at some of my previous postings, you will see some people wearing the Street Sense bead necklace.
I sculpted the original out of modeling clay, then made a plaster mold of the sculpture. I then made ceramic castings from the mold, and painted the colors of Street Sense in underglaze before firing. After the bisque firing, I put a clear glaze over it and fired them a second time.
beads in progress earlier this year
After they were done, made a loop out of a headpin and strung each bead on a silver chain.
The recipients all loved the beads, and of course I had a number of requests for Street Sense beads from people on the fringe who didn't get one. During Derby week, I told one lady I might make more later, and a couple days after that she asked me if I had made any more yet. HELLO??? People have no idea how much work and time goes into ceramics. I worked on these things for several months.
To answer any looming questions, I do plan on making more Street Sense beads as well as Street Sense paintings. Future Street Sense beads will have an orange saddlecloth with the number seven on it, which is what he wore in the Derby. The current ones reflect the purple saddlecloth and number one post position of the Breeders Cup, when he won that race last November.
Oh! And one more thing I almost forgot to tell you. While I was labeling each Street Sense bead gift box with the name of the recipients, I put the name "Queen Elizabeth ll" on one box. I didn't know how I was going to get it to her, but I figured I'd work it out later.
Tracey Wilkes is an exercise rider for Carl and she also works in the Churchill Downs grandstand. Tracey knows everything and everybody...and she got me into the exclusive territory of the Turf Club on Derby Day so I could give a Street Sense bead to the Queen. Well, the Queen hadn't arrived yet when I was in the Turf Club, so I gave the bead to a Churchill Downs VIP who promised to do her best to make sure the gift got to the Queen. I haven't gotten the official word back yet as to whether she was able to get it to her or not. I'll let you know.
I know one thing for sure, my Street Sense bead was in the Kentucky Derby winner's circle!
Caren
Last winter, I started working on a Derby memento. I felt so strongly about Street Sense's chances of winning that I wanted to create a ceramic bead in his honor, a memento to wear at the Derby. I made 20, and gave them to a list of ladies attending the Derby who are close friends of Carl and Wanda's or associated with Street Sense. If you look at some of my previous postings, you will see some people wearing the Street Sense bead necklace.
I sculpted the original out of modeling clay, then made a plaster mold of the sculpture. I then made ceramic castings from the mold, and painted the colors of Street Sense in underglaze before firing. After the bisque firing, I put a clear glaze over it and fired them a second time.
beads in progress earlier this year
After they were done, made a loop out of a headpin and strung each bead on a silver chain.
The recipients all loved the beads, and of course I had a number of requests for Street Sense beads from people on the fringe who didn't get one. During Derby week, I told one lady I might make more later, and a couple days after that she asked me if I had made any more yet. HELLO??? People have no idea how much work and time goes into ceramics. I worked on these things for several months.
To answer any looming questions, I do plan on making more Street Sense beads as well as Street Sense paintings. Future Street Sense beads will have an orange saddlecloth with the number seven on it, which is what he wore in the Derby. The current ones reflect the purple saddlecloth and number one post position of the Breeders Cup, when he won that race last November.
Oh! And one more thing I almost forgot to tell you. While I was labeling each Street Sense bead gift box with the name of the recipients, I put the name "Queen Elizabeth ll" on one box. I didn't know how I was going to get it to her, but I figured I'd work it out later.
Tracey Wilkes is an exercise rider for Carl and she also works in the Churchill Downs grandstand. Tracey knows everything and everybody...and she got me into the exclusive territory of the Turf Club on Derby Day so I could give a Street Sense bead to the Queen. Well, the Queen hadn't arrived yet when I was in the Turf Club, so I gave the bead to a Churchill Downs VIP who promised to do her best to make sure the gift got to the Queen. I haven't gotten the official word back yet as to whether she was able to get it to her or not. I'll let you know.
I know one thing for sure, my Street Sense bead was in the Kentucky Derby winner's circle!
Caren