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CherishesSet - -a.Home4.By Doris Mf*rnr#«ovThurs., Dec. 9, 1976The NEWS papers of Iowa County 5CWithAfter Mrs. Dean Gerard wrapped up a 22 year career as the Millersburgpostmaster, she embarkedon a ceramics hobby, starting almost four years ago I dfcin't want to be idle rith all those free hours he recalled.itBut’! didn’t want to fill. *J°Ss.e wUh a lot of just ainted knickknacks,” she lays. Geraldine (Tiny) rerard points to the collec-lt;n which has claimed a lot her efforts since she lockup the last mail pouch on «r final day in the post fice.where details will appearon finished products. .Aset ceramic book-were assembled in vanops processes and she considers them special because she added a decal ofAssfsf y St Francis of Kj£ fired Product in a kilnnf ?S6S K-sque* Hawflingof the objects from thef*5~nwSre.t° the finished stage should be done withcare to prevent damageshe suggests. e 1Since ajje always had an for a pitcher and bowl itching set, the kind us-in the pre-bathroom era tfet were provided in bed-Jjms, Geraldine pickedtljse articles for her first Pfject,!er set glistens with a 'her of pearl glow and is titimed with gold, a teams job on the scallopedelt;fes.She glances at a lamp she made, confessing the base is not walnut as it seems, entirely ceramic, except tor the wiring and shade,the lamp needs minor re-rhpairs where it was chipped. vOriginal cost for thegreenware lamp, wiring kitand shade was $13, while a similar lamp is selling in stores for $30, she notes.. With a big family, occasionally a chip occurs to her art work and she has learned to mend artfully.Uses GreenwareTeam Effortsreenware is purchasedLA ______frlt;m a com me rci a*I Cedar mil*Ripids dealer, which is also h supplier of all the necessary equipment, paints and glazes for the hobby work.' Once Mrs. Gerard launched her hobby, her husband decided to try his hand at making some items he wanted.Her husband chose tall steins and a number of fowl for his hobby hours. His ar-tisitic efforts prompt his wife’s praise., “You can invest a lot of money as well as time in ceramics,” Geraldine admits.He showed a lot of patience doing all those intricate flowers on the steins in a variety of shades. The work on the birds gives them a life-like appearance.”H'For instance, when we bought our greenware, we picked up the paints and iglazes for each project. Of i course, firing the product is necessary and we go back to the shop for this also.“Firing is done after each layer or several layers of paints or glazes and may bedone any number of times. This adds to the cost, because the cost in the past ias been approximately me-fourth the value of theinginal greenwi^g.' to Jjj. i.V •. Vhri'XCleaning is the most challenging task with which to begin in starting on green-Iware, Geraldine says. *A 20 piece nativity set finished in blue and white mother of pearl is the mpst cherished part of her collection.All the characters; and animals in the Bibical story are shown in the setting which is displayed in the living room on an artificial brick fireplace during the Christmas season.For the holidays, the Gerards have also completed a yule log, a Christmas tree, Santa, snowman and other decorative pieces.•x.TELLS THE CHRISTMAS STORY - Christmas is more meaningful for the Dean Gerard family, Millersburg, when the 24 piece nativity set is displayed. All the characters from the Biblical story were created in the ceramic set by Mrs. Gerard.FOR SALEHousehold furnishings, tools and antiques of the iate Jerry Moynihan.somer7 miles west of 149 at the Swisher corner or 5 miles east of Marengo on Swisher road.CREATED NATIVITY SET - Mrs. Dean Gerard, Mil-lersburg, cherishes the 24 piece ceramic nativity set she created above all the pieces she has made since beginning her hobby three to four years ago. Mother of0pearl finish with a blue cast was the finishing touch she desired in making the decorations for the top of the brick fireplace in the family living room.Sunday, Dec. 1212 noon-5 p.m./“I can’t say how much |time is spent in doing a :areful job of sanding with imall pads which appear to e a combination fine sand-japer and steet wool. Final ;oueh is wiping off residue ^vith dampened sponge.” She uses a number of ;mall pen type tools for the icraping in seams andThey insist on proper firing and using glaze on any type of object used for eating or drinking, mugs and steins and plates to prevent lead poisoning.Mrs. Gerard notes, some pottery or ceramics purchased in boutiques or ffom foreign countries are not treated for this possibility. Care should be taken not to drink from any ware which has not been completely fi n-ished, she mentions.Amber broken marbles two couples were bookends were heated, cracked and with data of, the bridal glued onto-75 openings on a couple added for a person-ceramic peacock which al touch, serves as a television lamp Mrs. Gerard’s most re-and was wired to glow. cent project has been ereat-Wedding gifts made for in'gpink mother of pearl accessories for the bathroom.The.eouple reared a family of seven children, Mrs. Jerry (Kay) Allison, North English; Twyla, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Marland (Peggy) Schott, Coggon; Wendell, Rick - who is Iowa county recorder, Mrs. Walt (Lana) James and Shelly, all Millersburg. There are 11 grandchildren.Monday, Dec. 139 a.m,-4 p.m.Terms: Cash Not responsible for accidentsA CHRISTMASFind yourself a little short of cash at the time you’d like to have a little extra to spend? We’ve got the ideal solution. Come join our Christmas Club...decide how much you want to deposit. .and look forward to your Christmas Club Check just in time to make Christmas shopping all the fun it should
Newspaper Details
Williamsburg Journal Tribune
Williamsburg, Iowa, US
Thu, Dec 09, 1976
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
D L.
NA, NA 22 Oct 2022
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