Category Archives: Sebring, Florida

canes, extruded, Faces, Found Object Characters, Online Workshops, Sebring, Florida, Uncategorized, Women, Workshops

Lucy and COVID19 Isolation

Leave a comment

I found this fabulous head on Facebook Market place about 6 weeks ago. When I saw her I wasn’t sure she would fit in the oven but I knew I needed to buy her.

When I got her to the studio the first time I did was make sure she fit in the oven. She’s 20″ long from the tip of her nose the the last curl on her head. Luckily I have a two regular kitchen ovens that are clay dedicated . One here at home and one at my studio in downtown Sebring.

I didn’t have time to work her right away so she just chilled out in my studio. Then Covid19 hit and I’ve been home with my husband for the last five weeks. Is that all it’s been???

She came home with me and I’ve been working on her covering her with polymer canes that I have been making over the years. Every time I have a workshop in my studio I make canes, every time I film a video for my online workshops, I make canes.

So I have a cane inventory that you couldn’t believe and what better way to use it than on this lady? I am here to tell you she took a bunch of canes. I think I only use the same one once or maybe twice.

Here she is finished. Or at least finished for now. there are a few things I’d like to fix, but I’m ready to stop working on her for awhile.

Below I’ll show you as she progressed.

Oh and I’ve named her Lucy… like in the Sky with Diamonds… *g*
I may have to add a few sparkles, but that will have to wait.

This is how she was when I first started covering her with canes.

I decided that I didn’t like the random canes and decided to follow the waves.

I just kept on adding canes because I have a large inventory. If you have ever taken a workshop with me you’ll know I am always encouraging everyone to build your cane inventory so you can just sit down and create.

I was able to begin and finish her with out ever having to make a new cane. If I would have had to make a new cane for every wave I might not have finished her.

Obviously you won’t have as many canes as I do but as you build your cane inventory or as I like to call it, your stash, you’ll be surprised how many projects you can finish in a day.
I worked on both sides for days.


I’d finished a few rows and then I’d bake her. That way I didn’t mess up the rows I’d finished as I worked on the next.

Then finally the day came when I could finally put her in the oven for the last time. Was I glad? You bet. I’m used to large projects but this one seemed like it took forever.


She just fits on an angle. I baked her one last time for 30 minutes andI’m a happy, happy, woman.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. If you want to build your cane inventory or just make a couple of fun projects from my online workshops.

Sebring, Florida

One small town story

First Southern Bank

My father, Ernest Lamar Simpson, drew a cartoon every week for the Sebring News in the late 1950s. I remember him working on these and sometimes I would look over his shoulder as he drew. 

Each week the cartoon featured something that was happening in our small Florida town. It’s the Sebring I grew up with and the Sebring I love to recall. My mother grew up here in the 20s and 30s so I have the memories she shared with me too. 

Daddy drew cartoons for football games, school plays, voting day, the county fair, the Ridge Theater Guild, the first art shows at the tourist club and so much more.

When My husband and I moved back to Sebring I was happy to find a small town bank where I could open a savings and checking account. It’s where people knew me and it felt comfortable. Unfortunately the bank sold a couple of years ago to a larger bank and I was disappointed they closed the branch downtown a few blocks from Studio 215.

Then one fine day I heard that Mayor John Shoop, (yes he’s our mayor too) president of the previous bank was anxious to get back to that small town atmosphere where he could spend more time interacting with the customers. One of the bonuses for me is that the branch I missed so much downtown is now home to First Southern Bank. It’s truly that small town bank I was missing.

That brings me to my father’s cartoons. I have stacks of his original drawings and what better fit for some of them to be displayed than at First Southern Bank’s lobby. There are nostalgic black and white photos of Sebring as part of the decor and Daddy’s cartoons framed and matted in black go so well. I met with the Mayor to see he he would like to hang some in the bank. I was delighted when he said yes.

The large photo is of North Ridgewood Drive as viewed from the circle. My studio is further down on the left hand side. I would say it is a picture of Sebring in the late 30s when my mother would have been a young girl. 

My father passed away in 1999, I know he would be thrilled to know his cartoons are still apart of this community. Thank you John Shoop for hanging his work.