 From an old Santa Fe boxcar behind her home, Charlotte Rufenacht takes a hunk of clay and transforms it into treasures from a heart as big as Texas. Raku ceramic "wishkeeper" necklaces, "love" rattles, and cross necklaces each hand decorated with beads, crosses or fetishes. One of a kind angels, clay crosses for the wall, ornaments and vessels...each item a gem for the art lover looking for something very special.
Charlotte has been practicing the ancient art of raku firing for over 15 years. She uses three foot long tongs to transfer the translucent red glowing pieces out of the kiln to trash cans filled with combustible material...the flames shoot up and the lids are slammed shut. The combination of intense heat, reduction in the trash cans, and the quick cooling creates the beautiful metallic colors in her finished product.
Her e-mail says "mudwoman", but her unique creations spell pure love...a great gift from the creator for the giver and the receiver.
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