Hi Rainsend
Your work is great.
I didn't comment because I don't use paint or any finishes other than concrete pigments and sealer.
So I didn't feel qualified to offer up any sealing solutions. I do know Rick has been using the same finish so he would know best about sealing it.
Keep at it, your work is very nice.
Don't let the group get you down. Many folks are probably on holiday and busy with their families. It is that time of year. :)

If you'll notice the dates on the threads, all are slow right now. I suspect that everyone is outside, playing with with their mud projects.

Your work is lovely, with a delicate touch of the metallic colors that is very becoming to the pieces.

Sue

You're not the only one this happens to. It happens to me all the time. Try not to take it personally.

I don't usually paint my garden items - so can't help you out on any of that...sorry.

I did figure that people were probably busy on vacations and stuff. I guess I was feeling a little blue today given that the summer is going by so fast. The cement and tufa have been my main creative outlet this summer and I have no one around that really appreciates it much. The kids think its neat. Plus its been my distraction from some stressful neighbor problems. Thank you for your comments.

I was thinking of doing some small balls painted with this and some very small leaves. I have had a few cement leaves about the house during the winter and they are a nice reminder of the summer. They dont really serve any useful purpose but being small I could price them more reasonably ( and maybe sell them easier).

Hi Rainsend
I know how you feel.
I'm in a zone 3 so I don't have much summer left at all.
It get's me down as well.
I have so much I want to do and not enough time left to do it.
And don't get me started on the neighbors. :)
And this Tufa hobby makes it worse because it seems to take forever for the stuff to cure.

Hang in there!
As Red Green would say "I'm pulling for you, because we're all in this together.:)

tufaenough has it right when she points out that it takes forever to cure. Thats why these projects seem like they take forever to complete. No instant gratification here -- though unmolding is kind of fun. Then again its a little nervewracking I am always worried that I am either too early or late with that process.

These are the first items I have painted. I did do a few with coloring added to the cement. But I havent sealed anything. I move most of the concrete undercover in winter. Now I have too much and some of the leaves are way to big and heavy.

Have you noticed that as you get older,the leaves get heavier?Or,instead of working on smaller projects,you look for BIGGER ones?
Cheers from here

I think your stuff looks fabulous! In fact, I've been furiously trying to find a Modern Masters paint supplier near me so that I can copy from you! I'm such a newbie to this that I didn't have any advice to offer in your other thread.

Rainsend (great username, BTW, I could use your services in hot and dry New Mexico ;D)

Don't be discouraged by the lack of response you are getting. You do lovely work. You should be very proud of what you have done so far.

You mentioned that summer is coming to an end where you live. A common complaint on this forum during the cold months is that it's too cold to cast, sculpt, create with tufa or crete, so I would suggest that while the temperatures are still warm enough to get good cures accomplished, you should cast as many things as you can think of and get them to the point that you can embellish them at your leisure this winter. That will help to scratch the "tufa itch" that most mudders have in the cold weather months. You'll have all winter to hone your artistic techniques and when next spring arrives you'll be teaching us all how to achieve what you've created over the winter.

This is only a suggestion, mind.

As for the volume of posts, you'll find that winter is MUCH slower than the late summer post count you seen recently. There were times last winter when I would not see a new post for days on ANY thread, but when the weather started to warm up, so did the enthusiasm and energy on this forum. Think of it as hibernation.

Take care and keep your chin up.

Jo