Dreaming

Lately, because I don't have a way to finish work, I haven't been making any. But I'm not looking at my current situation like it's a bad thing. Instead, I'm storing up all of my energy and ideas for when I CAN see my work from finish to end. I'm dreaming about waking up in the morning, making coffee and breakfast, then going out to my studio.  My day will be filled with throwing forms on the wheel, carving and decorating leather-hard clay, coming up with new ideas, loading the kiln, firing my work, unloading the kiln, photographing finished pieces, mailing sold pieces.... I still try to go out to my studio every day. Sometimes I write a letter, sometimes I sketch, and sometimes I just sit there- dreaming of when my dreams will become a reality!

Mug in action

"I lovelovelove my new mug! It's my water cup and is filled 5 or 6 times a day! It fits my hand perfectly and gets compliments..."

New Etsy Listings

Green Leaf Stoneware Mug

Maryam Stoneware Mug

Stoneware Poppy Mug

I just finished posting some new listings in my shop! Click on the photo captions for more information.

Artist of the week: Lucie Rie

Lucie Rie opened a ceramic studio in 1925 and began exhibiting her work that same year. Lucie made pottery (she loved to create functional pottery the best) until she suffered a series of strokes in 1990. That means that she was actively creating ceramic work for 65 years! Lucie died in 1995 but her work is still exhibited around the world. The first picture, of Lucie holding up one of her pieces, is one of my favorite pictures ever. Her love of pottery really shows!
More information can be found HERE, and HERE, and HERE...

My photography set up

All of the Etsy advice I've read emphasizes the importance of good photos. I can't afford to hire a professional photographer with their fancy backdrops, lighting, and million-dollar cameras, so I've had to make do with what I have and try to make the best of it. I think my photos turn out ok... And since it costs me next to nothing I thought I would share!

What you need:

-Camera (mine is a Sony Cyber-shot)

-Large piece of white paper

-Thumb tacks

-Sunshine

-Table

My paper is rolled up in the corner (see it?)

What's great about doing it this way is that I don't have to clean off my table! I just tack up the paper, unroll it, and it hides all my mess.

And voila!

New Etsy Listings

I just finished posting a few new things in my Etsy shop!

This mug was inspired by ancient Egyptian motifs. I carved and slip trailed a thrown form to get the raised designs. It can be purchased HERE.

This little polka dotted bowl can be purchased HERE. 

And finally this carved bowl can be purchased HERE.

You can find more information by clicking on the links!

Getting ready...

....For my sale at Peet's Coffee (on 29th and Canyon) this Sunday at noon! I will have around 20 hand made one-of-a-kind mugs for sale. I hope to see you there!

*Don't forget to mention my blog to get 10% off!

Snail!

I asked my daughter if she wanted me to make her anything. She said, "A snail container!"
So that's what I did. I'm so pleased with how it turned out I think I'll make some for my shop!

Saturday

Saturday was a big day. I woke up in the morning ready to do all of the things I've been procrastinating. The weather was nice (not too hot), I had the big ladder, I had the paint, so I FINALLY finished painting the outside of my studio! It is such a relief to have it done.

Because I finished that I felt a little better spending time on the side projects I've been wanting to do... Like this encaustic piece I've been working on:

After a hard day of laboring over the paint I went up to my mom's house to celebrate her birthday. She has a very sweet cabin in the mountains and has been generously storing a lot of my things in her garage. One of those things is my kick wheel. When I was in college at MSCD, the ceramics department decided to replace all of the kick wheels with electric ones. The kick wheels were literally put out on the curb. My friend had a truck (and a strong husband) and picked one up for me. My mom and I hauled it up to her cabin and it's been there ever since. While I was up there for her birthday party, I had a wild thought, maybe my kick wheel would fit in my car... So I measured, and it did!  The kick wheel was HEAVY, but we managed to get it into my car. Now it is in my studio... And all I need is a kiln!