Fall Update

 I've been busy lately! Between teaching at Clementine Studio, my various childcare jobs, gearing up for the holidays with ReLove Projects (I've been an ornament factory), and raising a teenager, I haven't had as much time with clay as I would like. However, Thanksgiving Day, due to some miscommunication, I was completely free to do whatever I wanted. My daughter was with her dad, my family had other plans so I glazed ALL DAY. I've written about glazing disappointments  but luckily I had very few of those with my latest firings! The colors were exactly as I imagined (or better), the glaze didn't run... Even some pieces that were experiments turned out well! 

I'll be adding a few of these to my Etsy shop as I photograph them.

These ones sold about 10 minutes after I took these photos! I pulled them out of the kiln, took pictures, and brought them to my local coffee shop. The guy interested said, "I'll take them all!" He gave the flower one in the center to one of his employees as a holiday gift. It's such a great feeling when someone appreciates my work. 

I've also been experimenting a lot with plant homes. This is a small hanging planter that I made from porcelain and macrame.  What I learned: I have to make it BIGGER! I had to finagle quite a bit to get a very small plant to fit happily in it. I do love the way it looks in my studio window though, so at least it wasn't a waste! 

New listings are coming soon! And as always, if you're interested in a custom piece please you can email me with details. If you are looking for a holiday present let me know ASAP so that I can get it finished in time! 

Custom Mugs

I've been working in my studio every chance I get lately, especially at night. I stocked up on more porcelain and new glazes and have been happily using them! I've received a few fun commissions for custom mugs, which is keeping me busy and inspired. I am especially excited about this mug for a bird watcher:

This mug was sort of a disaster. There were tons of air bubbles when I was throwing it, then I trimmed the foot off center and too far. I think I fixed it, but it may end up in my cupboard! 

I'm also working on a mug for a teacher, one with an earth sign, and a mug for a friend.

If you're interested in a custom mug let me know! I can pretty much work with any idea you might have. 

Air Plant Homes

I'm quite pleased with how these little porcelain air plant homes have been coming out. I think I'll make LOTS! I sold a few of them last weekend but I still have some left. As soon as I can get some good photographs of them they will be added to my Etsy shop! Let me know if you're interested in purchasing any of them and I can create a custom listing for you (the ones with lines and polka dots have both sold).

Exciting Things

So many exciting things have been happening lately! I feel like I'm finally gaining the momentum with Mud Whimsy that I've been working towards since opening my back yard studio. I put out a plea on Facebook for some likes- and got what I asked for! It was so nice to go from a few likes to more than 30 (once you hit 30 you get updates. It's a small milestone, but one nonetheless!).  My Facebook page is HERE, if you feel like showing a little 'like' too.

Over the weekend I had a last-minute sale at Clementine Studio. I glazed and fired all of the work that's been sitting on my shelf waiting. Most of those pieces were little air plant homes. I love how they turned out! The ones that didn't sell will be in my Etsy shop soon.

I always bring my handmade mugs into coffee shops when I get my daily cappuccinos. Lately I've had a lot of inquiries about custom mugs and where I sell my work. A woman told me yesterday that my mug was one of the nicest she'd ever seen! I decided that it was time to get professional business cards. So I did. 250 of them! Here's how they'll look:

A professional artist told me to be sure that I had a picture of my work on my card because otherwise people will forget. The mug in the photo was one that I was particularly proud of and I feel like it represents my aesthetic well. Now when I receive compliments on my mugs I'll hand them a card and say, "Thanks! I can make one for you!" 

Teaser

A peek in my studio window

I've been spending quite a bit of time in my studio lately... I'm looking forward to sharing the results soon! 

Private Mud Lessons

Wedging the clay

Messy hands!

Once a week I have a 5 year old boy come to my little studio for private throwing lessons. We make a huge mess, get all covered in clay, and have a good time doing it! Teaching is something that I genuinely love to do... It is so rewarding to see creative worlds open up. If you're interested in a private lesson for your child (or yourself!) contact me at mudwhimsy@gmail.com.

Pig in a Necklace

Well, I FINALLY made this DIY I wrote about forever ago. I'm pretty happy with the result! My ceramic pig is modeling it and she seems to like it quite a bit.

Latest Project: Air Plants

I love plants. It's been a goal of mine to make some really cool planters to decorate my studio with and to sell in my shop. One challenge that I've had is keeping my plants alive. I've always considered myself to be good with plants, and I've kept some alive for years, but for some reason the plants that I've had in my studio very quickly become compost. It could be the temperature, or maybe that I'm out there sporadically (do you think plants get lonely? I do!), but I have not been able to keep a single plant alive. Then I heard about air plants. The main thing that caught my attention is that they're very hardy- They don't need soil or regular watering, just an occasional mist and soak. I ordered a set of 10 small ones and one bigger one, thinking that if I had the plants I'd make the pots. So far they're still kicking, and I've been out in my studio making little porcelain planters to house them. 

My mug cupboard

I love my cupboard when all my mugs are stacked inside it! Most of these are made by me. 

How It's Made

I love this!

New in the shop!

I posted these three listings in the shop last night...

Porcelain dotted planter 

Graphic Black & White Geometric Cup

Wabi-Sabi Vase

Wabi-Sabi Vase

Summer Update

My messy messy studio. 

I haven't been in the Mud Whimsy studio much this summer. I realized that last week and made a conscious effort to spend some time there. But first I had to clean it! I had glaze messes all over my table, a cabinet on the floor, a layer of dust on everything, things that I meant to hang up and display on the walls.... So I cleaned. I hung. I organized. I dusted. I wiped. And I felt much better. Tomorrow I am planning on making something (anything)!

A little cleaner in this corner...

 Here are some summer updates:
-I brought some new mugs to sell at the gallery at Community Holistic Health Center in Lafayette.
-I finished the first 5 mugs in the 100 Mug Series 

5 of 100

-I taught a clay creations camp at Clementine Studio and glazed and fired all the pieces. 

Clay creations at Clementine Studio

-I will have a few new things for the Etsy shop in the next few days. Brad is working on the photos right now! 

-My studio garden is growing! Last summer I didn't have much of a garden and I was jealous of all the delicious tomatoes that everyone else had. So this year I planted cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, peas, and basil. 

Mugs for sale!

My mugs (and a bowl) are now for sale at The Community Holistic Health Center in Lafayette, Colorado!  

409 South Public Rd
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-666-6192

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm
Evenings, Sundays and Mondays by appointment.

Spring!

Sorry for the long lag in postings... Honestly I just haven't had that much to write about as far as Mud Whimsy goes. I haven't had any news, any new creations, or much inspiration as Winter played out. But now it's Spring and I'm finding myself drawn into my studio once again! I've been busy making some new mugs, filling a few orders, and getting ready for a show that will include my mugs and encaustic pieces. 

HAPPY SPRING!

PS- Because I am so happy Spring is here I want to share that joy with you! Enjoy 15% off in any of my shops from now until April 7 by using the coupon code 'happyspring' 

(click on the shop names below to be connected with my Etsy shops)

Mud Whimsy

ReLove Projects

Hana's Creation

My daughter made this in her high school ceramics class! I am so proud!

Kiln Disappointments

My last firing was a low-fire glaze. I've talked about the joys of unloading a glaze kiln full of bright shiny surprises (yay!), and now I'm going to talk about the disappointment of opening a glaze fire and finding bubbles, cracks, and discoloration (boo!).
 I wanted to fire a full kiln load of glaze pieces, so I've been waiting until I had enough work to do so. That was problem number 1: Anticipation and expectations.
Problem number 2: I bought low-fire commercial glazes that I'd used a long time ago (with good results) so I didn't feel like testing was necessary.
Out of my last firing only TWO pieces were sellable. I have other monkey mugs, a wall piece, and a few other little creations that will have to go in my junk pile. So disappointing! I really should have tested the glazes...

The good news is that I am quite pleased with these two (both are for sale in my etsy shop):

Monkey Mug

Dotted Terra Cotta Mug

Thank you, Brad, for the awesome photos!

My Latest Endeavor

I've been collecting vintage things for YEARS. I discovered thrift stores in high school and haven't spent very much money on new clothes since! I prefer the uniqueness and the history that vintage items have.  I have also been hoarding things for ReLove Projects. I'll find a cool vintage dress and think that I may someday want to use it for the fabric, but then the dress is so awesome that I can't bear to cut it! My collection has become quite large...

About a week ago Brad went to a job interview. The job was to take photos of vintage goods to sell online. It was a part-time job, the pay was measly, but it was an opportunity that he wanted to look into nonetheless. The night before his interview I was looking around my house at all of the unnecessary things I have. My first thought was, "I should sell this stuff." That thought developed into an idea and the idea became Vintage Rhino! Brad and I have officially gone into business together selling quality vintage goods.  Brad is the photographer, tech savvy, and business development. I am the artistic director, collector, and customer service. Right now we're both working constantly on getting our website launched, but until then you can check out our goods on Etsy: www.thevintagerhino.etsy.com.

We are SO EXCITED! It's been really fun- we make a great team. Vintage Rhino gives me a way to sell my vast collection of unused vintage things, it gives Brad a way to use his photography skills and have a job that will pay more than it would for someone else. Over the weekend we photographed a bunch of things I'm ready to let go of. These are some of my favorites: (click on the picture to be directed to our shop)

Oh yeah, and if you're wondering about how Brad's job interview turned out... Before I even pitched my idea he decided that the part-time measly paying job wasn't worth the drive (1 hour + in traffic).

PS- Clay updates coming soon!