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!