Custom Wedding Cake Toppers

Flowers are blooming, the weather is getting warmer, and wedding invitations are arriving. Wedding season is upon us!

I recently had the opportunity to make a cake topper for my cousin's wedding. It is something that I've been wanting to do for awhile. My cousin's wedding seemed like the perfect time to make something meaningful! When I gave my cousin some ideas she was like, "Oh, whatever you want. Whatever you feel like making."

She was pretty indifferent (total opposite of a Bridezilla!), which required me to get creative. I stalked her Facebook page trying to figure out what she might like and came up with little figurines of her and her future husband's pets, a cat and a dog. It was especially perfect because the dog is hers, the cat is his, and together they were all joining forces!

I was really happy with how it turned out, and most important, my cousin and her (now) husband adored it!

The stand has their wedding date stamped on the inside and can also be used as a ring dish.

If you are looking for a custom project let me know. I am always so honored when my work is chosen to help celebrate occasions, given as a gift, or just add beauty to someone's life! 

Mugs

Octopus Mug

 I've been thinking a lot about mugs lately. I have a lot of gratitude towards them. I made my first mug when I was in a college ceramic class because I wanted something special to drink coffee out of. My first mug was clunky and heavy, made out of stoneware clay with some swirls applied to the surface. The handle was on crooked, the glaze didn't turn out to be the color that I wanted. I used it anyway, for years.

When I reintroduced myself to clay about 5 years ago, I made a decision to just focus on mugs. I didn't have a lot of space in my small house so I needed to make small things. And mugs are always useful for a coffee addict like myself!  I made about twenty over the course of the class.  I experimented with sizes and handles, carving, slip trailing, stamping. I really honed in my style of carving into the surface. I loved bringing out small details, creating texture, and making something unique.

I started bringing my mugs to coffee shops, and would receive compliments on them almost everywhere I went. I used to say "Thank you!" and then retreat with my cappuccino to a quiet corner. After I got more comfortable I started saying, "Thank you, I made it!"

After awhile, baristas around town got to know me from my mugs. And then they started ordering their own. Sometimes they'd want something similar to what I'd already made, sometimes they had their own ideas. That is what started the path leading me to where I am today! Even though I make and sell so many other things now, mugs will always have a special spot for me. I still love making them, I'm still experimenting with new ideas, and I still bring my mugs all over town, only now I carry business cards to hand out after someone says, "I like your mug! Where did you get it?".

Feather and Arrows Mug

Line Doodle Mug with Luster

Owl Mug in progress (for a custom order)

Custom mugs in progress. They were partially glazed in this photo. 

Kiln Load

I unloaded my first glaze kiln load of the year! Alpine Modern is now very well stocked with little planters/sake cups/stuff holders.

Trident Cafe has 7 more tea cups in stock. Each one is unique and made individually. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with different color combinations!

I've also been busy making lots of new creatures. Let me know if there is a creature that you would like- I can custom make anything!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2016!

Last year, at about this time, I decided to take a big leap. I quit a stable part-time job that I loved and started making pottery full-time.  Looking back I am amazed at what I accomplished:

-I participated in 10 shows all around Colorado, most of them over the holidays.
-I filled 54 orders on Etsy and made four times more in sales than I did in 2014.
-I gained 140 new Etsy shop favorites (nearly doubling what it was before).
-My work was featured in a magazine.
-I started selling in 2 additional galleries.
-My Facebook page nearly tripled in likes and response over the year.

Those are numbers that I can look back on, but what makes me really proud is that my customer reviews are still 100% positive and I know that I really worked and tried my best with everything I did. I couldn't have done anything without the help of my many wonderful supporters so THANK YOU! I am looking forward to growing even more in 2016! Here is a little taste of what I will be working on:

 This month I am starting to create a new line of children's dishes.  I am getting so many great suggestions for animals to make and am really looking forward to seeing how the prototypes turn out!

 I had great response to my sculptural creature collection. It seemed like the weirder I got the more people loved them! I also started making custom creatures based on beloved pets. This year I am going to make sets of little creatures, for example,  'Ocean Life Creatures' which will have 4-5 ocean creatures as part of a limited collection. I am also planning on creating 'The Woodland Creature Collection' with a bear, fox, bunny, mouse, and mushroom; 'The African Safari Collection' with a rhino, giraffe, lion, hippo, and one other.... And I'm sure as I get working my mind won't stop there! (If you have suggestions feel free to comment!)

 Of course I will still be making many more of my one-of-a-kind thrown, carved and altered mugs. I really love making them, and it's always a miracle when I decide to sell them rather than keep them!

I have been going through a jewelry phase. I sometimes day dream about going back to school and studying jewelry making. I might decide to take a metal smith class this year, but until then I will make pendants with gold luster! I have a few of these in my Etsy shop, and can always take custom orders.

I feel so lucky to have been working on my art this past year. I know that I have grown immensely and will continue to do so.

(A big thank you to Brad Nielson who took all of my professional photos).

What a year

Wow, what a year! I have had so many new experiences and have learned a lot about running my little business.

Since the beginning of the year I have participated in art shows around Colorado, usually a few each season. In 2014 Mud Whimsy participated three the entire year, so it was a big step up. It was wonderful to meet clients, connect with other vendors, and to develop the visual display of my work. I learned something with every show. I have plans for new displays and have a better idea of what items to bring to future events.

This year I have had the pleasure of creating many new mugs, porcelain creatures, planters, and have also been dappling in porcelain jewelry. I especially enjoy carving out designs and textures of the surface of my functional work. With the time and energy that I was able to put into developing new ideas I came up with more than I imagined. I am very proud of everything I have done this year and am looking forward to continuing for a long time!

 If you're interested in getting more updates you can sign up for my newsletter or follow me on  Facebook and/or Instagram.

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring! I'm cranking out new work, filling orders, and selling stuff like crazy. It has been an exiting few months!

I have a few events coming up. The first one is next Friday, May 15th, at TESORO Gallery in Denver starting at 6pm. My friend CJ Troxell will be showing his amazing paintings that he collaborated on with the fabulous Heidi Bickelhaupt. The gallery is located at 918 W. 8th Avenue off of Santa Fe Drive in the the arts district. I will be selling my air plant wall pieces there starting that night (including a few that haven't been listed in my Etsy shop)!

The other event is the Taste of Louisville on Saturday, June 6th. I am still getting the details (I believe it is from 10-4) but it will be in downtown Louisville. I will be focusing on functional work made specifically for dining but will have other whimsical pieces as well.

Other news:
I restocked Alpine Modern with little planters last week, but they sell fast, so get there quickly!
Trident Booksellers and Cafe will receive a few new tea cups tomorrow, and more soon. Each one is individually made and glazed differently (I love that about them!). If there is a custom color that you would like special orders can be placed through Trident Cafe.
Willow Artisan Market  in Lakewood, Colorado is now carrying my wall planters and little creatures.

A good way to keep up with my latest news is to is to like my Facebook page and follow me on Instagram (@mudwhimsy), and check out my shop at www.mudwhimsy.etsy.com.

But enough jibber jabber. Here are some pictures.... :)

Asking for help

In my last post I wrote about taking a giant leap and pursuing ceramics as a full-time endeavor. It started off great- I was getting orders, catching up, cranking work out. As my dad said on a studio visit, "Wow, you're going gangbusters!" Of course I was! This is my dream, and I'm finally in a place where I can pursue it.

Then I had a major setback. I had a glaze firing that was huge. It included orders placed in December, Trident cups, a prototype for a potential client, LON Little Shop (now Alpine Modern) planters, and work for Spring shows. In the morning after firing I went to check on the kiln and it still hadn't gotten to temperature. Which was ok, I figured maybe it needed a little more time. Glaze firing is the highest possible temperature that the work gets fired at and sometimes it can take overnight to get there. But a few hours later it still wasn't there and by the end of the day I determined that something was wrong. My kiln was not getting as hot as it needed to. My kiln was broken.

I tried really hard not to freak out. I tried not to think about how I would produce work in the future. I tried not to think about how the ruined glaze firing would impact my business. Without a kiln I simply could not produce work in an efficient and economic way.  All of the glaze work was worth hundreds of dollars.  Without a kiln I could not have a pottery business. I started freaking out.

My friend said something about how maybe this negative experience could be turned into a positive one (when I told him about it he said, "Ahh, how annoying of me!"). I thought a lot about that. I did things that I have been meaning to do but have been too busy working on pottery to do anything else. I made a list of things I could do that would help my business besides producing work. I brainstormed ideas to raise money for either a new kiln or for kiln repairs. I received some support from friends in the forms of ideas to raise money and paying for their future orders that I hadn't made yet. And from the very beginning my dad asked if I needed help.

I HATE asking for help. I don't know if it's because I have to admit that I can't do it on my own, or if I feel uncomfortable imposing on somebody, but probably that and more. I especially hate asking my dad for help because he already does so much for me, and has my entire life. There are times when I think I am a totally crappy grown up!  Actually I know I am a sucky adult sometimes. Like when I have to ask my dad for help because I don't have enough money set aside for emergencies, and when I dive into a business without having some safety nets.

Over the course of a few days I had at least one meltdown (WHAT AM I GOING TO DOOOOO?!), a few power moments (I can get through this. I can rock this!), and a lot of hustling. I sent out invoices, created a lot of new listings (with finished work only) on Etsy, and came up with some ideas. One idea that I figured is worth a try is selling cards as a mini fundraiser... Here's the listing if you're interested in finding out more: https://www.etsy.com/listing/224875469/help-me-fix-my-kiln-watercolor-cards

 

And then I asked for help. My dad gave me a loan. I cringe admitting it, but the only way I could recover was to be able to be able to produce ceramic work again. So that's where I am right now, in debt to my father but hopefully on the road to being able to repay him soon!

 

 If you are interested in helping me here are some ideas:

-Of course you can purchase my cards

-Any other purchase in my Etsy shop would be awesome!

-Help spread the word... Like my Facebook page then like lots of posts and pictures (that's how FB feeds into other people's pages- the more 'likes' the more exposure). Tell anyone that might be interested about my work.

-Kind words go a long way. Leave a comment!

-Come and visit me at my Spring shows- I'll be putting up a list of where I'll be soon.  

 

 Even when something like this happens, I am so thankful to be able to create my art and learn from my setbacks. And I am SO grateful for all of the support that I receive along the way!