Sneak preview, Thank you, and What's been going on...

The top photos are new vases I made, under glazed and bisque fired, they will look very different after I clear glaze them and have them fired again, they will look like porcelain. I wanted you to see them though as I really love them and had so much fun making them. I made them weeks ago and have not done art since, so TODAY I am making more, finally I have a bit of time.

The photos of the bag are a lovely present that the very talented Melanie made for me, this is the second bag she has made and they are a big hit at the grocery store. She also tucked a lovely lavender sachet she made inside, sorry I did not get a photo of that. Thank you Melanie, I love it and I love you dear girl.

As for other news, Zoe is getting on well enough with Max, she and Spike had some hissing going on and Spike is a bit afraid of her, but I think it will be fine in a few days after they get more used to each other. It went much better than I thought it would. I actually think that there may be a bit of romance between Max and Zoe :-).

And now for something completely different, I never said anything about it, but a month ago I started a weight reducing program, no sugar, no bad carbs and I have lost 12 pounds! I really only wanted to get back to where I was 4 years ago, after gaining about 8 of the 30 I lost back then, but I am really liking this life style change and I plan on staying on it forever. However, I think life is to be lived, so I do allow myself little treats on the weekend or when I go out to eat, but I won't buy bread or pasta for a long while, also no chips, I eat nuts instead, lots of veggies and fruit. I feel ever so much better and this time I am doing it for me, no one else! Really I don't need to lose any more, but I want my body to be lean, not skinny and I think it will just level out soon. I just wanted to share.

I am off to play with clay, have a WONDERFUL weekend. XOXO

Exquisite Bliss

I can't help it.

I stayed in this world of childish wonder,

I think that a lot of creative people never grow up.

I am certain a real man would not paint any pictures!

Or wonder about the universe

Or believe in dreams.

Or think that trees sometimes look at him.

Willem de Kooning

This quote of de Kooning's (my #1 all time favorite artist) always makes me dreamy and inspired. I thought I would share. I am up to my eyeballs in art projects and ideas, I started with making 10 tiny and small porcelain bud vases, I loved making them so much I can't even express it in words. Exquisite bliss. I will give you a look at them if they make it through the firing and glazing process. It was enough though to form them, each one a different surprise.

Next up is a new painting or two or four or 10 :-) and some drawing and then some more vases and maybe some bangles. This is a very yummy way to start the new year. Happy Sunday. XOXO

Reminders

"You have to remember to make it all over again everyday, the angel said to me, otherwise it goes all to hell"-Brian Andreas (Storypeople). This is a little something I have taped to my fridge, so I will have a reminder :-). I thought I would pass it along to you.
It's Sunday and I glazed ceramics all day, 40 pieces, actually I have been glazing all week in the evenings after work. I am finally done. YAY! I should have some new things to show in a week or so. If they turn out that is. Remember that box I made a few weeks ago? It flew apart. No more box. There is a learning curve with each new clay. I have now found my clay, and will stick with it. Porcelain is my favorite and I am now working with very pricey porcelain and I love it, I just have to learn to build boxes with it :-). I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday, no matter what you are doing. Happy, happy. XOXO

New Ceramics and a Sneak Peek and a Give Away

It has been a hard weekend, missing B so much, but carrying on and focusing on play/work.

I got some ceramics out of the kiln and while they are not perfect (about half made it) and a few will be sold as seconds on discount due to glaze flaws, I do have a few to sell. I am about to put them on my ETSY site, but thought I would offer them here first. The pendants and wall hangings are $20 and the pig ornament is $8 due to a glaze flaw, they are all porcelain. All will be 3.50 to send in the US. Buy two or more you still pay just 3.50 in shipping.

If you want something let me know and I will put it on my ETSY site reserved in your name.

I am giving 10% of all sales to Kj's kids. Read about that here. I am also having a give away. I will let that be a surprise, but it is going to be ceramic and it may be something I have not made yet, depends on who wins as I want it to be a little personal. So if you want to be entered please leave a comment, deadline is Friday, I pull a name from a hat. I have more to show, but will do another post with them later. Let me know if you need sizes on anything.

The last photo at bottom here is my first box. I am trying some new, wonderful porcelain and this is my first project with it. Newly formed not fired yet.

Thank you all again for your sweet and wonderful comments, emails and phone calls. I appreciate you all very much.

XOXO

Sneak peek

Sorry for the less than perfect photos. These are newly formed, but not fired yet. I have been inspired to make spoons. Also Salt and Pepper holders and many other things that I have yet to make. These characters will be painted like canvases after they are fired, I can't wait. Making these saved me today, from so much sadness. More about that tomorrow. XOXO

Randomness and much pondering...

It has been a long week, 6 days of work in a row, but now I have a little time off. Even though I have been busy, I did make a little time for art, I made the above wall hangings (these are just fired, no glaze yet) and pendants, and I glazed them last night. Notice in the photo, the shadow at the top and little whiskers, it is none other than my Max. The stack of wall hangings next to the whiskers did not make it, they were flawed and must go in the bin. Only about half of what I make ever makes it, that is just the way with clay, you never know what you get until it is done. I work in porcelain and it is even harder, but that is one of the reasons I like it best.

I have a question for all of you, I need your help with something. About two weeks ago I put out a call for orders, for custom made ornaments (see this post). It was a total failure and I need to know why. I asked a blogger friend of mine and they said they thought the price was too high.

I asked clients and they said no, they thought the price was fine, and a few have ordered some. I have thought a lot about it, these are one of a kind, custom made, you can't buy these in a store.

To me that is worth something. Sure you can buy ornaments, probably as low as 50 cents, but if you want something special does it come cheap? Should it come cheap? I don't do this purely for the money, I love doing it, but I also want to get some appreciation (in the form of money) for the work and care I put into them, as an artist it is often too easy to sell ourselves short. I also realize that for many money is tight and perhaps it is as simple as that. Or maybe July is too early to be thinking about this for most of you. I just want to know and perhaps there is no answer. Maybe you simply did not like them, or Christmas for that matter :-), or maybe you just don't need a custom made ornament. I don't want any of you to feel badly because you did not order some, I don't want pity orders :-). I just want to get my business going and I need to know what I am doing wrong, and who best to ask, then you? Is it my selling technique? God knows I could improve that. I tried selling Christmas cards last year and same thing happened. I know you don't come to my blog to buy things, I do understand that and I don't want you to feel like that is what my blog is about, it's not, but I do make art that I want to sell, So help me out and just give me your gut reaction, (but please be kind :-). I appreciate your thoughts on this.

In other news, my mom is getting better daily. I am now thinking about a maybe move to Oregon, calmly and slowly. Looking into things at my own pace which tends to be slow :-).

Also thinking about many other things, but this post is getting long, so I will save the rest for later. Happy Saturday! Love. XOXO

Fresh from the Kiln

These are my new ceramics. I have more, but the photos did not come out, so will have to try again when I have time. A cup, wall hangings, earrings and pendants. I will be putting them on my ETSY site in the next week or so. All are porcelain. Let me know what you think.

Happy Monday! XOXO

My First Successful Porcelain Cup

This is my first successful porcelain cup. Thought I would share. If any of you are interested it is for sale on my ETSY shop. Let me know what you think.

Mom is doing better and is starting the healing journey. Thank you all so much for your prayers and good thoughts. XOXO

Blissed Out

Sunday, another wonderful day where I am bursting forth with possibilities and creative wonder.
I am glazing today and I have to tell you that when I received my first fired porcelain pieces I fell in love. I adore how white it is and how thin I can get it. I have just begun this love affair.
I have so many things I want to make and I will start doing sculpture too. Wish I could make it all as fast as the ideas come into my head :-). Jobs are not coming in at the moment and instead of worrying about money I am focusing on how lucky I am to be able to spend another day being creative and wallowing in joy. I have decided to pretend that I AM making a living from what I love to do most :-).
I promise I will have much to show in the next few weeks, bowls, cups, mugs, pendants, even a soap dish or two.
I wish for you a most wonderful Sunday, how ever you spend it. XOXO

Porcelain Update

Thank you all for your words of lovely support. I had a wonderful Sunday and Monday working with the porcelain. No troubles at all. I kept it simple making only a cup and ornaments and pendants. Too soon to tell if they will make it to the final stages. I received a finished bowl back today, made with the porcelain mix and was very disappointed in it. I have so much to learn about glazing. I won't be posting that one as I really can do so much better. I have been doing ceramics for a year and a half and I feel I should be better. I know there is a huge learning curve
and I will try to be patient with myself. Okay, enough. I promise I should have some ornaments to show next week! I hope you are all having a great week. XOXO

This is the Day!

Up early and excited to get started on my porcelain. I have so many ideas that I am overwhelmed a bit, but I will narrow it down to ornaments and cups today :-). First I have to reorganize the room where I store all my ceramics that are drying and waiting to go get fired, my little room is getting very full! I can't wait until some of it is ready to sale and give away.
You will be the first to see them. Off I go into this beautiful Sunday morning full of blissful anticipation of what is to come :-). I wish you a wonderful, joyful Sunday! XOXO

Porcelain!!!!

I know you probably don't care one bit, but I have been told that I am ready for porcelain and I have a big bag of porcelain clay to prove it :-). I have waited a year and half to be able to finally work with the clay that I adore. I have been working with B-Mix which is a porcelain mix and it is lovely, but I want the real deal, so come Sunday, you know what I will be doing :-). I just wanted to share my absolute pure joy :-). Happy Thursday.
P.S. What are you all joyful about right now? XOXO