15 Painted Cups

Freecycle

2012-02-20T16:54:00.002-05:00

If you guys have never heard of Freecycle, you are missing out. Freecycle is an online bulletin board that works a lot like Craigslist, only instead of posting items for sale, you post items you want to give away. You never know what people will post on there. Once, my husband got a huge box of books on philosophy. I've seen whole projects on Apartment Therapy made entirely from Freecycle finds. It's like dumpster diving made much more efficient, and less smelly! It's also a great way to post things you no longer have a use for, but might be great for someone else who has a need for them, or the time and energy to fix them up. Not only that, but you can just put your item out on the front porch or the curb, and someone will come and take them for you. It's a lot better than waiting for heavy trash day to get rid of that old couch, and you get to help someone out to boot. I'm thinking I might post some of Maddy's old baby items and save myself a trip to the thrift store.

I hadn't been on the Indianapolis Freecycle page in a year or two, but a friend of mine happened to see a post offering a ton of ceramic underglazes and thought of me. I contacted the poster, who lived 10 minutes away from me, and picked up two huge bags full of underglazes the next day. How awesome is that? I'm sure I'll have to test a lot of them to be sure they're ok for cone 6, but there's definitely a lot in there I know I can use. I decided to donate them to the studio and share them with our members so we can all use them. Now I know I'm gonna be checking Freecycle on a regular basis. You never know, someone might have an old wheel to part with! I can certainly dream, can't I?

Have any of you ever gotten something awesome for free on Freecycle or Craigslist? Picked up an old broken kiln, or a piece of furniture that you fixed up? If you've got good freebie stories, I wanna hear them!

Sicky baby

2012-02-19T08:48:00.003-05:00

I seem to be losing some steam on the blog posting front. Maddy has been sick with a cough and runny nose, which has kept me pretty busy making sure she stays fed and hydrated. Poor girl, she takes having a cold so much better than I do! I cooked some beef stew for the both of us to get our strength up, since I was sure I'd be sick next. I've been feeling kind of crappy, but Maddy is just running around cheerfully talking to herself as though nothing is wrong. If it wasn't for the runny nose and adorable sneezes, you'd never know she was sick.

I haven't felt much inclined to do any drawing, and I haven't made it into the studio at all. This morning I just feel dizzy and totally off. I'm ready to go back to bed.

I found a couple of recipes (here) for tomato red iron glazes that I plan to try in the studio this week. Now that I know more about controlled cooling, and programming the kiln to slow the cooling cycle down, I feel a little more confident about testing some these. I haven't punched them into my glazing software yet to see what they look like, and how stable they might be. They sure look pretty, though!

Hooray test tiles!

2012-02-17T12:08:00.001-05:00

I got my test tiles out of the kiln this week, and I am really pleased with the results so far. This is the first time I've ever mixed a chrome tin glaze. How cool that such a vibrant green powder can make such a lovely wine color after firing! I definitely want to do more research on chrome tin glazes, since I understand they can be difficult to get right. I feel a bit like I cheated by skipping all the testing and using the tried and true recipe provided in my book. I did learn that you only need a tiny amount of chrome to get the best color - .1% provided the richest raspberry color.

Raspberry glaze from Mastering Cone 6 Glaze.

I just found a very helpful article about trying to get a pink glaze using mason stains, and it breaks down the different elements that are needed to get color, and which ones will bleach out the desired pink or red (magnesia apparently is not compatible with getting pink to work, apparently). I assume that the same guidelines provided in this article are true for mixing glazes from oxides rather than stains, but I guess I'll have to test to find out.

Two mixes of Floating Blue Woo

A blue green copper glaze. We call it Maggie Moo, because our instructor Cathy's daughter, Maggie, mixed up the original recipe for a science fair project. How cool is that?

I hope I can learn from these base recipes and eventually be able to formulate my own glazes based on the results I desire. There certainly is a lot to learn!

Work in progress

2012-02-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

I'm juggling so many different things in the studio, I'm just chomping at the bit to get them all finished!

My paper clay vase came out of the kiln yesterday. I'm really pleased with the thinness and translucency of it. It was made with Laguna's Frost cone 6 porcelain and toilet paper. I should have a picture for you tomorrow with it all lit up. It glows:)

Hoping I can make a better form next time, but at least now I know that this stuff works.

Empty headed

2012-02-14T12:18:00.001-05:00

I've had a lot on my mind lately, but I don't seem to have the confidence or ability to articulate it all. Teaching and working at the studio has been constantly humbling for me, as I learn and relearn my limitations, and try to find a balance between feeling confident in my abilities, and staying open to growth and change. I'm not sure how much of that makes sense - it feels awkwardly worded. What I'm trying to say, is that I've been waffling between being proud of the progress I've made, and my abilities as a teacher, and feeling inadequate and terribly unsure of myself. I know that as long as I keep working at learning, and sharing that knowledge with others as well as I can, I can only improve as a teacher and a maker. But I'm impatient, and I want to be good at everything RIGHT NOW. And I worry that my students aren't getting everything they want or need from my classes. Sometimes I think that someone with a lot more experience should be doing my job, but I'd never want to give it up. I get so much out of it, and it pushes me constantly. I just hope I'm doing ok. Every time a student loses a piece due to cracking or glazing because I failed to articulate an important step in the process, I feel terrible. I try to keep in mind all the things I learned from my teachers, and the things they said and did that stuck with me and were the most helpful, but I space out sometimes. It's not always easy to explain what I'm doing step by step so others will understand. Teaching is certainly not easy. Articulation. Communication. How can I be better at these skills?

I've been thinking about Maddy a lot, and how big she's getting, and how I sometimes take it for granted. All I can think about is my work, and how to get to where I can make a living at it. In a round about way, I worry about this because I want to make a good life for my child. But I also know that my desire to do my work uninterrupted is a little selfish - I miss the copious amounts of free time I used to have and waste, and it will be years before I have that kind of time again. I haven't yet really embraced my new role as a mother. I'm still immature, and having trouble letting go of the image of the person I used to be, or wanted to be. Meanwhile, this gorgeous little person is toddling around in front of me, learning to talk and clap and stand on her own, and she watches me all the time. I need to be aware of what she learns from me. What am I teaching her with this selfish obsession with being successful, being recognized? With my subconscious disdain for day to day tasks because I could be doing more lofty, important things like art-making? Shouldn't caring for her, for my family, be just as important, if not more so? I feel so guilty for having these feelings, and for not fully embracing this new role in my life.

This is a pretty heavy blog post, and I apologize. I just needed to clear my muddled brain a bit.

Currently reading a book by bell hooks called Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center. It's incredibly eye opening. As I said on Facebook earlier today, it makes me realize how spoiled and privileged I am, and how much I take for granted. I only wish I'd discovered her work sooner. I've been reading a lot of feminist theory, but so much of it is written from a white woman's perspective, and other experiences are completely ignored. It's giving me a lot to think about.

Glazes for Dummies

2012-02-13T11:53:00.000-05:00

I fully intended to write a blog post yesterday, but I just never made it to the computer. It was a really good weekend, though. I got to hang out with my friend Erin (of eef-etc), drinking wine and eating pizza, and not really watching stuff on Netflix because we were too busy yapping. It was our intention to get together to geek out over marathon episodes of Doctor Who and some other UK tv shows, but we just never got past talking, which was fine. Drinks and conversation with Erin are always a good way to spend an evening. Plus, we got to discuss my new website that she's working on for me, which I'm super excited about!

I've been thinking for ages that I needed a real website for my work, to serve as a portfolio, business landing page, and sort of portal to all my social media and photos scattered across the web. I considered building one myself, but then I remembered my last foray into webpage design... sometime back in the 90's when people still had Geocities pages. (!!!) Page after page of sparkly animated gifs, crappy midi music, anime drawings, and bad poetry! I shudder at the memories. I never did learn more HTML than how to make text bold and italic (and now there's buttons for those things), and I knew if I waited until I had time to teach myself how to put a simple blogger or wordpress page together, it would just never happen. Good thing Erin does these things for a living! I love having talented friends:) So as soon as I write the copy for the site, and update my resume, I should have a real website!

I also managed to study up on glazing a bit more, reading the appendices and skimming back over the rest of Mastering Cone 6 Glazes again. Once I started playing with the Glaze Master software, it all finally started to click. The Digitalfire Material database was incredibly helpful for understanding all of the materials I was using, and I wish I'd remembered it sooner. I realized that my brain has just gotten very lazy, and looking at long lists of numbers and chemical formulas just wasn't making sense to me without a lot of effort. Being able to look up materials and have their chemical makeup broken down for me in plain English really helped. (I always joke that I'm an artist - I don't do math!) I tell my students that everything worth doing takes hard work, but apparently I'm a huge hypocrite. Glaze chemistry doesn't come easily to me, and I was getting frustrated because I was actually having to do work and research to understand what I was doing, instead of finding some easy fix for our unstable studio glazes.

I think I'm on the right track now, and I've got a new set of test tiles sitting on the shelf, ready for tonight's glaze firing. I'll post pics of the results, and then on to more testing! If I learn anything useful from all this, I'll be sure to share it with you. So stay tuned, maybe there'll be some new fancy glaze recipes to share.

Owl rattle

2012-02-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

Hiya:)

The Science of Story

2012-02-10T20:08:00.002-05:00

Got my sketchbook in the mail yesterday for the new Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition. My theme is "The science of story". For once, I decided to get crackin' on this right away, rather than procrastinate.

I've been thinking about how to interpret this theme. The themes always hang me up a bit. I decided to start a pinterest board for sciency-type inspiration: vintage pop science magazine covers, scientific illustrations, medieval diagrams of plants and animals, etc. My idea so far is to think about story writing and telling as if there were a scientific method to it. Chemical elements to combine into a story reaction. Specimens of story archetypes to document. What would the scientific formula of creating a story look like, if there were such a thing?

I was just reading a note on Facebook about how too many people are trying to pass off "good enough" or "satisfactory" art these days to make a living, rather than really going for broke and making the best art they possibly can (which, according to some survey data he examined, is actually more lucrative and efficient). I don't know if I agree with that 100% (not sure whether artists today are any lazier than they've ever been; maybe we're all just more aware of each other), but I do think I personally settle a lot in my own work, rushing to finish before my idea is completely fleshed out where I want it. Seems like I'm always rushing last minute to fulfill a deadline, or to get my stuff into the next kiln firing, and I'll sacrifice some elements I wanted just to have a finished piece. I think maybe it's time to spend more time on fewer, better pieces, rather than making lots of little, less than satisfactory pieces.

Each one of my sketchbooks so far have been unfinished, and far less than I originally envisioned. I hope I can push this one closer to excellence. Just for personal pride. It would be nice to have a finished sketchbook that I actually felt proud enough of to put in my portfolio.

We'll see how it goes. I hope I'm not all talk this time around!

Good Morning

2012-02-09T10:27:00.001-05:00

Last night I told myself I was going to start my day off today with a sketchbook and a cup of coffee. No computer, no distractions, just sketching some ideas out in peace and quiet.

I should know better than to make plans.

I've spend the last hour scrubbing every known surface in the kitchen because our male cat, Andre, decided to go on a spraying spree. He even left a puddle on the floor, which Maddy joyfully crawled over to and started sliding her hand around in.

I am sooooooo angry and grossed out right now. I couldn't get Maddy to the sink fast enough. I'm sure she wondered what all the fuss was about. I've got a headache from the smell of ammonia, and I'm going around the whole kitchen sniff testing everything to make sure I got it all.

So much for my peaceful morning.

I am never, EVER having more than 2 cats at one time ever again.

Ugh.

Paper Bag Princess

2012-02-08T09:03:00.000-05:00

I was inspired by a post on Rae Dunn's blog, in which she writes about some pieces of hers that turned out completely different than what she expected, but their "uglyness" became beautiful to her the more she looked, and reminded her that sometimes having certain expectations for clay can leave you disappointed, until you let them go.

I went into the studio after reading that post, determined to try something different and let the clay speak to me, without expectations of a certain outcome. I expected uglyness, and possibly something that might fall apart or collapse. What I got was this lovely girl. I call her my Paper Bag Princess, and I just painted her yesterday. As I was making her, I cut out the crown shape in a nod to Rae, who uses the image a lot in her work.

I'm definitely getting a taste for building with soft slabs. I made another one the next day, a sort of a sack shaped Queen bottle figure. It feels totally different from my struggle for perfection on the wheel, and it's very freeing.

The 11 Meme

2012-02-07T15:15:00.000-05:00

I don't normally do these kinds of things, but my friend Erin over at Eef-etc tagged me, and she's pretty awesome, and also I like her questions.

Here are the rules.

You must post these rules.
Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.
No tag backs and you legitimately have to tag 11 people. (I'm cheating - I don't want to tag anyone!)

11 things about me:

I am obsessed with Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics. Enough so that I have read both The Sandman Companion, and the Sandman Papers, just to learn additional facts and insight into the comic. I'm also a Gaiman fan, so I rabidly devour every single thing he puts out.
When I was an elementary school, I wanted to grow up to be a writer. My first poem was about cats, and it was published in the school paper.
I used to love video and computer games, but I never have time for them anymore. I live vicariously through my husband, and still read online articles about all the nifty indie games that people are coming out with these days. I believe video games can be art, just like anything else, especially when the visuals and the story are interesting and compelling.
I used to be a goth kid. I would read anything having to do with vampires. Yes, I've read all of Anne Rice's vampire books, and Poppy Z. Brite too. I've since grown out of this phase, and I hate Twilight with a passion, FYI.
I adore sci-fi and fantasy - literature, movies, comics, anything. I'm picky, but I think these genres have such brilliant potential to delight and inspire, and be absolutely brilliant.
I love children's books, and movies. Having a kid just gives me an excuse to spend more time enjoying them.
Our household collectively has 7 cats, although only two of them are mine.
I am in Indianapolis because of Hurricane Katrina. Unlike many people affected, my family and home were unharmed, and my stay in Indy was supposed to be temporary. It just happened to be the big change I needed to make me get off my butt and get into a real art school. I'm incredibly lucky to be where I am today.
I have worked as a vet tech, a video store manager, an ice cream server, a video arcade monitor, a consignment shop clerk, a "small animal specialist" (cleaning animal cages), a sculpture shop monitor, and a 1-hr photo tech before teaching at BGCW. I've had a lot of jobs!
I didn't get my license until I was 18, and I didn't have a car until I was 21. Biking was my main form of transportation for most of my young life.
Nich and I really want to move to another country, but we have difficulty agreeing on where we want to live, and we have no idea how we'd go about doing this. We like the idea of Finland, but I can't deal with months of no sun.

11 Questions to Answer

If you won the lottery, what would you do? I'd be really boring and hire an accountant and a financial adviser first. Then I'd build a modest house on a few acres with a nice clay studio, hire an intern, and keep working. I'd set some money aside for travel, and to go to clay residencies, and I'd set aside some money for Maddy's college/business/travel/being-an-adult-is-hard fund.
Would you rather be a vampire, or werewolf? Why? I'd rather be a vampire, so long as they don't sparkle. They've just got ages old sex appeal, and they're immortal. Can't beat that. Besides, I have no desire to be a hairy dog. I'm a cat person.
Would you rather be AMAZINGLY smart, or AMAZINGLY beautiful? Why? (be honest!) Honestly? I'd rather be brilliantly smart. I love learning, and reading, and problem solving. Being beautiful would be great, but I'd rather get recognition for what I do than what I look like.
What is one skill you wish you had? Why? I wish I could play an instrument! I just love music, and I've always secretly wanted to be a rock star;)
What is something you are proud of yourself for? Finishing college! It sounds kind of simple, but I never really thought I'd get it together enough to graduate, let alone from a real art school. I've always been a bit of a slacker and an underachiever.
What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you (that you’re willing to share)? I'm sure there are things I could share, but I'm really having trouble thinking of any at the moment. I can't remember the last time I felt horribly embarrassed.
If you could live anywhere, where would you live? I've recently seen pictures of Prague on Pink Cheek Studio's blog (really inspiring blog post for artists and crafters, btw), and I'm in love. But honestly, just about anywhere in Europe would be fantastic, or Japan. Preferably someplace with natural beauty, and a history of pottery making.
Who is one of your favorite people? Why? My friend Rachel Bleil, because she is one of the most friendly, energetic, loving people I've ever met. She's an incredibly talented ceramic artist who has had a huge influence on me, and she just makes you feel good about yourself. She encouraged me to start submitting my work to national shows, and she also gives the best hugs!
Telepathy or telekinesis? Why? My first thought is to say telepathy, but I think I'd spiral into a horrible depression if I knew what other people were thinking all the time. Telekinesis could be cool, but I'm not creative enough to think of what I'd do with it if I had it, besides dangling cat toys in the air with my mind to freak out the cats.
If you had to live in a fantasy world from a TV show or book, what world would it be? Why? Oh man, I feel like such a dork... but probably Harry Potter. There are just too many awesome things in that world. Hopefully I wouldn't be a muggle.
What is your dream job? Why? To make a living off my work! I want a rural pottery studio somewhere in Europe or on the east coast, and to be popular enough to sell my work and survive. I'd love to continue teaching clay as well.

I'm not tagging anyone, because I can't think of 11 other bloggers that I know very well, and that also read this blog. (I'm always surprised that anyone does!) But here are 11 questions for ya, in case you wanna join the party.

1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

2. Do you have a secret hidden talent that no one knows about?

3. Do you do anything crafty or creative? If so, what do you do, and why do you like to do it?

4. Do you like to read, and if so, what is your favorite book?

5. Star Trek or Star Wars?

6. Do you own a handmade mug? If so, do you use it?

7. Imagine you were the first to discover a new land, either here on Earth or somewhere in the Universe. What would it be like?

8. If someone offered you a million dollar book deal to write a book on any subject of your choosing, what would you write about?

9. What is your favorite animal? Why?

10. Do you have a favorite artist or crafter? If so, who is it, and why?

11. What is the most exciting thing you've ever done?

If you put this on your blog, send me a link so I can read your answers!

Week 1: Pinch pots

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Last night was the first class of the new session at Beech Grove Clay Works. I had made the decision to alternate week by week between handbuilt and wheel thrown lessons, so I decided to start the session off with pinch pots.

Pinch pot decorating. via Pinchpots blog

Pinch pots are such a deceptively simple technique, but the possibilities for what you can make with them are endless. (For you non-potters - a pinch pot is a pottery technique where you take a ball of clay and shape it into a simple bowl or cup shape with your thumb and fingers by pinching). I showed my students a brief slideshow of various things made from pinch pots, from textured rattles to coffee mugs, to give them an idea of the variety of things it's possible to make. Then they rolled out four 1lb balls of clay, and I showed them how to make a footed bowl, a handled mug, and large and small pinch pot birds. I turned my large bird into a rattle as well, since that seems to be an object that's really caught my attention lately. I think it was gratifying for them to have four completed objects by the end of class time. I really want to make more rattle sculptures! They're really stuck in my brain right now.

Father and son bird making team.

Little bowls

Cafe mugs, one turned into a creamer pitcher.

My bird rattle, and a bowl and mug with feet.

Not only did I have a really fun first class, but I also got to go out to lunch with my friend Kat and her boyfriend Mike yesterday, so I could give her the pink robo ninja jar that she bought. We went to Hotcake Emporium and had Black Forest pancakes. That has got to be the most decadent breakfast I've ever eaten in my life, but man was it delish!

Cherries, chocolate, and chocolate chips. I don't even know what the sweet white stuff was. It was ridiculous, that's what.

I was tempted to order the Crepes Suzette, because my last name is french, and it's a damn shame that I've never even tried a crepe in my life. Besides, Cointreau sauce sounds both delicious and fancy, and I love things with booze in them. But when Kat ordered the Black Forest pancakes, my brain just exploded, and I got that instead.

Weird wall mural - there's an egg for a sun, but they're fishing for eggs? Why is the chef pulling fishing nets with a redneck? Weird stuff.

So that has absolutely nothing to do with pottery. It was just delicious, and if you are in Indiana or you come to visit, you should go to the Hotcake Emporium. It's right there in the name. Emporium. They have everything, even waffles and french toast (though they called it Freedom toast, and we mock them openly for that.)

I forgot to bring Kat's robo ninja. We both decided that just gave us an excuse to meet up again for more pancakes.

Avoiding the Super Bowl

2012-02-05T11:36:00.001-05:00

I am one of those people that doesn't really get sports. I'm one of those people who is secretly a little proud that I had no idea who was playing until a few days ago. Yep, those people. I would have forgotten the Super Bowl was taking place today at all, if it weren't for the fact that it's being held here, in Indianapolis, where I live. After my one trip downtown to the post office to try to mail my sketchbook, I have actively avoided going downtown. Having grown up in New Orleans, I've seen plenty of Super Bowls, and given that I'm not a football fan, it's just a bunch of noise, traffic, and crowds to me. Bleh! I plan to hide out in the studio for a bit, and then settle down with my husband (who also, thankfully!, doesn't watch football), and Maddy to watch movies and eat junk food.

I will be trying not to judge all you sports fans out there, who will be consuming mass quantities of buffalo wings and shouting at your television sets today(well, I won't judge you for the wings, because wings are freakin' delish!), but I will be much happier watching hours of Doctor Who and Star Trek: TNG episodes instead.

Here's some things I'm working on right now:

I don't know if I mentioned before that I started playing with paper clay? This is paper clay made from Laguna Frost porcelain, so I'm hoping that if it's thin enough, it will be somewhat translucent. I'm just playing around a bit on the paint job - some color washes and a couple of winken, blinken, and nod inspired kids. I need to buy some wax resist so I can layer my images and colors better.

I made this mask in my kids class, and I'm hoping to paint it today. I want the paint job to be as over-the-top ornate and girly as possible, because when I make scary bear things, people always assume they are boys. Girls like shouting RAWR as much as anyone. I think I'd like to make a dino mask to go with it.

This is something I'm absurdly excited about - I learned that if you keep the roots of your green onions and put them in water, they will continue to grow, so you can keep cutting and using them over and over. That is so cool! This is about 5 days growth sitting next to the kitchen window. When I put them in the cup, the tops were below the rim. Kinda feels like a elementary school science project! Maybe next I'll grow a lima bean in a jar with wet paper towels.

Maddy is now at the "cruising" stage. Not only does she blaze around the living room on her hands and knees (sometimes so fast I miss where she went!), but she can walk while holding on to things, and she's getting pretty darn fast at that too. Every time she takes off, she gets this ridiculously ecstatic look on her face, that look she gets whenever she's particularly pleased with herself for figuring out something new. I love watching how much joy babies get out of learning about the world. I hope she continues to have that love of learning as she grows up.

Two bowls

2012-02-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

These are two bowls of mine that I can't sell - one because it has a huge crack, and the other because I made it for Nich as a Christmas gift! But I dearly love them both.

I made the first one for the Criaturas show. It still went in, despite the crack. But I'm always sad when a piece meant to be functional gets a crack in it. Now it's just a dust collector for the mantle.

Really love the worried little stripey guy.

The goldfish bowl is for Nich. Spent a lot of time on this one. It's all mishima line drawing and watercolor underglaze. I made it for him because I sold another bowl with a girl walking her two goldfish and a cat, and he really liked that one.

I think my illustrations and throwing are both improving, but they're not where i want them to be yet. I'm still trying to find the right forms, to be a better thrower, to make objects that are uniquely my style, and that fit the drawings I put on them. I want the drawings and the pieces I put them on to really feel like they belong together.

Between you and me, my big dream is to get my work into the Ferrin Gallery. I've been in love with them ever since seeing some of the artists they represent at SOFA Chicago back in '08. Molly Hatch, Matthew Metz, Kurt Weiser, Richard Notkin, Jason Walker; so many of my favorite ceramic artists are represented by Ferrin.

I've got a long way to go, that's for sure! But it's a supremely enjoyable journey.

One Fine Spring Day

2012-02-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

The weather has been unbelievably nice this week. Blue skies and t-shirt weather almost everyday. I know it's too early for spring to be here, but it feels like spring, and it's nice to be able to get out in the sunshine.

Nich and I took a walk with Maddy on Monday. We live less than a block from the largest city park in Indy, Garfield Park, which has a lovely conservatory (greenhouse) that we like to walk thru on winter days to lift our spirits. Right now there is an art glass exhibit from some local sculpture students, so there are all these weird and lovely sparkling glass pieces hidden amongst all the greenery.

One of my favorite things about visiting the conservatory are the koi ponds. The koi are huge, and really beautiful. Nich and I dream of having a koi pond of our own someday.

Nich's favorite tree there, the Powderpuff tree. The flowers are really soft.

They must have been hungry, they kept nibbling our fingers!

Couldn't help noticing this little piece, with an unglazed pot for a base:)

A blue glass Bowerbird "nest".

Giant glass spiders in the trees, spinning twine.

Giant cicada nymph. Love this! I have a thing for cicadas.

There's also a house on the corner of our street with chickens (another thing we dream of having some day), so we always stop to say hi to them when we pass. This time the two roosters were having a bit of a tiff. They do look fairly impressive with their neck feathers all puffed out like that.

I know this nice weather can't last, but it's been a welcome break from all this grey, dull winter weather we've had. If it is going to stay wintery, I wish we'd get at least one good sled-worthy snow storm! Otherwise, winter needs to shove off!

Oh yeah, I have an Etsy shop, don't I?

2012-02-02T09:02:00.000-05:00

Peek-a-boo!

I promised myself that once I picked up all my work from the Criaturas show on the 31st, I would get it all photographed and reopen my Etsy shop. I have neglected my Etsy for about 2 years now. I was beginning to wonder why I even bothered listing it on my business cards. It got to be such a pain to keep it up, with the whole 5 photos of each item thing, and the crappy search algorithm they used to have. You just got lost in a sea of jewelry shops (no offense to you jewelers out there, but man are there a lot of you on Etsy!)

I've been told that Etsy has vastly improved while I've been away. I think my stuff has improved as well, so maybe it's time to give it another go. I don't know if I can realistically produce work fast enough to keep up with it and craft fairs (Bloomington Handmade Market is coming up!), but I'm willing to give it another shot. It seems like it works for a lot of other potters I really admire. Maybe I can make it work for me.

What about you guys? What are your experiences with Etsy? Do you love it or hate it, and has it really gotten better? If there are any super successful sellers out there, feel free to share the secrets of your success!

Sketchbook Project 2012

2012-01-31T23:40:00.001-05:00

Today was the last day to mail off our moleskin notebooks for the Sketchbook Project. In case you've forgotten that I took on this project, it's that little cloudy looking button down there on the left hand side (scroll way down). It was my intention to post my sketches on the blog as I did them, but that kind of fell by the wayside. It's a bit of a miracle that I finished doing this at all (which, technically, I didn't - I only managed to get half the pages colored, though I did at least ink them all).

I drew most of the sketches on my break at Fedex when I was still working there, shortly after Maddy was born. Having a little girl really influenced me thinking about stories, and girls, and gender, so the sketchbook is full of flame haired girls riding giant cats and taming alligators. Some of the images might even turn into stories for Maddy one day. I keep saying I'd like to make a book for her and illustrate it. Maybe this is a jumping off point.

The theme I chose for my sketchbook (you are asked to choose one of the themes provided) was "Fill me with stories." I didn't write any literal stories, but I did draw a lot of illustrative images that could become stories one day.

Filling him with stories, literally.

I have a thing for drawing girls on cliffs.

I used these awesome acrylic inks for all the color. They're super vibrant, and water soluble, so I can get nice delicate watercolor washes and deep opaque colors.

Maddy will probably not have flame red hair. I just like drawing flame headed girls.

I included a secret note for anyone who checks out the sketchbook from the art library. So the sketchbook tour comes to your city, look for it!

The main branch post office downtown is supposed to be open until 7pm, but I live in Indianapolis, and the Super Bowl is this weekend. The post office is around the corner from the stadium, so it was closed. Of course I waited until the last minute to mail this thing, which must be post marked today to be included. We dropped it in the box in the hopes that it will be postmarked for today, since the pickup time was supposed to be til 7 (we dropped it in at 6:50pm, 'cause we're that good). Fingers crossed.

I'm just happy I drew on every page this time around. I didn't even submit my 2011 sketchbook, and I was sad about that. I'm proud of myself for getting this done! Maybe next year I'll do even better, with full color dreamscape pages from cover to cover.

For pics of all the drawings, visit my Facebook page!

Too busy today - here's some Pinterest stuff.

2012-01-30T12:17:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I did a private workshop (and neglected to take pics), and today I'm doing taxes (Yay! I am so grumpy about this, and my husband thinks that's hilarious. Why should I be grumpy about getting lots of money back? Because I HATE DOING MY TAXES.) So I'm slacking a bit on the blogging front. Never fear! Here are some pretty things from my Pinterest for you to look at. That's just as good, right?

Ugh. Taxes. GAH.

Not really mastering cone 6 glazes?

2012-01-28T09:25:00.001-05:00

One of my duties as artist in residence at Beech Grove is to formulate studio dipping glazes for student use. Now, glaze chemistry has never been my strong point. I've no head for math, and I'm just not a very precise person, so in college I didn't have much luck finding glazes that I liked or had use for. All that repetitive testing just seemed tedious to me, and given the kind of surface treatments I prefer, not very useful. Except now I need that information for a job, and probably will many times in the future. So I better brush up on it, right?

I've always been the kind of person that will happily hit the books (or the internet) if there's something I don't know how to do. I really love learning, and usually pride myself on being able to pick up new skills easily. Several people have recommended Mastering Cone 6 Glazes to me as a really great resource, so I asked for it for Christmas, and I'm just now getting around to cracking it open.

Oh man. I'm slowly starting to think that once you have a baby, your brain just turns to mush and slides right out of your ears.

I woke up yesterday morning, fed Maddy, and after she went back to sleep, I figured I had a couple quiet hours to spare before she woke up again. I thought it would be an excellent time to sit down and finally begin reading this book. Next week being my break, and with my new (currently not working, but fixable) test kiln, I figured it would be the perfect time to get some glaze testing done. I sat down with my cup of coffee, and started reading.

And could barely register a word of it.

I can barely even remember what I read! What is wrong with my brain! I gave up in frustration, but several friends and potters assured me that it was probably not a good morning read, so I tried again in the afternoon (after many cups of coffee). Slightly clearer then, but still daunting.

Don't get me wrong. Clearly there is a lot of good info in this book. The base glaze recipes they include will probably be a lot of help. And they clearly intended this book to be simplistic so that anyone can use it and formulate their own glazes.

But my brain must be broken. Or stuffed with fluff.

Maybe it's just not the sort of thing you should read cover to cover. Maybe I need to look at the appendices and apply some of the practices in studio to really understand what they're talking about.

I know everyone says this a great book. But I can't remember the last time I've felt so stupid!

Argh.

Student projects, and blogging is a pain in the butt

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm really not so great at this whole daily blogging thing. It's all well and good to upload a few pics from my cell phone everyday. But to actually write something, something that is thought out and is something of quality... Well, maybe i'm just shooting a bit high. With Maddy around, a lot of my typing is one handed these days, and therefore fairly rushed. Or, its done on my iPhone, which is a royal pain to type at any length with. Oh well. This is still better than posting one or two sparse blog posts a month. I just miss the days of actually enjoying the writing part of blogging. I really do love to write, and if you look at my first several blog posts on this blog (look at this wordy crap!), they were insanely lengthy with no pics at all. One day, I'll find a balance. In the mean time, it's just nice to have a record of what's going on.

My teaching session is over, so I get a week off before the new one starts. I'm hoping to get the surfaces done on all the bottle forms I've thrown recently over the break. I think I have six in all.

Check out some of the member work from this session! I've got some very talented people in my classes.

Connie's dragon.

Mike B's pineapple vase. I had no part in helping with this project - this was all Mike!

Shonda is making a series of 3 beavers. Pretty adorable, right?

The 12" challenge

2012-01-26T13:54:00.001-05:00

Class challenge inspired by another pottery blog whose students set this challenge for themselves. I can't remember where I saw it, so if you're reading this and you just wrote a blog post about your students doing this, let me know so I can give you credit!

Turns out this challenge wasn't as easy as I thought! I threw one 12" bottle on Tuesday first try out of red clay, but it was pretty wobbly. Yesterday I used porcelain, and I've always struggled with getting much height from porcelain. My first try flopped, but I got it the second time around. Both the other students managed to succeed with at least 12 inches as well. Mike B has been throwing for years longer than I have, so he did the challenge quite nicely. It's humbling having students who are better throwers than I am! I'm looking forward to getting to that point where I've got 15 years experience under my belt.

Baby Foofaraw

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

My daughter is 10 months this week. Everyone always says "They grow up so fast," and I've always thought that was such a cliche thing to say. Of course they grow up fast, that's what kids do. Then you have one of your own, and you just can't stop thinking it to yourself. I feel silly every time I think it, but I can't seem to help myself. It seems like Maddy masters a new skill daily these days. This week, she discovered how to clap all on her own, out of the blue. Just a minute ago, she was a chubby little amorphous blob that made grunts and growly noises, and now she's learning how to walk. It's pretty amazing to watch.

Maddy at 2 months.

Maddy now.

I forgot to bring a camera or pull out my iphone, but I brought Maddy to class with me a couple weeks ago. She wanted to be right next to me most of the time, which made it difficult to do a throwing demo with her hanging on and wanting to touch every sharp object within reach (of course, she went right for the needle tool first.) But she put her hands on the clay as I was pulling out a flat disc for my citrus juicer demo, and the wet slip slid under her hands as the wheel turned, and she went "ooooooooh." She was totally mesmerized by how it looked and felt. It was adorable! I don't think it'll be long before I'm teaching this girl how to throw her own pots:D There are three year olds that can throw, right?

Stephen Wolochowicz

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm installing the new show in the gallery at BGCW this week. I've seen images of Stephen's Inflation sculptures, but they are something else entirely to see in person. Very exciting to have his work in our gallery! He'll be doing a demo and slide lecture at the end of the show in March. I'm really looking forward to seeing his process, and hearing more about his inspiration for these pieces.

Stay tuned for more info on the upcoming show, closing reception, and Stephen's demo. I'll certainly be taking lots of pics.

My shiny new kiln

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I got a new kiln last week, I'm so excited! I've been looking around for a smallish test kiln for ages, something just big enough for a few cups or for doing decals and lusters. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine from art school posted a status message about having a kiln for sale. I almost dismissed it, since I figured I really don't have much money right now. But I went ahead and asked about it, purely for curiosity's sake. Turns out it was exactly the size I've been looking for, and was within my means with a little creative budgeting. So exciting to have a kiln of my own again! While I know I have access to the studio kiln, it will be nice to be able to fire small things at home when I need to (like for those last minute deadlines I like to procrastinate on, heh.)

The nice thing about buying this kiln is that it not only helps me out, but buying it helped out a friend who was in serious need of some cash. I know he wasn't happy about having to sell his baby, but he was glad to know it was going to a friend. I even let him know I'd be happy to fire work for him anytime. I know what its like to not have a way to fire your stuff.

Haven't had a chance to fire it yet, but I'm hoping to get it going sometime this week, once I figure out where to put it, and where I can plug it in. I'll let you all know how it works out!

What's the haps in the studio?

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

This session at Beech Grove Clay Works is drawing to a close - this is the last week. It's been a fun session, and with the majority of my students being interested in wheel throwing, I've been really pushing myself to try wheel thrown forms that are out of my comfort zone. I've spent hours trawling the Internet for ideas, videos, and how-tos. Pinterest and YouTube have been invaluable resources, (not to mention majorly addictive!), as well as Ceramic Arts Daily's archives. Most recently, I've demoed throwing a citrus juicer, tall bottle forms, and a combination chip and dip bowl and cake stand (the idea is it will flip over to function as both - haven't quite worked out the logistics of how I'll fire it, but it's an experiment!)

I've also been trying to do more handbuilding, which I'm really enjoying. I love the soft, pillowy effect you get from building with soft slabs! I think it's a direction I'd like to explore further. I shied away from handbuilding for the longest time, so it's been really liberating.

All in all, a very rewarding session. I love how teaching has made me stretch myself. I hope my enthusiasm shows in my classes! Definitely looking forward to the new session, and continueing to find new things to share with my students.

Criaturas

2012-01-21T08:16:00.000-05:00

It's been two weeks since the opening of our three woman show at the Earth House. I've been meaning to blog about it ever since, but I never seemed to be able to get around to getting the pictures off my camera card and editing them all. It's hard to do anything computer related for any real length of time when you have a baby, and her crib is right next to the desk! Luckily, Maddy took some very long naps, and I finally got around to uploading them all.

If you missed the opening... well, it's hard to describe how awesome an event it was! More like a party than an art opening, which was fantastic. We really tried to structure it as a family friendly art event, since all three of us have kids. Vanessa has many years of experience dragging her kids to to First Friday art openings, and they always get whiny and bored after awhile. (I get whiny and bored at gallery openings too when they don't provide enough free booze, heh.)

So yeah, we kinda went all out on the kid theme, with cardboard cutout creatures for people to color, a piñata bash with three handmade piñatas by Monfreda, and these adorable monster cupcakes made by the very talented Ellen Nylen. I also hid little ceramic birds around Earth House for the kids to find and keep.

We also had DJ Kyle Long, whose music I'd never heard, but I kept hearing great things about him. Not only was he kind and friendly, but his music was killer! Our event turned into a latino dance party! Furniture was pushed out of the way, and people started salsa dancing in front of the stage. It was great! By the time the night was over, the floor was covered with glitter, candy, and bits of paper. (We stayed to help clean up. Earth House staff assured us they had a very good vacuum cleaner.)

Absolutely the best art event I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. The place was packed, and lots of people got to see our work. I had several people introduce themselves to tell me how much the like my stuff, which is always awesome. I even had a little girl make me an owl cutout as a present because she liked my stuff so much, and she was so happy to get to keep a bird.

If you missed it, and you want to check out the artwork, here are some pics of the event and the art. There are many more on my facebook page. If you're here in Indy, go see it in person! The show stays up thru the 31st.

Vanessa and I spend an afternoon drawing and cutting out creatures.

Beatriz Schlebecker's breathtaking papel picado banners. You should really see these in person to fully appreciate them.

Friducha!

My favorite little roboninja.

All my new mini jars.

Pigasus!

Vanessa's imaginary friends were everywhere, brightening up the rafters.

My sister-in-law Mariah, taking the killer swing.

Victory!

Mariah with her niece. Maddy got pretty dolled up for the event!

Ellen's killer cupcakes!

My owlet present. It's hanging in my studio now:)

Best of 2011

2011-12-31T21:08:00.000-05:00

Another year over. To be honest, I never get too excited about the new year, other than that it's another holiday, therefore an excuse to party and overindulge in food and drink. (Being from New Orleans, anything is justifiable as an excuse to party:D)

This year is a little different, because it's the year a new baby girl came into my life, who is quietly sleeping beside me long before midnight. I feel a bit sappy, but there's not a bar in the world that beats spending the evening reflecting over how wonderfully changed my life is because she's a part of it. This might be the quietest New Year's eve I've ever had, but it's just lovely.

A lot happened to me this year, and I accomplished a lot, and I am ever so grateful for it all.

Here's a few highlights of awesome things that happened:

I got my Josie cup published in the upcoming book Humor in Craft. It's coming out in April, I can't wait!

I got work juried into three art shows! Three! And I have to thank my new friends Rachel Bleil and Andrew Davis for their support and encouragement. I never would have bothered to apply at all without their prodding.

I had a gorgeous baby girl, Madeleine Calliope.

I started making mini jars!

I started teaching kids classes, and got the Artist in Residence position at Beech Grove Clay Works.

Maddy gets more and more awesome by the day! She's 9 months old now.

I've been setting up this awesome three woman show with two fellow artists whose work I adore. I am so very honored that Vanessa Monfreda asked me to be a part of this show! (Btw, I hope to see all you Indy people there, bashing the piñata with us!)

Finally, I got a real honest to goodness logo, designed by fellow artist and awesome person Brandon McDonald of Brandon with Glasses design! How sweet is that?

I get a little stressed around the holidays, but when I stop and think about everything that happened this past year, everything I have going, and this awesome little family I've got, my heart just swells. I've got so much to be grateful for. So here's to 2011, and the start of a new and prosperous year for all of us. Happy New Year everyone!

Kid's Clay Class

2011-12-29T18:35:00.000-05:00

I did a kid's clay session the week before Christmas, and we had a freakin' blast. What great kids! They were fun, sweet, geeky, weird, and crazy creative. I was amused all week by the bizzaro stuff that came out of their heads!

Clam with sombrero, mustache, and exploded cigar. Totally unprompted, he just came up with this on his own.

Megan's dinosaur, who is a GIRL, for your information.

The kids all got to do some throwing too. They impressed me with their skills.

I impressed me with my skills too.

Megan painting a heart shaped bead. With the latex gloves, she thought it looked like she was holding a bloody heart. I told you these kids were awesome.

Ryan's vampire mask, before the addition of blood.

Painting the blood on the vampire. No sparkles here, thank you.

I made another bunny jar while they were sculpting.

Megan's adorable elf mask.

Cash splatter painting his alien bug mask.

Carnage!

I am so proud of them, I really am. I can't wait to take pics of everything when it comes out of the kiln!

I had a lot of fun coming up with lesson plans for this class. I just gotta say, thank god for the internet, and especially for Pinterest!

Criaturas - First Friday Art Opening at Earth House

2011-12-14T17:37:00.000-05:00

We have sent out a press release for our show in January. I keep joking about how I feel like an adult now, but it seriously is a little weird to be doing something so grown up and... I don't know, responsible? Professional, maybe? For some reason, no matter how long I'm at this whole trying-to-make-a-living-at-my-craft business, I always feel a bit like I'm just playing pretend. I'm really just a 12 year old who has no idea whats going on 90% of the time in the adult world.

Anyway, here it is in all its press release-y glory.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FROM:                                    Earth House Collective
                                                237 North East Street
                                                Indianapolis, IN 46204

CONTACT: Vanessa Monfreda

(317) 946-9365

vanessamonfreda@yahoo.com

DATE: 12/10/2011

Criaturas - First Friday Art Opening

Earth House Collective will be hosting Criaturas, a three woman show by artists Vanessa Monfreda, Lori Leaumont, and Beatriz Vasquez-Schlebecker. Each artist will present work interpreting the theme of "criaturas", or "creatures" in Spanish, using their respective mediums of paper maché, ceramics, and papel picado to create monsters, animals, and grumpy little girls.

Artist Vanessa Monfreda creates colorful paper maché sculptures she calls "my imaginary friends", first inspired by her own children. Hot pink mustachioed pigs, larger-than-life cats, and 3 eyed monsters immediately attract bright eyed kids, something Monfreda aims for in her work. "First Fridays shouldn't just be for adults," says Monfreda. "Kids get bored at art shows. We need more art events that are interactive and fun for them."

The show also features the work of Lori Leaumont and Beatriz Vasquez-Schlebecker. Leaumont makes colorful, hand painted porcelain sculptures, "doll" jars, and tableware that are heavily inspired by children's book illustration and "girlhood". Schlebecker uses a traditional Mexican paper cutting technique to create lacy, intricate images that reflect her bi-cultural upbringing as a first generation Mexican-American originally from South Texas, as well as her training in children's book illustration.

The show takes place on First Friday, January 6th, from 7pm - 11pm, and will feature a piñata bash at 7:30 with a handmade piñata by Monfreda, as well as music provided by DJ Kyle Long, and monster cakes and cupcakes by food stylist Ellen Nylen.

For more information, contact Vanessa Monfreda at vanessamonfreda@yahoo.com.

--
Jonathan McAfee
Program Manager
Earth House Collective
237 N. East St.
Indianapolis, IN 46203
317-636-4060

Mother and Child by Beatriz Vasquez-Schlebecker

Gato by Vanessa Monfreda

My mini dolls.

Hope to see you in January! It's going to be an awesome show!

Another photo mega post - raku, new doll jars, and Jeanette Zeis spoon trade

2011-11-27T21:10:00.001-05:00

I've got too many pictures of ceramic related things not to do another blog post. That's pretty much my motivation anymore - a lot of backlog of pics on my iphone and camera = time to blog. Maybe one day I'll commit to a more regular blog posting, but in the meantime, here are pretty things to look at.

We had our first raku firing at Beech Grove Clay Works today. It went really well, and we got some excellent results. I even mixed up a raku glaze recipe from Tracey Boone's pottery blog, which got a lot of reduction and did exactly as she said it would. I was pretty excited about that. Thanks for the recipe, Tracey!

Raku firing is so exciting! All the smoke and flames, and getting to see the pieces red hot like that. I can't wait for the next one, I'm hooked!

I made some cute mini doll jars that I'm going to fire at a friends house tomorrow. I'm pretty excited about them, and I'm dying to make more.

I'm also firing some new test tiles tomorrow with a base glaze and varying amounts of mason stains. I did some yellow, and some that are either blue or violet (the mason stains were old, and not all of them were well labeled.) I'll post more on those later if they come out looking halfway decent.

Remember those spoons I made? And the ones Jeanette Zeis made? Jeanette liked my spoons! And I adore hers! So we agreed to trade. I am so excited about getting to trade with her. I now have a ceramic spoon to add to my collection of lovely handmade ceramics from other artists. I admit, I got the better end of the deal, as her spoons are a lot nicer than mine. But I'm happy that she liked mine! She chose the green superhero girl spoon. I hope she enjoys it as much as I love mine!

Finally, here are some pics of Maddy, just because. She is adorable, and she's getting so big! I am dreaming of the day I get to bring her to the studio to throw with me.

Grandma took a huge tutu and added ribbons so she could wear it as a big fluffy dress. She likes to play peekaboo by pulling the tulle up over her face.

Her aunt Mariah made her a huge leaf pile to play in. She wasn't terribly impressed, though.

Bear baby.

Things that are happening

2011-11-20T22:02:00.001-05:00

So much going on! It's been a busy couple of months, and the fun doesn't stop! I'm just gonna dump a lot of happenings here, so my apologies if this post becomes bloated and tl;dr.

Last weekend I did the Bloomington Handmade Market Holiday Show, which is by far my favorite craft fair to participate in. It's well attended, profitable for me, and seems to draw a crowd that appreciates my work. Also, the volunteer staff is super helpful, and it's always well organized. The icing on the cupcake is that they provide coffee and noms for the vendors, which pretty much means I'm sold on the whole thing:)

There were some really rad vendors there this year. Here are a few of my faves:

http://pinkcheeksstudio.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Mythdemeanor

http://www.5orangepotatoes.com/blog/

http://1337motif.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/badassglassart

I tweaked my display a bit for BHM. I'm pretty happy with it so far, but I still think it could use some improvement. I spray painted a lot of little pedestals, but I didn't give them enough time to cure, so the paint was still tacky. Everyone thought my stuff was attached to the pedestals to keep them from knocking over!

I definitely need more inventory next time! I think my booth looked a little bare. I gotta get faster at making stuff.

Several other awesome things are happening. We have two events happening at Beech Grove Clay Works that I'm really excited about. The first is our holiday Ceramic and Chili Bowl sale!

Students are busy making things to sell, and I'll have a few things available as well, including some wheel thrown ornaments I'm making. If you're in the area, come check out the studio, grab a handmade bowl and some chili, and do a little holiday shopping!

The second is that I'm doing two kid's clay workshops in December. I'm really excited about this! My summer kids class was so much fun, so I can't wait to do another one. I've got so many ideas for clay projects!

It's a week long class, and it's super affordable. So if your kids need something fun to do over the holiday break (or you just need a mini break from your kids), be sure to sign them up! There's a 15 student maximum, so don't wait!

Finally, I'm doing a 3 woman show at Earth House, and I'm so stoked about it.

More info on that to come!

Other than that, I've been making all kinds of things, some of which have broken (or exploded),

and others that are turning out pretty rad.

It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride on that front, but on the whole I'm excited about the direction that my work is taking of late. I'm making new items for the show in January, as well as planning to start putting my work in Paper Crane Gallery in Bloomington, which is another thing I'm excited about. I'll keep you posted on when my work will be available there. I know I've got one Bloomington reader that will be happy to hear that!

Ok, so that's about it for this mega post. Thanks for checking in! Hope to see you at the next awesome event:D

Handmade Promenade recap

2011-10-18T14:13:00.000-04:00

I was going to do a blog post about the craft fair this past weekend, but my friend Erin at eef-ink went and did all the work for me (even recounting the amusing anecdote about the drunk guy who gave me money! Hah! Drunk guys.) So go check it out, so that I don't have to do any more work.

Eef ink - Handmade Promenade

A Spoon with a View

2011-10-16T23:21:00.000-04:00

You may remember a while back (though probably not - who reads this thing, anyway) that I posted a link to Jeanette Zeis's spoon tutorial, and that I tried making some spoons of my own. Those spoons did not turn out well, but I made some more, and I just got them out of the kiln this past weekend. I must say, I'm pretty pleased with them.

I did a little bowl, too. I did a couple, actually, but the other one cracked, unfortunately. Maybe I'll take a pic of it later, as the drawing is pretty awesome. At least I get to keep it now:)

Has anyone else tried making ceramic spoons? I'm dying to see more of them! I think this could become an obsession...

I have a new fan.

2011-08-08T11:39:00.000-04:00

I did a mini craft fair on Friday. I didn't remember to bring a camera, so I don't have any pics of that. But I did get this video of Maddy flipping out over my pottery. She was on the floor getting some tummy time while I was packing up, and started rolling towards the brightly colored pots. Unfortunately, I couldn't get her to roll over on camera, but she does squeal rather adorably.

Think she'll grow up to be a potter?

So one day I swear I'll have better pics.

2011-07-28T17:48:00.000-04:00

I just finished my second week of teaching for the new session at Beech Grove Clay Works. Woohoo, I'm the official artist in residence now! I went to the library and Half Price Books and got a ton of ceramics books, including a huge glaze recipe book, and a book on handmade tiles. I've got plans to do a ton of glaze testing! I am determined to get the perfect pink glaze, as well as some nice copper blue glazes. I will be sure to share my results as I go!

My first week, I taught some basic slab building projects - footed and paddled cups with and without a handle, with white slip and sgraffito surface decoration (totally Ayumi Horie inspired - but I talk about her to the students so much, it was inevitable that I'd demo her technique. I ♥ her work!) This week, I did basic wheel throwing, focusing on wedging and centering techniques, and throwing a simple bowl. It's going pretty well so far, and the students all seem to be enjoying themselves. Also, my mother-in-law signed up for the class, and while she had absolutely no patience for the wheel, we are working on doing a tile project together for the kitchen. I'm pretty excited about it! It's also nice getting to make work for myself that I can also use as a demo. A friend of mine wants a large cookie jar, so that was my demo for the more advanced wheel throwing students. It feels so good to get so much work done!

I know you're probably tired of seeing crappy cell phone pics of everything. I know I am, especially since I have a fairly decent digital camera that I just never remember to bring to the studio. I fully intend to take some real slides of my work this week, because I am inspired by my twitter friend's blog post about photographing her ceramics. Check it out, her pics look great!

Kitchen stuff, and lookit this BABY!

2011-07-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

Since I've had cooking on the brain lately, I've been making more and more functional items for use in the kitchen. Last week I decided to try my hand at making spoons, and a couple months ago I made some mortar and pestles, so I'm thinking of making more. I've also been invited to participate in a teapot show, so I've been trying my hand at teapots, with varying success. I tried to make two teapots, but the second one dried before I could attach a spout and handle. I decided it would make a nice garlic keeper instead, and since it was still leatherhard, it was perfect for doing some incised line drawing.

I really enjoyed making the spoons! I'm still deciding whether I want to try Jeanette Zeis's method of making bisque molds, or whether it's easier to just form them all by hand. They were fun to make, and I used various techniques to make them, finally settling on pinching a tiny bowl on one end of a fat carrot-shaped piece of clay, and then pulling a handle on the other end. I like the variety of spoon shapes I got out of trying different things. They also make great little surfaces for doodling! I don't know why, but drawing on tiny things is so much easier than on a larger piece. I guess there's less blank space to stress over, and you can work quickly while your ideas are still fresh. You also haven't invested a ton of time in making them, so if you don't like what you've done, you can quickly make new ones.

I think I'd like to do something different with the surfaces in the future, but these were fun to play around with. I'll definitely be making more of them. These are probably going in the kiln tonight, so I'll let you know how they turn out.

Btw, the baby girl is 4 months old now! Here is her impersonation of a nerd.

Nerd baby!

And here's her impersonation of a starfish.

Pretty dang cute, huh?

Ceramic Spooooooons

2011-07-09T13:00:00.000-04:00

So cute!

I just had to share this awesome tutorial from Jeanette Zeis's blog on how to make ceramic spoons. These spoons are fantastic! I will definitely be trying this in the next week or two, and I'll share my results. If anyone else makes ceramic spoons, I'd love to see yours too. Thanks, Jeanette!

New things, and glaze issues

2011-07-08T18:00:00.000-04:00

Here's some crappy cell phone pics. Real, honest to god pics to come. Honest.

I'm pretty pleased with my test tile birds. I may continue to use bird forms for testing glazes. They're quick and easy to make, have nice texture from the serrated rib, and now I have extra quick sell things for upcoming art fairs.

(Ceramic tech geek stuff to follow. If you're not a ceramicist, this is the boring part. You can skip it.)

All the pink glazed stuff got messed up. The glaze crawled like crazy on the inside. I wonder why that keeps happening? I applied the glazes all the same way, pouring them on the inside of the cup, and brushing the outside. The blue and aqua glazes are fine, but the pink keeps crawling. I'm thinking I either need to thin the glaze, or just brush on the interior from now on. I also read that tin and zinc oxide in a glaze can make it more likely to crawl. I wonder whether the Amaco Pink has either in it? Don't both act as opacifiers and whiteners? I'm guessing they needed some sort of white to make that particular pink shade. (Just looked up glaze colorants, and tin oxide is used in chrome tin pink stains. Aha!)

Does anyone know whether there's anyway to fix a glaze that's crawled? I'm debating whether to sell them as seconds, or to put a layer of clear on and refire them, in the hopes that the glaze with settle down. Any advice would be appreciated.

Pie/50's housewife fail

2011-07-07T09:29:00.000-04:00

We had a 4th of July weekend BBQ to attend Saturday evening, so I decided to bake a pie. Although both Nich and I love cooking, baking is something I have decidedly less experience with. In the past, I'd always look at a recipe for a pie or cake and think "That's too much work, and I don't have any of the ingredients on hand. I don't even own a pie pan/springform pan/bundt pan/other kitchen accessory." However, for the last two years, I suddenly got it into my head that it would be great to make pies from scratch for the holidays. Last Thanksgiving, I finally tackled making pie for the very first time. I made so many pies, I felt like a master at it. I even altered a magazine recipe, changing it so many times, it thoroughly became my own recipe. I had people at work begging me to make more. Success! I am a pie making goddess!

Now I'm a little obsessed with pies and cakes. Somehow I've convinced myself that I'm going to concoct the perfect recipe, with the perfect crust, if I just make enough pies and keep tweaking them. (My waistline is contending this idea.) I've literally daydreamed about submitting one to the State Fair and winning first prize. How 50's housewife is that?

My dreams were dashed this time around, however. What was supposed to be a lovely fresh peach and strawberry cream pie turned into a weird, salty, gingery thing with too much flour in the filling. Sad face:(

However, it was my first successful lattice top pie! So it might not have tasted so great, but it was at least pretty.

To go on a tiny bit of a tangent, I've been thinking about the whole domesticity thing, being a wife and mother and being in the kitchen cooking and baking all the time. I bristle a little at the idea that this is strictly "women's work". Hell, I bristle a lot. Sometimes I feel a little guilty donning an apron and baking pies, or sitting down at the sewing machine, rather than working on my actual profession. I'm always a little wary in my head of anything that is stereo-typically "for girls", though I definitely like classically girly things more than I used to. But I don't want to be pigeonholed or live up to society's expectations about what a woman is "supposed" to be doing. I want to do what I want!

Then I remind myself that women's lib wasn't just for the right to work outside of the home, it was (and is) for the right to choose what you'll do with your life, to be treated as equals with men whether you're taking care of the household, or holding down a 9 to 5. Anyway, I like baking! (Also, pie crust dough is very clay-like...) If I enjoy it, that should be all the matters. I also remind myself that my husband is just as apt to don an apron as I am, and all the cooking skills I have, I pretty much learned from my Dad. I'm glad that our child will be as likely to see her Dad in the kitchen as she will to see me changing a tire.

Anyway, I'd make a lousy full time housewife. I just like the food end of things. Don't ask me to fold the laundry on a regular basis or anything.

What I've learned about teaching

2011-06-28T13:44:00.000-04:00

These last few weeks have been really busy, but exciting! I was given several opportunities to teach, which actually led to my first real art job! It started with my little sis-in-law asking me to do a clay workshop for her BFF's sweet 16 party. I taught 11 teenage girls how to make textured slab mugs/cylinders. After that, I filled in teaching an adult evening class, and then filled in last minute for the kids art camp at Beech Grove with 10 7-9 year olds. All of this led to me being given the Artist in Residence position at Beech Grove. Woohoo!

In my infinite teaching experience (ie. 3 weeks worth), I've learned a few things:

1. Teenage girls will never be satisfied with anything they make. Everything they make looks terrible, but their friend's project looks sooooo great. They will start over 5 or 6 times because they think what they've done looks stupid. The workshop will take at least 3 times longer than you anticipated because of this.

2. Speaking in front of a group of people is not nearly as scary when you're talking about something you know a lot about. Especially when it's something you kind of geek out over. I have trouble meeting people's eyes and starting conversations, but I was much more comfortable once I started talking ceramic technique.

I taught the night class how to make birds and doll jars. I'm using these guys for glaze test tiles.

3. When you don't know what to do, quote and copy people you thought were great teachers. If something they said or did stuck with you, it's probably worth passing on.

4. In a class full of kids, you will have one kid who will finish in 5 minutes, will insist that their project is perfect as is, and will ask you "What do I do now?" repeatedly until you find something for them to do. (In our class, there were 2 of them.)

5. Kids like being helpers. Put that kid who finished in 5 minutes to work! We had kids helping prep the next project, wiping down tables, and helping other kids with their projects.

6. You will also have one kid who is so meticulous, they will take twice as long as everyone else, possibly painting one tiny section of their project for ages before moving on. Don't stress over it - just let them work at their own pace.

7. Have extra projects prepared! As previously stated, teaching a project never takes the amount of time you planned it to.

They made A LOT of stuff in a week!

8. Making mistakes is ok, because that's how you get better, as long as you learn from them. Don't freak out when things don't go according to plan. Treat every new day like a puzzle to solve, or an experiment. That makes it exciting!

9. If you're excited about what you're teaching, it shows. Show them things you think are cool! At the same time, don't get bummed if they don't always think what you're doing is as cool as you do. You can't please everyone.

10. You may feel like you're not ready to teach, but if you're given the opportunity, jump in with both feet anyway. Don't be afraid. If you think about it, you'll realize that you have experiences you can share with other people, and things you've learned that you can pass on, even if you're not a master at what you do. Just remember what you've learned so far, and share it.

I'm really looking forward to teaching on a regular basis, and hopefully doing another kids class soon as well. I think it's going to push me to try new techniques, so that I have a greater variety of things to teach. Hopefully I'll become a better artist because of it, and a better teacher as well.

Bear Grrrrrl

2011-06-16T12:08:00.000-04:00

My first clay workshop!

2011-06-14T18:00:00.000-04:00

My little sis in law, Lillie Joy, had her BFF in town staying with us for the week, and she threw her a sweet 16 party while she was here. She saw the slab built mug my Dad made at the studio while he was in town, and asked me if I'd be willing to teach the girls at the party how to make their own mugs. I've never done any teaching before, but I've always wanted to, so I jumped at the chance.

Rachel Bleil taught us how to make these mugs at BGCW, and I thought it was a perfect project for the teens. They took rolled out slabs and decorated them with texture from a pile of materials we put together, and then rolled them into cylinders and put bottoms and handles on them. Lillie and Abbie had fun looking around the house for things that would make a cool texture in the clay, and I also brought some stamps, doilies, and press molds from the studio. I'm going to bisque them and glaze them with pink and blue glaze, which were the colors chosen by the birthday girl.

Wish these mugs luck! I hope they turn out ok. In any case, the girls all had fun, and I got my first teaching experience. I'm thinking of suggesting some mini teen workshops like this at the studio, maybe next summer? Or maybe even this one, if we could pull it together soon.

I'll post pics of the finished projects!

Pesto and pestles

2011-06-13T10:38:00.000-04:00

Mortar and Pestle Set by clamlab

I saw this lovely mortar and pestle set on Etsy a few weeks back, and I got all excited because it's made out of porcelain on the wheel. I thought "Yay! I can make that!" I've been wanting a little mortar and pestle for the kitchen, but I never thought of making my own. I also wanted one for grinding glaze materials at the studio.

Around the same time, I saw a pesto recipe in Traditional Home magazine that calls for a mortar and pestle, and I've never made pesto by hand before. I love pesto! So I decided I had to do this.

I decided that the green one was coming home to the kitchen, and the little blue one could be my studio set.

We normally have pizza on Sundays, and my husband just got a brand new bread machine for $5 at a moving sale, so I thought we should try making our own pizza dough, and I could put pesto on it. I can't have dairy right now because baby Maddy can't digest it, so I made my half of the pizza without cheese.

Best pizza ever!!! I didn't miss the cheese at all. The crust was nice and crispy, and the olive oil soaked in and make it taste like good bread. Nich had chicken alfredo pizza, and mine was chicken with tomatoes, portabella mushrooms, and calamata olives.

Making pesto by hand with the mortar and pestle was definitely labor intensive, but man was it good! I've now decided I need to grow some basil so I can have fresh pesto whenever I want.

The pizza dough recipe I used is on allrecipes. You can find it here.

The aromatic herb pesto recipe is as follows:
Aromatic Herb Pesto:
In mortar, place pinch of coarse sea salt and five basil leaves. Crush with pestle. Add, a few at a time, about 25 fresh basil leaves, 1/2 cup parsley, 8 mint and 2 sage leaves, and 2 garlic cloves, crushing after each addition and pounding until mixture becomes a paste. Add 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts; work into paste. Add 2 tablespoons shredded Grana Padano cheese. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Work all into creamy consistency. (If using blender, add salt, basil, parsley, mint, sage, and garlic to blender. Cover; blend to make paste. Add pine nuts. With motor running, slowly pour half the olive oil through opening in lid. Add Grana Padano cheese and remaining olive oil. Cover; blend until mixture becomes creamy paste.) You can also spread pesto on grilled Italian bread or use it as a condiment for beef and chicken.

I'm really pleased with the way my sets came out. They're not quite as elegant as the ones on Etsy, but they're pretty cute. I'm debating whether to make more or not. What do you think?

Covered in bees! Help!

2011-05-06T22:29:00.000-04:00

I've been doing more sketching to get ready for making more tiles and cups. Thing is, as much as I love drawing, it feels more like I'm procrastinating. I need to just sit down and make the cups and tiles. I've been doing studies for a couple weeks now, and I only made one tile (see above). I really like the way my Thumbelina tile came out, though!

I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself. Even with a house full of people to help me watch the baby, it's still hard to find uninterrupted time to work. Not to mention I'd much rather snuggle with Maddy than get any real work done. I don't think anyone can blame me for that;)

I start back at the clay studio on 18th, so that will at least be time devoted to making and doing. I'm pretty excited to get back in there. I'm debating which craft fairs to apply to this year, if any. Should I just stick to Etsy and applying for juried shows? I'm just not sure what I can handle yet. I wish I could hire an assistant!

Unrelated to ceramics, I had a pretty eventful day today. My husband is a beekeeper, and he's been getting new hives built and ready for three new boxes of bees. I haven't taken pics of the hives yet, but they are really cool! He's trying a different kind of hive than the traditional langstroth hive. This year he built two topbar hives, which are supposed to be a more natural way of keeping bees, allowing them to make their own comb from scratch instead of using man made frames of beeswax. You can check out this website if you want more info about this type of beekeeping. It's really fascinating!

Top bar hive

Anyway, today his first hive swarmed, which is to say that they felt their hive was overcrowded, so they left the hive en masse along with the queen, and sat along the back fence on our neighbors property. He came knocking on our door this morning to tell us they had swarmed, and my husband was at work and couldn't get off. So, brilliant woman that I am, I decided to try to go out there and catch them myself. Normally you try to knock the whole mass into a box, seal it quick, and then replace it in a new hive, or expand their original one. Thing is, Nich had told me they are somewhat docile when they swarm because they're distracted by the queen. I totally overestimated how docile they would be, and went out there without a protective helmet! Dumbest move ever, right? In my defense, I wasn't quite awake yet, and was a little panicked over the thought of losing our established hive, which had been thriving.

Not my pic - I pulled this from Google - but this is what a swarm looks like.

They stung me about 8 times in the face, ears, and neck, and I had to go to the hospital because I had a moderate allergic reaction. Now I'm all swollen and sore, and I have to take benedryl and steroids for a couple days. This is particularly stupid on my part, because you can't take benedryl while breastfeeding, something that didn't even occur to me when I went out there, knowing there was a chance I might get stung at least once. Thankfully I have some breastmilk stored in the deep freeze to make it thru a day of taking benedryl, and then hopefully I'll be ok by then.

I just want to be clear - this is not something that happens all the time! Nich has kept bees for years now, and most of the time they do not sting us. Bees are not aggressive, and we've been known to be able to open the hive without them even stirring, even without using a smoker. I've walked through small clouds of bees in order to refill the sugar water at their hive, and as long as I'm calm and don't bother them, I never get stung. I did that every week last summer without wearing any protective gear at all. Bees do not attack you unless they have good reason, because they don't survive the sting. We normally feel very safe keeping bees. In today's case, I just felt a little too safe, and took for granted the fact that they're still an animal that can hurt you if you don't respect them. Today was just a total loss of rationality on my part. You can't whack a ball of bees into a box and expect them to not get angry! Lesson learned.

The good news is, we did get the bees into a box, and Nich will reinstate them in a new home tomorrow morning. There is also a chance that the swarm was a split with a new queen, and that we might actually get two hives out of this ordeal instead of just saving the one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we just got a free hive out this adventure!

Studies, tiles, and the Sketchbook Project 2012

2011-04-22T11:22:00.000-04:00

After weeks of doing nearly nothing creative (I've sewn a few things for Maddy, but no drawing or ceramics), I decided to unwrap the leather hard ceramic tiles I made the week before Maddy was born and decorate them. Since I couldn't decide what to put on them, I've been doing some studies and sketches the last few days to limber up my drawing skills.

One of the tiles is a gift for someone, who I know loves birds, but I didn't just want to put a bird on a tile. I've been doing a lot of things about little girls lately, so I decided that illustrating Thumbelina on a set of 5 tiles would allow me to draw a girl and a swallow, along with some other animals. I started the swallow tile last night.

All this drawing has gotten me in the mood to do more sketching, which is perfect timing, because I just got an e-mail about the 2012 Sketchbook Project. If you'd forgotten, I actually signed up for the 2011 project, and then did not come even close to filling my moleskin sketchbook. I did 3 pages, I think. I never bothered to mail it in, and I was kind of sad about it. I was completely stumped on what to draw, and I signed up very late in the year and didn't give myself much time. This time, I have 8 months to finish, and I have a theme that I'm really excited about: "Fill me with stories". So I went ahead and signed up. I plan to share my sketches for that, as well as studies and whatever from my regular sketchbook... as often as possible. I'm kidding myself and you if I promise to do it daily or even regularly. But I will definitely share what I do from time to time. Wish me luck!

Cafecito 2011

2011-04-09T17:43:00.000-04:00

I just can't stop looking thru the shop catalog for Cafecito. In case you haven't noticed the name of my blog, I have a thing about cups. Of all the functional ceramic forms out there, cups are definitely my favorite thing. They're just such a useful, everyday object that is also so intimate and personal. In the course of making and selling cups, I've learned just how particular people are about the kind of cups they use: what they use them for, how they hold them, the size, color, everything. People become very attached to a favorite cup or mug, and devastated if it breaks. A different cup can never replace your favorite, especially if it's handmade. Handmade cups are like people. Your favorite mug is like your best friend.

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite cups from the show, including the ones my friends made. If you like one of them, please go to the site and buy it! It might become your best friend too. Just click on their name for the link.

If you're like me and too broke to buy one, I'd encourage you to Google the artist, check out their work, and maybe even contact them if you can, just to say how much you love their piece. If it were me, I know something like that would make my day, if not my whole week, month, or possibly my year.

Andrew Davis "Duck Parade"

Yukiko Nyhan "Two Ounce Ume Blossoms"

Liz Proffetty "Teacup-Venal Pool"

Kyle Johns "White Dimple Cup"

Megan Mitchell "Black and White Cup and Saucer"

Mindy Andrews "Hanging Tree Block with Cup"

Rachel Bleil "Grazing Teddy"

Rebekah Strickland "Tawny Onion Domes Cup"

Tony Wise "Breve"

Sorry I haven't updated...

2011-04-08T14:55:00.000-04:00

...but we had an unexpected visitor drop in on us a couple weeks ago.

My daughter, Madeleine Calliope Manuel, was born March 22nd at 4:59pm. She was 5 weeks early, but she's doing just fine. I'm already daydreaming about the day I get to let her play in mud for the first time. Should I start her off with play-doh, or just let her dive head first into porcelain?

On the ceramics front, I am taking a hiatus from the studio while I'm maternity leave, but plan to get back to work in a few more weeks.

Clayfest, the group show at University of Indianapolis, had it's reception on Monday, April 4th. My three doll jars were in it:D If you're in Indy, you can stop by the Christel DeHaan building on the U of I campus and see them. The show is up through the end of the month, I believe.

Also, I got news that my peep sculpture won a prize at the Skutt Peep Show at NCECA. I have no idea what it placed yet, but YAY! I won something!

Finally, the show catalog for Cafecito is up on their website. There is a fantastic selection of cups for sale, and I feel really honored to have been included in the show (you can see mine on page 3, if you've forgotten what it looks like. It's the Josie cat cup.)

That's all the exciting news I've got for right now...

Mini grrrrrrl jars in the making, craft fair update, and disaster!

2011-03-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

Got one of my cups out of the kiln last night, and it is a total failure:( Apparently I did not mix and thin the new jar of commercial glaze well, so it went all crazy. Sadness.

Not only did the glaze get crazy thick and crawl everywhere, but it also had two hairline cracks in the sides. Oh well. I like the drawing enough to try it again on another cup, and maybe make a few changes to it.

My mini jars are coming along nicely, though! I've been painting them for the last couple nights, and I'm really excited about them. I did have an ear break off of the bunny girl jar, but I'm going to try to make some paper clay/slip to fix it with this week. I'll let you know how it goes, and share the recipe if it works out well. Rachel swears by the stuff, and she is an expert at repairing breakage in her pieces!

I call them the bitchy bobblehead twins. What a couple of bitches.

Bear grrrrrl.

Wolf girl plays the orchestra.

I've got a dozen bone dry cups waiting for me to decorate, and a craft fair to prepare for! Gotta get to work, but man is this pregnancy draining the crap out of me! I only have 5 weeks left until my due date, so I'm feeling pressured to get as much ceramic work done as I can before I have to stop. I'm really gonna miss the studio! But I know I'll be back there as soon as I am ready and able. It might be nice to take a break from making for a while, and get some new ideas germinating while I'm resting with my new little creature.

If you are in Indy, you can see me all waddling and preggo at the Handmade Promenade/Record Store Day craft fair going on in Broad Ripple (I got in!). 9 of us will be set up outside of Luna Music. Should be a fun day! I know there's some pretty kick ass live music. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be on April 16th, so I hope you all come out and say hi! I'll keep you posted on all the cool stuff I'm making to sell. Thinking of maybe making some more tiles, and maybe some buttons.... I just like the idea of making a big basket of colorful buttons! Probably been looking at baby clothes too long. Anyway, unless I go into early labor, I will be there:)

Clever title blah blah blah

2011-03-09T18:02:00.000-05:00

Got some new work out of the kiln, and starting making little mini doll jars. I am super excited about them - they are going to be ADORABLE!

More bunny cups!

My alien baby bunny wall sculpture is lookin' pretty sweet, if I do say so myself.

These are all less than 5 inches tall.

In other news, I applied for the first Handmade Promenade craft fair event of the year. It will be in conjunction with National Record Store day, which is always awesome. There will be 5 booths set up outside of Luna Music on April 16th, with anywhere from 5 - 10 handmade craft vendors. Wish me luck that I'm one of them! I'll keep you all posted if I get in, and you can come see my giant preggo belly, one week away from my due date:)

Standing at the end of the world.

2011-02-27T18:27:00.000-05:00

Today I got my official rejection letter from the Bloomington Handmade Market. I've had a pretty crappy week this week, so it was not much of a surprise. Kind of like a punctuation mark at the end of a terrible, terrible sentence.

Oh well.

I'm not as devastated as I expected to be. Usually I will agonize over things like this, and over analyze why I might not have gotten in. Certainly my work looks a lot different now than it did when I was accepted last time (though I like to think it's really improved). And I did submit my Facebook page rather than a real website, since it's the only place I consistently update with photos of my work. I guess that wasn't the most professional thing to do. But all in all, I'm a little relieved. I could have used the money I would have made there, but at least now it's one less thing I have to worry about in the final weeks of my pregnancy. No fussing over signing up for Square, no scrambling to make a ton of work this month, no figuring out how to set up a newer, better booth display. I can focus solely on making work I want to make, and getting ready for this brand new creature I'm about to have. And given some of the other truly terrible things that have happened to me this week, this almost seems light by comparison.

I'm so glad I'm not completely broken up about this. Maybe I'm getting used to the idea that rejection is not the end of the world, and that there's always next time. It's nice feeling that way. Getting thrown into a major depression every time your work gets rejected can be a real energy suck. It's exhausting, and I'm tired of feeling like that. I feel pretty happy about my work right now, and the direction it's going. One little no is not going to stop me!

I'm going to leave you with a video posted by Emily Murphy on Facebook earlier today. It's so accurate, I was torn between LOLing and crying. Ceramic artists everywhere can probably relate.

Less talk, more rock.

2011-02-20T08:43:00.000-05:00

Finding your voice, and how not to be a douche.

2011-02-16T10:12:00.000-05:00

I got all my applications in on time this week, with three more upcoming that I still have to submit. I had to go out of town this weekend, so I haven't even seen what my finished doll jar looked like out of the kiln. I did get to see images of my new cups though.

I was browsing Twitter on a long car trip Saturday to pass time, and a lot of clay people were in a bit of an uproar over a blatant copycat on Etsy. I'm not entirely sure, but I get the impression she was a newbie that hadn't found a style of her own yet, and copied the designs of an artist she was a fan of. Since they both sell their work on Etsy, the copied pieces were quickly discovered, the original artist was notified, and a letter was sent to the offender. Thankfully, she immediately shut the shop down. Problem solved.

Now, I've been giving this kind of thing a lot of thought over the last few weeks. I look at a lot of other ceramic artists work, and I definitely get inspired by it. I like to think I get inspired without feeling the need to outright steal anyone's style or designs, though I may dabble in a technique just to try it out and add something new to my repertoire. Even then, I still feel a little nervous trying something someone else is doing, because I want to be sure I can make it my own. My Josie cup (the "Fuck You, Feed Me" cup) was made because my studio instructor, Rachel, did a sgrafitto demo, and I tried it out (with her encouragement) on that cup as well as a tile. It's my own original artwork, but it's a technique heavily attached to her work, which makes me a little uneasy. It doesn't look like the rest of my work (except that I have a habit of drawing Josie on just about everything. She's on t-shirts, cups, tiles, paintings, plushies, and even some handmade cards. It's like she has her own merchandise franchise.) I like it, and I might incorporate the technique into my work in little ways, but I'd feel uncomfortable if I started doing an entire series of black and white sgraffito work. It just isn't me.

I was happy to see someone link to a post on Kristen Kieffer's blog this morning about this very topic. It's excellent advice, and any young/new artist could benefit from reading it. It makes so much sense, in fact, that it seems like it should be common sense, but I think everyone still falls prey to being entranced by the work of other artists sometimes. Now, I'm not saying I'm going to stop obsessively trolling my Google reader list and Twitter for delicious new ceramic art to drool over. I'm not going to stop experimenting with techniques I'm inspired to try either. But I feel secure in knowing that my work is influenced by my own experiences, passions, and memories, and no one elses, and that is what makes it mine. When I'm in the studio, I draw from so many things in my life besides ceramic art to inform what I make, and no one is going to have the exact same interests that I do. I may still be working on a style that's completely my own, but I know I'll get there if I just keep making. And I know I won't be putting up any work for sale that looks like Kristen Kieffer's, or Diana Fayt's, or Ayumie Horie's, because I love and respect their work too much, and they worked hard to get where they are and find their own style.

I think so long as we all keep that mutual respect in mind, and draw from our own lives more than from other people's art, we'll all get there some day. And if we don't, we can expect to get a lot of strongly worded letters from a lot of angry artists. That's definitely incentive enough for me!

Finished a thing!

2011-02-09T18:34:00.000-05:00

These pics are shit, but...

Side one

Side two

... I couldn't wait to share this. Just finished it last night. It should be glazed and photographed for reals on Sunday. I'll tell you more about it then.

The more of these doll jars I make, the more I want to make. The ideas just keep continually feeding each other. I already have the next couple all planned out. It's exciting having a direction to explore that keeps pulling me back again and again. I'm usually not great about following thru on an idea for a series either, so this feels really good to me. I've had the idea for these jars germinating in my head for a few years now, but I wasn't ready to make them until now, and I wasn't a strong enough thrower to make the forms I wanted. I'm still struggling with the forms a little, but now it feels like experimentation and not as hard a struggle, and I love it.

Studio art show recap

2011-02-05T12:07:00.000-05:00

I wonder how long I can keep up this whole "posting a blog on a regular basis" thing?

I blame the weather. You can only be stuck inside sitting at the computer playing Bubble Island on Facebook for so many hours...

Yesterday evening was the studio show and sale. Not only did I have a blast, but I found out I have fans! I can't begin to tell you how giddy that made me. I guess Rachel and Andrew have been showing some of my work to their students over at Herron. Squee! Once again, an entire night spent talking about my work, my throwing, and ceramics in general. I was pretty much in heaven. I met some really nice people.

I also threw a whole bunch of new stuff! Tumblers, a big bowl, a lidded jar with three lids (not sure which will work out best), and a new doll jar.

You can see that round bottle form and the little vase directly to the right of it - that's going to (hopefully) be the next doll jar. I wanted a form that looked more like a traditional kokeshi doll - big round head with a skinny straight body. I have no idea how stable it's going to be, though. It may be way too top heavy to survive for long. Or even how well the forms will work together once I combine them. It's an experiment, so we'll see how it turns out.

Check out some pics of the instructor work in the gallery. It's all making me feel really inspired to take another crack at handbuilding. I swore off it in college because I was so bad at it, but look at these amazing sculptures! Maybe handbuilding deserves another shot...

Catherine Schlebecker

Rachel Bleil

Andrew Davis

Thanks to anyone reading who came by last night. It was great meeting you!

WOOHOO!

2011-02-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

My piece got accepted to the Skutt Kiln Peep Show! It's going to on display at NCECA!

My non ceramic artist friends keep asking "What's a peep?" When you're firing a kiln, there is a row of peep holes in the side that you can look thru to check on your stuff and make sure the firing is going ok. You keep these removable peep plugs in the holes when you're not looking so the heat doesn't escape. This show is an exhibition of functional peep plug sculptures - that is, they are made to fit into standard kiln peep holes.

NCECA is the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, and they hold an enormous conference in a different city each year. This year it will be in Tampa, FL at the end of March. So I'm pretty excited - this piece will get seen by thousands of people. It's my first time being accepted to a national show. Maybe next year I'll take the big leap and apply to NCECA's emerging artist exhibit. That would be HUGE!

Ceramic ambitions

2011-02-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

I have class with Rachel at the clay studio this evening. After nearly a week of not touching mud, I'm looking forward to it. I have two unpainted doll jar forms, a tile, and 10 greenware mugs waiting to be attended to, and I might get a little throwing in if there's time. I'd like to finish the most recent doll jar, the one with two faces, so that I can submit it for Clay Fest 2011 at U of I. Deadline is less than 2 weeks away! Ideally, I'd like to finish one more jar, and submit 3 pieces if I can.

Tomorrow is the art show at the studio as well. I can't wait to see more of the instructor's work! I've seen sneak peaks of new work by Cathy Schlebecker, and a couple of finished sculptures by Andrew Perry Davis and Rachel Bleil, and it all looks fantastic! I'm not just saying that either - I really love all of their work. Plus, I'm always excited to see artwork from instructors or professors of mine. I love being able to see their process and studio practices in finished form. I'm also feeling pretty honored that my peep sculpture with be on display alongside Rachel and Andrews at the show. I hope you stop by on First Friday, have a little wine and food, and check out the show. I'll be demoing on the wheel all night again, too!

Andrew Perry Davis

Catherine Schlebecker

Rachel Bleil

I have not been in the habit of sketching much lately, or keeping any kind of journal, which is a bit unusual for me. I used to journal obsessively, but I haven't written a thing in ages. I actually intended to keep one throughout my pregnancy, but I started off in such a funk, I just couldn't seem to make myself. This week I worked on finishing designs for Kentuckiana Pug Rescue's 2011 fundraiser t-shirt, which I worked out in my giant black sketchbook, and I realized that I've only got a few pages left in it. I started it in December of 2009 with the intent of drawing in it daily (anyone remember that ambition? I think I made it 3 months...) I think today I will go out and buy a new sketchbook and try again. If not daily, then at least making it a point to work out ideas on paper so that I don't forget them. I miss drawing and writing a lot, and I think the surface design work I've been doing recently shows it. I also think I'd like to try planning out my ceramic forms more, so that I have some vague goals for what I'd like to make when I sit down at the wheel. I'm not great at throwing exact shapes and forms I have in mind, but it's something I'd like to work towards.

ICEPOCALYPSE 2011

2011-02-02T12:15:00.000-05:00

Been stuck in the house for 3 days now due to this ice and snow storm. I can't say I mind too much. I haven't been very productive, but I have caught up on sleep, a lot of movies, and a couple of good books. My husband and I also got our taxes done (yay refund!), and I got my piece submitted for the Skutt Peep Show.

Today I thought I should go ahead and submit some pictures to Carol Epp's blog, Musing About Mud. I've been following her blog for quite some time now, so I was excited to see that she planned to feature a new ceramic artist everyday in February. I'm a little late to submit, though, so I don't know whether there will be room for me. Here's hoping. I just wish I had more professional slides of my recent work, or that the pieces I've finished in the last week were fired and photographed. Some of my slides are starting to look dated! Regardless of whether she shows my work or not, I'm looking forward to seeing a month's worth of ceramic artists featured on her blog. I've really enjoyed seeing what she's posted so far.

Speaking of photographs, I really need to get a graduated photo backdrop so I can take better slides. I've been told that Varitone is pretty much the standard among ceramic artists for their slides, but I was wondering whether there were any other kinds that people prefer? I'm also not sure how large of a backdrop I should invest in. I'm balking a little at spending $75 on one, but I would if I thought I would really need it. There are a lot of deadlines coming up, and I want to be able to submit the best slides I can. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated!

Gonna go eat some delicious homemade bread I made this morning - it should be coming out of the bread machine right about now - and have a cup of coffee with chicory (New Orleans coffee is the best!). If you're stuck in this storm like I am, I hope you're staying safe and warm, and maybe drinking something hot and delicious out of a handmade cup:)

More painted things

2011-01-31T09:39:00.000-05:00

Front and back of the latest doll jar. I'm not sure if it's finished yet or not. I feel like the body needs to be more than just straight black and white.

Thom should be going in the kiln sometime this week.

I sent in my submission for the Skutt Kiln Peep Show. Rachel and Andrew were kind enough to take professional looking pics for me using their graduated backdrop. I really need to buy one some day soon. Fingers crossed...

Productive weekend

2011-01-30T00:54:00.000-05:00

I started and finished a lot of painted pieces in the last 3 days. I'm trying to make deadlines for two show submissions, as well as have some work for the art show and student sale at the studio this Friday. I'm pretty happy with what I've accomplished so far. Got a couple new pieces out of the glaze kiln, too.

Josie cat tile - this little tile had been sitting under plastic for more than a week, and was the perfect leather hard state for a little sgraffito. Rachel did a sgraffito demo in Thursday night class, so I went and bought some of the Duncan black underglazes she recommended. Gotta say, I love the Duncan ones so far, a lot better than the Amaco velvet underglaze I'd been using. For you non clay people, sgrafitto is a technique where you paint your clay with a kind of ceramic paint, let it dry, and the scratch your design into it, kind of like scratchboard drawing. For those of you not familiar with Josie cat, she is our awesomely grumpy old cat, and she looks a little like a very round calico bulldog.

More sgraffito, and more Josie.

I made this peep sculpture to submit for the Skutt Kiln Peep Show. It fits into one of the kiln peep holes, and is totally functional. If it's one of the 20 chosen, it'll be displayed at their booth at NCECA this year. I hope I get in!

I have more images, but blogger is being weird and loading them wrong. I'll post some more stuff tomorrow.

P.S., here's the show flier for this Friday. I'll have some stuff on display, and will be the wheel throwing demo person for the night. If you're out and about on First Friday, stop by!

Things that are not clay.

2011-01-21T14:08:00.000-05:00

You might think that my one and only love in life is ceramics, if you were to judge my life from this blog. All I've posted for months is finished and in progress work. In fact, I pretty much set out to make this blog dedicated to my ceramic process and work, and intended to keep it focused solely on that. Seems like some know-it-all blogging expert somewhere said something about knowing your audience and keeping your blog on topic. Or some crap like that.

Of course, I'm kind of lazy, and I also get sidetracked doing all the other things I like doing, and that means super sporadic posts. So I decided fuck it, I'm gonna put what I want on here. I mean, I have a grand total of 49 followers. Are you all going to revolt if I write about my pregnancy, sewing projects, or my recent and insatiable need to bake things? Would you hit unfollow in a huff of disgust if I posted a book review or a picture of a weird bug I found? I'm hoping you're not that fickle, and if you are, there are plenty of other crazy awesome blogs out there devoted solely to clay, so feel free to bail. I won't hate. I just know I love reading other blogs that are not only clay (I recently discovered Corvus Tristis, a science/sewing/crafting/embroidery blog, that I heart completely!), and that it feels dishonest to act like there aren't tons of other awesome things that get me all jazzed up, or other things going on in my life. Anyway, it all comes together to inspire the stuff I make anyway. So, in a round about way, it's still a pottery blog. See what I did there?

Here are some things I've been doing recently that are not made out of mud.

*Cue FANFARE! Da na na NA!*

One of my amateurish hobbies is sewing. I've been obsessively lurking on craftster.org and t-shirt surgery for years, drooling over all the awesome things you can make out of $5 worth of t-shirts from the thrift store. My love of making practical things, my hatred of clothes shopping, and my being an eternal cheapskate all neatly fit into clothing reconstruction. Sadly, I rarely actually sit down at the sewing machine, because I dream of making things much more than I actually follow through. Recently I've had a burst of crazy preggo energy, however, so I made some comfy maternity pants and a hoodie.

Shitty cell phone pic - sorry about that.

Also, I've been baking. A LOT. If you lived in my house, you might think I'd given up life as a potter and had decided to do a career switch. I can't help it though; I love sweets, and being pregnant makes me so hungry! I've been cooking a fair bit too, but I don't have crappy cell phone pics of any of that. However, in the future I may start sharing recipes for things that turned out particularly awesome. If you ever tasted my beef stew, you might be tempted to propose. Just sayin'.

Strawberry mango pies.
There's liquor in them:D

I got obsessed with pies over the holidays. One day soon,
I am going to make a second attempt at a lattice top,
and you will all be impressed.
These were Cranberry Peach with a custardy filling.

I had an insatiable desire for cake one week, and all we had was yellow cake mix in the house.
I doctored it up with orange extract and sour cream,
and made my own chocolate ganache icing. Soooo delicious!
Although the artist in me wishes it were prettier.
Like maybe a seven layer deal or something.

Banana bread!

Finally, I must share with you the recipe for this banana bread. A loaf never lasts more than a day in this house. A lot of the reviewers said they don't like the big purpley chunks of banana, but that is one of my favorite things about this recipe. It's the most moist awesome banana bread I've ever tasted.

This weekend hopefully more ceramics will be made, but I have to finish a charity t-shirt design before I can do anything else. It's top secret, so I can't post about it here... but stay tuned, good people. I will do my best to keep up the awesome, clay or otherwise, and share it here with much enthusiasm and overuse of exclamation points.

Do you feel like a chain store? Practically floored?

2011-01-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

"Do you feel like a chain store
Practically floored
One of many zeros
Kicked around bored
Your ears are full but you're empty
Holding out your heart
To people who never really
Care how you are

So give me Coffee and TV
easily
I've seen so much
I'm going blind
And I'm braindead virtually
Sociability
It's hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start all over again"

-Blur, "Coffee & TV"

"i jumped in the river and what did I see?

black-eyed angels swimming with me
a moon full of stars and astral cars
all the figures i used to see
all my lovers were there with me
all my past and futures
and we all went to heaven in a little row boat
there was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt"
-Radiohead, "Pyramid Song"

Manic energy burst

2011-01-15T10:26:00.000-05:00

I haven't thrown on the wheel in weeks, so I decided to set a little challenge for myself. I was checking my Google reader list and came across Cinderelish's blog entry about the 12 by 12 noon challenge set by Michael Kline. Since I've been wanting to work on making better mugs, I decided to make 12 of those.

I've decided to let go of my obsession with trying to make perfectly smooth, round, mugs that look like they've been slipcast with no warping. My cups need some personality.

This one is my favorite.

Unfortunately, I work an overnight job, and get home around 5am, so I didn't even make it down to the basement until 10:30 or 11am. I also decided some of my mugs needed feet, and they all needed to be altered a little, since I was getting bored with the forms I've made in the past, so I made things a little bit complicated for myself. By the time all the mugs were finished, it was 4pm! Oh well. The cool thing is, I got 12 mugs done, took a nap, and then went into the studio for my first class with our new Artist in Residence, Rachel Bleil. I got back on the wheel and made two new doll jars as well. Crazy productive day for me!

I had work that night, however, and I guess I just don't have the energy and stamina I did prepregnancy. Lack of sleep and all that throwing plus working overnight really wore me out. I've been sore all day, and my hands are cramping up a bit. But I went back to the studio today and started making some stamps and tiles, and then came home, drew on a couple of my mugs, and finally decided I need to listen to some Radiohead and bake a cake. Where all this energy is coming from, I have no idea!

Thom Yorke's awesomely weird face on a mug.

Blur lyrics, and my grandma's kitchen drawn from memory.

Doctored yellow cake mix cake with butter, sour cream, orange extract, and homemade chocolate frosting.

This weekend I'm gonna keep up the momentum. I have two back to back shifts at the studio, so I have lots of time to work. There's a couple of juried shows with deadlines coming up that I'd like to enter, so I've got to get cracking. More on those next post.

First (and very late) post of the new year.

2011-01-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

After the holidays ended, I was still too preoccupied with other things going on in my life to get back into my studio in the basement. Partially because it was being used by my brother in law as a bedroom while extra people were in town. But also because I've apparently gone into full-blown pregnancy nesting mode. All I've been able to think about is making maternity clothes and how to make fitted cloth diapers from old t-shirts, what kind of mural or painting I'd like to make for the nursery, and what kind of things I'd like to cook/bake/eat. It's been kind of nice, though, because I've still been occupied with creative activities and making things; those things just haven't been made out of clay.

This week I start my new studio monitor position at the Beech Grove Clay Works studio, and classes start up next week. I'm ready to throw myself back into making new work, and I've already got a steadily growing list of experiments and projects planned. I'm also ready to start reorganizing the basement so I can begin working down there again as well. I don't generally make new year's resolutions, but I do have some goals in mind in the upcoming weeks - the main ones being to do something ceramic everyday, get down to Beech Grove for every available open studio time, and update this blog more regularly with my progress, at least a few times a week. I know that I won't continue to learn and improve and grow if I don't make ceramics a daily practice, and I also know that with a baby on the way, I really need to work at managing my time better. Studio time is going to become a precious commodity after I become a parent, and if I can't make time for the studio now, it's going to be rough with a baby on my hip! Lastly, I'm hoping to start doing a bit of glaze testing, as I've become disatisfied with the limitations of my assorted commercial glazes. I always hated glaze calc in school, but now that there's no grades or assignements, I feel free to experiment for my own knowledge and curiosity's sake. I would definitely like to have one good translucent copper glaze at my disposal to start with.

I'll leave you with some pictures of the last doll jar I finished, my Creepy Girl. I'm pretty pleased with the way she turned out, and definitely prefer the unglazed surface over my glossy, glassy Cat Girl jar. The matte painted surface really seems to suit her. I'm definitely going to continue on with these forms in the coming weeks.

Open House wrap up - awesomeness:)

2010-12-12T08:45:00.000-05:00

I had a blast at the Beech Grove open house last night! We had a fantastic turn out, and everyone's work looked really great. I met lots of new people, and got to spend most of the evening geeking out about pottery with everyone, which was pretty cool. I thought I'd be nervous being the demo person all night, but I really enjoyed being at the wheel and talking to people about what I was doing. I remember the first time I watched someone throw, and how beautiful and mesmerizing it looked to me then. It was awesome seeing other people have that same experience watching me. Best part was, I got 4 new bowls and 2 new jars thrown, and a new bag of clay for my trouble! I told Mike he could ask me to be his demo person anytime.

I forgot my camera, so the only pics I have are from my cell phone from earlier in the day while we were setting up. There was a photographer there, so hopefully some better pics will surface pretty soon.

My stuff, before set up.

Catherine Schlebecker's giant slab platter. Cathy is one of the artists in residence, and my instructor on Saturdays.

Dee Schaad's figures. Dee is a faculty member of University of Indianapolis's ceramics dept.

One of Dee's platters.

Allen Reinhardt's iguana tile table. I am desperate to learn how to do tile work like this!

This coming Saturday is my last fair of the year, the Handmade Promenade Last Minute Market. Check out the Handmade Promenade blog to see all the crafters that will be selling work. It's gonna be a fun night, so I hope to see you there!

Beech Grove Clay Works Open House

2010-12-10T20:19:00.000-05:00

Come check out Beech Grove Clay Works grand re-opening and open house tomorrow from 6p-9p! There will be work on display and for sale from the Artists in Residence, William Jamieson and Catherine Schlebecker, as well as the students. I'll also be demoing on the wheel all evening, and my birds and a few other items will be available for purchase. Check out my Facebook event page for more info!

Things I'm making right now

2010-12-01T17:22:00.000-05:00

I've got so many irons in the fire right now, it's hard to keep them all straight. Two shows coming up in the next three weeks, my 50 bird ornaments, the two sculpted jars, a commission of children's hot cocoa mugs for Christmas, and I haven't even started making work for the group show proposal my friends and I just submitted. Whew!

Here's some pics!

Here's the 50 birds, dried and waiting to be painted. They'll be Christmas ornaments or decorative hangings when they're done.

I've been scouring bird identification books for inspiration for painting all of these guys.

Here's the first 7 out of the glaze kiln. I just have to add ribbons so they can be hung.

Btw, I am having a contest on my facebook fan page, and I'm giving away one of these birds. To win one, just click "like" on my page to become a fan, and then find the post I made this past Saturday about the contest. Suggest my fanpage to your friends, and then leave a comment on my post saying you did, and you're entered! My fanpage is also the best way to keep on top of shows and other things going on with my work on a more regular basis (I'm much better about updating there than I am here!)

The contest ends this Sunday, and Monday I will begin listing birds on Etsy. If you live in Indianapolis, you can also purchase one at the Handmade Promenade Last Minute Market on Dec. 18th. I will be donating five of them to charity, and the proceeds from those will go to a local spay and neuter clinic, Face.

My jars in progress. I haven't started painting the cat girl yet, and the creepy girl is half done.

The cocoa mugs I've been asked to make as Christmas gifts. I think they're gonna be cute! They're kid sized, so a little smaller than I usually make.

This last thing I'm making is a collaborative effort, and it's still in progress...

I got my first ultrasound today!

Our little punker in progress, Baby Maddy.

Bloomington Handmade Market and BABY FEVER

2010-11-09T18:32:00.000-05:00

It's been ages since I've posted a blog. I was getting so bummed with not making any money this craft season, I sort of lost enthusiasm for keeping up with all the online stuff. I figured no one was paying attention. But someone was! I just want to say, Holly, if you're still keeping up with this, thank you for buying that cup and reading my blog. You sincerely made my day:D

This past Saturday, I had a booth at the Bloomington Handmade Market. It was, by far, the best craft show I've done yet. I actually made money! It was really well attended, and people were wonderful. I enjoyed watching them get a good laugh from some of my pieces. I never know if the things that amuse me will amuse anyone else, so it made me happy to watch people pick up the Godzillas in Love mug or the What's with all the robots? mug and start laughing out loud. The best thing that happened all day, though, was meeting a really nice lady named Holly who came to the craft show just to find me (!) and check out my stuff. She told me how much she loved my work and was really excited to see my Birdeater tumbler still available for sale. I was floored when she told me she'd read my blog! Not even just an entry or two, but pages of it. I have a fan! She kept apologizing for stalking me, but I thought my head was going to explode with happiness:D

Well anyway, I need to send my sincere thanks to everyone that came to the market, and also to Sally, Mia, and Nicole for organizing an awesome craft fair. I'm definitely applying for the next one!

I pretty much spent the entire day obsessing over babies and little kids. I haven't mentioned it here yet, but Nich and I are expecting a little mohawk baby. We're due in April, and I'm not even showing yet, but I'm already having imaginary conversations in my head with our future child, thinking of books I'll read them and things we'll get to do together. Our baby is going to kick ass, I just want you all to know.

So all day at the market, I made goo goo eyes at every cute kid I saw, which was pretty much a constant stream. The cutest child of the day was a little girl named Ruby, who's Mom had the booth next to me, Ruby's Slippers. Ruby is only 2 1/2 years old, but I swear she spoke like a little adult. Listening to her explain how she liked cupcakes better than bagels (though she really liked bagels as well) nearly had me on the floor. Best start of the day EVER. Also, I had never paid much attention to baby clothes or accessories at craft fairs in the past because I never had a reason to, but I adored all of Ruby's Slippers cute little baby shoes and blankets. I was suddenly enthralled with the idea of my baby wearing little panda slippers, all swaddled up in a ROAR! Dino baby blanket. They've definitely won a customer, because I MUST have that dino blanket. I just hope our kid is half as cute as Ruby.

That ought to be the last bit of baby related gushing I do for a while. Not that I'm not excited, but I promised myself I would not turn into one of those Moms whose kid takes over her entire brain. This is a ceramics blog, dammit. But, you know... Dino blanket. That's all I'm saying.

In closing, here's a few pics of things I've been up to lately. Thanks again to anyone who's paying attention! You are so, so, so appreciated:D

50 little bird ornaments

Josie Cat bowl - this is an accurate depiction of Josie Cat. She approves of NOTHING.

Some little birds, freshly painted. Not sure if I like them painted better than I liked them plain.

4 tree tumblers, which sold in less than an hour at the Market. Can't believe people liked them so much!

Some "kokeshi" jars and a vase in progress.

Night, all.

Argh argh argh!

2010-09-05T13:50:00.000-04:00

Anyone got a used kiln they want to part with? I'm about to give up on mine.

I am so frustrated right now. I have an old Duncan kiln with a snapped connecting wire and a rusty u-terminal that broke off. They don't make Duncans anymore, so I have to order parts from Paragon in Texas, which still carries Duncan parts. I ordered parts from them two weeks ago in hopes I could get my kiln up and running in time for Oranje 2 weeks from now. Not only did it take way longer to get the parts because they sent them by UPS, which does not believe in actually knocking on the door before leaving a slip on your door saying they missed you, but now I'm finding out I still don't have the parts I need. Upon opening the packages today, I discover they were out of stock on one part (but failed to tell me that - it was just hand written on the packing slip), and the other part is not the one I needed, but some totally unrecognizable thing. Now I'm not sure what to do about this kiln load of stuff. I usually bisque at home, and then bring my stuff to Amaco for cone 6 glaze firing, but they're so unreliable if I'm in a rush, since I'm the only one who asks for cone 6.

I need to find a better solution for getting my stuff fired, and fast. Just my luck that I'm signed up for 4 upcoming shows, and now I'm not sure how I'll go about finishing work. Ugh.

I should have stayed a painter.

These are a few of my favorite things

2010-09-02T13:16:00.000-04:00

I don't usually do posts like this, but I was skimming my massive Google reader list for a little inspiration before starting to make work today, and saw way too much that was pure awesome. I figured I would share.

Here are three posts from the Slipcast Blog, which never fails to delight me:

Un-Bear-ably Cute (get it?)

NOMSKULLS

I really, REALLY love the NOMSKULLS.

Balloonatic

This balloon stuck in a tree is also a functioning birdhouse. Slipcast Blog always finds the greatest stuff:)

Monday Morning eye candy - Ruth Ann Reese

This set is from Ruth Anne Reese featured on Musing about Mud blog. I'm a sucker for Memento Mori stuff.

And I love these pieces by Scott Rench featured on the (Mud)Bucket blog. Especially those ceramic wall Geta shoes!

That's all for now. And don't expect this to be a regular thing, either. I can't be doing this whole daily blogging thing - you guys know I'm lazy!

Like you care.

2010-09-01T19:49:00.000-04:00

A belated Feast of Lanterns post, for those of you wondering how it went. Actually, it went really well, but I'm too busy freaking out about the deadline for Oranje booth set up which is less than 2 weeks away to feel too pleased with myself right now.

PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC

Here's some pics.

My husband Nich and his sister Mariah helped me set up and sell things all day long, and were even pretty enthusiastic about it.

The dollhouse that I painted to be used as a display. I think it will look better if I raise it off the ground a bit, somehow. It needs a base, or some legs. And maybe a design painted in the space at the apex. Hmm...

Thank God for my weird, goofy-ass husband. I love him - he keeps me laughing and sane. If he and Mariah hadn't kept me giggling all day long, I probably would have been too grumpy and anxious to even speak to people, but they kept my spirits up so high I forgot to be worried.

Mariah, trying on mini pillbox hats at our neighbor's booth. (Incidentally, I forget the hat shop's name, but they shared their space with Body Eclectic Skincare, which is my friend Jess. If anyone knows the name of the shop, please let me know.)

My friends Erin and Anthony stopped by, and were even kind enough to buy a cup for their new place! Erin has an adorable craft and photography blog at Eef-ink.com, where you can see more Feast of Lanterns photos, as well as her Eef character doing all kinds of crazy things like drinking coffee and eating brains on cute little mini cards. She also does crocheted plushies, blankets, handstitched books, and has made her own fabric, and she's also traveled pretty much the entire world. She's one of the most interesting people I know.

Our booth, all lit up at dusk. At one point, the power went out, and we were really happy to have our string of bell jar lanterns with tealights in them to see by.

The Spades Park gazebo, all lit up with lanterns, some of which were handmade by local artists and up for auction.

The coolest thing that happened was that I sold my big carved and painted bottle to a really nice couple, and the wife is a still life painter and asked my permission to use the bottle in one of her paintings. Naturally I said of course! You can check out her paintings here. I'm pretty pumped that I might see one of my pieces beautifully rendered on canvas, especially since I started out as a painter myself. She liked my bottle because she's been putting a lot of birds in her work as well, so I like that her painting and my piece will echo each other.

To my surprise, the event turned into a pleasant day sitting in the park, talking to people about pottery, art, and robots, and hanging out with friends and family, instead of a 12 hour shift, which is what I expected it to feel like. Nich and I got ice cream and Caribbean food, held hands, and danced in the lantern light together. It couldn't have gone any better, and I can't think of a better way to spend the anniversary of the day he asked me to marry him:)

That's all for today. I'm going to try to channel a little zen with a cup of hot chocolate and some music, so maybe tomorrow I won't feel so harried. Thinking back on Saturday, though, I feel a lot better today.

Just feels like spinning plates

2010-08-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know me personally (and some of you who do), I have bipolar disorder. I have bipolar II, which is kind of like bipolar lite; bipolar's annoying and less intrusive kid sister. People who do know I have it tend to think there's really nothing wrong with me. I seem to function just fine, I don't make impulsive and utterly life changing decisions at the drop of a hat (I do, actually, but many of them tend to work themselves out, occasionally even to my benefit), and I don't spend rent checks on a whim. I manage to hold a job, I have a small business on the side, and I even have a husband that hasn't run screaming from our relationship after the first year of marriage (yet). I don't drink in excess (this is debatable), I don't do any drugs, and I don't engage in any other serious self destructive behaviors.

It sucks having an illness that no one really thinks you have. It makes you feel like a liar, or a drama queen. Makes you think you really could handle life if you'd just pick yourself up and stop feeling sorry for yourself. It also makes you think you're fine well past actually being fine, and makes you feel stupid for seeking out help or therapy. However, I started seeing a therapist again this week. I had to admit to myself that I'm not doing so great, and that life shouldn't feel as unmanageable and overwhelming to me as it does.

I wake up in the morning, think about the laundry list of things I need to accomplish, and I'm filled with dread. House cleaning, making new work, writing a blog, taking pictures of finished pieces and updating my Etsy, submitting resumes and craft fair applications, paying bills, going to my evening job... Just thinking about all of it puts me in a panic. I know how hard it will be for me to stay focused and do it all. I know it will feel like a struggle to remember it all, to keep on task, to not doubt myself when I'm making artwork and give it all up for the day. It's easier to sit in the armchair and browse the internet. It's effortless. It is a major struggle to finish washing a sink full of dishes without feeling... I don't know, restless, distracted, annoyed. Simple tasks shouldn't feel like Herculean endeavors, but they do. And I feel like I should be enjoying making artwork, but most of the time I'm too busy worrying about whether it's any good, whether I'm making enough, or whether the idea I have has been done before. I sit down and make a couple pieces, and then pat myself on the back for having been "productive." Then a deadline comes up, and I realize I should have been working everyday on this, making 5 times as much stuff as I have been. I just can't seem to make myself sit down for that long everyday. I don't know why it's so hard for me. I don't know why there's this constant lack of energy, why the day just wears me out so easily. I do know why, it just annoys me that I can't overcome it by sheer force of will. I hate that I can't just MAKE myself better.

I was working on my ceramics today, thinking about all of this while I worked. I'm listening to Radiohead, which is my official "Life sucks and I feel sorry for myself" music. It's 4:50p, and I have 5 more hours to get pieces painted and ready for the kiln. And I just don't want to. My shoulders ache, my head hurts, and I just want to call it a day. I feel like such a whiner. I know that anything worth accomplishing in life should be hard. It should take effort. I just wish everything didn't feel that way.

There really wasn't much of a point to this post, was there? I just needed to get thoughts out today so I could work.

TL;DR - Here's some pictures of stuff I've been making.

Soon to be carved lantern - It has a candle holder place inside, and will have a wire handle when it's done.

Spirals

Thought cloud

A blog post? Seriously?

2010-08-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

I wish I could say I haven't updated recently because I'm so crazy busy being successful, but truth is I'm just lazy, and it's a hassle kicking my husband off the computer when he's playing Starcraft or Team Fortress 2.

I have been making things though! I'm working on some little cloud mobile things that I'm pretty excited about, as well as several new sets of emoticups. We'll see how that goes soon enough.

I'm just waiting for a part for my kiln to come in the mail so I can fix a wire that snapped, and finally get a bisque fired. I'd like to have at least a few new pieces for the upcoming Feast of Lanterns.

So, yes! Upcoming events! The Feast of Lanterns is coming up on Saturday, August 28th. It's in Spades Park on the near east side of Indy. I will have a booth there, along with Sunday Afternoon Housewife, maker of lovely scrabble tile pendants and other accessories, and Body Eclectic Skincare, maker of awesome handmade soaps with seasonal ingredients. I'm really excited to be a vendor there this year, because my husband and I have gone every year, and it's where he proposed to me! So if you see us giggling and making out in the booth behind the pottery, don't be alarmed;)

Lanterns!

The other big exciting thing going on is preparing for Oranje. Monday night is the first time I get a crack at building my booth. Our goal for the evening is to get walls painted and take some measurements for where to hang dividers, lights, and where to put shelves and displays. We have been encouraged to make our booth more than just a gallery or a display, but a work of art in and of itself. I'm excited to see what we can come up with! I can already tell it's going to be obnoxiously colorful by the time we are done, which is AWESOME. I'll try to take pics of the building process so you can see what we're up to as the month progresses.

Alright, I'm off to put handles on mugs and prepare my lovely singing voice for tonight's karaoke session;)

Handmade Promenade recap

2010-07-29T13:05:00.000-04:00

Well guys, my first real craft fair came and went, and sadly did not go as well as I'd hoped. I told myself not to get my hopes up too much - I'm just starting out, and it was on a Tuesday. I told myself I'd be happy just to get out there and get my stuff seen. But I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't very disappointed that I didn't sell anything except to three friends of mine. I got a lot of compliments on the work, but every time someone walked by without even stopping, or with only a cursory glance, I felt wounded. After working so hard to make ceramic designs that I was really excited about, I started doubting myself and all my hard work. I started doubting my pricing. I doubted my display set up. I definitely have some doubts about the appeal of my business cards. I really started doubting the ceramics themselves. *sigh* As my husband is fond of telling me, I'm really good at beating myself up, and this was a perfect opportunity.

My husband perfectly expresses my feelings here.

But I'd also be lying if I said I didn't have a good time. I really did! We were lucky enough to have a booth next to Talia of Conduit Press (whose handmade journals and secret stash books are AWESOME), who is an acquaintance of my husband, along with her husband Jim. I'm so bad at introducing myself to people I don't know, so it was cool having someone to talk to that I'd already met.

And man, there were some amazing crafters there! There was not a single booth that didn't have stuff I would buy if I weren't broke as hell. I felt pretty honored to get to show my work along side such talented folks. Most of them I've seen at other events I've gone to as a shopper, so I was already an admirer of a lot of them. It was very cool to meet them as a fellow crafter, and give them all a mustache sticker.

Nich's Dad, who doesn't need the sticker, but was a good sport about it.

In the end, I feel like it was a good trial run. I got to test out a display arrangement, and I know what I'd like to tweak next time. And having this deadline got me going on a banner and a new kiln load of stuff, which is excellent. Yes, my bank account is on it's last legs, and I'd like to make a little money, but I know that will come in time if I just keep at this. I'm reminded of how many people's work I've admired but couldn't afford at one fair, but saw at another and finally got to make a purchase. Hopefully people will begin to recognize me and my ceramics if I just keep it up. It's worth it to get to make things I love.

To see pics of the whole thing, with links to all the crafters that were there that day, visit my facebook page.

Handmade Promenade and RIP Dr. Girlfriend

2010-07-27T11:44:00.000-04:00

Today is my first craft fair. That's right, my first craft fair ever. I've been a vendor at Kentuckiana Pug Rescue's fund raisers a few times, and sold pottery at the student sale at IUPUI, but this is my first real craft fair. I was fine until around 7p last night when our goldfish, Dr. Girlfriend, died after a week of struggling at the bottom of the tank.

RIP pretty lady.

My mood took a dive, and then I started thinking about what I had left to do before the fair, and I started getting panicky. My husband and I sat pricing and wrapping pottery for about 2 hours last night before I had to go into work. We got everything packed up and in the car. The only thing I can't find are my dadgum business cards. I had to remind myself to breathe.

Somehow I'm a little calmer today. I guess because I know there's not much left for me to do but have a cup of coffee and go setup. I have shelves and bags and a credit card machine and a bunch of cute pottery. I've gone over my stuff to bring checklist twice. I feel like a professional.

ALRIGHT! If you're in Indy and you want to come see me, I'll be at Handmade Promenade at the Stadium Village Farmer's Market in the Schapiro's parking lot from 4p-7:30p.

I think if I can get a Reuben sandwich from Schapiro's today, all will be right with the world.

Clothing

2010-07-22T17:49:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine is doing a paper for her folklore class about clothing, accessory, and body art selections and the choices we make while dressing ourselves. She asked me to help her out by telling her about what I'm wearing and why. At first I thought my clothing has little significance (I'm wearing a t-shirt and jeans), but as I started writing, it occurred to me how much who I am and how I grew up influence what I wear everyday. Anyway, I thought it was kind of interesting, so I'm posting what I wrote here.

"Right now I'm wearing my "Pugs Rock" t-shirt because it was sitting on the top of the clean clothes pile (er, yesterday - I didn't go anywhere, so I'm wearing it again today - it was closest to the bed). I did actually plan to throw on the wheel and get dirty today, but since clay washes out, I'll usually wear any t-shirt around the house that isn't for Fedex. Also, this t-shirt has my artwork on it, and was given to me free because I designed it.

I'm wearing jeans that are clean and free of holes enough that I can leave the house in them. I believe they came from a thrift store, but I can't be certain. I also generally pick out jeans I'm going to wear based on whether I've gained or lost weight and whether they fit. This seems to be a constantly changing assessment.

When I leave the house to go pick up my ceramics, I will put on my black and white converse, which are really comfy and quick to lace up, and sometimes I don't bother to lace them up. I like how they feel on my feet (like socks with soles), and I've always wanted a pair of converse, but only just bought these a few months ago second hand from Plato's Closet. I also bought them because I plan to paint them at some point, which is half of why I like Converse so much.

I'm wearing my wedding set, the only jewelry I ever really wear. I'm a tomboy and rarely wear jewelry, though I will on special occasions. My wedding band is titanium, which was affordable and also super shiny and silver looking, and I always wanted a simple silver wedding band. It was also handmade by a couple who sells titanium jewelry on Etsy, and I liked having a handmade wedding ring. I wear my engagement ring because I never wanted a fancy engagement ring, but this one is antique (belonged to his grandma) and also didn't cost anything except to resize it. I always said I'd kill a guy if he spent thousands of dollars on a ring when he could get us a car or something. Anyway, it appeals to me because I'm cheap but also sentimental, so I wear it all the time. I think it's the most beautiful piece of jewelry I've ever owned:)

As for my haircut, I've literally been saying for years how big a pain having long hair is, and how I should just shave it all off. I used to say it at least once a summer. I've never owned a car with A/C, so that was a big part of it. Having your hair whipping around and sticking to your sweaty face when your windows are down sucks. Plus, I've always bristled at the idea that there are clothing, hairstyles, or activities that girls should not do, that are considered "not ladylike". I've been stubbornly and sometimes childishly rebelling against those conventions most of my life. Cutting all my hair off is kind of a big fuck you to people who still hold certain ideas about gender, sexuality, and masculinity and femininity. I feel like I can still wear make up and a dress and be bald and drive a forklift and make pottery with pink birds and flowers on it. I don't have to choose one or the other. I like combat boots AND 10 in stiletto pumps.

My Dad's family are all working class, and my grandmother was a single mom who grew up in the depression, and has this exaggerated sense of wastefulness and thrift. I think she's a crazy old bat, but I think her being a cheapskate influenced my Dad, which influenced me. I have a real hard time spending money on things that aren't "practical". I rarely buy new clothing, and when I do it's generally for a special occasion. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's ok to go out and buy clothes and things for the house, that they are necessities, and that I don't have to wear and use *everything* until it wears out or dies. But it's a hard habit to break, so most of the clothes I own are pretty ragged, and I'll continue to wear them despite various stains, holes, and tears. I'm also lazy as hell, so I often don't bother to do much to fix those things. At times I feel like I should care a little more about my appearance, but most of the time I feel like I have other more important things to worry about, and that being reasonably intelligent and creative is more important to me than being fashionable or neat. I want people to like me, not my appearance, and while I know that even the kindest people will judge you at least a little based on what you look like, I feel like my appearance helps me weed out people who are shallow and who I'd rather not waste my friendship on.

Whew! And I here I thought my clothing choices were simple."