Studio Assisting!

I was handed the most amazing news in my pottery-making life last week. Lisa of the painted pot asked me to become a studio assistant! This is going to change my life and teach me all the things I need to know to work in a studio- Amazing! I have my own shelf now for storage, full use of the studio and perks! Lots of perks! I am going to learn how to mix glazes, use the kiln and all the good stuff. It's really fantastic and I fully intend to take full advantage of this position. Here's a photo from some recently finished mugs from the same style I designed in the last round. Hope these come up just as well!!

Cargo Collective

Thanks to my talented boyfriend I have professional looking photos and a temporary website to showcase my portfolio/ resume and grad- school statement of purpose! This is a fantastic site. It has helped me to look at my work in a different way and to feel proud of the work I've done.
Click here to view my Portfolio
After I get a bit more work done, I'm thinking I will get a permanent site for my work and perhaps try to get some commissions. In fact, I am proud to say that I have my first commissions right now. My very good friend Paul has asked that I make a set of plates for his mother so I am working on a set of six dinner sized plates in Floating Blue. They're due to be ready in approximately a month and a half- I wish I could produce faster results but with all the limitations in the studio this is what it has to be. Either way, it's a great opportunity. I was also commissioned to a do a mug for Reed's mom and I'm thrilled...hoping the commissions keep coming. It's very exciting!!

Art vs. Craft

I'm so excited about this round of work, I woke up this morning at 6:30am and couldn't go back to sleep!! I am proud to say that I really feel that my work has gone to the next level. If you know me, you know that I usually practice modesty, but this is a shining achievement that even I will admit out loud. It's also amazing because in all the years of making art, this is the first work that I can confidently say stands on its own as well made, and beautiful, without it's maker needing to give an explanation. This brings up discussion on Art vs. Craft. A topic that Reed and I continue to converse about. Right now, I look at my work as both art and craft, and I consider myself an artist. But it will be interesting to see how that position evolves in my life as I continue to make work.
I should note that the weight of these are so light and even, you can tell that the overall form has been a huge improvement on my part. Also, the foot (base) on each mug and serving bowl, are the cleanest, and most professional looking, I've ever done. (I will try to post a pic later of the bottom of these pieces) Unfortunately, these are not the greatest photos and you can't see the brilliance of the color, but take a look. There will also be a forth mug coming out in the next glaze fire to complete the mug set.

Kings Cup

The glaze fire turned out so well! I choose to do sets of two to test the colors. I'm thrilled, as always by floating blue, and the glossy white is really beautiful, and not so manufactured looking as I feared. Randy's red actually turned out redder than I expected, which was fantastic!

These teacups are my pride and joy for the moment. A feat that is difficult to achieve in this unpredictable world called pottery. I salut this work but instead of tea, I think I'll cheers with a cup of hot chocolate!

Cup of Tea

I am proud to admit that I'm producing my teacups rather quickly- be still my heart I think my studio is finally firing my work. I am on my way out the door to see if these new tea cups have been bisqued and if so, I should I have a total of about 8 tea cups to glaze.

I may have mentioned that I loved glazing, and if I did, I will admit I really only love it when the glaze turns out well. My last round wasn't so hot. I fired a set of bowls in Calico and boy did they surprise me! I was so let down by the turn out of these, it was like a slap in the face. I mean seriously, these bowls were really nice. Nice shape, nice weight, very close in size, but the glaze just ruined it! So prey for me. These tea cups are my babies.

Please Gods: hook me up with a successful glaze fire, or I don't know what I'll do..

Item #1

Enter collection item number 1: Tea Cups

I am working on sets of oversized tea cups and saucers. Who doesn't find these sweet and endearing? But also, it makes me wonder what ever happened to tea time? maybe we never really did that in America, but we should! I for one love a good cup of tea and the only way I could only enjoy it more would be with nice warm english scone, some strawberry jam and clotted cream. But if your on a diet like I am now, and I can't exactly indulge in my favorite delectables, how about indulging by using a fabulous and worthy tea cup and saucer. It's not exactly the same, but at least it makes tea-time more fun.

Set the table

It's all about sets. I'm on my way to making this into a handmade business so i need to make sets. Everything looks better in sets because you can outfit an entire table. Not that I don't like the idea of mismatching pieces, but they somehow still need to be cohesive together. I am working on making pieces as close in size and shape as possible, and I think it's finally working. But one thing I am finally embracing is allowing each piece to be slightly different because naturally by hand it's impossible to make each piece exactly the same and anyway I want to avoid it being manufactured looking. That's part of the beauty of the hand made.