Monday, December 30, 2013

Happy New Year!

In anticipation of the new year, I thought I'd post a little something. Not much. I've decided that my posts have become too wordy and that I almost avoid writing them sometimes because I don't feel like I have enough to say, when in fact, I most often enjoy reading the shorter posts of fellow bloggers. That might be because my ever wandering mind is able to focus better on them!

I've spend these past few days after a rather glutton-ish Christmas doing nothing..., but I'm excited to start the new year with new ideas and new ventures, one of which includes quilting (yes I know...what next). I purchased some of those adorable little charm packs a long while back and I'm itching now to turn them into a warm and cozy quilt. Perfect for this VERY chilly weather. I've been pouring over my favourite fabric sites, including Fabricworm, and swooning over the fabrics there. This morning they've posted a contest to win some gorgeous new floral-y fabrics by Ellen Luckett Baker...I'm sure I'm do to win something?? You can enter too...here.

A wonderful and prosperous 2014 to you all!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Come and see me at Wintergreen!

Just a reminder that I'll be at Wintergreen this weekend (15th-17th). You can find me at the Regina Area Pottery Guild booth on the Theatre Stage. There will be wheel throwing demos as well as glorious pots perfect for gift giving and of course for you! Hope to see you there!

Friday, October 25, 2013

WARNING!

The following post may cause you to gasp loudly. More severe reactions can include falling to the floor in a faint or shaking your head in disbelief.

That's right. I'm posting. How long has it been? MUCH too long... and while I'm full of excuses, most of you know that I have been very busy prepping for my daughter's wedding. After all, I was an integral part of the decorating committee along with my sister and niece. My beautiful, newly wed, daughter entrusted us with that duty, knowing that we LOVE that sort of thing. The first week or so was a little rocky trying to decide on colours and the overall theme, but the arrival of the cutest pair of John Fluevog shoes in a mustard-y yellow and coral-y pink set the tone!


Select photos by Eyelet Photography

Most of you know that I had volunteered to "make" much of what we were going to be using for the wedding. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a control freak, and perhaps, I'm a even a little OC when it comes to quality. It's not unusual for me to say "oh, I can make that!" and most often I can, though sometimes I'm tearing up hair out and asking myself what I was thinking! That being said, I might have gotten more than a little carried away with this wedding (but then again, this WAS my daughter and there isn't anything we wouldn't do for our kids, is there?) Thankfully, my daughter had to put her foot down more than once and tell me no, SHE would look after that. (Thank you sweetie pie...you saved my santity!)

Everything went so well...wonderfully in fact! The resort was amazing, set in the mountains. The air was crisp, but the sun shone, despite predictions of rain and the trees...I can't even describe how gorgeous the fall colours were. Five hundred plus flowers later, fifty plus hand thrown vases, one hundred and fifty hand made napkins, crepe paper streamers, bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres and countless hours of planning, one absolutely stunning bride, one extraordinarily handsome groom, beaming parents and grandparents...aunts and uncles, etc.... it was all worth it. (I even sewed my outfit!) Love WAS definitely in the air!


It's taken me a week to recoup, and I'm not lying when I say my house is in desperate need of some cleaning. Little bits of crepe paper still dot the floors and unpacked boxes sit at the door, but today...yes TODAY...I'm going to my messy studio...in need of a clean as well...but I need to throw. The itch is back and I have some upcoming sales I need to be ready for! I'll post info on those later, but for now....it's time to play in some mud!


I'm popping over to Mud Colony to read more on what my fellow potters have been up to! You should do it too! Just click here!

Have a glorious, sunshine-y day!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Latest....

Before you ask...

No, I haven't been sick all this time, though it did take me a while to recoop.

Yes, I've been neglecting you, but not because I've been sitting on my thumbs. My brother and his family were here visiting and my daughter spent a weekend visiting with us as well. She left the grand-dog with us and let's just say that puppy is all-consuming! We returned her to my daughter and her fiance and spent a week visiting with them. There was a wedding shower for her while I was there and that was nice....or maybe nice isn't the right word.....it was so much fun! (what a WILD bunch they are!)

I have been throwing....LOTS! My biggest problem now is the size of my kiln and the fact that I'm really limited to how much I can fire at one time. I don't even stack my bisque fire because I've found the underglazes will leave a mark on the piece sitting on top. Coming home from our little trip, I stopped in Medicine Hat to pick up some supplies and talked to them about a new kiln...bigger one. I need to save up my pennies but I'm pretty sure it's inevitable, which truthfully, I'm going to really look forward to!

I did drop off some pots at a little consignment shop before I left on my holiday and got an email while away asking for more! Wooohoooo!! If that's not incentive for me to make and make and make some more! Finished decorating some pots this morning and glaze firing this afternoon. Sometimes I wish I was just glazing period...none of this underglaze/paper resist/carving stuff. I'd love to have shelves of bisqued pots sitting there waiting. I find that once my pot is too dry, there is nothing I can do to get my paper to stick to my pot, so I can only throw so much at a time, even if I wrap them really well in hopes they'll dry slowly...which by the way...these days it's quite humid so that's been less of a problem. Anyway, not complaining (much), because of course I LOVE the decorating most of all!

When I'm not potting....I'm making these crepe paper flowers for my daughter's upcoming wedding. Hundreds of them...yes...I'm serious. Oh, and little blue vases for the tabletops...3 per table. Did I mention I'm also sewing napkins. Uh huh....and little skirts for the flower girls and one for the junior bridesmaid....

Posting a few pics and then off to work I go!

My daisy pots drying in the sun. Hopefully that'll speed up the drying!



Mock tabletop set up. The flowers will vary from table to table, but I'm really loving my big peonies!



Rose! This crepe paper is two sided.


Don't faint, but I'm going to post this on Mud Colony. Miss A is sure to pass out! Be sure to peek at the work of other wonderfully talented artists at this link!

Monday, June 10, 2013

Sick

Sorry super sick this weekend. Hence no pics! Will try to get some on here today!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Yeesshh!! Has it been this long since I last posted?

I've been busy making pots for my upcoming sale. Bazaart. As usual, I'm a little worried that I won't have enough to fill my table, but I've always been surprised at just how much I have when I start unpacking. Hopefully, it'll be the same this time around! I plan to work right up to the day. My poor little kiln is working full time/non-stop! Load comes out, another goes it. I swear it hasn't even had a chance to cool down!

Yesterday I tried a new clay. Plainsman P370. I've had it for a few months but I've been a little nervous about trying it because I've been told it's a little softer and difficult to work with. It's a porcelaneous stoneware and truth is, I'm liking it! I've only thrown a few mugs so far. Bowls tomorrow. Who knows, it might be my new favourite! Guess the first firing will help me decide!

I'll try to get some pictures posted of my new stuff tomorrow!!! Teaser for the sale!

G'night!



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

New Stuff!

Some new stuff!!! Feeling a retro vibe! I want to add something more to the blue atomic star inspired cups....thinking I might carve some additional stars in them or maybe try decals for the first time. Ideas appreciated. I'll decorate the pitcher with the stars too, a little differently. I did manage to trim the bottom on my Giffin....I used a foam bad underneath and it took me a while to get it centered but it worked! Thank goodness, because I had the handle on already! (yes I know...what was I thinking!)

The little round tumblers are inspired by the wonderful spaghetti string glassware. I love the pastel colours and how sets always included one of each. I remember my mom had some and I always loved the feeling of them. I bought a set a few years back and gave them to my sister! What was I thinking! hahahaha I carved lines around the loops and I think I might wash a darker version of the same coloured cup once bisque fired. I hope those lines will show up better then. Will also make a pitcher to match. Kinda loving pitchers right now!

Small accident. I went to move my carved vase and based it against the edge of one of my shelves chipping off a big chunk. I had to cut it down a little to smooth it out. How maddening!

It's been ages since I've shared anything on the Mud Colony Blog. Not this week! A great group of wonderful potters...be sure to check out their recent work here!