Fan Mail!

A wonderful surprise in my ETSY inbox over the weekend:

'I just want to thank you for the great mug that I purchased from you on Labour Day weekend [ I was the guy who gave you $5 to hold it for me while I went to the atm ]. It has become my favourite and I have lots of mugs. It's easy to look at and the way you brought the glaze from inside the mug over the lip and down the outside a bit makes it really comfortable to drink from. The wide base and unglazed handle makes it stable and really easy to hang onto. I have yet to spill anything from it [ knock on wood! ] and that's really something for me. I'm drinking tea from it as we speak.'

I love to know that people are using and enjoying my pots! This just made my day :)

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour, and remember...

Yum!

The best part about making pots is using them to eat yummy things.

A day in the life...

Trimming, stamping and finishing bowls was on the schedule today. This is my process...

First, I center the unfinished bowl on the wheel (upside down) and secure it with wads of clay:

Then, using various trimming tools, I start to shape the foot of the bowl:

Almost there...

There, that looks just about right.

Then, using my hand-carved lino stamp, I decorate the exterior of the bowl:
(this is my least favorite part - it can be pretty hard on the hands and fingers, plus it also makes the rim of the bowl all wonky, which then needs to be fixed)

One more quick press with my signature stamp then I finish up by writing my name on the bottom, and DONE!

Now, for the others...

(generally I make things in sets of 8 - or more - at a time. I would consider getting through about 20 pieces to be a productive day in the studio).

This is only one step of many. Lots of labour, love, and careful attention to detail go into each and every one of my pots. I truly believe that handmade products carry within them the spirit of their maker and when you hold a piece of pottery in your hands - something that has been shaped by the hands of another - you will be able to sense an imbued presence and that ultimately, a connection is forged. I think the connection at this soul-level is what [good] art is all about.

My pots make me happy, and they will make you happy too. I promise.

The beauty of Fall

I was having a hard time getting to work today - everything just seemed to be getting in the way. I think I am struggling because I am getting a little overwhelmed... overwhelmed with things that need to get done that are all mixed up in my head with the new ideas that keep coming in and all the projects that I have started but haven't yet finished...*sigh*. I'm pretty sure the computer is the culprit - I've been spending much more time online than I usually do and not only does it take away from my studio time, I find it almost too stimulating as I can pick up inspiration from practically anywhere and before long, my 'want-to-do' list becomes unmanageable and distracting. It's becoming obvious that I need to focus some time on quieting my mind and I'm feeling a strong urge to get back into meditation as a routine practice. For today though, I decided to just get myself outside. The sun was shining and I took the opportunity to try and catch some of the amazing colours all around. Today I feel lucky to live here.

I Heart Trades!

A few months ago, I was contacted by a lovely lady through my Etsy shop who said she had seen some of my work at The Crofter in Sackville, NB. She mentioned regretting not buying a piece when she was there and that she would keep an eye out for when I had some new listings in my shop. She also is an artist and so I quickly suggested a trade. (I LOVE TRADES!) Just today, I received these in the mail. They are lovely and I can't wait to get them framed properly and up on my wall. The picture really doesn't do them justice - the colours and depth are really wonderful, and I love how they contrast - one feels so cool and the other so warm...

Check out her Etsy shop here.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour, and remember...

The Sussex Mail Art Project

I came across this post on Facebook today. I think it's a neat idea and I am going to submit something. Maybe you should too.

The Sussex Mail Art Project! 2011: Call for Submissions - Calling all Artists!: You are invited to participate in SMART (THE SUSSEX MAIL ART PROJECT) Create an original piece of art work, any medium, no bigger than 4x6...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour, and remember...

Studio images...

Yes, I am showing you pictures of my incredibly messy studio space. On purpose. I am hoping this will give me the motivation I need to get it back into production mode. I don't think I have one bare surface anywhere - not good.

(yikes!)

(whew! it's not nearly as bad from this angle, at least.)

And, yes, beautiful things do come out of this space. Honest.

Hey, did you catch these two little guys sitting up on that shelf? I can't even remember when I made these - months and months ago - and they've just been sitting there ever since... I think I am afraid of ruining them once they're glazed. And so there they stay. For now anyway.

On my easel...

A current work in progress.

GIVEAWAY!

One little teapot, short and stout.

I am going to be working at updating this space and I have a lot of interesting things going on so to thank the people who are interested in seeing this space grow, and perhaps as an incentive to stick around a little, I am going to do a giveaway for one of my new teapots!  Just leave a comment before the end of October and I will announce the winner on November 1, 2011.

 

Artist Trading Card Swap

 Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern baseball (hockey?) cards, or 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches. Cards are produced in various media and are usually traded or exchanged rather than sold.




I had recently signed on to take part in this ATC swap.  I had to make 35 cards, which have since been lovingly packaged and posted away, and now I get to eagerly anticipate receiving a wonderful package filled with miniature works of art by just as many different artists.  I am particularly excited about a certain few.

These are how mine turned out.  They were made by initially painting a full sheet of watercolour paper then ripped carefully by hand to size.  That got really boring.  Then I chose an image that I wanted to work with and carved out a lino stamp and stamped each card with a metallic, pewter coloured ink, then I added the last details with a gold marker, and then of course, each one got my initial stamp on the back.  I was pretty happy with them overall.

Also included was an invite to come and check out this space and maybe also win one of my teapots so if you're here because of that, it's nice to meet you!