Pretty Pot

This flower pot was painted by a class of school kids for their teacher. I draw out a design for the kids to follow, which is basically a series of ovals. The children put their thumbprints in each oval. When they are done, I outline, add details, and letter the piece before glazing and firing. I do tons of these each year, but this one seems especially cute!

Staying Busy

Having a ceramics shop at this time of year means staying busy. Mother's Day shoppers are enough to keep the kiln going everyday, but when you add in the end of the school year and all of the teaher's gifts it becomes a real whirlwind!

Here is a bowl I painted on commission for a teacher's gift. All of the kids' names are painted on the inside of the bowl with the teacher's name in the middle. On the outside, I painted polka dots and circles. Since I was originally asked to paint polka dots, I really made it harder than it needed to be. I like how it turned out and apparently someone else did, too. I had another order placed for one just like it today.

Someone Read My Blog

I've been a little discouraged about blogging. I didn't install any counters here, because I thought it might be depressing! However, without counters, I thought no one was even looking, much less reading my blog. I mean, really, I'm not a great writer nor am I a very dedicated blogger.

But yesterday, I was actually posting to my blog, when I noticed that someone had left a comment! Oh! The excitement! Some one not only clicked on my blog, but they actually read a post! I feel the love!

So I am back today ready to share a picture of my new favorite coffee mug. Alex made this mug and several others and they have become the mugs we reach for first. It is BIG! And the handle is comfortable. The glaze isn't perfect, but that's okay. It's for me and I want something that functions perfectly. Beauty is second. Still, I believe this mug is beautiful.

Etsy Mom

I am so excited to introduce my mom's Etsy store, Heart Stitches Embroidery! She makes custom burp cloths, totebags, and director's chairs for children. She also does a lot of promotional items for businesses and clubs, but I don't think she'll do much of that through Etsy.

If you are looking for really fun baby shower gifts or just want to spoil yourself, please go check out Heart Stitches Embroidery.

Civil War Cups

This line of cups came about when some Civil War Reenactors came into our studio and asked us to replicate rustic cups from the mid-19th century. They brought pictures from old woodcuts and prints and Alex got to work. What we discovered was this old design is a great one! These cups fit our hands well. They are sturdy and practical, beautiful, and they are well insulated. We love these cups!

Make Me Something I Don't Know

The other day, my four year old son, Freeman, asked his dad to "make me something I don't know" which means "surprise me with something new". So Alex and son decided to make a hand puppet out of an old sock. Alex stitched yellow eyes on a long tongue onto a lone black sock. Freeman was excited about the new puppet, but he was frustrated trying to manipulate the sock puppet with his small hands.

The next day, Freeman and I sat down at the sewing machine with a simple goal - to create a sock puppet that his small hands could work. After a few hours and a number of prototypes, the Sockatoomi was born!

The Sockatoomi is created from polar fleece with felt accents stitched on. It is durable, washable, and lovable! Each Sockatoomi is hand crafted with every detail lovingly applied. No two are exactly alike. However, all Sockatoomis are non-smokers and are created in a smoke free home.

Not a good blogger

I started this blog hoping to chronicle the ups and down of the creative process. For some reason, I thought I might be disciplined about writing. For weeks, I have been busily making pendants, dolls, and puppets and slowly listing them in my etsy store, but I have not written a thing. My hope is I can make up for that today.

So I struggled to get the pendants looking like I envisioned. After a few bumps in hte road, I began to get the results I wanted. Then came the issue of photographing them! I do not have the greatest camera, but it has always served me well, so I was shocked when my pictures were so bad! Here is how they looked:
I did a little research and found an fellow etsy member Duet, who sent me a picture of hte light box she built. Basically it is a cardboard box with windows cut in the top and side and covered with tracing paper. Inside, you place a background to photgraph on. I use a piece of watercolor paper that curves through the inside of the box. Now I take my box out into the bright sun and shoot great pictures! Here is the result: