getting down to it

okay, so it's not really winter anymore...spring around the corner, daffodils in full bloom, blossoms snowing down in the wind, the peas and broad beans peeking up...
so its time wake up from my mentlal hibernation and get down to it, making of a more productive sort, or a more regular routine. this week was mugs, egg cups, juice cups, tumblers, and platters!
here's shots from the afternoon...

BEFORE (platters off the hump molds, with rims finished):

DURING (stencils chosen and placed around, not yet attached):

AFTER (slip poured over stencils, then slip trailing, sgraffito, text, etc...and stencils pulled off)

hoping to load the platters and everything else in the kiln tomorrow!

slow and steady

it's been a slow start to the new year, and feels like it has entailed more cleaning, purging, sorting, and dump runs than making...just as well - it does take the studio a long time to heat up this time of year.
but i have managed to find a bit of play time, while also making, yes, mugs...am trying to stick to a goal of spending on week a month (for the next few months) making new things, or playing, making new images, etc...

here's from some time spent in january:

wintery wares

here's a few things just out of the kiln with a wintery theme...tiny sneak peek at what will be at the Owl this weekend...

here's the mug from previous process post, finished:

another moose mug: white slip trailing on white slip...even though there's no snow here, well there is thick frost some mornings....

a wee white slip platter: who doesn't love bicycling in the winter?! and red berries, green leaves...seasonal hints:

caribou platter: hawthorny leaves, more red berries...

not to worry not everything is ungulates and bicycles (well okay i made LOTS of bicycles of various styles)...bears, herons, salmon, crows, foxes, hummingbirds, rubber boots, umbrellas, trees, etc...
and some new new things with my new new bike cranks and cogs stencils!

The OWL

well I am doing one fair this winter season - the Owl Fair in Fernwood!
come on down and check all the fine handmade goods...

process process process

have been spending A LOT of time in the studio lately, at all hours of the day...trying to keep on top of the seasonal inventory and ready for upcoming show...
here's a few process shots:

small dippers, from stencil, to slip, to leatherhard with the stencil off...

beginning a moose mug, stencil on clay

white slip over top and green slip trailing

more slip trailing

leatherhard and stencil off... will try to remember to photo the finished glazed mug....

a great showing

Well this years Etsy Made in Canada had a fabulous showing of support. So glad to see a September event so well attended and so many great makers out with their wares. Saw some long lost and far flung friends as well!
here's a couple of photos i took standing up on the chair behind my booth. it was so crowded i couldn't actually get out of my booth to take photos from other perspectives...

Handmade here we come

This Saturday is the annual ETSY Made in Canada Day.
Here in Victoria it's shaping up to be quite an event, rumours are there will be close to 100 makers there!
I will be there, so come on down if you are in town, to Market Square....