Some new work

This was the drying table today.  Lots of stuff happening.  New jars that will be dog treat jars, honey jars, 2 magnolias(to replace the 2 that didn't make it from the last glaze load), a sunflower, and today's work of a sun and moon sculpture garden plaque(foreground) and a layered hanging flower vase with star stamps(also in the foreground).  I can work in the slab room till it gets too hot.  The little AC unit in the kitchen area doesn't really make it back there.

These are some ring holders I did a few weeks ago. Thrown and then LOVE stamped onto a little strip of clay and added along with butterflies or stars.  These are unfired.

This one is glazed in purple and red.  I think they are very cute.  I sold one a few weeks ago to someone giving it as an engagement present.  Well, that meant maybe I ought to have more in the shop. So more will be finished soon.




I am working in the shop daily these days.  I'm really behind now after the loss of the 2 magnolias.  Well, it's too hot to do anything outside!

New photo set up

OMG, I must be serious about this on line selling.  I've rigged up a semi-permanent photo box/station.  I got some really good Daylight flood lights at Home Depot and they do the trick.  The glazes look great under them.  Not too dark or washed out.

Looks sort of professional, doesn't it?

My husband built the frame work from dowel rod and PVC joints.
It will fold up flat to store if necessary.

I have been taking pictures outside on cloudy days.  Which was fine but some of the colors just didn't look right.  And then was there always the wind to deal with or heat or cold.  You get my drift!  Now there is no excuse for not taking pictures.

I generally use a white background.  That seems to make all the colors show up.  A piece of white paper clipped to the back of the frame and pulled forward with a box underneath for things to stand on.  That gives a seamless background which works for most things.

See, works pretty well!

So I'm in the process of going through all my pictures and retaking as needed.  Don't you wish you could help!!

Shop tour (ignore the mess)

my wheel

glaze buckets

So I thought I would let everybody see my work space.  This is a little brick house, about 900 sq. ft. that is on our property.  We actually lived in this house while we were building our new house 15 years ago.  Imagine 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dobermans, in this little space.  After we moved into our new house, my in-laws lived in it for a while and then it was empty for several years.  I had been working in the basement and glazing and firing in a shed out back when it dawned on me to use the empty house as a studio.  We weren't doing anything with it and didn't want to rent it out.

our slab room

gallery

Sooo, we cleaned it out and painted, put up shelves everywhere and now it is the perfect studio.  Heat in the winter and AC in the summer, YAY! Running water and space to spread out all my junk, I mean, stuff!  I throw in what was the kitchen and have taken all the doors off the cabinets so I can see what I have.  One bedroom became the slab room and clay storage and the other bedroom became a dedicated Etsy room with shelving, tables to pack on, a closet to hold packing stuff, OMG , it is wonderful.  We even have a laundry room! Great for muddy towels. The other big room in the house is gallery space with finished work for when we have open house at Christmas.

etsy shelves

So that's where I spend lots of time playing in the mud. If I'm not in the yard or on the computer!