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my two-for-one-scrawny-chicken pots sold quite well at the sale. hoorah for people liking them enough to buy them, but boo for me selling them at prices far lower than I would have liked. now Im not too sure where I stand in terms of sustainability of my craft (profitability is a dreamy vision).
Am I hooked on a hobby? why did my own mum think I had over priced everything!
Am going to have a far wiser crack at this commission of cups, keep myself safe from poverty and heartache- with money up front and an order of specific products at agreed prices and amounts. (could be a winner yet). Will also develop the black and white range, work on 2 more cast shapes and play with some fancier clay, that should keep me happy - even happier if I can get some stuff in shops ;)
many things are creeping closer, ends, beginings, christmas, departures and arrivals, good news and bad...
will see what unfolds soon
its the time for shopping, so I have put a couple of things on etsy (gasp!) it seems a great way to test the water in terms of selling, costing and seeing if there is love for these slip cast babies!
also the Carlton Arts Centre exhibition and sale is very very soon, friday the 28th november 6-9pm and saturday and sunday 11-6pm. Check it out, loads of lovingly crafted ceramics and i dont doubt a few bargains to be had also (we are so terribly modest).
a bit bland for my liking but... the idea is set now, these are the shapes, this is the colour... its work until its done then I can play with my new tissue transfers and pretty colours.
(I couldn't help myself on these trial cups though, with some very subtle resist patterns in the clear glaz
e)
apologies for continued crappy photography x
http://www.kirstencoelho.com/
mmm, pretty....
still fascinated with stacking, wanting to explore a set of 'geometric' and a set of 'organic' forms. All (hopefully) functional, some wobbly and some sound. Jugs and cups mostly - still have tea and coffee service on the brain.
There are some things out of the kiln, I need to take photos, but they are coming out in dribs and drabs - im such a whore for the grouping, i cant stand to post pictures of them all alone!
trying to g
et things done (making time)
and at the same time attempting to get through this stupidly large bag of coffee with my new friends plunger and grinder!
now to make the cups and saucers to drink the beloved coffee from... more on that soon.
I thought I was close to gone for good too.
I havent been making time for the internet lately, really a bit of a shocker, because I enjoy it and find it rewarding - so.. I must take some photos of my new work - the slip casting is all happening. Trials have been completed and new moulds have been made - will take a bit of time to get them through the kiln so I can offer an absolute final REAL example and then start manufacturing. Have also been having concerns that the quality is shit (I break every second one, is this normal?) may have to make twice as many if that is going to be the case....
heres a sneak peak - I was trying to get a slate green thing happening, but its really blue grey. but anyway soon your coffee and tea service may be transformed! I hope!
so the tall shapes are on my mind, but not really progressing.. luckily when you are vaguely always thinking about a shape, material, colour, texture, whatever, your mind seems to be able to do some kid of auto-pilot research for you. its really very good.
Due to some quite #$%** weather, the paper-clay making process has been severely stunted in the drying department. Thats ok, its another thing I dont have any 'real' plans for - the self satisfaction of using up all the clay and recycling the egg cartons is nearly enough!
I'm hoping to try making my first plaster mold tomorrow, fingers crossed...
Liking these cups by Carol Epp, might be nice to introduce the stacking idea to the tall things series as a functional version... hmmm. also feeling drawn to the natural beauty of stoneware glazes rather than controlled (contrived) design. I want it all! for now, i will continue to investigate the tea cup (underglaze/stain a specified colour, throw a perfect model on the wheel, make a plaster mold, practise slip casting and problem solve saucer and spoon options) I had better get started on that actually now that I spell it out its an awful lot to get organised! In between the serious stuff previously mentioned I am all about exploring the tall things, so much to discover here. And for grounded breathing time... bowls cups and ramekins as usual! I had better stop sleeping in. (the winterness has become a problem) :)
sometimes its quite hard to pick up where you left off... what was I doing?
I have definitely not picked up all the threads yet (ahem still have the suitcase in the room)
So despite having nothing crafty to say I am here, making a return to my blog (its closely modeled on my return to the gym technique).
here is some goodness from wellington in link form (food and drink and things)
vessel
matterhorn
city gallery
avid
pomodoro
hawthorn
scopa
good as gold
it would get too boring if I went on, too much goodness. I didnt fall in love with auckland or know where to go to find the goodness rather. back to melbourne goodness it is! I am looking forward to seeing Connie Lichti's work at Stephen McGlaughlan Gallery from saturday may 3, she used to help at the ceramics studio I go to.
I will spring into action now and be back soon!
Laura Fayer painting. very nice. Sorry, being very very lazy, slap dash post before work - so cannot be sucked into the time vortex- - Of paper and thread did a proper post here, am loving it, and am on the hunt for inspiration and direction, so thanks!!and today the pots from the reduction firing were ready to take home!
Some failure and some success, but Its sooooo good to have a point of reference, and see what I want to continue with, drop entirely, try again or push further...
shellac resist was swallowed into the glaze. try again..
the scratching was a success, and my fears of the black coming out green were erased when it came out brown (and I like it). will do it again..
the resist things I had laboured over in a fiddly and fussy manner on the plate set are different to what I had planned, but I still like the result, (may) try again (depending on patience level)..
I guess the list of things to try, and develop just gets longer rather than shorter the more you try and develop huh?
e)
et things done (making time)
I have been potting, don't you worry, potting like mad - just not glazing. I'm hoarding, stock piling, delaying, plotting and mostly just being a bit lazy. Luckily I took a photo of my latest cheap thrill before they managed to jump off the shelf in the night (luckily only one broke, one with quite severe denting and one totally fine).
