Apply to Holiday Heap!

Charm City Craft Mafia is thrilled to announce that applications for this years Holiday Heap- November 15th, 2008 are available online and ready for you to fill out! Applications are due October 5th at midnight, and must be completed fully, INCLUDING paying the non-refundable $10 application fee at the end of the application, to be included in the jurying. Be sure to give us your very best photos- of your very best work! We can’t wait to see what everyone’s been up to this spring/summer, and we wish you all the best of luck!

Back in school...

Well today is my first day back to school, with no students of course. I thought I'd give you a taste of what I unloaded from the kiln this weekend so you can enjoy while I go sit through 4 hours of meetings:( Be sure to check my etsy later on to see some of these things listed!

On these walls.

Michael and I spent yesterday in Home Depot picking up mulch for the backyard. Along the way we stopped to check out the paint samples. Our next home project is to redo the upstairs room, we live in a cape cod so the upstairs is one long room. We need to make it into a guest room/office for Michael. I think the one problem we're going to run into is hanging stuff on the walls. The walls slat inward starting at about waist high, not ideal for frames or anything that goes on a nail. I spotted these wall decals on etsy this moring and they might just be the perfect solution! You can find theses beautiful decals in the Dali Decals shop or just do a search for "wall decals" to find other sellers.

Getting ready for school...

I just love these reuseable baggies from Plum Creek. They would be the perfect ec0-friendly solution to perfectly portioned lunches. I came across them via IndieFixx.

Waiting for the kiln...

I fired a bisque last night and I'm thinking I will have to wait until tomorrow to unload. My studio is now to the point where I need to get stuff in the kiln just for the shelf space! Hopefully this week I can make my way over to Ikea and buy some more shelves. I have yet to figure out the best way to store stuff because I like to be able to get to it easily. If I pack it away it's hard to get work posted on etsy because it's an ordeal to unpack it, take a picture, repack it and then if it sells, find it again. If anyone out there has any suggestions please leave me a comment! I can use all the organization help I can get.

The end of the summer.

Today Michael and I worked for hours clearing out our very overgrown yard and garden. It looks loads better but it's sad that this is really the end of the summer for us. I cut down my lavendar plants and hung the flowers to dry down in the studio. I am hoping that when fall comes I will make the dried flowers into some pretty little scented pillows to give out around the holidays. I would also like to try baking something, I'm very inspired by these yummy looking Honey Lavendar Shortbread Cookies by Whimsy and Spice. They are the cutest family from Brooklyn, he is a chef and she takes the photography. Everything in their shop looks delicious!

Back to work!

Ok, now that we are finally home from our trip to Long Beach Island and then to Wildwood for our good friend's engagement party...it's time to buckle down and get into posting new work. I just spent all morning editing photos to post this week so hopefully I can stick to it. Here is the first post with some new dipping dishes. These will be available really soon from my etsy shop.

New work is here!

ring-ring-hand-1
Originally uploaded by pinkkiss

Well now that I have finished this crazy weekend of artscape I am finally able to start posting my new work on etsy. Check in often to keep up to date!

Something New.

As promised, here is a sneak peek into what I've been cooking up in the studio the last couple of weeks! The first two pictures are details. This is a long plate! Great dish for serving a main course or a batch of cookies. Speaking of cookies, last night I started putting together some cookie stands. I can't wait to see how they turn out! Oh yeah, sorry but this dish is not for sale:) Not to fear though, I have others on the way!

Pics from Pile of Craft!

Here are some pictures I took at this weekend's Pile of Craft show in B-more. The top photo is my good friend Monica's shop from Sugar Paperie. (She is not the one in the photo, just her work) Monica not only makes truly lovely cards but she is also my partner in crime at the day job, teaching little children to be fabulous artists!
Spaghetti Kiss, otherwise know as my husband Michael, stopped running around helping everyone load in stuff just long enough to pose for this quick photo for me. This is the second try, the first one he stuck his finger up his nose! Funny guy:)
And finally.....my booth at the show! I've been trying out some new techniques in the studio lately and hopefully I will be able to share them soon. I was super excited that my plates and mugs were such a big hit, but now I have lots of slaving to do before next weekends show in Bethesda! When that is over I will post new work in my Etsy shop....maybe even a sneak peek later this week:)

Pile of Craft this weekend!!

St. Johns Church in Mt. Vernon. Come out and support all the great indie crafters in Baltimore. Put on by the Charm City Craft Mafia, make sure to buy a raffle ticket for your chance to win some awesome crafty prizes. Stop by my booth and say HI! It's going to be a really great day.

Hooray!!!!

I finally made the front page of Etsy!! Wahooooo!

Slow Dinner

I just had to share with you this wonderful slow food dinner I just finished eating! I went to the local farmers market this morning and picked up some delicious produce which I cooked up in an herb blend from this little shop in Richmond Virginia we found the last time we were in town for a craft show. It was such a treat and pleasure to eat this delicious dinner that supports the local farmers and I ate off my own dishes...what a feeling of accomplishment!

I thought I would share my artist statement with you today. I just wrote it last night for a show I applied for. I also updated my resume;)

When I was young I remember someone telling me that it is impossible for the human mind to think only one thought.
Our days are stuck in fast-forward as we are running from one event to another, completing our daily rituals while in constant motion. My work hopes to create a focal point, a moment of pause, a thought or a flood of memory while simply eating a meal or washing a dish, a quiet interruption of your day. The words are barely there, you must lean in to read them but they are not complete, a fragment left behind for you; the viewer. The intricate patterns overlaid with imagery represent a sense of time that has passed and the impressions it has left, the mark we have made on the world.
On occasion I still close my eyes and try to make my mind think of only one thing.

:) Michael helped me fix my photos last night, what a great hubby!

As promised!

Here is another plate that I just pulled from the kiln. I need to learn how to take better photos though...maybe someday.

Plates....

I have been busy making plates in the studio recently. A few weeks ago I took a workshop at the Baltimore Clayworks with Nancy Selvin and learned the art of gocco printing on ceramics. It was amazing! I ran right home and bought a gocco printer with my savings. It has inspired me to be working in a more collage style. I am starting to learn about this slow food movement and am really thinking about what my plates say and urge people to think about. Stay tuned for some more plates posted soon:)

Art Star in Philly!

Michael and I will be at the Art Star festival this weekend so stop by and see us if your in the area. It should be a really good show, over 150 vendors!

Necklaces are IN!

Check out my etsy shop for new necklaces! I have been waiting to add some and now that I am restocked I'll be listing more of them soon.

A new plate design

dinner-1
Originally uploaded by pinkkiss

Last night I tested my new plate design. This bun is waiting for a juicy mushroom and swiss burger....yum. I'm really excited about these new plates, they are so much fun to make but sure do take a lot of room in the kiln. This is the small size, lunch plate. I also have a larger size and am testing out some new clay in the studio this week. I am really into plates right now!

SALE!

Due to some off temperature firings I am offering some items 1/2 price in my etsy shop! There is nothing wrong with the work, just the colors didn't turn out the way I thought they would. Everything is still fully functional so be sure to check out the great deals and steals! pinkkiss.etsy.com

Another picture

Bermuda Vacation
Originally uploaded by pinkkiss

Well until I get my pictures together for the etsy shop I am going to post some cool photos from my vacation. I love this picture. The old rusty bike leaning against that bright orange wall! So cool. I love little towns with bright paint and lots of charm.

Bermda Vacation

Bermda Vacation
Originally uploaded by pinkkiss

I haven't ben posting much lately due to some computer problems and well, just life in general! Here is a photo from our Christmas vacation in Bermuda...one of the things that keep me away from the computer! This is me (in front) and my mom hanging out in a cute little town waiting for lunch! Check out my flicker page for more photos!

New pottery find on etsy!

I just love to discover new artists on etsy! It's just so inspiring. I came across this lovely dish by Noelle Horsfield this morning as I wait to go to my Dr. (nasty sore throat). I am drawn to work with lots of layers and details, yummy patterns. You can find more of Noelles Pretty Pots in her etsy shop.

To better serve...

You could use this pretty dish to serve some of my yummy recipies below! Find it at SusanSmithClay.etsy.com.

All the Fixins'

So Turkey's great and all but what I really crave during the Holiday is some good James Bond marathon and mom's famous side dishes. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday I just wanna say, "thanks mom, your the greatest and you taught me everything I know!" AND I'm gonna share these great recipes with you!
The best cranberry sauce:
1 big box of red jello
2 cans of whole cranberry sauce (almost forgot this, this year! Wouldn't my face be red!)
1 can of pineapple tidbits
1 can of mandarin orange slices
about 1 cup of chopped walnuts (as much as you like)
Make the jello according to the instructions but only add half the total liquid. This really just means omit the cold water part. Add the cranberry sauce. Drain the canned fruit and add it with the walnuts. Stir and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Mom's "sunshine" sweet potatoe pie!
5-6 sweet potatoes peeled and boiled until soft.
OJ
1 can crushed pineapple.
nutmeg and cinnaomn to taste
pinch of salt
1 bag of mini marshmallows

Mash the sweet potatoes in a bowl using the OJ as if it were the milk in regular mashed potatoes. Don't make them too wet though cause now your gonna add the can of pineapple and that will add more liquid. Mix in the seasoning to taste. This is when I put it in the fridge until right before dinner, then take it out, spoon into a pie tray and heat until hot in the center. Top the whole thing with mini marshmallows and bake until they turn all brown and gooey.

Notice how these recipies are super healthy? Turkey day doesn't have to be fattening! Especially since you know your gonna be eating leftovers all week:)

Winter White

Let it snow let it snow let it snow! White pottery that is. What a beautiful way to dress up your home, snow white pots all around. I especially like these pieces from Judi Tavill. She is a fellow etsy mud team member and an east coaster too. Be sure to check out more of her work on etsy, they would make stunning holiday treats!

Rae Dunn

Love the work of this artist, Rae Dunn. She just opened her etsy shop and our work is actually next to each other in Red Tree. I really like the stark compositions and the handmade quality. I'm also a fan of the writing stampde into the clay, gee I wonder why. She makes 2 lines of work, one is her handmade stuff which she sells on etsy and one is work she has manufactued and sells in shops all over. Way cool. Sooo who's gonna manufacture my work to sell all over?

New work in the shop today!

New work has been posted in my etsy shop today! Go check out these new leaf dishes, I think they would look great grouped on the Thanksgiving table each holding a tealight. Hopefully I will be listing more as the week goes on. Don't forget when you buy from my shop this week you will be entered into a raffle for a FREE ornament:)

Mud in the Trees!

Poster for the Etsy Mud Team
Originally uploaded by intothefire

Buy from my shop this week and be entered into a raffle to pick up some beautiful muddy ornaments. I put my dove ornament up for grabs. Tomorrow I will be restocking the shop with some new work fresh from the kiln!

Please be still

I really like this image by etsy artist pleasebestill. The colors go so well with my style! In my own studio I have been into shades of blues and greens with a pop of red somewhere in the piece. I really like the balance in this one. I also like how she doesn't really have a face...mysterious.

Best.Toilet.Ever.

This post is for my hubby, Michael. Not only is he a huge fan of the squid, this one happens to decorate one of his favorite spots in our home. I am seriously thinking about getting him one for Christmas. You can get your own at Vital on etsy.

Good Clean Fun!

So I was feeling guilty about only posting my own work recently. Just being lazy! So here is a post about the best soap ever! I had hearted this one a while back and just happened upon it the other day as I was looking for something elese. This soap makes me smile as soon as I look at it! She has some really creative ideas! I love the rice krispie treats and also the gummie bears! Check out her etsy shop for more goodcleanfun!

More new work

yellow-house-hand1
Originally uploaded by pinkkiss

Ok. I'm cheating today. I didn't get to post because we were out all night judging the applicants for the Holiday Heap show. Oh. my. goodness. I never knew how much work went into this! Over 100 applicants for 42 spots and boy was it tough competition! We had to take out some really great artists just because of size restrictions. So today I am posting late and just giving another peek at some new work. Hopefully I will have some more new stuff for you in a couple of weeks!

New Work!

red-fluer-2C
Originally uploaded by pinkkiss

New work is now posted on etsy! Stop by the shop and take a look around. I will be posting more as the month goes on. Make sure to look for the holiday section for some new designs.

Casserole for dinner!

a day in the life of ... [23rd September 2006] - Royal Galas
Originally uploaded by Computer Science Geek

Ok. As soon as the weather starts to get cooler I have a craving for my favorite casserole dish. It's so easy and I'm making it tonight!
You'll need...
1 package of turkey/ chicken sausage removed from casing (I use sweet italian turkey), 1 package (2 cups) shitake mushrooms (I throw in some baby bellas also since I love mushrooms!), 1 onion chopped, 1 cup of rice (any grain works well, I like quinoa), 2 cups chicken broth, parmesan cheese and ground pepper to taste.

Heat a skillet over meduim high and add sausage, onion and mushrooms, breaking up the sausage with a spoon or fork. Cook until sausage is brown and mushrooms and onion are tender. Add the rice, stirring to coat and the broth. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer about 20 min. or until the broth has evapotated. Stir in cheese and pepper to taste.

I serve this with a salad of field greens, dried cranberries, walnuts, goat cheese and our favorite dressing, Annies Gingerly Vinagrette.
Finish it off with a cramel apple for dessert!! Hooray Fall!

New! For the holidays...

I am already starting to work on Holiday stuff can you believe it? I guess I'm thinking ahead, trying to get ready for the season of shows soon to come. I put out these ornaments yesterday at the Crafty Bastards Show, which totally rocked, and I just about sold out of the dove. Only one left! Good thing I have many more waiting for me to finish up in the studio! I am also thinking about turning some into pendants, I love chunky necklaces!