Come see me this weekend in Richmond!

I'll have brand new pots fresh from the kiln at the Spring Bada Bing this weekend. If your in the Richmond area stop by to check it out and say hello!

Spring break comes to an end.

Well we did it, we finally finished our upstairs room. Since our basement is used as our studio we have a major storage issue in our little house and up until last week this room was the dumping ground for all of our show displays, boxes of comics for M and just about anything else we didn't know what to do with. After 5 years the piles were just plain embarrassing so for this year's spring break I asked M to help me refinish the room into something we could use for storage, office space and guest quarters. I started the painting a couple of weeks ago when M was out of town for a show and this week he helped me rip up the old nasty blue speckled carpet (you know that 70's style muddled carpeting, yuck) and paint the floors (I know, I know painting wood floors is a "no-no" but they were already half painted and now I have a usable room so I really don't care). After many hours of hard work, several trips to Lowes, Target and Ikea, we are finally almost finished. There are still a few more things that need to be taken to goodwill or the dump and a mountain of recycling to be dealt with once my car is back from the shop (don't ask) but once that is taken care of as well as some picture hanging and minor decorating touches, we will be DONE! Hello new office space (not the dining room table as it had been previously), guest room, drawing studio (not for me) and sewing area (for me), I am sooooo happy to welcome you to our home:)

Terrasig Tests

Good morning! I wanted to share some dishes that I tested my terrasig on last week. I like the way they came out and how they reacted nicely with my glaze. I am able to print easily on the surface and there are a few more texture possibilities since the sig is so much thinner than the slip I was using. It also seems to work nicely with the underglaze. I still need to do a little more testing but so far I am liking it. If nothing else I really like the red sig on the bottoms of pots to give a smoother texture without glaze. Today I have lots of decorating to do and hopefully a kiln to unload. I might take a break this weekend to paint our upstairs and if I get a chance I will share some pics of the process since I think it will be a major change (it is soon to be our office/guest room) for that space!

New Platters

Just a quick post today as I am super busy rushing to the bank, post office, supply store, grocery store and vet for cat food (Mex is on a special diet) all before 7 when I have a Mafia meeting to attend. But I did want to post the finished platters from the last post so you could see how they turned out. I'm pretty happy with them and am liking the new layers I am working with. I started using some new colors for some of my images. What do you think? The long tray would be great for tapas or bread and the shorter tray is just begging for some freshly steamed green beans or spring asparagus! Yum.... pots always make me hungry:)

Still here!

Hi guys, sorry I dropped off the blogging world for a week or so! It was my 30th birthday last week and we were super busy doing a bit of celebrating... dinner out , friends over for dinner and then a birthday bash on Saturday which was so lovely because it was in the 70's all day! We spent the day cleaning up the house and outside areas. Our outdoor furniture didn't make it through the snow this year so we had to replace it. I'm trying to do everything on the cheap side since being away for a month also resulted in no income for a month. I'm still getting orders ready and pushed through the kiln but man, is it taking a while to get back on my feet! I have quite a few shows coming up, gallery work and orders to fill and I am still trying to get some new designs out in between all the production. Sometimes your brain just needs to be creative and free for a day. Here is a new platter form I have been working on. It's all painted and waiting for me to unload it from the kiln today. I can't wait to see it finished! I'll share some pics as soon as it's done:)
Oh, and here is a picture of M and I at the beach last year...it just popped up on my facebook and I had to share it because I can't wait for summer again!

Ready for spring already!

That's it. I'm soooo ready. I'm done with the cold dampness that has been hanging over us for the last couple of days. I can see some bulbs starting to poke out of the dirt and I can barely contain myself from shouting "go little bulb, go!". I have been stocking my shop with some garden markers to celebrate the season and to encourage a little more green growth to free itself from the frosty ground. Hope you enjoy!

Apply Now!

Applications are open for Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft 2010!!!
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Pile Of Craft is our annual juried Spring craft fair, featuring handmade and original items from 40+ talented artists from all over the country. Apparel, ceramics, handbags, jewelry, fine art, scuplture, homegoods and more - made by hand, sold by the artists themselves!
Want to be a vendor? You can APPLY HERE. Applications to Pile Of Craft 2010 are open until April 2 at midnight, and we will be announcing the accepted vendors by April 9th.

Good luck!!

Keping one for myself...

It's not very often that I keep a pot for myself that hasn't been somehow damaged in the process or has an ugly glaze. Most of the pots in my kitchen are pretty ugly and I'm actually a little ashamed when I pull them out for guest. There is always the "this one isn't my best work" disclaimer to go with the mug of coffee. Recently I have started a really nice collection of other potters work as I travel to shows and workshops, some of which I reach for everyday and some have special homes on a high shelf where the cat *hopefully* won't knock them over. These beauties are making my own collection look even worse! So this round of pots I'm keeping one. And not because it's ugly or glazed wrong or a little too wonky. I just like this pot and it now has a home in my kitchen.... happy birthday to me:)

New work is out!

Finally today I pulled out my first batch of pots this year! I can't believe it's been this long since I had new work out. I'm in the process of getting them listed on etsy so be sure to check in this week and see the new pots.

A lesson in photographing jewelry

What I had intended to be an hour or so of photographing the pendants I got back from Clayworks yesterday turned into an entire day of frustration, a giant headache and oh yeah, no new listings in the shop to show for it. I'm kind of a perfectionist especially when it comes to my work which is why a few snapshots just will not do. There should be a dynamic photo for catching your eye plus enough descriptive shots to show the entire piece to someone who can't pick it up and try it on. I have pretty much figured out my formula for photographing my pots and can do that in just an hour or so depending on the amount of work that needs to be listed. Easy. Jewelry, not so much. I'm sure it doesn't help that for most of my shoot today I had left my overhead lights on and couldn't figure out why my sunlit photos had this yellowish cast over them. Duh. I finally built myself a modified white box with a dark gray backdrop and a sheet of picture glass on the bottom to try and simulate that professional looking reflection that you see in fancy catalogs. I tried some with props (pretty much everything in my house that is not nailed down), some without and some hanging. Here are my favorite from about 150 pictures I took today. Let me know what you think, I would love some feedback!

Spring sneak peek!

I finally got my thermocouples in today, yay! That means tomorrow I will be taking my kiln apart to try and replace the old ones. Then maybe I can get some of this new work through and listed in the shop. This is just a teaser but you can see some of my new designs for garden markers. I have both the kind that sticks right in the dirt and some that will hang from a wire. All of them are designed for you to write on. Can you tell I'm ready for spring???
Don't forget to check out my post on the Lillyella blog today. I highlighted some of my favorite ceramic soup bowls on etsy.

February is a bust.

I thought that February would be a little more productive than January but alas...not so much. As soon as I got going on my huge back order of work my kiln gave out on me. I am 99% sure it is the thermocouples which I have on order and hopefully will get here before the next snow storm hits. As of right now my bisque shelf is filled to the brim with work waiting to be fired and I'm going to have a mountain of glazing to do soon.

I did however give myself permission to try out this scoop I saw illustrated in the new issue of Clay Times magazine. The one they made was thrown but I used my hand building techniques to create my own version. I have been wanting to make a scoop for a while now and am pretty excited to have a prototype. I have also been working on some garden markers for spring! I'm ready for it to be here already!! Hopefully I will have pictures of the new designs soon.

Snow Days

Well we are officially snowed in out here on the east coast. It's deep, cold and still coming down!! I made it back home on Thursday just in time to be blanketed in 30 inches of snow. Luckily I work in my basement so I have still been getting some work done. I decided to take the day yesterday and clean up the studio. It's been a while and when I left I wasn't expecting to be gone for very long and I was in a panic so I left a few things out that I would normally clean up right away. So yesterday in the hopes of clearing my head, and some space for new work, I spent the better part of the day locked down in the basement clearing out boxes and dusting off my work space. I always work better when everything is in it's place. Here are some shots of my little corner of the world, nothing fancy but all nice and clean, waiting for me to create!

Coming home.

Thanks for all the well wishes, prayers and general good vibes sent over this past month, they were all very much appreciated! My mom is doing much better now and is home recovering. I should be able to come back home and to the studio this weekend so if I still owe you an e-mail or contact I will hopefully get caught up next week. I will also be starting on all those orders that have been piling up while I was away.....anyone want to be my intern/clay slave? I can cook for you:) I will sadly not be participating in this years ACC show (had to cancel) but already have a space reserved for next year and hopefully will have my mom there to help me! Be sure to check out my shop in the next few weeks as I restock with new work that I started at the start of the year including some mid-fire white ware.

Away from the studio

This is just a quick post to let you all know that I am currently out of town due to my mother being rushed to the hospital on Friday with some pretty serious breathing problems. She is still there and I will be staying here in PA until all is right again. If I owe you an e-mail or phone call please excuse my delay, I will get to you as soon as possible. I will resume the blog when I am back in the studio or if I get super bored sitting in the hospital (and the internet works!). Until then, thanks for understanding.

Cardamom Marshmallows part 2

This morning I un-molded my marshmallows and cut them into squares perfect for floating on top of yummy hot beverages. They are so delicious! The perfect amount of flavor and a beautiful texture, they truly melt in your mouth.
A quick toss in powdered sugar to prevent sticking and they are ready to float on my morning coffee.
I gave a few away to my friend Ali from Pistol Stitched. She was working down the street and when I delivered them she promptly popped one in her mouth, so irresistible. M and I ate a few through out the day but the rest are for our dinner with friends on Wednesday. I'm sure they will enjoy this yummy treat in an evening cup of coffee.
I would highly recommend giving this tasty treat a try in your own kitchen, I think a box of these would make a super gift for your valentine! Imagine the flavor possibilities....

Cardamom Marshmallows part 1

This summer I had the pleasure of attending a show in Brooklyn where Whimsy and Spice was vending a few spots down from us and I made sure to bring home a package of their Cardamom Marshmallows which we enjoyed floating in hot cups of coffee for the next week. I have had the flavor in my memory ever since and so tonight decided to try my hand at making my own cardamom marshmallows to take to a dinner with friends on Wednesday night. I don't know if they will be quite the same but I'm excited to try them! I have done a bit of research on making marshmallows (yes, I am that girl) and most recipes seem to be pretty similar but the one I used tonight (no, it's not my first time....don't judge!) can be found here.You will need a candy thermometer to make these but other than that these are a pretty simple treat to make. The first time I made marshmallows it was a super sticky mess but this time went pretty smoothly. I'm not sure if it was due to the change of recipe or just that I knew what to expect and practice makes perfect! I added 1 tsp. of cardamom powder to the gelatin mixture at the beginning of the recipe.

Make sure to prepare your baking pan with parchment and lots of pam so the marshmallow mixture doesn't stick. You will have to leave it out overnight to dry, mine is on the counter as we speak so tomorrow I will let you know how the final product comes out.
I'm such a big fan of marshmallows, I could eat them straight from the bag and have been known to make hot chocolate purely for eating the warm gooey marshmallow topping, and then putting more on only to eat it right off again!
Tomorrow I will unmold them and toss in powdered sugar. Look forward to some better photos as well, my night photography isn't very good!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Michael and I are back from our trip to Savannah where we spent the week with my brother, sister in law, mother and 2 adorable little munchkins. I thought I would share some pictures of our Holiday trip since the studio has been closed for the last week and I don't have anything new to post yet. The photos above and below are from our Christmas day which we spent at the Ronald McDonald house (if you don't know about this amazing organization click here to learn more) cooking dinner for the families who were staying there. Actually, my brother cooked and gave us directions, so technically we chopped, sauteed and stirred while he whipped our prep work into a delicious turkey dinner for 30.
After Christmas day while we were all relaxing M, my mom and I made cookies with the kids. The kids did most of the work...and taste testing while I directed, M got himself covered in flour trying to navigate the kids measuring cups and my mom handled the oven.
I think these two will be growing up to have their own show on the food network!
This isn't flour, it's powdered sugar which Tru cleaned up from the counter by scooping it into his mouth!
The original recipe we made didn't call for chocolate chips but the kids took a little creative licence and M thought they were even better with the chocolate decorations.
We had a great time in GA and can't wait to go back:) I hope you all had a lovely time with your family also!

Snowballs

So I've actually done quite a bit of baking this year, mostly due to craft related responsibilities (like baking 100 chocolate chip cookies for the vendor lunches at Pile of Craft). I also did a bit of pie baking for Thanksgiving. Yesterday I had to make something to bring for a holiday potluck with the Charm City Craft Mafia so I decided on "Snowballs", which were (and still maybe are) my favorite holiday cookie. I had all the ingredients on hand so they were a snap to make up. My only rule for baking is that I a only allowed to do it when the baked goods will be leaving my house within 24 hours! Bring on the butter!!

Snowballs (or Russian Teacakes or Mexican Wedding Cookies)
1 cup of butter, room temp.
1/2 cup sifted confectioners sugar (plus more for rolling)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (I put mine through a mini food processor)

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy. Mix the flour and salt, add to the butter mixture. Mix in nuts. Chill the dough for 1/2-1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place about an inch apart on a baking sheet. Cookies don't spread. Bake for 10-12 minutes. While the cookies are still warm, roll in powdered sugar. Let the cookies cool and roll them in the sugar once more. Store in an airtight container.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Check out my super famous hubby!

This Monday I was given the job of photographer at M's book signing at a local Barnes and Nobel. It was a total mad house! M does a wonderful job of speaking to the kids and interacting with them to explain how he comes up with his characters. He even draws some of the kids as space creatures or evil monsters! It's so fun to watch and the kids really get into shouting ideas out and watching M turn their words into crazy drawings. Monday he wound up selling out of books and the line was around the store! I actually left to do a little shopping in the middle of it all and when I came back there was still a line! So I just had to share some of my favorite pictures of the night and brag about what a super star my husband is.
If you want to see what all the commotion is about you can check out his new book for kids Adam Wreck by Michael S. Bracco or his more adult series (rated PG-13) Birth and NOVO. They would make really great stocking stuffers and he will even sign and draw on the inside cover!