earcandyarts – a region of StudioWhat

Last Saturday’s market day was sunny, hot, beautiful, and packed with visitors from all over the area and from far away. Since I had just opened the kiln early last week, I thought I’d bring some of my pieces to the market but discovered I didn’t have any packing supplies until it was too late. Meanwhile, I brought some tiny pinch pots anyway since they’re small enough to wrap in some tissue.  As I was finishing my set-up routine, a market mate pointed out a tiny and unexpected visitor. This lovely bumblebee decided to have a rest in one of the little bowls and remained there preening and resting long enough to allow me to capture a few photos.

Oh, and these little pinch pots can be used for anything from spices and salt to a place to leave your rings or earrings when you take them off at night.

A local celebrity came by to see me at my tent! Actually, he’s my son, Eric….

Inspiration came unexpectedly one day and it sold within 20 minutes! Leaves and simplicity in threes and twos. simplesweets was born out of a desire to make simple but lovely adornments for those who like to be understated. I’ve not listed any of these on Etsy yet, and I’m not certain I will, but if you are interested in them, please send me an email! Here are a few images of my recent creations!

I created a treasury which made it to the front page while I was asleep!

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They are just beginning to bloom. Here’s what Ronda said, “I love it when the poppies unzip!” It sure looks like that. I’ve been waiting all day for the modest one to shed it’s casing, but it’s holding on while the air is wet and chill. Maybe by tomorrow she will be unfurled?

The weather on Saturday was beautiful, sunny, bright, and though not quite warm, my tent was very comfortable. I faced east/southeast this time. Also, here are a few new sets of earrings revealed over the weekend. Better photos to come!

The Kingston Farmers Market is a festive affair. I love looking across the park and seeing the tents go up on Saturday mornings. I love my tent, and although it is a little too heavy for me to put up alone, it is an inviting place especially on chilly gray days we see so many of here. Maybe it’s the orange fabric I have hanging from the “rafters”, but several people came in to say, “it’s really warm in here!”

Today I unloaded the kiln for the first time in a few months. I am usually always apprehensive to take that first peek, mostly because I don’t fill the kiln often enough to have consistent results. Usually, I’m trying something new whether it be a type of shape, a different glaze combination, or hand building or throwing technique. Sometimes the kiln produces a mostly beautiful load. Other times I experience disappointing disasters which I chalk up to experience. My motto in the studio is this: It’s just dirt. With that attitude I can continue to make mistakes and experience successes. Today’s load was mostly a success.

I did learn a few things about my firing. 11 of them are here:

1. My shadow green glaze is too thick and fell to the shelf on a few small pinch pots. When I mix a new batch and add it to an old batch, I have to be sure to get the right consistency or this happens.
2. The glaze I just started to use called Ketchup finally gave me some good results though the one called Crocus is still coming out very dark brown.
3. Ivory needs a little more water and remains one of my all time favorite glazes, especially on a gray clay body.
4. Celedon is FINALLY the right consistency after removing water from it for the last year or so.
5. I really do love making little pinch pots.
6. I must make more lidded jars.
7. Plain white bowls on a gray clay body are a thing of beautiful simplicity.
8. Refiring a piece is sometimes the right thing to do.
9. Clay Art Center’s kiln wash is FAR superior to Seattle Pottery Supply’s.
10. I reaffirm my love for my clay studio on a regular basis.
11. My husband is a very supportive fan of my work.

Next, throwing porcelain. Lovely, buttery smooth and pure pure white. The perfect canvas on which to play with glaze.

You must visit the Etsy shop called Malam. Marie is an extraordinarily talented clothing designer in Paris and she made a Treasury West collection that includes a set of my earrings. Have a look!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=9506

Well, I spent a lot of money recently to get ready for the upcoming market season. The Tacoma Gem Faire happened over this weekend and I went on Friday morning for the wholesaler preview. There were many gemstone beads to choose from, but not much in the way of Czech glass, which I love, further convincing me that I need to make a trip to the Czech Republic to buy beads direct from the source. Even though I was not thrilled by the glass bead choices, the gemstones were inspiring!

I found some very reasonably priced stones which I’ll be using in the next weeks. I’m always conscious of costs so I can keep all of my pieces under $35! Needless to say, I also found some great metal components. I decided to incorporate more metal beads and bead caps in my earring sets after I took a jewelry class through Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation. Jane Martin is an amazing artist, jeweler, designer, teacher and I learned a TON about working metal. Inspiration came easy when I realized I could make interesting components to go with the beads I love. You’ll be seeing new sets with more metal AND gemstones very soon so watch out!

xox