Looking Ahead at the plans for 2016.

New Years eve resolutions have never really been my thing, but I am approaching 2016 as an open slate and do have many goals for this year. We started off the year with a recharge week in Mexico, and it was wonderful.  A little hard to repress my entrepreneurial spirit as we saw wonderful farmers markets in both the communities of Bucerias and Sayulitas in the state of Nayarit.


Lots of news in new shops that I am participating in.

hunting for seaglass in Sayulitas

Lots of news in new shops that I am participating in. Opening this week in the Exchange District at 296 McDermot Ave is A Pinch of Creativity.  Workshops, yoga, and a great group of creative types many from the WEST team are participating in this venture.

Also, a new gallery for rural Manitoba, in Minnedosa is Inspire Studio. I will be one of three potters included there and their grand opening is January 23 from 12-6 at 71 Main St. in Minnedosa. I hope to get there soon. It is next to a bakery so added bonus.


Also, I am participating in the members show of the Manitoba Craft Council, called for the Love of Craft opening January 22nd with the show going for 2 weeks, and then prepping for a show with In Plain View also at Cre8ery.


Busy times, and I need to get making.

This Saturday is devoted to getting some new work thrown, with a focus on mugs since December saw my stock depleted to nothing!

Keeping it all straight

Fall should really be called Race season. for families, makers, organizers this is a season that tests our stamina and endurance. I am throwing, trimming, glazing and firing in 2 places after I do my "real job". (No violins required , this is self imposed).

Nature is getting ready for a long rest with leaves falling, plants coming to the end of their season and the squirrels madly storing nuts and other treasure in our gardens, plant pots and sometimes other places we would prefer not to think about.

But for the humans we are trying hard to get back into bedtime routines,, shorter days, and madly making to take the greatest advantage we can of the "selling season"  which is between early September to early December. This is when we make at least 50% of the years income. so hot baths, Cold FX, lots of fruit and yogurt, and some really robust hugs are sure a help when I am deep in the madness. I am committing the day to throwing more porcelain tomorrow as I have absolutely no turquoise or red in stock. 

On the 16th we are off to Brandon for the Big One, and I look forward to seeing so many great creative types out there.

Look what I got in a fortune cookie yesterday. I am taking it as a sign from the universe that I continue in my mad Muddy Mama life.

Finally...a tutorial on goblets

Goblets are my nemesis. Every few years, I get requests for goblets or this time it was chalices for the church. I find them a real pain to make,,, and people dont want to pay what I want to charge. For the non potters let me explain. Each goblet has the cup portion and the stem and these are made separately but need to be put together and trimmed to look like one piece. Kind of like a marriage, maybe but I wont expand on that topic too long. The top and the widest piece of the stem should ideally be the same diameter to give the goblet balance, not only in appearance but for making it more stable.

The best tip I have received so far isn how to avoid them separating in the bisque firing. When you go to trim, the pieces should be workable, not quite leather hard. Score both sides really well, add a little slurry and adhere them one to the other while they are upside down on a coned piece of clay with wet newspaper on it.  

Then roll out a coil the length needed to go around the join between the cup and the stem, and smooth that in to the piece until you cant see it.  Now trim them together.  I have fired goblets where I took the time to do this, and where I didnt. Completely different results. Worth the extra effort.

I am still not really happy with these, but they are getting better, still would like better balance between top and bottom, and for them not to look as though they have been drinking wine. (Tippy)

Fibre Festival and More....

July 21st and we are on holidays. Had a great visit to Assiniboine park and the butterfly garden. Definitely a highlight for me!

I am already obsessing about fall shows and sales. The garden is off to the races, starting to harvest some zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, and picking beans later today, it is Casi Cielo, (almost heaven).

Fall is super busy , well August too.  Off the top of my head, I will be doing Sioux Narrows Arts Festival, Matlock Art, Music and Nature Festival, the Barge Festival, Homespun Sale in Carlyle Saskatchewan, the big Etsy Made in Manitoba show, and more!!!

Right now, it is yarn bowls that are  foremost on my mind.  I want to make them useful, beautiful, and special.

End of October, kiln loading and firing looming ever so close by, and still working on orders and getting orders.  The madness, madness of it all, but I find it keeps me energized in November which is quite sole killing in the Canadian prairies, at least for me.

 so here is an in house video that might work, not just sure. My filmmaker associate is only 7 after all.

Getting ready for our November 11 Triple P Open House event with 2 friends.  Stay tuned for more details.