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.

Thanksgiving food, Pumpkins and Pots

First and foremost I am thankful for this beautiful boy.  I weep at the thought of not having this little monkey being the focal point of each and every day.  It is picture day today, and he has on his wonderful navy blue Lord and Taylor blazer. Let me be clear, my sometimes socialist, compassionate champion of the poor and oppressed is downright republican when it comes to his clothing choices. He likes to be a sharp dressed man, and sometimes goes for hipster, but today he could have passed for a right winger in an election!

I am so looking forward to the next four days, like all makers and artists who lived a duel life like I do, long weekends can offer chunks of time to get stuff done, like finally finish that big plate order, yes it is coming Carla Dayholos! Yes, I am thankful for big orders too, that will allow to get the credit card down so I can buy more clay.

It seems funny to still have passion flowers blooming in the garden and I am making Christmas ornaments, but that is the life of a maker. Got to get to them now, as my last big kiln of the year is coming up in 2 weeks. Can't believe I said that!! Mug orders are coming in, and I really need to write them down, or get me a seccatary, like Jethro used to say on the Beverly Hillbillies.

so over the next few weeks, I will be bringing in Holiday goodies like snowflakes, polar bears and buffalo to the various stores. I have to start tomorrow on the big bowls, and teapots so wish me luck and flexibility.

Big, bigger and biggest!

bigger is the most common thing I hear from customers about mugs. So being the people pleaser that I am, big mugs are on the mental agenda and on the wheel.  How big will be too big, I guess I am going to find out this fall.

I am fairly sure that some of these would hold a beer , for those of you that are inclined to use them that way.  But as a person whose mind goes way faster than my hands, of course a few bowls and vases made their way onto the wheel as well. I am committed to stretching myself in terms of new forms, so this is my first attempt at altering the top of the bowl with an altered rim.  Let me know what you think of it. I am also starting the garlic bakers, with fall sales in mind. 

Tricked again....

I was feeling a burst of energy earlier this week, we had temperatures over zero degrees.  That lasted one day, and more snow.  Seriously...in April.  I like everyone else here is very weary of winter, and my sense of exhaustion is part of that. I really dont want to schlep pots back and forth from the kiln into the house over incredibly icy and treacherous conditions. another kiln is firing right now, fingers crossed that I wasnt so tired that I forgot to glaze the lower half or anything scattered brained like that!

I find myself super tired, and have this gut feeling (literally) that I need to slow down a bit.  So, I need to change my focus from making, to selling, a different kind of energy.  Grateful that my time on social networking appears to be paying off, and seeing more orders coming out of Pinterest  and Etsy. Happy to see pottery in Royal Blue, which I can make at home going far and wide. I have some easter baskets ready to go, just need to do the photos, but I am pretty happy with them, hope they find good homes and get filled with really creative things!

Whats up in the studio

I am hard at work, so here is a peek at what, in pictures.

black and white yarn bowl

black and white series, the mugs

Turquoise Rutile combination now available at Tara davis studio

buttons

Fibre People are friends

for 2014 I am thinking about how much of my business is related to knitting and fibre arts.  My newest item is knitting needle vases.  They would also hold flowers in case you wanted to ask.  I am refining them as I go along

Knitting Needle Vases

 Yarn Bowls are in four stores, and still a great seller

Buttons are fun and evolving as I go along, and enjoy doing custom buttons

Wolseley wool made up these great kits with my mugs.

Show Time!

Today was a home day, fired the kiln, but mostly did cleaning, organizing and baking, with a few dozen ornaments squeezed in.

Next weekend is one of the biggest shows of the year, Vineyard Saturday where we will happily receives hundreds of eager shoppers in 6 hours.  Got to start eating healthy now to get ready!  They have a great café too, but I don't usually have time to get there.  Here are some of the goodies I have packed and ready to find new homes.

Big blue and turquoise mugs 20.00

our combo of soap, soap plate and hand knit cotton dishcloth

Christmas ornaments 5 and 10.00

sweet red mug20.00

 

In High GEAR

What, how did we get to the end of October, I cannot speak.  So instead I will throw and trim for all the upcoming shows, sales and orders.  Yet again, it is hard to know how busy I want to be.  Halloween is a big deal at my house, someones favorite holiday.  He was my little photographer yesterday in the studio, so forgive a bit of blurriness, we could call it an artistic interpretation.

Lots of sales, but next is Hot to Shop at the lovely Dalnavert Museum, a first time event, but Tammy Vogel the organizer is really promoting, so I am hoping for a stellar sale!

St. Boniface Hospital Science and Craft sale, November 14th 10-5pm.  Kids will be in school, so easier for me and hopefully some of the shoppers.  Kiln is firing up some tests today for a new store and one of my soapy Louise friends of SoGa soaps.

fingers on the clay guiding the trimming tool

 

My own kind of Gala

tonight I was supposed to go to the Empty Bowls Gala, but I dashed home to trim a few mugs, and just felt so happy I thought , why would I want to be anywhere else.  I don't think I am becoming anti social, but quiet time in the studio is something I don't get very often.  I liked having an hour with just the cups to concentrate before a little fellow came home to be fed.  Here are some of the results...

More mugs with a few new design variations

wine tumblers as I am running low

My sharp dressed man ready for picture day

a prototype shaving mug for Louise V, of SoGa

Another show!!

I just  had a confirmation that I have another show for November.   St. Boniface Hospital on November 14th.

Here is the link to their website:  http://www.sbrc.ca/ascs/

I have lots of work ahead and lots of stock allready so it is just a mater of maintaining the energy.

coleus leaf plate in prairie gold

mugs with a great inside

garlic grater bowl

soup mug

 

Car is all packed for tomorrowès WEST sale.  Come out and see me!

 

Need to make more mugs

This is one of my large black mugs at Chez Sophie sur le pont

 

 

As you see there is only one on the shelf.  It seems the more mugs I make, the more I need to make.  They are the small things that keep the business going, even though it might be more inspiring from an artistic point of view to make funky large plates, bowls or vases, I probably sell one of those for every ten mugs.

 

So,,,, more mugs, hoping to get some out of the gas kiln this week.

 

 

Sooooooo Happy with my Kiln results

AFter Childrens Festival today we rushed to the studio, to find the kiln unloaded and a lot of beautiful colours and work that makes me want to be a potter for another 30 years.  couldnt pack it all up today, but hope to get it all home tomorrow.

here are a few pics...

Bowls abound

I am having a Spring Clearance sale tomorrow to move out the seconds and the odds and sods, so I can get working with a cleaner studio, with less clutter.  I find the stuff begins to create anxiety after a while and I need space.  I am working on more collaborations with other women busines owners so I can focus more on the making and leave the actual selling to others.

 

While I love being part of certain select events, schlepping the pottery lost its charm a long time ago.  It is just draining and takes too long to recover from.  So hoping lots of folks have gift needs and give good homes to lots of bowls, mugs, wine tumblers, vasess,,,,,,etc...

Two more weeks of throwing and need to do about 100 mugs, 50 yarn bowls, 25 serrving pieces, and get the garden seeded.  My plan is Vitamin B, water, lots of green vegetables and straight to bed, right now.

 

Good night Irene!  (that is my middle name after all)