too darn hot...

well it's too darn hot out there today, summer has finally hit at a whopping 43degreesC

my marketeering is done again for another year and what an epic week it was!

off to seppeltsfield wednesday night and only saved by the last 20mins of shopping, otherwise it would have been a total bummer…

saturday was the wheaty christmas sale and awesome as per usual with a fantastic catchup with friends, it's the annual meetup event for some of us and as always the wheat at thebby are fantastic hosts!!

and not long ago mr sunshines just up the road had their very 1st crafty event, bring on the noise. lovely day and great burgers too!

then sunday the stirling chrissy market, it was good and steady all day long and topped off with a lovely catchup with rose and ali +Milan Rouge Contemporary Craft and Design a drop of bubbly and some chrissy cheer :)

and yes I'm still firing, I have another couple of loads to get through and a delivery to

+Urban Cow Studio 

new mugs this year

summer colours

lil birdie stocks are in deficit…
but soon to be replenished that is when i get a new screen made! just destroyed my last one this week…oops

so let the christmas shopping commence, urrgh I'm not the world's best shopper but will manage to get out there tomorrow perhaps.

anyhoo chrissy is at home this year, I think I just had a great holiday and no need for tripping off apart from nights at the beach.

george st studios

mr sunshines market

so happy holiday season to you all, stay safe on the roads and have a great chrissy and new years… see you on the other side of 2013…2014 I like the sound of it already :)

anna workin it

bunny

new mugs

put a bird on it

cleaning the stamps

phil hart

mid fire red clay

mid fire red clay hot choc mugs

the wheat sale

shino

retro

my last monster shino mug

tile

lil birdie will appear

at the pointy end - gas fired earthenware...

The OSCAS were on last winter and I took the opportunity to do some demos, handles on cups, some slipware action with tiny kiddie hands assisting and some raku firing.

It was a great event that stirred up quite some enthusiasm australia wide and created a great sense of community too.

Well it has come to the pointy end and my quest to fill my gas kiln with earthenware

pots has happenend!

Yep all those cups, bowls, plates and jugs are in bar 2 pieces, I just have to have something left over!!

Way, way back in August, yes I have loads of projects on the go and the is part time for me but 3 months to fill the kiln…hmmm

I wanted to just flashback to the lino printing workshop at Gallery 1855 this year too…
I'm just framing up some works for sale and hope to continue this printing lark…it's fun! And stepping back into some of the media that captured my enthusiasm in early college days has been so fulfilling… It's still about the abstract, the textures, the lines and detail as is my ceramic work but just another avenue of expression.

This is light up this morning of my fibre kiln, there are 2 stacks front and back jam packed with marble ware and a few other pieces, the top jug is handless so thats my piece from this load. It should make a nice gravy jug.

And some tech info both pilots are on low for the first hour and a half warming up the kiln to at lead 350C before turning up the pilots. They then are inched up until they are on full checking every hour. I will stay on the pilots for quite a while as when I switch on the venturis, the atmosphere will jump and I don't really want black clay just toasty. I'm aiming for 1130-1140 degrees the Bennetts earthenware body will take that nicely and only bloats another 20-30 degrees C over that.
I had some very toasty pots last firing of this type in the big club kiln but my kiln is a bit more manageable size and firing wise, so we will know soon enough!


Anyhoo this is the last link to the Mud Colony Blog
check out what the crew are up to and leave a final message for Adriana she's been managing the blog single handed and is moving the group over to FB so see you over there too!

marketing season...

You know some weeks are just great for production time, the weather was fantastic, the clay was good consistency and time was on my side.

It was a tad mad with hours of handling the same work and it's those days that can really mess with ya head re value and time etc.

I just needed to get stuck in and make and get the work out there as we are at the pointy end of the year sales wise and two events down with three more to go.

printing lil birdie was a fun afternoon, then getting them on the wares, glazed and reloaded for friday firing.

and these lovely slippery pieces were under wraps for months, the cups needed foot cleaning up and handles and the jugs still leather hard needed just thumbing and handles.

and what a day, brown and white slip flying everywhere…

that's why I work outside with these and a one handed cricket moment as a cup flew out of my grip whilst I was marbling it….

it tumbled into the air and spun gracefully, and with a split second to think shall I dive after it or let it fall….I dove!…..one handed catch just on the foot, thanks for the applause…

I was pretty pleased with that hand to eye coordination considering I couldn't catch a ball if I tried but apparently cups!!! yes!!!

and stirling market day yesterday, a bit of a chilly start but then the crowd doubled mid morning but it wasn't the gang buster we were expecting it was just another regular market day… neh mind hopefully december one will be better

 These wares are available at Milan Rouge contemporary craft & design Stirling, Urban Cow Studio Adelaide, Terrace Furnishings Glen Osmond Rd, Q Gallery Strathalbyn

and events coming up next Independent Makers Sale at Mr Sunshines Cafe Thebarton Saturday 30th November 11-2pm and The Wheaty Christmas Sale Saturday 14th December 12-3pm

Oh and the car! how embarrassmenting and the peeps just sneak in at the end of the day and drive off…not a word…nothing

So I was neighbourless on one side and spread out just a tad to take advantage of the lovely sunshine…

anyhoo loads of new stuff and galleries to stock up over the next couple of weeks…have a good marketing season my friends!

planet jumping...

I'm just back from holidays and getting my head around catching up with everyone and working on studio times. It seems like a blur...sis and I tripped over to malaysia then vietnam and stayed in Hanoi and Hoian for a ten day jaunt for my birthday, being a biggy B'day a big trip was called for…

The locations were stunning and  awe inspiring! the morning after my b'day celebrations we went mountain climbing in Halong bay and the scenery was just a bit reminiscent of fantasy island :P z plane z plane!!

And then back to Hanoi for more street scooter crazyness, a surprise great coffee cafe and chats with local uni students. Then hopping onto another plane to Hoian where we met possibly our favourite guide, so much fun and quite possibly a bit of a 'shite stirrer' and I say that in the nicest possible way it was like having my brother around!!

We shopped and walked and walked some more ....got the smellies on at the fresh food market and biked around the back paddocks and went gardening with the veggie farmers...all good fun then back to malaysia to catch up with bro in law and a stinky plane ride home overnight....aren't they just the worst! Counting down the hours and just wanting to be home! anyhoo made it back and a breeze through customs even the beagle was sleeping! they checked my shoes and everything else I declared but made pretty well sure I didn't bring home any nasties.

So sunday was the gallery opening for hills edge clay a great lil exhibition of local clay artists. It was a super turn out with lots of catchups and meeting new peeps too. The show is on for a while and if you cant make it I grabbed a few photos on sunday they are in my facebook albums.. well more sleeps to catch up on.....zzz for now