it's the OSCAS wkd...

You just never know how an event will unfold...




This one The Australian Ceramics Association country wide open studio wkd had buzz from the beginning... we all pretty much stayed in touch via facebook and phone across the wkd to see who was out and about and what treasures were out there in everyone's studio :)

I had decided to focus on process for the wkd so peeps got a glimpse of how things are made and encouraging some kiddy involvement it really turned out to be fun! So in between dodging torrential downpours and freezing weather I had a decent number of peeps come through and really engage in work and process, so it doesn't get better than that!










Monday came and went, the studio is reasonablshape and raku kiln put away but my display is still set up that will be packed down tomorrow morning ready for the market on Sunday...
I diligently filled out the survey TACA sent out. And it gave me a good perspective on how things went because i could just focus on the crappy weather, so here's to next year! I may team up with a couple of peeps just to help each other out really and hopefully it's bigger and better!

I've just filled out an application for a Blues Festival Market in the Barossa in November which sounds interesting, if nothing else the music should be good!! On another note I just saw the first fly in my studio today that must be an indicator that the rain will stop and warmer things are heading our way :P

  

There's more cups to trim and more marbling to be done but it will have to wait as tomorrow I'm going to a Print Workshop at Gallery 1855 it lasts for about 6 weeks I think so I'm expecting to learn a lot and produce some work too. Sunday's forecast is looking ok and I hope a bit of sun as that always brings teams of peeps out early, I have fresh lemons to take with me, new raku pots and some of Mum's fingerless gloves too and a few beanies to keep those ears warm for the rest of the season...

I popped up to Milan Rouge Contemporary Craft & Design last week too, took a very spicy tasty soup up for lunch with ma chickies and took a bunch of photos from the SALA show...

We've also been up to the Park taking more photos of work in the landscape.
The wkd before last was lovely up there a tad slippery but lovely for a Sunday hike..

Anyhoo the raku came out a treat this is Emerald Shiny, a lovely deep glaze that lustres and reduces lovely in sawdust...

Well that's it, still loads going on... still trying to master the Tagines as the lids are not shrinking at the same rate as the bases, I just bisqued 3 more they are 10mm larger that the bases, I feel the hammer coming out! might be a good idea to stay away from the studio for a couple of days!

Head on over to the MUDCOLONY and see what else is brewing this week :)

ozmosis...

Well my chickies have done it again! What a lovely show they have curated @Milan Rouge Contemporary Craft & Design in Stirling SA. Since I didn't take a single shot!

I was too buzzed by the mulled wine and champaz I only took a sip and went cross eyed! So no more for me for a bit :P Darren has kindly given me permission to post his photos as he's very sneaky and grabbed some nice moments at the opening of Ozmosis for SALA yesterday.

 Here's a sneak peak of my work too, this I did have a moment to snap I'll get some new photos while they're on show this month. It is time I popped back up the the space and selected a few more pieces to show you.

And how about some kiln filling time! Its is extreme but when you're firing tiles you have to make something largish to fill the space and I did run out of usable kiln shelves... unfortunately second hand tool come with drawbacks and a lot of the shelves have glaze damage and the last available one I wasnt happy to put in and risk droppage of such glaze bits onto my work and yes on my list for buzzing off with angle grider! yes they are that bad..

And lil big birdie taking centre stage, this piece was a tester for my SALA work but ended up in the kiln with the work! And just checking out LGH clay body in oxidation and to my surprise its works really well... So clarity on the next clay order then... loads of LGH, its suits my tile work and shinos in high fire reduction.

Gulgong III the 'Mixtape' version...

Yep finally got around to doing video 3 from the amazing Gulgong Clay Push conference and road trip with my buds Anna and Connie, lots of fun, a really long stint on the road and an amazing conference!! so glad I finally got there.

There's all the best bits, well that was everything! gorgeous weather, tragic mobile reception and a brilliant crew what more could you ask for!?

enjoy...

tagine photography...

Another lesson in getting it right! My buddy Derek McClure shoots the finest couple shots and is an all round great guy came over to help out with the shadows I was getting trying to shoot the Tagines and this is the result with my version of the processing. A dinner catchup with friends is always the best and a lil photoshoot in my tiny flat just adds to the fun, food, wine and light boxes everywhere! I should have grabbed an external shot of the chaos, n'er mind you'll have to take my word for it..

Anyhoo my tiny lighting setup is one light box overhead but the biggest problem apart from scale with the tagine is the casting shadows and I knew I needed help. So Derek brought in 2 large lightboxes which lit the background, my lightbox over head and a little fill flash directly from his camera and CHING!! there you have it.. so easy when you know how :P
Derek will no doubt process the image differently and probably clean up all the spots and extra darkness, I kinda like flaws hence my reduction stoneware path I love blebs, spots, random events and general kiln contributions to my work so I have left them in..

breaking up is hard to do...

Snort....just kidding! Although I will admit to separation anxiety prior to this months market day, my usual market buddy had a sicky this month so mucho grande head space arranging needed to happen before sunday..... As it was a wild and windy day in Stirling a fair amount of hangin on to the gazebo was called for! And a lovely day with copious amounts of visitors which was just brilliant and I really didn't have a moment to myself til after lunch but that soon passed. Considering the crowd sparcity it was a good day and of course being well prepared with loads of clothing layers!! After experiencing too many frozen days I'm getting smarts about these winter days :))

My compressed market setup piccies, new mini tiles, stock of lil birdie and a smattering of new raku and some Obvara. Last week my fello Obvaries and I had a group burn at Annas place..and what a lovely day, the vids below.

And getting a couple of hours studio time to fill up the kiln again for my next Tagine firing. Gas delivery ordered for next week so weather  willing I can get these guys through the kiln asap. That last bunch of shino mugs inspired me, narrow necks and a slight tapering, oooh and a batch of teapots hiding under plastic somewhere.....mmm noice. So excited to hear a little package of one of those mugs made it to Melbourne safely today, happy cuppa time Georgia!!

  

And dont forget Mug Day is back! Milan Rouge this Sunday 30th June. Head on up the freeway it's the first set of shops at the roundabout.