These are ready to head up to Wiscasset, along with a stack of pendants and necklaces. I found this dish at a local discount shop (actually came in a package of 3): Perfect!

I now have a loaner computer, which is sweet, so now I can actually edit photos and not have the computer crash/freeze/start throwing runtime errors at me…etc etc. I think now that I have a working computer I’ll start harassing Fairpoint to get their butts in gear, fix the error on my order, and get my dsl to me.

Very few losses in these loads (4 to be precise). I was able to fire twice yesterday; I spent Saturday night (late) stringing the pieces onto wires, then first thing Sunday I did my first firing. Turned the kiln off before we headed off to a party, then did the next load in the evening. I have necklaces and rings heading off for consignment, so I needed to get this firing done. I’ll be epoxying (is that a word?) the ceramic pieces onto the adjustable ring bands this afternoon, and hopefully shipping tomorrow.

When I first took pictures I had all the pieces together and wasn’t really sure how I felt about this load. I then decided that comparing white clay with terracotta is pretty much apples and oranges, so I separated them out. Much better.

I’ve already listed some buttons in my Etsy shop, with more to come later.

I apologize for some of the funky formatting here lately. I’m trying to get used to the new WordPress dashboard and I haven’t quite got the hang of it yet.

I’ll be cranking up the kiln this afternoon, as soon as Isaac hits the sack. I was going to do it yesterday afternoon, but we were hit with some kickin thunderstorms, so I really wasn’t inclined to walk the 150 feet to the garage. Glad it doesn’t take long to load a bisque kiln of beads and pendants–summer has arrived today.

The pieces above will be going in, along with a number of other pieces. Hoping to get them glazed tomorrow and fired again on Sunday, as I have to restock one of my consignment shops. Once that’s firing I’ll work on a letter tile for a new baby in the family. Can’t wait to get back on the wheel, but Pete’s working on a new step mold in the garage and it’s taking up a lot of space. I’ll lay low till that’s done.
The babies are thriving–they’ll probably be trying out their wings soon. The other day I heard Mum and Dad having a fit in the pine tree–a few minutes later they drove a hawk out of the tree and chased it off. I think I’ll stay on their good side….

Today I had a little run-away day. No toddler to cut short my browsing. First stop, Barnes & Noble. I think I’ve said before how much I love books. I try to browse the titles I’m interested in,then I look for them used.

I then hit the magazine section to get my hands on the new issue of Creative Jewelry. I looked and looked for my ad. No ad. Hmmm…what happened there? Never got a message saying there was a problem with the file, never received a bill (but I’ve advertised in magazines before and didn’t get a bill till publication, so I didn’t think anything about it). Well, isn’t that special. It did get me to add the shopping cart to the site, but it has put a kink in my marketing plans for the fall and winter. I can’t say that I’m not hugely disappointed, as I really wanted to get my name out there. I chose this magazine rather than a monthly because I felt that with all the projects people would be more inclined to save it and refer back to it later.

Ah well, for the money I would have spent on the ad I can add about a bajillion listings to Etsy, so I think I’ll concentrate on expanding the shop. I’ll be doing a bisque firing tomorrow, so I’ll have some new listings soon.

I ended up hitting Michaels afterwards and got some new scrapbook papers which I thought would complement my pendants. I love the look of the slate, but I don’t want my pictures looking too similar to Round Rabbit’s pictures (I love ALL her stuff!), so I’m hoping to reshoot this week. I also got some teeny tiny clay cutter to use for earrings and rings. Something funny: I didn’t realize that the paper I got was 2-sided till I got in the car and flopped the bag on the seat. I spent so much time looking for very subtle papers that it never occurred to me to turn it over. Duh! Obviously I do NOT scrapbook!

Onward and upward!

3 Little Babies Sitting in the Nest

They’re here!  They hatched either last Thursday or Friday, and spend most of their time with their little mouths open, pointing towards heaven, waiting for the next meal.  Mom and Dad tolerate us while we work in the garage, which is so good of them   It’s proven to be somewhat disruptive for Pete, since he could really use that forklift, but he doesn’t have the heart to disturb them.

My pottery wheel works great!  I tried it out yesterday while I had a few minutes to myself.  I had three balls of clay wedged and ready, so I sat down at the wheel during Isaac’s nap.  One was trashed from the get go, another–so close, then I went to smooth off the rim, splat!  I actually had a bowl worthy of firing, but…I killed it.  Didn’t even get a picture of it as evidence.  Ah well, I know I can do it now.  Just have to get a wedging table set up and get a bunch of balls of clay ready so I can “sit and spin” at a moment’s notice.

Heather Player of Davis, CA, the winner of the Etsy Twitter Team Bridal Daze Drawing.  Here is just a sampling of what she will receive in her “basket”:

Cultured Pearl Earrings by South Paw Studios
Flower Cozy by Wayside Violet
Note Cards by Purple Lemon Designs
Shadowbox by Mrs. Kwitty’s Cottage
Kiss me Honey Lip Balm by Ambient Lights
Ice Capades Necklace by Three Peats Jewelry
Bridal Party Bracelet by Jack & Ella
Victorian Pendant by Winchell Clayworks

We also had a $25 gift certificate donated by Firebird House, and a 25% off coupon donated by Jus Shar Designs to be used towards the purchase of a shrug.

Don’t miss out on the next promotion by the Etsy Twitter Team: subscribe to our blog today!

To revisit the June goals:

1. Offer shopping cart on my website. Done!!!  I used the paypal shopping cart, and once I was on a roll it wasn’t too much effort.  I know enough html to be able to add more options to the glaze colors (they only allowed for 10 options, and really, is that enough?).  I will be adding the beads and connectors soon, but the pendants are UP! Word of advice: if you’re taking product shots, wear something white.  I was halfway through editing the photos before I realized that the coral t-shirt I was wearing had reflected into all of my shots, affecting the colors. Duh!

2. Decide on which designs I’m going to keep in stock, and prepare the bisque pieces for them.  Partially done.  I have a number of terracotta pendants and buttons waiting for a bisque firing.

3. Get my slip reclaimer working.  Apparently it leaks a little; Pete will get it fixed, but in the meantime he’s tweaking the pottery wheel he made for me!

4.  Submit designs for publication.  Not done, shelving this goal for awhile–no motivation.

5. Do I want to have a table at the town festival in August?  Hmmm, need to mull that one over. My parents have a building across the street from where the festival will be held.  I’ll save the table fee, have a table over there along with others in the family.  We’re having a multi-family yard sale.  If it’s raining (a very distinct possibility) I don’t have to show up–no money lost.

6. If my fairy godmother is listening, would having a dependable computer be too much to ask?   Yeah right, she still limps along.

JULY GOALS

1.  Get the beads and connectors listed in the shopping cart.

2. Throw something on the pottery wheel besides a gushy lump of goo (it was quite funny–worthy of you-tube).

3. Create some larger pieces for sale. I have a ginger jar mold that I’d like to experiment with, also some pitchers.  Decide if I want to offer slipcast pieces in my shop…

4.  Create some pieces for the ABS Challenges.  This month it’s the cave paintings in France…hmmm…

5. Figure out some way to make the rain stop already!!! Enough!!! I’ve grown gills and webbed feet!!!

I think that will do it for now.  Hubby has a week of vacation this month, so I sincerely doubt anything will get done that week….