While browsing through my Analytics, I discovered that this ornament was featured on Weddingbee. Quite a treat reading all the kind comments about it.  This pattern and color combination will be making an appearance soon in an Etsy shop near you.

Here are some greenware hearts that I made last night.  I still need to prep the edges. For the larger hearts I used some plastic cookie cutters from Wilton; the upside is that the shape is symmetrical, the downside being that the cut isn’t as clean as it would be with a metal cutter.   I’ll be making more pieces this afternoon.  I need to make some of my “X’s and O’s” pendants, along with some more charms.  I also had a brainstorm this morning about some new pieces for people who aren’t  fans of hearts. They will still scream “Love,”  though!

I’m heading down to North Berwick tomorrow, weather permitting (the weather has been biting me in the backside, lately).  The kiln is down there, so my firing schedule will depend on which days my mother can take Isaac. Soon I’ll be down there six days a week doing taxes, so if I have the stamina I’ll be getting lots of firings in.  So much nicer loading the kiln in 68 degrees, rather than 20.  I can’t wear gloves or a bulky coat loading the little kiln, so the garage was getting a bit unpleasant to work in.

Lori Anderson picked out swap partners for her Bead Soup party, and I’ll be swapping with Eileen Snyder of Dorset Hill Beads.  She makes amazing lampwork beads–be sure to check her work out!

The clear tackle boxes were no longer working–every time I had an order to pack I’d have to go through them three or four times,.  I got this idea from Lisa Peter’s Flickr photostream.  There are also pockets on the backside of this piece, and I think I’ll probably store terracotta pieces on one side and earthenware on the other.   A vast improvement.

I still have a number of pieces to put in there, and judging by all the bisque I have to glaze, I’ll probably have to order another one shortly.

Is it any wonder I can’t get much done?

Remember how yesterday I told you I was off to Explore?  Well, I thought I’d start the year on the right foot by participating in Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Party. Each participant will send a focal bead, some coordinating beads, and a lovely clasp to their swap partner.  If you would like to participate you still have time to sign up–deadline is this Sunday.

And speaking of Lori–just before Christmas I was the lucky winner of her $25 Artbeads.com gift certificate drawing at her Pretty Things blog.  Sweet!   Of course, I’ve already blown through it, but I was well behaved and only spent a little extra.  Thanks Lori!

Off to glaze!

Erin at Tesori Trovati recently posed the question, “What is your word for 2010?”   I’ve been mulling it over for a couple of weeks, and I’ve decided that my word is “explore.”   There are so many techniques that I want to explore with clay and also with jewelry-making.  I have a pottery wheel sitting in the garage that I never really got a chance to use this past summer that I’m looking forward to playing with this year.

I received some mid-fire glazes at Christmas, so I’ll be able to play with the stoneware and porcelain clays that have been sitting, waiting patiently, for my my attention.

I’m participating in the  Beads-of Clay winter swap this year, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to get my goodies.

I’ll be particpating in Round Rabbit’s book club, hopefully drawing inspiration from my readings to create a new body of work.

Submitting to magazines, participating in challenges, new designs…so much possibility!

For those of you who make “stuff,”  I’m sure you’re doing the last minute hustle to get all the Holiday presents finished.  I think I have one more kiln firing then I’ll be ready.

The ornament above was part of a custom order for members of the local Morgan Horse Youth Group.  It was sort of a problem order; first round, the ornaments warped.  I cut out some new ones, no problem.  THEN during the glaze firing, every single one of them had glaze flaws.  So I touched them up and put them through again.  All the pieces made it out of the decal firing, which was nothing less than a miracle (not hot enough and the decal rubs off: too hot, it burns off).

I have the other problem of the stuff coming out of the kiln in this weather.  It was -3 this morning up on the hill.  I discovered that the trick is to wrap all the pieces in a dishtowel when I bring them up to the house.  Then, no peeking for hours!  They need to warm up slowly or else the glaze crazes.   Incidently, I’m also not that interested in unloading the kiln with bare hands in this weather.  As soon as tax season starts the little kiln will come back down to the office so I can fire and do taxes at the same time.

I’ll be participating in the Beads-of-Clay winter swap this year, so I need to get those pieces finished.  I CANNOT wait to get that package in the mail.  It will be a late x-mas/early b-day present. Other than that I’m taking a break from custom orders till January.  I need to get some planning done for the upcoming year.  I have a notebook full of ideas to play with and new techniques to implement.

Thank you for all your support over the last year, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

These earrings are available immediately in my Etsy shop. The Hope and Joy earrings will be available in forest green soon.   The sun is actually shining today so I’ll be heading out and getting more earring pictures this afternoon.

Well, the craft fair I attended yesterday was slow.  On the plus side, I have lots of stuff to list in the shop now.  As the day goes on I’ll get more ornaments listed, along with some holiday-themed pendants.  And a reminder–everything in my shop, including new listings, is 15% off till midnight EST on Monday.

Off to tend to the mountains of housework that didn’t get done this week. UGH!

In honor of the shopping madness that traditionally goes on this weekend, I’m offering 15% off my entire stock in my Etsy Shop.  Iwill be refunding your 15% via Paypal after you check out.  This sale will go on till midnight on November 30.  

I will be closing my shop for a short while on Saturday to attend the Neighborly Craft fair in North Berwick. My entire inventory will be headed to the fair, so if there is anything in my shop that you would like me to reserve, let me know now.  It will be closed from about 8 am till the end of the fair, then I’ll hustle to get it back open.

Off to shut off the kiln.  Hoping to get a few more bracelets and pairs of earrings made this afternoon. One more load tonight which I’ll unload in the morning, then I’ll be off!