Oh My, this year has got away from me

Thought I'd better get another post in before another year clicks over.

I have done a number of firings this year and will be doing another one this week.  ... Oh I just love loading the kiln, but love cracking it and seeing the end result even more!

This next firing will be a mixture of all sorts of things, including some glazes that I've made in my studio as well as some items from my son's daycare.  I made some tiles for the toddlers at Oliver's daycare which they had great fun decorating.  The plan is for these to be layed into a path in their play area. 

I also took some clay to our playgroup last Friday and did hand prints of all the kids there, they will be a nice Christmas present for Dads or Grandparents.

I've also been busy on the wheel trying to churn out some bowls and beakers which will be Christmas presents.  Some big salad bowls will be fired as well - trying to use up some brs.  Some piks to come.

Another year!

Would you believe I'm only getting the time NOW to catch up on life and all the things I've wanted to do for the last few years. Finally I have my kiln, its a paragon auto and we're still getting to know each other. The studio is pretty much ready and waiting, I even hired a slab roller and have a heap of slabs waiting to be used. So... what has taken me so long, what am I waiting for? TIME! My son Oliver is 18 months now so I'm starting to get the hang of this juggling thing, he's a very busy man and the little time I have to myself when he sleeps is usually taken up with cleaning up the house and finding the kitchen.

Anyway I'm excited to be planning to get back into my ceramics, my reference books and glaze receipes are beside the bed, not sure what will be my first few pieces after such a long break but its all good. To get my hands back in the mud and fire will be fabulous. And guess what, its a new moon so all these things are happening for a reason.

I'm a great believer in making things happen for me rather than sitting around and waiting. xo

New Year - ALREADY??

Its been a while since I've had the time to sit and write, in fact its been a looooong time since I've been in the studio. A small renovation turned out to be bigger than expected (thanks to the builders!) .

My advice - MOVE OUT, don't try and live around builders. Three weeks with no kitchen, using the laundry sink for washing up, takeaway food and the only usable room in the house the bedroom + water coming in through a non existent wall wasn't fun!

So needless to say I still haven't been able to locate my studio under all the rubble, I hope to have it back in full swing by the end of Feb.

Stay tuned!

An update

Its been a few months since I've sat down and looked back on my work over the last few months. Before it gets too far to remember I thought I'd better do now!

I've been testing quite a few glazes and finally have at least two that I will incorporate into my current work. Over the past few months I have also picked up a number of fabulous glassware pieces that I've been making moulds of. I really enjoy the greenware clean up process, paring back to tidy the finished product - as strange as it may sound it is actually quite enjoyable and relaxing! Except when you press a little too hard and then (@#*#JK(*#

I still can't seem to get building big out of my head and have done a few large coneish shell sculptures. One of my mentors is Mark Chatterley who just amazes me with his whole working process. I'll never be able to build as big as Mark's work but his work certainlly challenges your line of thinking.

Also I am working hard on the wheel to master that thing (is it ever possible??) with the help of my teacher at Tafe Carol. Now the end of year is close most of my classmates are working on their end of year work from home which means those at class have a little more one on one time with our teachers - great for me!

I'm also refreshing my skills learnt at the Winter School Printing on Clay Workshop I attended in Bowral in July this year and will incorporate this into my wheel work. I brought some of the samples back with me on the plane however I'm still waiting for a box of them to arrive by mail - can't wait! Shouldn't be too long now.

Progress for my book "The Sculptors Toolbox" is coming along very nicely. Interest from sculptors of all mediums has been great, the submissions to date are mostly out of the ordinary in terms of tools - not too many main stream items - which is going to provide a great read.

A few fabulous submissions from some truly talented (and patient) international sculptors. The quality of the images supplied has been great. We've extended the deadline date for another month; just to allow a little time for those gathering their images. An example page should be up on the website soon http://www.thesculptorstoolbox.com/

More soon.

Chards

Over the weekend I went to the Shed (still go there occasionally) to pick up some previously fired gear and brought it home. I got home on Monday night to find the shelf in my studio had come away from the wall dropping its contents onto my newly fired stuff!! Not happy Jan.

Note to self (and Partner) shelves need to be permanent!

I've had a few days to get over it but its still pretty upsetting. I had this awesome paperclay bowl I had made which is now in smithereens.

Student Again

Its been a while since I've written, since then I've enrolled in ceramics at Tafe. LOVE IT!
Its great to have access to some awesome tutors and the class is full of inspiring women of all ages. The facilities are great and am just so glad I'm there to further develop my skill.

Australian Ceramics Triennale

As if the Printing on Clay workshop in Mittagong wasn't enough for my brain, why not totally emerse myself whilst in NSW so.. thats what I did. I attended the last day of the Ceramics Triennale and didn't I have an awesome time!

The presentations we incredibly informative on subjects close to my heart such as working in the disability sector for therapeutic reasons as well as the fun challenges of exhibiting.

Noosa's very own Rowley Drysale sat on the Value of Exhibitions panel with Curator Peter Haynes and Gallery owner Helen Stephens which was chaired by the whitty and well travelled Janet Mansfield. Rowley's presentation about exhibiting for artists was bl**dy hilarious.

I also chatted with a few of my heros and put faces to some names I have been following for some time. Another presentation I really enjoyed was the Ceramic Passport presented by a number of artists who have attended residencies in China, Egypt, and France. This is certainlly a goal of mine one day.