Wabi Sabi, Crafts and David Byrne

http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2010/05/052910-arts-n-crafts.html

i found this article over on a friends blog ,of course i love David Byrne's music, so went on to read what he had to say about crafts, found it so interesting..not new..but food for thought.

new mantra

i want to do more sculptures..i need to do more sculptures..

i must do more sculptures.

ohm...

New Little Masks

Lori's Bead Soup Party was all i thought about the first part of the week..it was so much fun viewing outstanding works of jewelry from so many amazing crafts people.

Now that's over, i am back to work in the studio..

once again attempting to get/stay organized ,plus do some clay work in-between cold spells.. my clay area is best suited for warm weather..but i did get these little masks finished and fired.

They are listed in my Etsy shop ,spiritedearth.etsy.com.

I'm in the midst of Holiday production...
Fortunately many accounts have been placing their orders early this year...
Of course by potter/clay standards 5-6 weeks is not a long time when you factor in making the pieces, drying times and firing schedules,may be some refiirng included .. it will be Dec. 1st in a flash.
My goal is to have all current rattle orders out next week...If the weather will cooperate...is that wishful thinking ?
Then i hope to get some time to make sculptures..

Animal welfare in hard economic times.

I've have a neighbor who belongs to Friends of BARC a group who volunteers at the city animal shelter...BARC is always in need of supplies and donations..
I've been considering designing a tile/plaque, easy to produce, from which a portion of the sales would be donated to different animal welfare organizations...i already donate, when i have extra funds, to the Houston Humane Society.
 During this bad economic time we are seeing a large number of pets being abandoned...if you cannot keep your animal please do not just shove it out the door to fend for itself..how cruel...take it to one of the many animal shelters .

kiln misfirings

I made the mistake of loading/firing a kiln while too tired...
who has not done that? we all  know the events that can follow.
 I had not looked to check that the kiln  was starting on LOW..
when it was time to turn up to medium i discovered it had been on High from the start..what to do...
 i turned it down to med for 90 minutes then back up to high..and said a prayer to all who would listen
this morning...good fotune...only one bottom blew out...with very little mess.... no big mess to deal with is a potters dream when disaster strikes...
and now we know...the rattles are very forgiving...onward to glazing today.
note to self...slow down ..pay closer attention..

Etsy and such

I am finally setting up a shop on Etsy. Listed as spiritedearth.etsy.com . It has taken some time only because i don't have a clue what i am doing on the computer.. however, it is really a wonderful site for artists, crafts people and anyone who likes handmade things.