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New glaze colors! It's hard to tell, but the ivory colored ones have a crackled finish. I love it. Also, I must be on a blue green kick. The majority of my new glazes are cool colors.

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WIP hollowish form. Were you guys starting to wonder if I'd ever work with metal again? ;)

More for ClayOwl

Just listed all these pieces as jewelry components at Clay Owl.  Now I'm all caught up listing everything we have ready so far. 

The kiln just finished a bisque firing of some new pieces, I am anxious to try my new glazes! 

Also, on tap for today is to get my studio cleaned out.  Between one half metal working and the other half clay working, I've got one heck of a mess going.  I can hardly find anything.  I am hankering to get back to my metal and stones..... :)

To view all these ceramic pieces, please click here:

http://clayowl.etsy.com

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The sun is shining today! Have I told you that the Iris is one of my very favorite flowers?

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Sad little trooper that is the only thing blooming in our garden.

a little update at ClayOwl

 

 I just added a few new pieces to our ClayOwl shop on Etsy.   As I am trying to find my way in promoting this shop,  I am trying a couple of different ways of listing these pieces.  My goal is to make beautiful pieces that are very affordable.  Unfortunately now a days affordable also means simple.

I have listed most of these as ready to wear necklaces, but really the focals would be great jazzed up with other beads and things.  For that reason I am also billing them as jewelry components.

This is my first time working with waxed Irish Linen Cording (thanks to Lorelei at Jewelry Accord on Etsy).  It is rather affordable and I love the color it brings.  If a buyer should choose to use these pendants in their own creations, the linen cording will be a bonus that could be incorporated in as well!  And if not, you have a pretty little ceramic necklace to give as a gift or wear yourself.

Needless to say I am still having fun with clay.  I made a trip to a ceramic store in Ft. Worth this past Saturday, and bought more glazes!  I can't wait to try them out.

All Pendants can be found by clicking here:

http://clayowl.etsy.com

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Potted tulips in bloom at Central Market. It's almost time to visit the botanical garden! I love all the blooming flowers in the Spring!

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Tried my metal stamps on a scrap of clay. Weeee haw! I like it!

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My girl and her friends are doing the DI competition at school. The size of this thing is 8' x 6'

Clay Owl

 I've told you all before about my little artist at home.  My oldest daughter has wanted to be an artist since she was 5 years old.  She's been taking lessons in watercolor painting and acrylic painting and drawing  since she was 6.   I took her to an artists exhibition a couple of years ago and I really thought she'd love to see the artists painting.  I was surprised to find her reaction lukewarm.  Then, we made it around to the last station and there was a lady throwing a pot on the wheel.  Isabella's mouth dropped open and she just stood there and stared.  I knew immediately she wanted to do it. 

Over the past couple of years, I have been trying to find someone to work with her.  The first place she went was a chain studio that had the kids make some bowls.  She produced some nice bowls, but the teacher didn't teach any finishing skills such as trimming, sanding etc.  They did all of that for the kids after they had left.  The shop was more concerned with them producing a product that kids could show their parents and say "look what I made!"  And that is great.  But for a kid who wants to really be an artist, who needs to learn how to do all aspects of a medium, this wasn't going to work for us. 

She did a summer camp at the Craft Guild of Dallas, but really was in over her head with lack of experience.  I think now she could hold her own and really learn some things, but a year and a half ago it was too much.

That brings us to now when we have been lucky to find a potter willing to work with her.  She has been a godsend.  Isabella has been taking lessons with her for about 6 months, and we got her a pottery wheel for Christmas.  She is still very much in the beginning stages of learning her craft, but between she and I we have fallen head over heels in love working with clay. 

I have a little Paragon SC3 kiln here at home that I've been firing low fire clay and glazes  in big thanks to Tess of Nova of Sweden for the help in figuring it all out.    We use a large kiln for hire for Isabella's larger pieces.

That brings me to Clay Owl.  It is a little ceramic shop we have opened on Etsy as a collaboration shop with Isabella and I both making things for it.  I of course will be running it until she is of age, but the long term goal is for her to learn all aspects of running a shop from designing, manufacturing, photos, listings, management of supplies etc....  We named it Clay Owl because my girl is owl crazy. 

I enjoy making jewelry components, (surprise, surprise ;) ) and my little jewelry plates.  One day I hope to be brave enough to try the wheel myself!  I do love the break from metal working, dealing with clay is very different.  Much softer.  ;)

My style is similar to my metal work.  Full of texture.  Lots of hand stamping.  The glazes is what has me captivated.  I am thoroughly enjoying the color.  Mixing and matching, contrasting, complimenting.  I just love it.  I'm coveting a large kiln and working with high fire clays and glazes.  All in good time I suppose!

Following are some examples of the pieces I have listed in the shop.  I hope you'll get a chance to check out our little shop by clicking here:

http://clayowl.etsy.com 

 Plates for jewelry, candles, soap etc.......

 Wholesale lot of jewelry components.  I find myself making more pieces than I'll ever be able to use.  I will be offering wholesale lots like these in the shop and perhaps individual pieces or sets as jewelry components for all the fabulous jewelry designers to make pieces with.  This one is a mix of rounds with a hole and some flat backed pieces as well mixed in.

 Earrings

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My big girl got 3rd place in visual arts at school! :)

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Clay Owl by my big girl :)

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My big girl did some painting today! :)

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My girl thinks she's a monkey now. :)

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2 new

Only 2 new this week.  Just listed in my Etsy shop.  I used some of the handmade ceramic pieces I've been making!  I love combining the two, ceramic and metalwork....

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Happy Valentines Day! Deeeelicious chocolate from my big girl :)