So Much to Do........

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for reading my post today. Feeling a tad overwhelmed at the moment. You know what it's like when you know that you have a certain number of days until the next market. Which broken down into bits, means that you have stuff all time left to make, dry, fire, decorate and fire. Arghhh.... Anyway, BREATH IN, BREATH OUT...... it will all be okay. Well, that is what I keep telling myself.

I feel like I have a hundred and one things to do. YET, I keep making more things, just to make sure.

For those that read my last post, Mittagong Markets went quite well. It blew an ABSOLUTE GAIL all day which was horrible. If you attend markets with your work, you will sympothise with me about windy days at markets. It was my first time there as a stallholder, so I was not sure what to expect. I have not long been back on the market scene. Did it years ago when my eldest daughters (19 and 17) were little. Now that I am home with a 2yr old, I think I have time to do it all again. Hmmm.....

I have tried a few local craft markets in my area, but found that there just weren't enough people frequenting them. Times have changed. My biggest seller at the markets are these hanging birds.  I make Christmas decorations as well this time of year, which are also popular, but these little birds are my bread and butter. I guess they are pretty and CHEAP at $4 and $5. I probably sell them far too cheaply considering the time and effort that goes into making them but hey, they sell.

Ceramic Birds with underglaze & glaze, various other glazes and fired to Cone 6

Original drawings and cardboard templates that i made

I started out by making a few very basic bird shapes and have now expanded to include more detailed birds like Kingfisher, Cockatoo, Major Mitchell, Galah, Willy Wagtail and Parrots. They do take me alot longer, so I might add another few dollars to the price of the new ones?

Kingfisher's and Cockatoo's drying

Anyway, that's enough from me so head over to Mud Colony to see what everyone else has been up to this week. 





Botanical Theme Pinch Pots

I made a heap of these little pinch pots to sell at the markets. My inspiration came from doing a bit of gardening and appreciating all the different textures of the various plants in our garden. They are a nice little piece to sell, that can be used as a trinket bowl for rings, ear rings, paperclips etc. People don't seem to think much about parting with a few dollars as a pose to the more expensive pieces. I really enjoyed making them. Single fired to 1200 deg c, I underglazed the textured areas inside and then it wiped back to highlight the plant design, then a clear glaze was applied to the inside only. The underside was left unglazed, as I like the contrast to the glazed interior and also shows the fingermarks of the maker during the making process giving them a very earthy and handmade quality.

Here is the clear glaze recipe that I call 'Perfect Clear'.

Perfect Clear (can also be single fired)
Cone 5 -6

Soda Feldspar            40
Gerstley Borate           30
Ball Clay                     20
Silica                           10

It is good to brush on with a wide mop brush and seems to even out nicely during firing.



Small Botanical Pinch Pots single fired to Cone 6



Botanical Pinch Pots

 

Wedding Favours / Gifts

After making a run of Christmas Decorations recently (see my last post), I got thinking that these lovely little decorations would make beautiful Wedding Favours, Wedding Gifts or Bombonieres. During a short spell from pottery (no kiln etc), I remarried and I recall how much trouble I had to find a simple, yet personal and pretty gift to give our special friends and family to remember our day. I ended up buying little boxes, coloured paper, sugar coated almonds and made my own little boxes which although were nice, these would have been so much better. They would have looked so beautiful on the tables, placed on top of each plate/napkin and a lovely surprise and talking piece as our guests sat down at their places. They could be used to decorate in other ways too, so the possibilities are endless.

The templates for these shapes I make myself from an original drawing. I stamp each one with clay stamps that I have made myself, I use glazes that I have formulated myself, so each one of these little treasures is a little differant and very unique.

I am quite excited, as I have heaps of other ideas too, which means more glaze testing, drawing and playing with clay. More time out in the studio. How wonderful.

Butterfly Heart Wedding Favour

White Floral Wedding Favour

Raspberry Red Heart Wedding Favour

Various Birds & Peace Dove Wedding Favours

Christmas Decorations ready for Next Craft Market

I have been out in the studio making various things for the next markets, but have really enjoyed making these gorgeous little Christmas Decorations. These make wonderful, inexpensive gifts. I write on the back in gold or silver pen to really personalise them when giving them away as gifts.



Peace Dove - Christmas Decoration or Wedding Favour

Handmade and Glazed Red Heart - Christmas Decoration or Wedding Favour

My next craft market will be at the 'Picton Creative Traders Market' on Sunday 4th December 2011. For further info go to http://www.ctmw.com.au/

How They Are Made

• I draw and cut out my own templates for these shapes, then cut around the template for each piece
• I use my own hand made clay and plaster stamps for the impressed decoration
• I make my own glazes and hand paint each piece
• They are fired to 1200 deg centigrade to ensure that they are strong and durable
• I can personalise each piece on special request

Wedding Favours / Bomboniere

I am looking at also making these for Wedding Gifts, Wedding Guest Keepsakes or Wedding Bomboniere. The little hearts, peace doves, birds and wedding bells in particular would work really well and I have a load of other ideas too (keep posted). They would all look great used on top of a table napkin on the wedding tables and can be given to the guest as a lovely wedding keepsake, doubling also as a Christmas tree decoration, just something to hang in a window or from a tree in the garden after the wedding day. On the day of the wedding, they can be hung from branches in vases as table centre pieces, or from the Bridal Money Tree to really add a splash of colour and add as a unique decoration idea. I can also see these being used to hang from a tree in the garden where the wedding ceremony is to take place for added decoration and to add to the mood and theme of the wedding. I could make smaller versions of these as little charms for the bridal bouquet to continue the theme of the wedding. If you are interested in any of these ideas for your special occasion or have a general sales enquiry, please email me at janwallace.pottery@gmail.com



White Glazed Bird - Christmas Decoration or Wedding Favour



Holly - Christmas Decoration



Glazed Christmas Tree

Bell - Christmas Tree Decoration or Wedding Favour

Peace Dove in Gold - Christmas Tree Decoration or Wedding Favour

Blue Glazed Heart - Christmas Tree Decoration or Wedding Favour

Red Glazed Peace Dove - Christmas Decoration or Wedding Favour

Well, it's back to the studio for me as I have more decorations to glaze and fire. Hope you have enjoyed reading this post. Please feel free to comment below or send me an email as I would love to hear from you.

Thanks. Jan