Adding to the Flock in more Ways Than One

Just a quick post today as it's been far too long. The past few months have been very busy. In the later stages of my pregnancy I was in the studio making as many birds as possible so that when our new baby was born I could time spend time with her and Emily.  Our gorgeous little 'Abbie' was born on 1 April. Yes, April fool's day. It really just makes her even more special. I went into hospital on the 31st and since I was induced that same day and being my forth child, we thought she would definitely be born on that day. Not the case and 'Abbie Elizabeth' was born on the afternoon of 1st April. Here's a picture with her big and very proud sister Emily (4).

 

 



A few new birds have been added to my range of  native Australian birds the last few months. I was asked by a customer on Etsy if I could make a Butcher Bird, a Wedge-tailed Eagle and a White Breasted Sea Eagle. So, as it usually happens, they are now a part of the flock. The butcherbird I will make on a regular basis that is for sure as it is already proving popular.

 



 

 

Some exciting news to share... A tourist outlet that is probably interested in carrying a range of my handmade ceramics in the Macarthur area. Hope it all comes together as I would like. Will know more in a few weeks.

 





Mother Nature and her Influence

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a love of gardening and nature. I am an earth person. Happiest when I am doing something with my hands and getting dirty. It's my way of feeling connected with the earth.

We all have people and moments in our life that have a lasting impression on us. It shapes who we are and perhaps what pathways we are to follow with respect to talents, loves etc. I also believe that we are all born with certain passions and talents, we just have to tap into them and discover them.

I was born in England. A magical moment for me when I was a little girl, was when my parents took us on a family picnic to the English woods. I was about 7 or 8 years of age. It was spring and I cannot begin to tell you how beautiful it was. I was in awe of the impressive old trees like oaks, birch etc reaching up to sky and blocking out the sun. Underneath was an endless sea of blue bells that took my breath away and the fragrance was amazing. That day is still so clear in my mind and the feelings I had as a result, I believe gave me a love and the connection I have today with nature.

My parents emigrated to Australia when I was ten. Australia is the place/country I call home. I love everything about our beautiful country. The flora and fauna constantly have me in awe,. The landscapes, colours and textures are so beautiful and as a creative person, I am constantly taking in my surroundings.

Like many artists, I take inspiration from nature and it is reflected in my work. This is what influenced my range of Australian native birds. The flock (range) is constantly growing. I really love seeing the people who buy them and their appreciation for the love, time and effort that goes into making everyone of them.

If you read my last blog, I mentioned that there was another new bird to my range. The "Rainbow Lorikeet' was a big hit at Coledale Markets on the weekend. Getting busy today making some more today, so its off to the studio.

If you are looking to purchase any of my little birds, please email me for suppliers or visit my Etsy shop. Link via my home page.

Thanks for dropping by today. Have a beautiful day.



Mittagong Market this Saturday

Off with my treasures to - Mittagong Markets - Saturday 20 October 2013, Uniting Church Grounds, 8 - 3pm
Mittagong Markets info link

If you are in the Christmas shopping mood this Saturday, why not drop by and see what the lovely Mittagong Markets has to offer. It's getting closer to the silly season and generally there are not only the great regular stallholders, but also newbies with plenty of great, unique Christmas present ideas to make buying gifts a real pleasure.

I have been very busy the last few weeks making some new and exciting Christmas tree decorations as well as my usual, popular hanging birds, which double as beautiful Christmas tree decorations this time of year.  My native Australian bird range make a wonderful gift for someone special. They look amazing not only hanging in the garden, but are lovely as a indoor decoration. A special gift for a garden or nature lover. See past blogs for photos of these.

At Christmas time, I make an arrangement in the centre of my Christmas table using natural gum tree branches in a wide vase or something similar then arrange a selection of my little birds for all to enjoy. It looks so pretty. I have had customers do the same thing and each year they come back at this time of year to see what other birds they can add to their collection.

My new and latest native Australian bird is the 'Superb Fairy Wren'. These have proved to be very popular at a recent market, but are new for my customers that frequent Mittagong Markets. If you don't want to miss out, get down to see me early on Saturday as they are my best seller!

Here's a flock of them in the making, all ready for a clear glaze and firing.

 

 

 

 

 

Psst.... a little secret.... another new bird to be released next month? Can you guess what it will be?

 

Can't get to my market? Then why not have a look at my Etsy Shop. Buy up to five items and I can post to anywhere in Australia for $6.95. Jan Wallace Pottery Etsy Shop Link

 

I will be adding some of my Christmas decorations to my shop in the next few days. So, keep a look out.

 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Creative Collaboration

Once a month, I visit retailer's who buy my work in Camden NSW. It's a great opportunity not only to replenish their stock, but to have a friendly chat. On visiting one of my customer's recently at a lovely boutique florist in Camden, Jennie from ' Merci Bouquet ' happened to mention that her friend in business Nicci from ' Cupcakes in Camden ' used some my little birds recently on on of her wedding cake creations for a window display.  Later that day, I searched for Nicci's website to find this pretty photo.

What a unique use for my little wrens. I am suggesting ideas all the time to my customers for their use, but this I would not have thought of. As it happens Nicci and I think very much alike creatively and I am looking forward to working with her in the future with various ideas.

Lots more happening in my studio at the moment. I have added yet another Australian native bird to my series. Here's Willy Wagtail. Plus, I have made a realistic version of a  a Superb Fairy Wren or more commonly known as the BlueWren. They are at the drying stage, so more picks at a later date.

 

I am off to "Mittagong Markets" this Saturday 17th August. Lots of unique gifts available, so why not take a drive to the Southern Highlands this Saturday as there are heaps of places to stop along the way.

Well that's enough about what's happening in my studio. Why not drop by Mud Colony to see what the other mudder's have been up to.

Thanks for dropping by.

Two New Australian Birds to add to my Aussie Flock

Wow, I have just realised that it's been two months since my last post.  How time flies...

Since my last post, we have adopted a new dog who we call 'Ollie'. Ollie is about 12-15mnths old and quite frankly, a menace but Emily (our 3 yr old) loves him. He is the world's biggest chewer and despite having a box full of doggie toys, he has a particular fancy for shoes. We came home one day to a sea of trashed shoes on our patio, after he cleverly lifted the lid of our outdoor shoebox. I am not kidding when I say that I had to throw out twenty something shoes. We then bought a new shoebox complete with locking clips either side of the lid. Glen forgot to clip both sides one afternoon and there went my new joggers. Anyway, despite all of that he really is a nice dog, just a bit pesty. Which is why Ollie and Emily probably get along so well LOL. They seem to understand each other. PS. I quite like having a studio dog again too :)

My two studio pests. Not much room for me in there now days.

Recently, I made a conscious decision to spend less time on the computer to make for more time in the studio and to spend with Emily, so that's one of the reasons for my slackness in blogging. The other is that I now have a business relationship with a few boutique retail outlets, so I am busy making stock to keep them happy which is great. It goes to say though that having a 3 yr old in our house means my free time is limited. If Emily is not hanging off my leg, or having a melt down, I am actually trying to spend some quality time with her. Thank goodness, meltdowns are becoming less frequent. Phew. Then, there's the housework. If only I had a housecleaner..... keep dreaming Jan.

As a frequent stallholder at a craft market in Mittagong NSW, (link here Mittagong Markets), I have noticed a pattern and that is, that people don't want or don't have alot of money to spend at markets these days. So, now I tend to make alot of smaller pieces that I can keep under $20. I still make my one of artistic pieces and they are always going to be a passion of mine, but for markets, smaller and cheaper is better.

For those that don't already know, I make a variety of things out of mud, from functional pieces, to sculptural work and then there is my love of birds, plants and all things earthy and old looking. Here are two new hanging Australian birds for this weekends Mittagong Markets - The Kookaburra and the Magpie. Plus I have a heap of beautiful brooches along the same theme as my hanging birds.

Australian Kookaburra - Decorative hanging bird

Australian Magpie - Decorative hanging bird

 Oh,  I also set up my 'Etsy' shop JanWallacePottery is my search name on Etsy or just click here to be taken strainght to my online shop. Jan Wallace Pottery Etsy Shop

See I have been busy!

Why not see how busy everyone else in the Mudding world has been too. Head on over to Mud Colony to catch up with some other mud bloggers.

Back into Pottery Prior to a Road Trip

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since my last post. I trust everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. I had a break from potting over Christmas and all of January. Been giving my dodgy shoulder (partial tear) a bit of a rest.

This week has been mental. We are heading off on a road trip to Melbourne in the morning and it's been a week of organising, appointments, decorating birds and pendants, packing and firing the kiln, packing the caravan and last minute housework ( I like coming home to a clean house).

Back into it the last couple of weeks. My first firing for the year was more of my little Australian Birds and just today I unpacked a load of Pendants and some more birdies. Some examples below. I have been working on some more varieties. More pics for follow after I get back from holidays.

Recently, on a visit to my husband's grandmother, I asked if she had any handmade lace or crocheted doilies that I have to use in my pottery work. She was very happy to know what I wanted to use them for and gave me a collection to take home. I am so happy to be using something so precious in my work that has a family history. I have used some to make some lovely marks on the pendants below.

Very excited to be leaving for Melbourne in the morning, but even better is that I discovered our trip coincides with the 'Pottery Expo'. It is held at Warrandyte on the banks of the Yarra River. I only realised it was happening after one of my friends from 'Mud Colony' mentioned it in a post. Thanks!

Why don't you catch up with the 'Mud Colony' family to see what everyone else has been doing.

Enjoy your weekend everyone. Until next time.

Hot Out of the Kiln

Just opened the kiln and happy to see that my little brids have all turned out beautifully. My Galah's, Kingfisher's and Cockatoo's look great. More to go in this week too. Crimson Rosellas and King Parrots as well as my standard ones. Now to get busy putting the ribbons on each one of these so they can hang up and be enjoyed. I have them hanging in my garden. They look bright and pretty and lead your eye around the garden. Many have been bought to hang on the Christmas tree too. These make a lovely, inexpensive Christmas Gift. If you are interested in purchasing any of these, email me for me details. I am happy to post to anywhere in Australia. Merry Christmas everyone and keep an eye out for my next kiln opening.

Is It Time to Slow Down Yet?

I have been slack in the blogging department this last couple of weeks as I have had my hands busy with making a last run of things for my next market in December. I have also decided to invite friends,family and locals to a pottery garden party at home in early December. As my next market is at Mittagong, having a party at home makes it closer and more personal for friends and family.

Things I have been working on this week.

Stand I made for my little Birds

Stall at Mittagong Markets

 We have friends over for a BBQ today, so its time to relax and enjoy the day. Have a great weekend everyone. Why not head over to Mud Colony to see what everyone else has been up to this week.

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. 





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