Hi everybody, I’m going to the Jersey Shore for a week with my family. I’ll be on the beach, and my computer will be at the Apple store getting some much needed tune-ups (“It’ll only be $400,” the Apple guy said, like that was supposed to make me happy!).
So enjoy a pic of a new square casserole dish I posted recently (yes, I threw it on the wheel and then altered it…) and I’ll see you all next week!
Thanks for all the great suggestions about the camera! I loved looking through all the awesome pictures, and it’s so hard to choose! I’m leaning towards the Canon Rebel right now, just because I’ve heard so much good about it and it can be upgraded with new lenses. I am going to be signing up for a digital photography course, so it would be great to take advantage of that and really learn how to use an SLR. On top of that, I see it most often advertised used on Craigslist for several hundred dollars below the retail price – I can possibly even score a deal that comes with a macro lens or a tripod!
Sorry for the lack of posts lately – last night I met up with my girlfriends and we had a pool party out at one friend’s grandma’s outdoor pool. It was so fun, with a bunch of girls, a box of pizza and a bottle of white wine! One of my friends is leaving for Costa Rica for a couple of weeks, so we got to see her off, too. Poor D. was fast asleep by the time I got home, but it was a blast!
As D. and I redesign my work space, we are improving my photo setup too. He’s re-working my homemade lightbox a bit, and I went out and bought a professional photography background for just about $35. I’m eyeing up some camera tripods on Craigslist, and the obvious next question is…. Camera upgrade?
My current camera is a real challenge to focus at macro settings, and I want something that will give me really close-up, really crisp hi-res images. Maybe with the potential for doing some print postcards and posters using my nifty new InDesign skills.
But I’ve been doing some research and my brain is swimming. To SLR or not to SLR? New or used? How many megapixels? What kind of lenses? What kind of macro settings do I need? How heavy do I want? What brand? Do I want to connect directly to my computer while I take the shots?
And, most importantly, can I get what I want and still afford to eat afterwards?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be great!
Ooo, the new work just doesn’t stop around here!
Here’s a new riff on my little dip bowl sets – a set of five, joined into a star! This was a real pain in the a$& to make, so you can bet you’ll only being seeing one. It was inspired by my popular photo for the original little dip bowls, which I had arranged in a star formation. I think this would make a really fun earring organizer for the top of a dresser.
Hmmm, you know what else just occurred to me? A really hot jewelry craft show arrangement using different formations of these little bowls. Plus a porcelain necklace tree? Maybe I gotta get together with a jewelry artist in the Philly area and make that happen….
As if we all need one more thing to take up time on the internet, I’ve got to direct you a website I found today on the recommendation of a friend. It is Layer Tennis, a digital design competition held live, every Friday afternoon. Two designers square off against each other, volleying images back and forth every 15 minutes while commentators respond with humorous write-ups. At the end, watchers get to vote on the winner. You can go back and look at the old ones (championship game was today!) and watch the process. It’s really quite amazing what these talented designers come up with – and doing it in just 15 minutes, to boot!
P.S. Image above is one volley from designer Chris Glass.
Wow, those teabowls were snatched up quick! Nice! Guess I know what I need to make more of…
Also new is this little vase with some whimsical flower stamps I was playing with! I like this because it was a little fooling around and fun for me.
As far as the glaze on these pieces goes – it’s actually the same as all my other more “honey” colored pieces! It’s just a little different color due to the natural differences in each kiln firing. This particular firing came out a very rich, dark color – almost a black, with white/gold highlights just on the ridges. All the variations you can get, just from the flames in the kiln, are part of what makes pottery a lot of fun (and occasionally frustrating!).
I know it’s been a while since I listed new work on Etsy, but things are finally starting to grind back into gear.
Here are a couple of new teabowls I made recently – I especially like the shape and the distinct “throwing lines” left by my fingers as I pull up on the clay!
Hope everyone had a fun and happy 4th of July weekend!
Mine was dampened by the fact that I had to work every day (the news doesn’t stop, unfortunately). But the nice thing was working the night shift all weekend and having a bit of time to enjoy the sun and beautiful weather during the day! I got to go on some walks around the neighborhood, hang out with friends and re-pot some herbs for our windowsills! Yummy cilantro, rosemary, basil, thyme and oregano!
One of D.’s friends even gave us a large tomato plant, which we decided to try to grow on the front step. I attached the pot to the railing in the hopes that it doesn’t “walk away” one of these nights – we’ll just have to see if it lasts! Either way, it was fun making a mess on the street and getting a little dirty. And I love all the extra green in the windows and the way the cats curl around the flowerpots!
For the last class of my Adobe Illustrator course, the teacher asked us to make a poster about the month we were born.
I always think about trips to the amusement park on the last days of summer when I think about my birthday, so this is what I came up with. Hope you enjoy!
Big thanks to Sharon, of Manamoon, for including one of my swirl heart beads in a treasury this week! Looks awesome, and it would be great if you went on over there and gave it a click!
In the Night Kitchen 