Updating My Blog!

It's been quite a while since I used this blog and I've now changed the name to include pottery as well as beadwork. Check out some recent pottery!

Brand New Bracelet!

Beadwoven Ladybug Flower Garden Bracelet. This bracelet's garden begins in the middle with a darling lampwork ladybug bead, made by another Etsian, mugsysbeads, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5011382! Candy makes fabulous lampwork beads, but of course my favorites are the ladybugs.

And of course, the garden has tons of flowers and leaves sitting on top of a pretty yellow 2-drop peyote band! Just listed on Etsy! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20193183

Past Passion for Pottery Revived!

It's true. I used to be a potter years ago, producing, selling at the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and teaching in my home studio. I loved it back then but eventually other aspects of life intervened and I went back to work full time at the dreaded money making regular job and the basement pottery equipment started gathering dust.

But recently, a close friend expressed interest in reviving the studio and learning how to throw pots on a wheel. I admit I was skeptical at first but he was so enthusiastic and positive we could fix the ancient wheel and kiln that I agreed. And so we got to work. First, we addressed the old Creative Industries electric wheel that had a broken foot pedal. After several phone calls and shipping old and new parts back and forth, we finally got the wheel working perfectly and began to throw pots.

My first pot after many years!

And next came re-attaching the kiln to appropriate electrical service. Not an easy task but eventually the kiln could be turned on. We also needed a new exhaust fan and that was purchased and installed. There were a few glitches with the Dawson Kiln Sitter but with the help of Stephanie at Rovins Ceramics http://www.rovinceramics.com/, it was adjusted to work right and we fired our first bisque load of pots.

Bisqued Pots on the shelves

Ah, so now we had pots ready to glaze and we had to quickly find out how glazes have changed over the years. We opted to try commercial glazes first and then later get into glazes made from raw materials. It was interesting that some of my old glaze ingredients in my favorite glaze recipes weren't available any more - they simply ran out of mined supplies.

We weren't very happy about how our first glazed pots turned out, but we were determined to turn some of our pots into Christmas presents (neither of us had much money for presents in 2008 due to the effects of the poor economy).

First poorly glazed pots

Our second and third glaze firings with slightly different glazes came out much, much better and we unloaded the last fired pots at 11:00 AM Christmas Eve Day, just in time to wrap as Christmas presents for family and friends.

Pots with glazes but unfired

The same pots after a glaze firing

Some of the pots we unloaded Christmas Eve Day

So, does this mean I'm giving up beading, polymer clay and drawing? Absolutely not! I'm just adding back into the mix an older skill and enjoying it immensely! Truly, there is nothing like the almost sensuous feel of silky stoneware or porcelain as it's turning on the wheel through your hands and watching a graceful form take shape under the subtle touch of your fingers! I can't believe I ever gave potting up and it's definitely back to stay!

More to follow..........someday there will be pots for sale on Etsy under the username aquarianpottery!

New Autumn Bracelets!

The weather in Michigan is simply gorgeous with bright blue skies, lots of sun and the beginnings of color changes in the leaves! I love Fall the best of all the seasons and that's reflected in the colors of the following two bracelets.

WOW!!! I Won An Award!

Award Winning Summer Cobalt Garden Bracelet

I'm proud to say this bracelet won 3rd Place in its category at the Prairie Arts Festival on August 30th in Mississippi! See the last picture for the plaque!

No, I'm not from Mississippi but was visiting my niece and her family. My niece Kris is working on a PhD at Mississippi State University. I'm very proud of her! She helped me with my booth at the Festival despite 94 degrees of hot and humid weather.

New Bracelets For Spring!

The Ann Arbor Sunday Artisans Market started in April with beautiful weather, more artisans than last year and eager customers. We were all a little bit surprised as Michigan is acutely suffering from the poor economy. Perhaps the higher gas prices are influencing people enough that they are sticking closer to home and "shopping local". Whatever the reason, I'm working hard to keep up my stock both for the Market and online sites.

Hence, more bracelets, my most popular beaded item! The first one is up for auction this week on Ebay, and the rest will be listed on Etsy over the next week. And more earrings are coming, and cabochons featuring some of my own drawings. It's looking like this is going to be a great year!

New Bracelets!

I've been very busy for the last few weeks setting up a new beading/polymer clay/computer room, and turning the basement back into a pottery studio. Yes, I said BACK into a pottery studio. I used to make ceramic pots and teach throwing 20-25 years ago or so. But I'll have more on that later, and pictures of the beading room when it's done.

Here are three new bracelets, only one of which is listed on Etsy - the purple pansy bracelet. But I'll be listing the others soon, on Ebay or Etsy.