Thursday 31 May 2012

More jubilee goodies!

By the lovely KissMeKateCeramics.  Click here to go directly to her blog.  Kate is a very talented ceramicist.  She trained alongside me at Central Saint Martins and now has her own mould making business as well as busting out her own designs.  She is one busy busy bee!



I love this English Rose ring.  It will last you all through the summer and beyond, AND its a bargain at only £12!!

Glazing

Yuck! Been putting it off aaaaaalll day, but finally got round to it.

check out what it's done to my eyebrows and eyelashes! maybe its time to invest in some goggles?

Monday 28 May 2012

New Postcards







Gonna get these made up for Village Green at the end of June... Just for a general bit of advertising for the shop/gallery

Jubilee goodies II


Wow, everything is really flying off the shelves! I've sold all of my bunting and various royal celebration masks, but what has proved most popular are the Queen Liz jelly moulds and the commemorative tote bags! 

I sold completely out had had to re-stock!  They are great little bags with a cut little design, and handy for your shopping as well!  Three designs available.. Corgi, Queen in Mirror and Queen on Throne..





....aaaand i've only got one jelly mould remaining! Hurry hurry! ive aready sold 4! Perfect for your jubilee partay!  I'm going to attempt to make the actual jelly soon, maybe later today... cant wait!

Monday 21 May 2012

Leigh Art Trail 2012 working drawings

Its almost here! Got a month to go. Here's a few images of some of the things i've been working on and some snaps of Old Leigh for inspiration:













Lets hope i can pull it all together for the Art Trail!  Get them all finished!

Jubilee Goodies


Got some lovely bits and bobs to sale to celebrate the Jubilee.  Below is a selection:

Handmade Jewellery by-louise
 love these brooches... I think i'm going to have to buy one! Really original and very patriotic without it being obvious!
Royal Celebration Masks - perfect for your street party!

Queen Liz Jelly Moulds

Tote bags & prints by 2DScrumptious

Cheeky prints from East End Prints


There are a few more items of jewellery from KissMeKateCeramics. They are still being made as we speak!

Patriotic Ceramic Jewellery from KissMeKateCeramics - still in the kiln!


One big Update*

Haven't been on here for a while, so i'll just do one big blog post just going over what ive been up to over the last couple of weeks, well months:


I was at the SundayUpMarket at the Truman's Brewery a few Sundays back doing my best Del Boy impression by helping out Helen, my cousins other half with her stall selling prints.

Didn't like the early start! Especially it being a Sunday, and my only real lay in of the week.  Danny wasn't happy either being woken up so early - so he just came along for the ride.  Was a really good day, unfortunately I couldnt actually look around the market but from what I saw, i'd def go back again and spend a lazy Sunday wandering the streets of East London and browsing all the stalls.

AND the best bit about the day was getting to meet Baby George, the newest edition to the Johnson family!  He was three weeks old and lovely!  That's why Helen couldn't run the stall herself, being otherwise indisposed!  He is the first baby i've held properly, and not the last...

Here he is, a quick snap of when he was only a few hours old!



What else have I been up to? Oh yes, I've been working on a couple of commissions for various different people. One for a 40th birthday gift, which has been safely delivered but not given as the gift yet so I wont say anymore on that one.. ill put artwork up as soon as..

The second was commissioned ever such a long time ago for a Wedding present from my mum's best friends daughter to her friends.  It was literally 2 Christmases ago and the couple only got back to me recently, due to being on honeymoon and life getting in the way!  Instead of wedding photos on the vessel, we decided on the theme of their honeymoon - in Rio.  Its not quite finished yet as I am 'stockpiling' all my work so I can put a full kiln on.

Here's the artwork.  The image below states 'Sarah & David' but her husband is actually called Ian!  Im working on another commission and the couple are called Sophie & David! Got them muddled! But never fear, the final artwork did say the right name!


 
SLIPGATE! What a nightmare.  It was on a Friday afternoon and I was 'just quickly slipcasting' before I had to go to work. And then it happened.  The mould burst its seams.. I panicked, Julie panicked, the slip was going everywhere, we were slipping about in the slip.  Looking back, it was actually hilarious! Us both scrabbling around trying to find something to stop the slip pouring out!


Its not like the slip spillages we had in uni - I think its because we've bought the slip, we dont want to waste one little drop, whereas at uni it was always on tap!




Had a bit of a disaster that just made me want to give up! What with the 'slip-gate' the day before - Nothing was going right! My poor old mould broke!  I think it's because it was still quite damp from the slip spillage, it was all weak and crumbly and when I was cranking it, it just went!!  

Ive managed to seal it up and its still useable, but it is rather old!  I made them in university and I left in 2009 - AND ive been using them all the time up to now.  A rather good innings?

Luckily my friend Kate is a whizz at mould making so I will go down and visit her in her London studio and hopefully she can help me make a master mould for my pieces.



Ive been slipcasting alot, in prep for the Leigh Art Trail next month! EEEEK! Ive had a year to prepare and make for this and im doing it ALL in the last month! Typical of me!  I'll do a separate post for the Art Trail stuff


And glazing. Like my outfit?  That dust gets everywhere and coats every single hair!  My eyelashes were white at the end of it!

Oil was getting onto our pieces through the glaze gun so we were a bit worried that the compressor was about to die.  It was then we saw this sign:


Ah. Ive had it almost three years and not drained it once! That would be the problem then! Whoops... All drained and sorted now though!

Sunday 20 May 2012

DIAMOND JUBILEE!

Ive gone and jumped on the bandwagon and decided to make some Diamond Jubilee commemorative pieces!

Drum Roll Please....

"Gawd Bless you Ma'am" All three sizes

The collection is called "Gawd Bless you Ma'am" and are limited edition made to order ceramic vessels -(they will take roughly 2-3weeks).  There are three sizes available small 17cm - £60, medium 24cm £80 and large 34cm £100.  I know the Jubilee is only 2 weeks away, but I will be selling these throughout the year! to celebrate 60 glorious years of our good Queen Liz!

Large "Gawd Bless you Ma'am"



"Gawd Bless you Ma'am" Detail

Really liked making these actually.  It was nice to play around with royal images like the soldier and corgis mixed with british symbols such as the bulldog!  I wanted to keep it tongue in cheek and in my 'style', I wanted something that was a commemorative item, but also it doesnt look tacky or cheap, also without the queens actual image plastered all over it, these vessels would look great in the home anytime of year!