Drying moulds

I did plan to do some sewing but with the good weather outside, I wanted to take advantage of the sun to dry my moulds. So instead of getting my fabrics out, I covered my studio in plaster dust and an overal general mess. It is that moulds make the life of a ceramicist easier otherwise I probably would not make any at all! :)

Sunday morning glazing

Was awake early this morning so I decided to tackle glazing buttons for the fashion museum. Glazing is not my favorite activity but it sure is nice on a quiet Sunday morning with a latté on the side...
Happy Sunday to you! :)

Before and after

 Oops, I've definitely become a very, very bad blogger lately. I find it just really difficult to focus on my blog with everything else going on in my life at the moment. Trying to juggle my ceramic work, my job, preparations for the baby arrival, workshops, house work, free time, sewing, crocheting,...

I always feel there is too little time to do it all & it pains me that my blog is the victim of these hectic times. I used to schedule my blog a week in advance and I haven't been able to do that in over a year. But I don't want to force myself into blogging and try not to give myself extra stress so I just don't blog when I don't find the time. I hope you will bear with me and understand that sometimes it's just not possible to share, blog, write.

And you're not missing out on anything really. The past months I've been making lots of feelings & other ceramic work (porcelain) so that I can have some time off after giving birth. Nothing new and exciting is happening in my studio. I'm not working on secret plans. Just the usual stuff so there is also little to share hey?

I do plan to do some sewing in the next few days and I'm looking forward to a break from my clay table that has been dusty and used so much the past few months.
I'll be making some stuff for the room in the pictures. It used to be my studio and will now become the nursery. Thankfully most of the hard jobs are done in here so now the fun part can start: decorate it. Quite looking forward to that & I hope I can execute all what's in my head & heart...

Knit for Japan

A while back someone asked me if they could use my image as a background for their new site 'Knit for Japan'. It's a site where you can contribute your granny squares to take part in the worlds largest afghan blanket. After the blanket is finished and listed in the ‘Guinness World Records‘ book, it will be taken apart in regular size afghans and donated to housing facilities in Tohoku to support the victims of the 2011 Earthquake. Make sure to check out the site and don't hesitate to add a few squares to this lovely project! Scroll down on the site to find out more about the size and such.

In the mean time, I have made some progress with this blanket too. I tucked in all ends and crocheted all the squares together. It only needs a border of about 5cm to be completely finished but I'm already so proud that I've done all the ends.
This blanket will make the perfect baby blanket as it's too little for an adult -haha! It's 56cm by 84cm (22' by 33') now. I admire all those people who brave their way in making really large blankets too - the amount of time that it took me to make a little one is just crazy. But then, blankets like these are labour of love hey...

I have a few squares left which I will make bigger so I can contribute to 'Knit fo Japan' too! What a cool project! :)

Feast of recognition

Since the moment I was pregnant, the longing to share my story with the rest of the world was getting stronger. I just didn't know how. And then when Etsy asked me the question, about the Handmade portrait it was like a dream come true. I knew that it would be the perfect way to tell it but at the same time, I was also very, very nervous about it all as I'm not that much of a public person.
I like to keep things private but felt that my story needed to be told to 'close' a chapter that has had so much impact on my life. Even though the burn out dates from a few years back, I still get reminded every day about how it changed my life... in a very, very good way.

What I couldn't have imagined back then, did happen, the time that I was experiencing the burn out I felt there was no ending point, but there was... There were days that went by without doing much of anything. Physically and mentally, I was so tired, so empty and so distant from everything around me.
So when I started the '99 feelings'-project, I often had to 'force' myself to make/create/do but I also knew that it would give me energy back and that it helped me deal with what I was going through.
For a bit more then 3 months, I made a feeling every day, posted it on Flickr & shared it with 'my' community. And yes, I did go through a lot of those feelings myself...

The impact 'my' community had during that period is a very important part. Without them knowing, they helped me heal every day by following my work, giving feedback and just being there for me in general. I suffered, but had the most amazing network of on line friends to help me carry the load that was on my shoulders and in my mind.
Most important, it was my partner that has been my most soothing support during this time & I don't think I could have done it all without him.  He encouraged me to create and supported me every step of the way. It wasn't always easy for him either to see me so sad and empty but he stood by me and helped me overcome.
Here's a BIG thank you for all of you who were there on the journey with me, you have been an amazing support without even knowing it...

It took me a bit over half a year to feel better - which seems like a very short time but it did seem like a lifetime to me. I'm rather impatient so it just couldn't go fast enough. After I finished the project, my partner was the one to encourage me to buy a kiln and live my life as a maker/artist. Something I didn't really see happening but knowing that I had a platform as Etsy to sell my work through worldwide, gave me the confidence to take the very big step into the unknown...
I have the best customers who often share their stories with me and knowing that my work has meaning for them makes my heart grow...

The years previous to the burn out, I felt myself change from a happy and content person into an unhappy human being. And I hated it!  I've lost myself along the way of building a career and trying to be succesful in a job that I came to detest at the end. Now I'm happier then ever and living the life that I love. I could never have imagined I'd become a part-time ceramicist but I really did...
The burn out was apparently the way I had to go through to heal and I haven't looked back since... it made me stronger and changed my life for the better!
I'm back to the old, happy and very often, laughing Mitsy. I love to laugh and it feels great that I can do it wholeheartedly again! :)

Going public with my story has been an imporant turning point in my life so now I can turn the page and move on to the next chapter. The handmade portrait will be one I will cherish forever and it will remind me and many others that art can heal and that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you so much for the overwhelming response on my story. I've received numerous messages from people who have been or are going through the same and I will reply to them soon.  Just need a few extra hours in the day! ;)

XO
Much love,
Mitsy

The making of... invincible

 

Invincible was the first mini-art-feeling I made. As I mentioned in Etsy's Handmade Portrait, it is something I would love to be & feel always. It's such a strong feeling that encourages you to  go for it & face just about anything. Making the feeling is a complete different story. It's not as easy as it looks unfortunately and I must admit that I do swear and curse sometimes! :)
I start out by cutting the tail from a slab of clay. Then I place it on the base and trace where it should go. I make sure I add enough roughness and clayslib for it to be stuck really well. Sometimes, when I want to place the tail back, it breaks and then I curse. I roll out a very thin slice of clay and place it to the side to finish off the sides smoothly. I do this with a blunt, wooden tool. Then the magic with the wet paintbrush starts. I use a lot of paintbrushes to make things smooth and nice. And last but not least, the clay rib makes sure to smoothen out all the last bits. 
Ready to conquer the world now!

Etsy Handmade Portrait

A few months ago, I got an e-mail from Etsy asking me if I would be interested if they made a Handmade Portrait of my work. I felt honored to have been asked to share my story via one of their amazing movies. I love Etsy's Handmade Portraits!
And it couldn't have come at a better time as I felt really ready to share my story in public.
It has been a bit over 3 years that I started making my feelings and they changed my life tremendously.
Since the story is quite personal, I never really spoke about it in public.
It wasn't always easy either so I just waited for the right time to share.
And while a new chapter in my life is about to start, it feels good to share and hopefully it can be a source of inspiration for anyone out there going through rough times or experiencing the same.
It's up on Etsy's blog if you would like to see it. I think it turned out great.
Lots of work and effort went into those few minutes & of course I'd like to thank all the people who made this video possible and beautiful, especially Beth & Bao.

Enjoy & thank you for being part of my community!

XO
Mitsy

Workshops

I'm back from a lovely trip to Greece and coming home to rainy Belgium is not a very warm welcome. We really enjoyed the time spend in Athens with Anna (LilaRubyKing) and escaped a few days to a lovely coastal town recommended by her. A short get away that gave me lots of energy.
Being back home means that work is calling. I have planned some workshops in the coming weeks as there were quite a few people who told me they wanted to experience working with porcelain. I don't think I'll be doing any more workshops this year so in case you are interested, sign up while you can. You can find the information about them in the workshop button on my blog.