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

The making of... passionate

The feeling passionate is made with starting out to roll a slab of very thin clay. I cut out shapes of flames and save them in a wet cloth. Then I start applying the flames onto the still moist feeling. When all the flames are applied, I go over them with my clay rib to smooth them out a bit. Then I make sure that you don't see much of the rough edges of the flames anymore and use a wet paintbrush to go along them. It is then too wet to touch so I'll let it dry for a while and afterwards I use my pointy rib tool to make it all smooth. With a fine needle on a cork, I apply some lines on the flames so that it gives it a bit more depth. Our cat loves to sit on my lap when I work which is not always the most comfortable position but I can not refuse her to sit with me... :)

The making of... curious

To make the feeling curious, I have a little template I use to transfer the 'keyhole' onto the feeling. I trace the template with a blunt pen. Then I cut out the sides and the hole. When the clay is still soft, the sides usually get a bit wonky so I use a thin piece of wood to make it even again. To finish it off, I use my paintbrush with a little bit of water. That last bit is the most intricate part of it all and practises my patience...

Storytelling

Image: Jonas Lampens

About a month ago I was invited by Conlibrio, a group of consultants, to participate in a story telling event for their customers. I was very hesistant at first because I don't feel confident enough to speak in front of large groups. But they said it would only be small groups and well I gathered it would be a bit like telling my story on a fair so I agreed. I packed up all my 99 feelings and drove to Antwerp. The setting was really pretty and thank goodness I had enough room to spread out my body of work.

It was a lovely experience and all the participants were really interested and taken by my '99 feelings' project. For me, it was also the first time that I told more about the reason how they came to life and that felt really liberating. I will share this with you too but you need to wait just a tad bit longer...

Image: Jonas Lampens

The making of... ambitious

I like making this ambitious feeling. The process involved is straighforward and fun. First I roll a thin slab of clay. Then I place a little paper tie onto it and cut it out. I trace the tie onto the feeling and scratch the surface a bit on the feeling and the back of the tie. Then I apply some clay slib and press the tie onto the feeling. I finish off the edges with a wet paintbrush.
Do you feel ambitious sometimes?

Quietly working...

... in my studio and enjoying it to pieces!
What are you up to? :)

The making of... naughty

Naughty is a fiddly feeling to make. The tiny pigtails are very vulnerable and they break quite easily while applying 'em to the feeling. So I always make a few before I start applying 'em to the bottom of the feeling. I mark the spot where it's supposed to go and then apply some clay slib and stick the tiny tail onto it. I press lightly with a clay tool to make it stay and finish it off with a wet paintbrush. It usually takes me about 4 or 5 tries before the tail is stuck on it's bottom. So naughty is also a bit stubborn...

Feeling wise

A while ago, Anca from Happyhangaround asked me to create a custom feeling. She has a thing for owls & loved to have one of my creations among her collection of owls. So I got to work and came up with the above. So glad she loved it. I think it turned out cute.

The making of... creative

When I first started doing ceramics, one of the first things I did was raiding my dad's tool cabinet. There are such interesting tools you can use to apply texture to pieces and this hole maker has given me much pleasure so far. I use it to make holes into ornaments but also to apply to the feeling creative. When I make 'creative', I usually make a few as it's easier to work in batches. I always start with the biggest circles and last I make the smallest ones.
I always apply my logo and a number on the bottom. Creative is a popular feeling, it's together with curious one of the most bought ones.
The images are a bit off color but that's to blame on the lousy weather...

Fired stress/balanced

Here is the fired stress/balanced feeling. It came out of the kiln today and is looking lovely.
So happy that it worked & I hope that the recipient of this feeling will be able to balance his/her stress too!

The making of... love

The making of love is not very hard but applying clay to clay is just a tad bit more tricky then taking away clay and takes time and patience. For the heart, I roll out a very thin slab of clay to cut out the heart. I use a heart cookie cutter but because I find that hart a bit too long, I cut away a piece so that the heart is 'rounder' at the bottom. Then I roughen the place where the heart is placed and the back of the heart and add clay slib so that it's 'glued' together. I finish the edges with a wet paintbrush.

The making of... stress

The feeling stress is partly made on the couch and partly made in my studio. For a few evenings, I roll little spikes that I keep in a container. When I have enough, I apply them to the base of the feeling. I start out with holding the feeling upside down and carefully place each spike next to each other in a bit of slib. When I nearly reach the top, the feeling is too heavy and delicate to hold. Then I place it onto my turning table directly onto a kiln shelf. That way I don't have to move the feeling anymore as it's superdelicate once it's finished.
Once 'stress' is fired, it's very firm and sturdy and it's a fun feeling to touch. :)