Focussing on free time...

I have had 3 days off work and it felt like I had a 3 week holiday....
Since I decided to scale back my activities in my studio, I feel so much lighter.
No pressure, no work deadlines, no e-mails.
Spend lots of time outside walking with the little one, did some sewing, did some toddler crafting, we made cookies, our weekly thrifting adventure, did some reading and even cleaned the house a bit.
I focussed on my free time and stopped doing bits and bobs in between and it made a world of difference... I think I need more of that!

Pathetic drawing skills

When Julie saw the dried penguin she made yesterday, she opened up the folded paper and squeeled excited: 'Mommy, a book!'
But when I asked her what was inside she said: 'nothing, Mommy'.
I told her that the Penguin on the cover looked dirty.
She looked at me like 'You don't like my penguin?'

I said: 'Yes, but I think he played in mud all day.
Let's put him in bath.
She got all excited while I was drawing a bath tub.
I asked her: 'what does the penguin do after his bath?'.
'Watch television, Mommy?'
So I drew a couch and a television.

The next page was full of stains from her previous painting so I told her that the penguin didn't like to watch TV and preferred playing in the mud.
She giggled when I was drawing the penguin in the mud.
Then her good best friend longneck (giraffe) ended up on the page too and she smiled from ear to ear.
After playing in the mud they had to have dinner together.

 And penguin wasn't tired at all since he wanted to jump on the bed before going to sleep.

My drawing skills are pathetic but Julie doesn't mind at all.
She loved making this book together and couldn't stop reading it since she knew exactly what was going on on the pages.
Now I'll go make her color her book...

Still alive

It's been ages since I wrote on my blog. Not that I wanted to neglect this spot but somehow I did. Since I'm back on Facebook I find myself posting more stuff there then here.
I feel bad for neglecting my blog but I will try to take care of it better in future.

As I wrote in my last post, I still find it hard to work in my studio. I can't concentrate on stuff long enough to really get anything done and it's really frustrating. I have a head full of ideas that want to come out but I don't seem to have enough time to make it happen. And while business on Etsy is really slow, I didn't have to think twice when more work hours were available at my current job.
I apllied for them knowing that it would give me less studio time but also less stress and frustration since I don't get anything done and have time nor energy to promote and sell my work on line.

It's a bit of a turning point for me. What once made me happy and changed my life completely is now giving lots of stress. I don't find it easy to cope with the pressure of having to make, create and promote my work anymore. Since Julie came into our lives, lots has changed. Positive changes.
It's hard work raising a child but it is also very rewarding and fun. And we sure do have fun.

I just want to spend as much time as I can with her while she is still little.
I want to giggle, read books, craft, jump in puddles and have teaparties with my little, sweet girl. She is the best that ever happened to me and I don't want to miss this precious time in her life while everything is still new and wonderful. When I look through her eyes, I learn a lot again of what I lost while growing up. It's making me happy and content to spend time with her.
So that's what I do now. Anything else can wait because it's not important for me now.
My studio won't run away and my clay is not going anywhere either. Time will come again that I will get my hands dirty and my ideas into 3D.



Today we got our hands dirty, although that wasn't the plan. But hey, it's more exciting to change plans than to stick to them. I made potato stamps and wanted to make some simple cards but that seemed a bit too hard because Julie liked to stamp all over the card. She just rubbed the potato over the entire card and made a huge mess of them.

Then I changed the plan and drew a large penguin and made her color it.
 First with paintbrushes but that didn't last long: she just decided that fingerpainting is more fun. She's right: making mess is fun!

At work in my studio

 I've had a few people coming to my studio to work with transfers. I love it when I see all the pretty illustrations and color designs. It's a fun workshop and thankfully there hasn't been anyone who hated working with transfers. :)

My absolute favorite piece is the vessel above. I love the girl with her real life goldfish balloon!
The vessel was scored at a local secondhand shop that I visit nearly every week and I wish I had found it first! LOL :)

More busy hands

The second workshop 'working with transfers' was today and hands couldn't be busier cutting and placing the transfers.The kiln will be steaming hot the next couple of days firing all that has been made! Will show some results when it's been fired...
Soon I'll announce new dates for fall! First I need to get my act together for the ceramic fair this Sunday in Maaseik, Belgium. Still lots to do and so little time! ;)

Workshop porcelain

Today I had a few ladies in my studio for a workshop paper porcelain. The studio was clean and tidy yesterday evening.

In the evening it was a mess which made for a happy heart as that means that the participants enjoyed themselves. They were very quietly working and very, very productive.

Can't wait to fire and send them their work and make happy smiles on their faces! :)

Workshop working with transfers

The first workshop 'working with transfers' filled up really fast so I added another date to the calender. On Tuesday 25th of June from 1pm till 5pm. If you want to participate, please send me an e-mail.

In the mean time, I've been preparing a bit for this workshop and made a few examples. If you don't design your own transfers, we work with colored sheets and make a collage on existing tableware.
I went to the secondhand shop to gather some pieces. It was so much fun to make 'em totally different.

These pieces are not fired yet so the colors will be different when fired. So curious how they will come out of the kiln. I especially liked the penguin on Julie's plate. She's supposed to turn lime green. And the fondue dish will make a nice painting dish when she will be bigger. Can't wait to get crafty with her! :) I hope she will take after me when it comes to creativity...

Fail

So, I thought I woudl try the mould that I made the other day. Of course I couldn't wait for the result and opened it too soon. I have two parts now, not quite what I wanted it to be. Oh well, it will make a good test sample...

Anyone an idea what this will be? :)

Cookie cutter love

I love cookie cutters! And while posting these images, I regret that I didn't take one of my cookie cutter jar. It's nice and big and always puts a smile on my face - even if it doesn't involve cookies...

Flickr Favorites

1. popjes, 2. Untitled, 3. Scarborough Beach Huts, 4. .. splash !

I can't get enough of happy colors.
They give me an energy boost and make my heart jump.
Do you like happy colors & what do they do to you?

M.I.A.

Just before the weekend ends, I'm quickly popping into this space to let you know why I've been a bit M.I.A. (missing in action) here... I finished all my orders and I decided it was time to wind down a bit and it's doing me good. Spending time at home, taking walks, going out with friends, and I'm still working too but there is no pressure and it allows me to chuck in some stuff I've been wanting to do for a long time. Like sewing for example... I quickly want to show you the skirt and dress I made. I bought the fabrics in sale and they are both knitwear/jersey. My favorite fabric as I don't need to do zippers! :) The skirt is my own pattern - an A-line skirt from one of my favorite skirts.The dress is a pattern from Knipmode (November 2010) and attaching the shoulders wasn't really explained well so I had to inform with my co-workers who are sewing wizards and they helped me solve the mystery. I was so happy when I finished it today. Yay!
Hope you had a fun weekend and I wish you a wonderful start of the new week!

Are you ready...

Best friend by Toyokazu

... for weekend adventures?
Make it happy!

Weekend impressions