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!

Definition of happy?

Definition of happy? Cookies, color and creative people. :)
Setting up the table for the workshop 'transfers' this afternoon.

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 :)

Updating my stock

Every now and then I do a stock update and make a list of feelings that I need to make in the feeling factory. The list is never empty and it usually grows while I'm making.
However, I always dream that it would be empty so that I would have time to start making new things. For now I'm just grateful that I'm able to make and enjoy. It also means that feelings are flying out of my studio and are lovingly adopted by many new owners. Thank you for supporting my work as it enables me to do what I love most. 

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...

Happy production

I made a big batch of Happy girls for the Fashion Museum in Hasselt. They have a jar of them in the museum shop and every time when there's a new exhibition I go and fill up the pot. Most of the time, all happy colors have dissapeared so I made more of those this time. It's a happy job to do. :)

1 + 1 = 3

1 + 1 = 3

I have some wonderful news to share with you all. It's been the hardest not to tell so I can't express how delighted I feel to finally spill the beans.
My partner and I are expecting a baby in August!
A summer child born in the year of the dragon! Can it get any happier? :)
We are without saying thrilled and can't wait to hold the little one in our arms.
Now you also know the reason why it's been a bit quiet on my blog lately: lots of energy went to the little us in my belly. The first trimester went smoothly and I'm feeling good and most of all very, very happy.
My blog does not really focus on my personal life but I just wanted to share our happy news with all you lovelies!

Happy weekend to you all!

Much love,
Mitsy

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?

Happy weekend

Irish blessing by SeedFactory

I seem to have a weakness for quotes lately...
Happy weekend, everyone! :)

Tulips

Spring arrived in my studio.And my co-worker told me that when you pinch a needle right below the flowerhead, the tulips won't open up so fast.
Worth a try but I don't know if it works, anybody heard about this before?
I did half of them with the needle and half of them are left unpinched so I'll probably know in a few days...

Perhaps...

Well Dang Me! It's Upside Down Grommit by Mystic Ed and Fluffy's

... try to look at things from a different angle this weekend...
Make it happy everyone!

Positive note

After my rant the other day, it is time for a more positive note as most of the time, it IS all positive.

Needless to say that I love what I do: make, create, share, show, wrap, sell and send.
I blush when I get messages out of the blue from people telling me they found my work and that it made 'em smile, happy and that they find it amazing and inspirational...
I get all fuzzy inside when someone shares why they buy a certain feeling. Quite often it's really personal but it connects me to the person I'm sending my work to and that makes it even more special.
My heart melts when parents order a feeling for their kid as it's high on their birthday wishlist. Kids are such honest creatures and for me, it's the biggest compliment I can get.
I'm grateful for all the treasury inclusions, blog features and press mentions 'cause without those, all of those above wouldn't be happening.
I grow a little bit every time a customer takes the time to leave a lovely feedback or send me a message to let me know they received what they ordered and are happy with it. And sometimes, they even send me a picture! Look here how ace Sam, Emma and Izzy look! It made me smile big time - thank you for sending it, Nicole!
I honestly think that I have the BEST customers ever.
After all, they make it possible that I can do what I love doing.
And I hope I can continue to do so for a very long time.
So, here's a big THANK YOU for all of those above and more, who make me happy lots and lots!

Theater op de markt

The past four days, there was an international open air festival going on in the city I live in. 48 groups played 279 acts/plays over 4 days on 27 different locations. The whole city just turns into a big and beautiful theather which is open for everyone. There are very intimate streetacts, impressive acrobatic shows, touching theather, big productions and lots of fireworks at the end of each day. It was already the 14th edition of this open air festival and I used to go there and manage to see most of it but I've become less greedy and now carefully choose the plays/acts that I really want to see.

Whenever 'de stijle want' is present, I'm the first one in line to see 'em. I don't have any pictures to show here but I did want to mention 'em in case they are coming to a city near you. They provide you a very short but intense experience and you usually go in on one side of a tent and one minute (or few seconds) later come out on the other side with a big smile on your face. I can't reveal any of the stuff they do as that would break the magic of the moment. Just remember to go and see them when you have a chance! ;)

The ministry of shortcuts

Stenzel & Kivits

the primitives

The following pictures are all from the same play. I loved it so I took many.

compagnie mine de rien - enfin tranquile

It's been a good few days laughing and enjoying it all...

Ripple dreams... part 3

Have you been looking forward to see the progress on my ripple blanket ?
I have been eager to show you.
Rippling is so much fun, I have been really enjoying myself.
Although I did have to unripple a few times because I didn't count carefully enough but I also found a way to cheat when I didn't feel like unrippling it all. :)
I just added a double crochet together (dctog) or did an extra double crochet when neccesary. And the fun part is, you can't see it - I love it.
Are you ready?
Right now, it looks like one, big long scarf...
Do you like the colors together?
Bad bad me, I still haven't sewed in the ends...
Each row takes me about 1,5 hour to finish and I did one every day this week. Not sure if I can keep up with this pace but we'll see.

I also think I have not ordered enough yarn & I don't have any yellow which I regret. I need to find some more yarn before I complete all first rows. Might do some shopping today.
Have you been rippling yet? Get inspired at Lucy's Attic! :)