On the shoppinglist...

 

 

I've been working on the new collaboration project and my hand is sore cutting up a transfersheet. But the images are mighty cute and I can't wait to apply 'em onto the mosaic tiles. 

 

I love the colors & I'm pretty sure they will look awesome after firing.
Soon magnets to be and in our shops (LilaRubyKing & ArtMind)

About groceries and food

Anna (LilaRubyKing) and I e-mail each quite often and while we talk about our collaborative work, we also quite often chat about other stuff.

So while we were discussing a new, small project, we agreed on a theme and then got distracted talking about food stuff and grocery lists and then suddenly, our new collaboration is all about food and groceries.
Huh? How did that happen, Anna?

Anyway, all supplies are ordered and I'm waiting impatiently for it all to arrive at my home. I'm always excited about new projects so I can't wait to get my hands on it all.
To be continued...

MINORERROR

What a weird title for a blogpost hey? It's a coupon code that's available in my Etsy shop. While making the new line, there was some testing involved of course. And not all went right.
When I fired the pieces, I placed the plates on top of the bowls. The temperature I fire the transfers is not that high that I would think the glaze would be affected. Unfortunately it has and so I have some bowls and cups with minor errors on top of the rim or on the bottom of the plates or saucers.

The errors are nearly not visible so we decided to offer these pieces on a discounted price. If you have been eyeing the new work you can now get your piece at 50% discount. I tried photographing the errors but they are so tiny that it's nearly impossible...

Anyway, below you can see the images of 2 pieces only but on all the bowls, plates, cups, saucers, the errors are that minor. The errors are right below the text. Put on your glasses 'cause they are very hard to see. ;)

If you want to adopt a piece with an error on them, please go to my Etsy shop, purchase the piece that you want and add MINORERROR as a coupon code and it will give you a discount of 50%. 

I will update the pieces that are available here so come and check here what's still available... These are the pieces that have errors on them:

• Seadragon bowl
• Seadragon plate
• Coral bowl (SOLD)
• Coral plate (SOLD)
• Coral cup
• Coral saucer
• Bird bowl
• Bird plate
• Bird cup
• Whale bowl
• Whale plate
• Whale cup

If you purchase pieces with a discount and they are not available anymore, I will cancel the sale.
And obviously, the coupon code is only available on the Sea Level line.

Collaboration work in progress

While Anna has finished her part of the job, I'm waiting for the transfers to arrive so that I can start testing 'em. Can't wait for their delivery later this week and make the first samples!
Above you can see a postcard that Anna designed especially. When you order a piece of this new collection you will get it for free. Always nice to get a bonus! :)

Collaboration work in progress

Another sneak preview on what Anna & I are up to soon...
This tableware is not made by me but we loved it so decided to work with existing stoneware. And it's a big time saver for me too! :)
Put this together with last blogpost and you can get an idea what it will look like.
We're excited! :)

Collaboration work in progress

                                      images by Anna (LilaRubyKing & afjewellery)

A while back I told you that Anna & I are working on a new line. I asked Anna to send me some images of her sketchbook so that I could treat you with a sneak preview. We're excited about what we'll be doing next. I love the work that Anna did so far. Whales, waterbirds, sea dragons, krill, bubbles,...
All animals of the big blue! Can you wait? :)

New North Story rings

I made these rings a long time ago but never took the time to photograph them and put 'em in my shop. I came across them the other day and thought that I better do something with them.
They are in my Etsy shop now... More designs will follow soon!

Decalling

It's been a while since I did some decal work in my studio. But we (Anna & me) have some custom work waiting so I send Anna some porcelain pieces that she could decal. OOAK pieces are heaps of fun to make as not one is the same. You can have a preview of Anna's pieces in her blog. Although they are fun to make, I always twist and turn about placing a certain image somewhere. Is it too little? Is it too much? And the secret is to stop in time before you ruin the piece. 
I also like seeing how different Anna's pieces are to mine. I'm rather modest in combining an placing colors & patterns while Anna dares to use big color blocks. It makes her pieces really artsy I think.
Some of these pieces will be in our shops soon. :)
If you would like a OOAK piece of your own, please don't hesitate to contact us.

New start

A fresh year, a fresh start in the studio too. I'm finding it hard to balance my ceramic work with a little baby around but I'm sure things will get easier. Last fall, Anna (afjewellery & LilaRubyKing) and I have been discussing a new line. I find it so exciting to exchange ideas and discuss new work. And since Pinterest allows to have secret boards, we actually can have a joint inspiration board! Superfun!

Apart from that, I'm also doing a try out of a new product. It will take some time to develop and I hope it will work because I love the idea! Here's a sneak preview of work in progress...  I know it looks like a bauble but it's not! :)

Studio time

The last time I did any decal work was when Anna from LilaRubyKing was here in November. I do like applying the decals as it's so different from the usual routine I have in my studio. I do need a clean table in order to do decals so it's a bit of a pain to clear away everything.
But in a way it's good as it's always refreshing to start making a new mess again...

North Story - OOAK

When Anna from LilaRubyKing was here in November, we did some decal work together. Anna asked me to prepare some special shapes for that. She drew the shapes and I transferred 'em onto clay and handcut 'em. The process is the same as the other pieces but hand cutting each shape makes it even lengthier. And all edges need to be kind of rounded so that it's not too sharp to wear of course. But how fun it has been to work on them together. We were ooh-ing and aah-ing the whole time while making them and it was so much fun.
They have been turned into pendants with a sterling silver chain. And best of all is that they will be one of a kind (OOAK) as the images have been applied much like a collage.A fun detail is that even though we had the same shapes and decals to use, both our work is so different. You can find the ones that I made in my shop and the ones that Anna made in her shop. I went for minimalism while Anna went for artsy. :)
Do you love 'em as much as we do?

Working hands

Anna making

Mitsy making

Last week I picked up Anna from the airport and the days that she spent in Belgium just flew by. We've been working together for over 2 years now and it felt like we knew each other for a long time. We really enjoyed spending time in my studio and at the fair and even though we worked a lot it was great fun. Being able to work on our designs together was super and soon you'll be able to see some of them too.

I didn't take any pictures at the fair as there were far better photographers there, so go check out Elza D.'s Flickr if you want to have a peek.

Work in progress

These will be glued onto ring bases and make their first appearance at Stiel & Stijl.
I love the patterned rings! Can you spot a new color too?

Hand leaves

Another glimpse from the North Story...
Not much longer now before the new line will be in our shops!
Happy day everyone!

Tiny diamond

If you were curious what I have been cutting the other day... All tiny images like the diamond above. These screenprinted decals have been applied onto the tiny porcelain discs.
The image designs are from the hand of my collaboration partner Anna (LilaRubyKing). We don't want to spill the beans all at once and give you an overdose so bit by bit, the North Story will unravel... :)

Remember that we asked a while back if you preferred glazed or unglazed jewellery?
Thank you so much for all your response and opinions. It was a very close call and there were only 5 votes difference between the two.
Anna and I both leaned towards the unglazed jewellery so we decided to go unglazed. Such tough decission as decals are much easier to apply to glazed ware. I did run tests on the unglazed ware and it's definately a bit of a challenge but it looks so natural, different & unique that we're all jippetyjappety happy with the result. Not much longer now before we show more...

Cutting

Cutting 'till my thumb hurts... Lots and lots and lots of teeny tiny bits.
It's for the collaboration with Anna (LilaRubyKing).
We're in the final stage of the process.
After I'm done, I'm sending it all to Anna who will finish it off and photograph all the work 'cause she has mad photographing skills.
We hope to launch sometime in September. That's only a few more weeks - can you wait?

Sanding

My very favorite activity... NOT! ;)
But all done now and it's firing away.

Anna's worktable

Today, Anna from LilaRubyKing is treating us with some work in progress. I don't know anything about working with silver and metalsmithing is such a mystery to me.
It seems all so complicated: sawing, soldering, dapping, doming, using a mandral,... All these tools are unneccesary in ceramics as we can form the clay anyway we like - easy!
For some reason, metal and glass are materials I'm not attracted too to work with since they seem so much more difficult to give shape. I would be really frustrated trying to manipulate a material that is so laborious & stubborn. So glad that Anna is working her magic with the metal.
The little bear head is porcelain which I slipcasted from a handmade mould.
The result of the work above can be found in her shop... :)

Sizing

Testing the sizing of the rings. It's hard to determine the size as the porcelain will schrink quite a bit during firing. I'll be opening the porcelain kiln later tonight & I can't wait to see the results of these.

Dilemma

While working on a new collaboration line with Anna (LilaRubyKing), we sometimes face difficult decisions. Pondering between A & B and both being very indecisive, we turn to you to hear your opinion.

So, we're making new jewellery pieces and to be more precise: rings, earrings, brooches & pendants. All porcelain and that's were we need your opinion.
Do you prefer glazed or unglazed pieces for jewellery?

Glazed ware has no maintenance while natural pieces of porcelain might get a bit dirty when wearing. However it can be cleaned easily with a soft brush and luke warm soapy water. It will look as pretty and white as before and keep it's natural touch.

Below is a sample of partly glazed (right) and partly unglazed (left) ware. Perhaps it's hard for you to imagine without feeling it but if you do have an opinion, we'd love to hear it.
Thanks so much for your co-operation.