Workshops spring

Finally I have taken some time to take out the calender and plan a few workshops in my studio. You can find the new dates on the workshop tab on the right hand side.

I have a new workshop which is called 'working with transfers'. In this workshop we'll use different pieces of colored ceramic paper to make collages on existing tableware. The idea is to create your own set of tableware. You need to buy and bring your own tableware since I don't know what everyone's taste is. You can buy brand new tableware or go to a second hand shop and choose some pieces that you like. I think about teapots, bowls, plates, cups,... Or if you like, you can buy tiles in the hardware store and make your own set.

But in case that you would like to have your own designs printed onto ceramic paper, you can let me know in advance and I'll bring you in contact with the company who does that or I can order them for you. Here is how you need to prepare your artwork:
All A3 sheets will have an unprintable border around the sheet. If you are preparing the sheet in Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator you will need to ensure the document size is 28cm x 40.5cm This will allow us to print the work without any image cropping. Image resolution should be 300dpi for good quality reproduction. They can only except JPEG high level format.

Please note that the material cost nor the shipping cost is included in the price since it depends if you like to buy a material package or have your own transfers printed. I will fire all work after the workshop and send it to you or you can come and pick it up. Shipping depends on how heavy the things are that you bring. You can check the prices per weight on the Belgian post site.

If there are any more questions about this workshop, please contact me for further information.

Here's a little sneak preview on our new collaborative work with transfers...

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.

Workshop results

I had the first workshop in my studio yesterday. I had people come to a workshop before but then I always knew a few of them. So, I was a bit nervous to do a workshop with people I didn't meet before. You never really know what they expect but I did plan to give 'em an awesome day and I think they had...

Apart from nearly burning lunch (grilling + chatting = disaster), all went well and we had a great time. I loved seeing a creative bunch come up with ideas and trying out things that I hadn't even thought off.
I don't show much of any examples when we start as I don't want to impose ideas into anyones head. So I basicly tell people what they can do and let 'em find out the posibilities and limitations of the material themselves. I think that gives fab results and it's great to see that all styles are so different. It's a bit like getting a blank canvas and having to paint onto it: scary in the beginning but once you start, you can't stop...

Some people worked very organic and combined beautiful bold shapes with delicate textures.Others tried painting with pigments and I found that very inspiring as I never tried it myself before.
And another person had a very minimalistic approach and brought and tried lots of textures and stamps. My eyes got bigger everytime she pulled out her little suitcase to bring out another amazing texture - so much fun!This all will look even more beautiful after firing and I can't wait to see the results!

For free

I live together with a Dutch man. He's from Maastricht, the Netherlands, so historically I'm taking back to Belgium what was initially ours.
That said, Dutch people always try to get a good deal. It's their trader's blood, they can't help it...

As a modest Belgian, it certainly takes some time to get used too. Even shopping in the supermarket can be a challenge. He seems to have a magnet inside that brings him to the 'free stuff'. You know, those products usually have stickers on them 'free item' and in small letters underneath 'if you purchase this product'. So, ocasionnaly, he chucks a 'free item' in the shopping cart without buying the product that entitles you to get the free product.

When we go to the check out to pay, he just drops all the items on the cashier's desk and the cashier person always looks up when she/he grabs the free item to scan. Of course she/he inquires if the products that entitle you for the free stuff are bought. He always says 'no, but it has a sticker on it that it's for free'. Then the person behind the cashier desk explains him that you get the free item if you buy the product. What then usually happens is a discussion between my partner and the cashier person and most likely, he get's away the free stuff.

I can tell you that the first time he did this, I was shocked. I didn't really know if I should feel ashamed or should start laughing out loud. After all, we don't need all the free stuff. It usually ends up in the second hand shop.

So when I told him yesterday that I have a workshop next saturday, he said: 'you don't have to go and buy bread bags for lunch as I have some' and then he magically pulled open the cupboard and showed me these:

Here you have to buy 2 times 6 bottles of water to geta free bread bag.
We never bought the water but we do have 3 bread bags.

And he also took care of the aprons... although I want to alter 'em first before using 'em:

Here you have to buy six-packs of special beer.
We buy beer but not always this one.

I now know that it's a sport for him to walk away with the free stuff - he loves the look on the faces of the cashier desks people when he cheekily says 'it says it's for free' in his Dutch accent in Belgium. Sometimes they stare in disbelieve! LOL :)
For him, it's also a personal campaign to try to get rid of the free stuff they give with products in Belgium. In Holland, they just give you a discount instead of all the rubbish you get for free.

What else is on the free stuff list:

• 12 small whisk tools for the kitchen
• 40 mugs
  
• 30 drinking glasses
• 50 beer glasses
  
• 25 cheese trays
• 10 cheese knives
• 4 soccer balls
• 12 plastic storage boxes
• 2 play boomerangs
• 1 huge tennisbal
• 5 inflatable beachballs
• a pair of sunglasses

And that's the stuff he can remember...
Guess who's doing the grocery shopping around here? It's not me anymore...

Yesterday...

... I had some lovely people in my studio.
I love it when it's filled with chatting, laughter and lots of creativity.

This lady, Veerle from nevousinstallezpas,

asked me to throw a party for this lady, Marie from MarieMoo

And she secretly invited another friend of Marie as well.
Genious plan for a surprise party.

And lots of lovely things have been made.

We ran out of coffee but changed to bubbles instead. Oops!
Need to put coffee on my shoppinglist for next time although it was a lot of fun with the bubbles! :)
If you are interested in doing a workshop @ ArtMind, feel free to contact me for the details.