Supermarketmagnets

So, they are finally ready to show you: the SUPERMARKETMAGNETS!
It has been such a fun project to work on and Anna did a terrific job on the illustrations. One is cuter then the other and I loved matching the colors together and applying the transfers.
There are 4 different color tones and 8 magnets in each of the color palettes. They hold a super strong neodymium magnet on the back and can hold lots of papers on your fridge or magnet board.
They are now available in my shop on Etsy.

 

 

Anna did a terrific job on the photographing of these supermarketmagnets don't you think?  :)

Preparing a new workshop

I've been asked to give a workshop 'mold making' many times and I've always been hesistant for a few reasons. One of them is that it's a very, very messy activity. I just couldn't imagine having more then 1 person in my studio making a mess but well, I've given in and the first workshop will take place at the end of april. I'll be sure to make a picture before and after. :)

So right now, I'm doing some preparation work and I'm making a few molds for people to use in the workshop. One of my co-workers bought an old house a while ago and she mentioned that she found so many old keys. Haha, that sounded like music to my ears so I asked her if I could mold them.
They have been laying about in my studio for quite some time but now I finally find the time to make it happen.

I made a double mold for pooring clay slib into it. It's drying now so I'll post a picture when I finish a porcelain key. Here are some images of the process:

My cup of tea...

Deborah is one of the people who participated in one of my workshops 'working with transfers'. She makes beautiful illustrations and applies them to tea pots and cups.

I love her work: it's cheeky and fun and makes me smile.

Since she doesn't own her own kiln, she asked me to fire her work and I get to see all the goodies that she makes first hand. I just want to share some with you because she intricately incorporates her drawings onto the teapots making sure that the image which is already on it, is part of her design.

BEWARE! Cute unicorn overload!!!

Who wouldn't want to have his/her tea or coffee poored out of one of her pots?
I believe that some of these will be available at de Vitrine in Brugge next weekend. There are many more designs so check 'em all out if you are in the area!! :)

Thumbprint cookies

 foto: Onar Originals

These cookies are a big hit at workshops and I have been asked for the recipe numerous times so here it is:

225gr selfraising flour
100gr cold butter
75gr sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
Raspberry jam

Heat the oven to 200°C. Add the selfraising flour and the butter in a bowl and mix it with your fingers. If neccesary, add some more flour. Add the milk little by little through the mixture until you have a soft dough. If the dough is too dry you can add more milk. Put teaspoons of the mixture onto a baking tray. I use a baking sheet to put the mixture on. It saves washing up. The biscuits will become twice as big as the dough so leave enough room in between the biscuits. Press the top of the dough a little and make with your finger a little dent into the top. Add a little bit of raspberry jam into the hole. Bake the biscuits 15 tot 20 minutes in the oven until they are golden brown. You can keep these 3 tot 4 days in an airtight container and for a month if you freeze them. You need to defrost them at room temperature and warm them again to get the crunchiness back. This recipe is for 12 cookies

En ook in het Nederlands voor de niet-engels-sprekers onder ons:

225gr zelfrijzende bloem
100gr koude roomboter
75gr fijne suiker
1 ei
2 soeplepels melk
Frambozenjam

Verwarm de oven voor op 220°C. Meng de zelfrijzende bloem en de boter in een kom en kneed het met je vingers. Indien nodig, voeg een beetje meer bloem toe. Dan voeg je de melk er beetje bij beetje bij tot je een zacht deeg hebt. Als het deeg te droog is, dan kan je meer melk toevoegen. Maak een hoopje met een koffielepel en leg het op bakpapier op een bakplaat. Ik rol er eigenlijk bolletjes van en druk ze dan een beetje plat. De koekjes worden 2 keer zo groot dus laat voldoende ruimte tussen de koekjes. Druk een beetje op de top van het deeg en druk met je vinger in het deeg zodat er een kuiltje ontstaat. Doe in het kuiltje een beetje frambozen jam.
Bak de koekjes 15 tot 2à minuten in de oven tot ze mooi bruin zijn.
Je kan de koekjes 3 tot 4 dagen bewaren in een luchtdichte container en voor een maand als je ze invriest. Je moet ze ontdooien op kamertemperatuur en opnieuw opwarmen om ze terug krokant te maken. Dit recept is voor 12 koekjes.

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 :)

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)

Free

Last week I had a very good work week in my studio. I had a few days off work and worked in the feeling factory.

When I have a list of feelings to make, I usually make a few feelings of the most popular ones. It's easier to make a few of the same feelings then switch from one feeling to another.

I also had a request to make 2 large free feelings so lots of free feelings will fill the kiln this time...
It's great to feel free, isn't it?