New job

I have a new job!! One that is actually relative to the things I want to do with my life. Yours truly just got hired to be a jeweler for Tiffany's.

Lovely photo via purdyartco

Yeah, THAT Tiffany's! I'll go through eight weeks of training starting next week under an excellent and well known jeweler who's name escapes me (I'll be googling him as soon as I get his name again, I'd like to see if he has any work out there in internet land). I'll be mostly buffing jewelry at first but can work my way up to stone setter, then other processes. Great benefits, and best of all great people. Several friends I had jewelry & metals classes with in college have been getting hired also. So basically my eight weeks of training will be like getting paid to take a workshop with friends and other people who are probably also awesome. :) And before long I'll get to say things like "Oh, today I set diamonds in some platinum weddings bands. Another day at the office. *Le sigh* " haha
I'm also glad to be going to eight hours instead of my current ten. It will be worth the extra day I'll have to work because it will give me more time on a day to day basis to get work done in the ceramics studio when I get home. It will take a while to get used to day shift, but a welcomed change.
Also:

Botanic Layers large ceramic table flask

I have my Etsy back up finally, although several things are sold. I have more stuff like that to upload though, and more on the way. :)

Sometimes you have to make things for yourself

All ceramic beads made by me. Had'em stashed away since last year and just now got around to using them. The large turquoise ones are hollow, so while it is a long, really chunky necklace, it's not terribly heavy. :) I should have gotten a pic of it on me, but wasn't thinking. Maybe later. I'm really happy with it though, and plan on making lots of similar things to sell on my Etsy.

New things

Some new things are coming to my shop (finally!). Some of these are already sold to friends, but there will always be more. Were are also having a wood firing this weekend that I'm excited about. I'll be sure to have pics. :)

Ceramics article on Etsy's blog

A while back there was a two part article on Etsy's blog The Storque that was a great rundown of ceramics and pottery, how it's made, techniques, and some info on clay and kilns, etc. It's a great article for anyone who who doesn't know much of anything about ceramics and all the work that goes into it. You can read part one here, and part two here. It's very interesting and easy to read.
It was written by Jeff Campana who is a full time artist and ceramics professor at the University of Louisville here in Kentucky. :) He makes beautiful work and has a really complicated technique also, which he goes over in his article. Check out his etsy: CampanaCeramics
Some of his work:

Busy busy

I have a lot of new things to post and get on Etsy, but until I get the chance, here are some great things to look at. :)

Porcelain tea light delight by Wapa Studio


Paper airplane mugs by Dirty Dishes Pottery


Crater droplet case by Sara Paloma

Wordless Wednesday

ChristinaRomeo

LynnCardwellPottery



johnsonstudioart

carnevaleclay

In the Works

I've been a bit productive the past couple of days. It feels good! :)

I am trying a new clay body. It's called B mix 5 and is a lot like porcelain without being as fussy. It feels pretty good too, like buttuh! I made some teacups and mugs and used porcelain slip to decorate them.






I also got brave and threw a pitcher. I have trouble throwing more than 2 pounds of clay so I was proud to pull it off at least half way decent.


And here are some bowls on my regular stoneware clay body.





Can't wait to get these and more bisque fired so I can glaze them. I'll be excited to see how my glazes turn out on this clay body.

Beautiful ceramics on Etsy

There's so much great work on Etsy. Click to enlarge and enjoy the eye candy!



From left to right, top to bottom:
1. HonestWorks
2. alissaclark
3. DiTerra
4. lynswan
5. pinkkiss
6. stepanka
7. lbcooper
8. MarkHudak
9. shoshonasnow

Blog Love!

Checked my email this morning to find I had an Etsy order from the lurvely Lorelei Eutro! I've loved her jewelry and read her blog for a long time now, so finding she had gotten something I made gave my tummy a happy. :) And then she blogged it, which gave my tummy a bigger happy, woo!
She got these two mugs:




You should check out her Etsy, she makes the loveliest things. If I get the promotion at work I applied for, I'm totally getting something from her (finally!). Something in the arena of this maybe:

Lasting Impressions

*covet covet covet*

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! I think I finally have everything set up here. I'll get things rolling by posting some of my functional work. If you've drifted over from my old blog at tabmade.blogger.com , hello again! I've missed you! As for everyone else, grab a cup of tea and lets get acquainted!
.....I'm such a dork. :9

This bowl has sold at a festival, but I will be making more soon.

Large wood fired ceramic flask

Strange Woodlands hand built ceramic ring bowl

Candy Shingles ceramic tumbler

Topographical ceramic vase



These two mugs, and this bowl have also sold.

Test post

Just a test! :)