Hey, y'all. I'm here to write about pottery today! If you've been following along, you know that I've got a thing for sculpting coral reefs out of clay. I'm honestly pretty obsessed for someone who has never seen a reef up close before. But if you could see my instagram feed these days you'd notice I've been looking at three things lately: Witcher memes (bc c'mon. How hot is Geralt?), coral reef structures and wild mushrooms.
The coral reef collection goes back the furthest, because I have been obsessed for a while. See my first set of sea life mugs:
It all started in November 2016 with the Star Fish Mug
Obsessive texturing.
November-December 2016: The finishing process
Aaaand totally finished in January 2017
Pretty sure my sister got this one. Possibly my MIL.
I got started on the second one while the Starfish Mug was being fired. I know for a fact this one went to my MIL, because she loves Sea Horses
Please excuse the shitty lighting. I'm honestly just happy I got photos at all.
I ended up brush glazing all of these, which is not something I usually recommend unless you've got brushing medium. I didn't, so the Blue Celedon didn't get applied evenly.
Then, there was the mermaid.
The texture on her tail, and her overall design, really, was inspired by another potter in my class at the time, Kim, who exclusively hand-built. Kim made all of her own texture tools and sprig molds to decorate her exquisite, tall vases. This particular pattern of fish scales was created using a small loop tool,some patience and a lot of confidence.
Yeah, I didn't bother attempting to sculpt a human face at this scale, so I just cheated and gave her some eyelashes. Her hair was not quite as fine as I wanted it to be, but you know. First pancake. I also didn't attempt to sculpt her any hands; I hid them instead.
The background. carved out coral structures and fish are my first thoughts on the subject. I didn't know at the time that these were the beginnings of a serious, intense fascination with underwater textures and organisms.
I still have this mug. It was my work mug for a long time, and I got a lot of comments about it.
It holds 16 ounces very easily.
I know this because I spent the rest of 2017 brewing 12 ounces of coffee and then adding 4 ounces of creamer and who knows how much sugar into it.
Her handle isn't great; it's way too thin because I wasn't great at pulling handles at the time. I've had a lot of practice at it since then, so the next time I put a mermaid on a mug, said mug will be a lot more functional.
In the years since I have moved away from creatures to focus mainly on coral. Follow me on Instagram to see the Sea Life Mugs that I'm working on now. Thanks for reading!
Update: I made a YouTube Video about all this! Check it out!
I love cotton yarn! I don't know what it is about cotton that gets me, but I love to use it! Today, I'm working on a set of extra thick hot pads in grape and ice blue Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton. I pick up skeins of Kitchen Cotton from Amazon when they are less than $3 a piece. I guess I just find crochet cotton so useful in my own house that I want everyone else to know about it! I can't even tell you the last time that I bought paper towels or an actual hot pad. With cotton yarn around, who needs 'em? NOT THIS GIRL :D Today's project: This particular pattern is very easy and results in a great textured fabric. Built using four strands of yarn (two of each color), this extra thick hot pad is going to stand up to even the heaviest of heavy hot pots.
The NorthWesternBelle Issue 1 November 2017 Welcome to my monthly newsletter! This is the first one, obviously, so it's probably going to look different than any other ones to come. I have been planning on doing a newsletter for the last six months, but could not find the time to design what I wanted it to look like. Which brings us to the first bit of news: I am now unemployed! For the first time in my adult life, I am not employed. I worked for the same company for nearly 12 years; in fact, they let me go one day before my 12 year anniversary date. So, without 40+ hours of someone else's work to do, I have the time to focus on my own. Is it terrifying? Yes. But, it's also exhilarating and liberating! I am excited for the opportunity to truly focus on work that is fulfilling and satisfying. So, this month is going to be about pottery! When I saw my instructor in class last night, she was very supportive and encouraged me to come work at the studio
Sooooooooooooo over it, you all. Seriously. This was legitimately a conversation I had with the hubby recently: Him: There's an asteroid that could hit the earth in November. Me:...I kind of hope it does. Like, might as well. But in true 2020 fashion, it's not fucking big enough to do any damage anyway. Fuck you, 2020. You never fail to disappoint me in new and creative ways. I mean, on top of the current social/political clusterfuck in this country, we've got FIRE TORNADOS and two goddamn hurricanes. Let's not even talk about the 17 year old white nut case. I can't even with that rn. I'm embarrassed to live here, and that's the fucking truth. Preach, Dwight. Preach. Okay so everything sucks, but there are some rays of sunshine out there. Like, for example, I looked for a job for a bit and submitted a few applications here and there and then boom. I have a job now. And! It's not even one that I have to take out of desperation where I have to do stuff in
The texture on her tail, and her overall design, really, was inspired by another potter in my class at the time, Kim, who exclusively hand-built. Kim made all of her own texture tools and sprig molds to decorate her exquisite, tall vases. This particular pattern of fish scales was created using a small loop tool,some patience and a lot of confidence.
In the years since I have moved away from creatures to focus mainly on coral. Follow me on Instagram to see the Sea Life Mugs that I'm working on now. Thanks for reading!
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