Sweet loVe

I LoVe getting mail… and packages.  My husband and I dated long distance for 9 out of the 12 months between the time we met and got married. Not that I would recommend that necessarily but it did allow for a few things.  We became very good at communicating over the phone and through the mail.  The post office will send practically anything (safe) with a stamp on it.   I sent frisbee post cards and Nalgene packages.  I still have a little bundle of letters from him that chronicle our falling in love.  Seeing handwritten letters and packages still stirs my heart.  

The package above is not from my husband or a surprise, but something I just ordered.  It is still sweet…  Every once in a while I like to treat myself with another potters work.  This cute honey pot was made by JustWork, a collective potters group in Vancouver (where we went on our “honey”moon). Just Work employs individuals who face some kind of barrier to the traditional work force, such as struggles with addiction, mental health issues, disability,  or homelessness. What a sweet reminder to sit on my counter, of my love and encouragement to use our gifts towards charity and empowering those around us in need.

ps. I am falling in love with this chocolate brown clay and feel the sudden urge to make lidded vessels!

knitting bowls & drippy glazes

It’s been a busy week, not as much catching up on sleep as I would have hoped for.  This weekend the weather is supposed to be beautiful, so I am planning a little nap in the sun and hike in the autumn woods – we’ll see if the kids cooperate.  It seems like I have had a little container theme happening this week with my posts.  Next week I will branch out, promise, fall is so inspiring for me.  Did you catch my leaf rose tutorial on design*sponge this week? Eek, glad so many folks loved it!

I will be returning to my needles once the chill returns.  I have had some requests for these little knitting bowls – don’t they just make you want to learn how!  These clever little guys neatly hold your ball of yarn and you can wrap your yarn through the “y” or thread it through a hole.  Each bowl is a little different – I am loving this new green glaze which pools into drips of silver.  Quite a few are now available at Back Alley Fibers and most of these pictured will be listed in the shop.  Lisa from the fiber shop gifted me with a beautiful skein of white yarn and a new pattern.  Thanks Lisa, I can’t wait to try it out!  Have a great weekend y’all!

 

 

aubergine leaf plates

 

 

I just went to my first sushi restaurant this past weekend. As a potter I felt very connected to all the handmade pottery tableware, as a non-fish eater I felt limited to the vegetarian section of the menu…

I picked up this asian eggplant leaf on my visit to the Dow gardens and used it to make these beautiful little plates.  I think they would be great for sushi.  I love the deep veins and scalloped edges.   I am kicking myself for not making a mold of it so I could make these little dishes again…  I love them, especially the purple ones!

carve. stamp. send

I don’t know why I haven’t thought to do this before.  I carved a little stamp to be used for all the odd marketing jobs, like little extra notes and stamping bags.  I kind of drew this up quick – can you see the little book the mug is on…  fun, fun!  I like how things are slowly coming together but still very much has the handmade feel.  I am still so thankful to be doing what I love while caring for those I love.  Etsy has been such a great platform to sell items and so far I have loved using USPS, you can print shipping labels right off of paypal, and stick them in the mailbox.  Easy,  I would so much rather be making stuff that sweating over shipping it out!