More new things, hearts included, of course

Here is a batch of more new things, just out of the kiln yesterday.  I am still assembling another heart using some copper wire, etc., will post that when finished.  I am planning to make more of these beachy salt cellars with bamboo spoons (or maybe I will make ceramic spoons, at any rate, here is my first prototype, I think it will be popular:

And the every popular beach box, the last one sold quickly, this one is a little smaller, but I like it:

In the "heart" department, I fell in love with this fabric on a bag I bought at World Market and got inspired to make a heart similar to that pattern, I think it works don't you?

and some time back, I made a box with a paint drip design, so I decided a heart like that would be nice: 

and I tried a technique using slip for raised bits on a heart to look a little like texture on a canvas, also used a painterly approach to this abstract sailboat and funky garden heart: 

and lastly, another one of my tall boxes.  looks like slip trailing, but actually, I carved the designs into plaster (the back side of some molds that I bought), and use this to impress the designs onto the box panels before I assembled them.  

Seeing your work in print, what a surprise

I just got a catalog in the mail from Dover Publications

and was browsing through it.  I have enjoyed using their publications as references and to make silkscreens for some of my pottery.    Their artwork is royalty free so good for items of my ceramic work that I sell.  Over a year or so ago, I provided an image for their Pinterest site, showing projects/artwork people have made using their publications as inspiration, etc.  They have reorganized the site and I don't even know what board my item is on now.  So it was indeed a surprise when I was browsing through their catalog to see my box with the sandpipers in print.  Glad I didn't just toss it aside, since I usually browse via the internet.
Nice surprise, made me smile.  Love those little sandpipers.

More hearts and one box

More Hearts

The heart form is a great way to try new techniques

I have the shapes precut sitting in a damp box, so whenever I want to try a new technique, they are ready.  I have been wanting to try the monoprinting technique I saw some time ago on Ceramic Arts Daily.  So yesterday I tried it and these two hearts were made using basically that technique but editing them after.  Interesting and different.  I think I can use this again.  It is a lot like gelli printing which I have looked at for paper/fabric, actually wet clay works a lot like the gelli base.  I think it was fun and will be interested to see it once glazed.  I will try this again too.  Here are some photos:  I started by using two flat hearts before shaping, one I covered with red underglaze, the other with deep yellow (didn't take a photo of the base yellow heart) then on the yellow heart proceeded to draw/apply other Underglazes, and smeared with fingertips, etc until I got something I could work with, then turned that over on top of the red Underglazed heart and rubbed---when I separated them, had two different images which I then edited, adding more blue underglaze to one, and finetuning some of the other features, lastly adding a silkscreen quotation from Bette Davis to the original one.

Then after letting them set up a bit, shaped them into puffy hearts:

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 I will use clear glaze over them and they will be ready for firing

Found this draft from February ----I had intended to post then

So I will publish this in case anyone wants to see the "in progress" pics of the things I just posted below.  I often like to see all the stages of an item being produced.
"I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted.  Lots of sales, etc followed my last posting and most of the items are gone.  Finally getting around to doing some new things and the kiln just stopped and I will have more to share in about 24 hours.  Hopefully, there will be some interesting things coming out.  Again, whole kiln consists of things I am single firing at Cone 5, stoneware.  A rather large beach box will hopefully make it through OK, as well as some wall hearts (didn't make it in time for valentines day), but hearts seem to be popular at any time, like stars.  I have another set of kite flyers, this time two boys.  Have had a nice run with these, and even got a commission for a set of little girls from my art show in September.  Here are some pictures of the work drying/in progress.  Hope I will see happy things coming out of kiln tomorrow.

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I also did several pillow beads using my silkscreens, but got so busy I forgot to take pictures.  I always forget how much time is involved in last minute glazing, etc., and loading the kiln.