Ceramic Button: Dragonfly

Ceramic Button: Porcelain, mixed media
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a

Translucent porcelain, mixed media.

I thought it would be around longer, but it was barely listed before someone claimed it!

A design I created for other work, then turned into a stamp for ceramic. Metallic gold to copper with subtle, iridescent blue to violet wings.

Ceramic Buttons: Tenmoku Glaze

Ceramic Buttons: Tenmoku Glaze
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a

So, last night's firing ran late. It included quite a bit of anticipation, after the last load, which had some unanticipated results.

I have not yet opened the lower shelves to see how the reds performed (they and the pinks had a cool tinge last time, very unattractive!).

However, I'm very pleased with the tenmoku items you see here, especially this one:

Holiday Gifts (kinda)

As a mom and an artist, I'm pulled in so many different directions, I don't always get a long stretch of time to muddle or to spruce up webpages...or studio space...or bookshelves... (you get it). As a result, holidays--especially the ones where The Teenager gets on a train and goes to visit her sister 150 miles away--are invariably days of intense work for me. I stay up too late, eat too irregularly, but I get a lot done.

In 2005, I threw up a quick tutorial on how to make sterling earwires, using a pair of pliers and an ink pen. It turns out that page alone probably gets more visitors than any other, on any of my websites. I've been meaning to clean it up for a long time...it was done "down and dirty," with a view toward usefulness, definitely not beauty!

I cleaned it up a bit, today, and thought I'd share it...with the price of sterling these days, you really should DIY

Earwire Tutorial

Dandylion

Dandylion
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a
One of several recently gone out the door.

Ever a fan of dandelions, I especially like this button, with its near watercolor background.

The Latest Porcelain Buttons

The Latest
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a
It's not a bad return when 20, out of a freely experimental load of 100, come back worthy of production.

With this kiln load, the ratio was nearly reversed...and I am very happy.

Expect more pictures.

Porcelain Fibula

Porcelain Fibula
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a
Another piece of my work that recently went out the door. I'll confess, I said goodbye with a twinge!

Now in the hands of a maker of handspun yarns, I would love to see the knits that this will adorn.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/64142017

Honey Bee Pendant

Honey Bee Pendant
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a
Very pleased to say this has gone out the door, on a silk cord, in a nice box, this past week...to a good home! Among glazes, a "good yellow" is hard to find, let alone one that pays respect to honey & honeycombs!

One last look:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/65294881