More Subway Tile Inspiration

I am still making tile day and night, after work, on the weekends, and after October snowstorms.  I have forced AC in on the action just so we can make our deadlines.
I was getting off at the Union Street R train stop and saw these.  The image kept a little lightness in my step for the rest of the evening.

When it Rains, it Pours

pic above from Joseph Rose
So we are in the process of renovating our new home deep in the heart of Brooklyn.  Prior to that, Molly had surgery (again), and after that we are selling our current home.  We are still managing to travel.  Lots of change, but it is all new and exciting!
The kitchen tile project from before has transformed into making the tile for the new house.  It is great because I got a head start!
It is a rule that never fails- when it rains, it pours.  I am doing my day job (Mrs.Craven/virus control), help manage the renovation of our new home, and make tile in triple time.  I guess I love it when its pouring, I accomplish so much more than I think I can. 

Below- pics of the tile (bone dry, not yet fired in the kiln)

Stylish blogger award via oral history

think-make-think by Clifton Burt (haiku by John Maeda)

I was awarded a Stylish Blogger award by Bad Hausfrau back in- oh January. It is actually a great pleasure to return from my most recent neglect of ceramics and the blog to actually meet the requirements of this award. Here it goes.

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

Thanks again Kelley! (original thank you here)

Check out Bad Hausfrau. The pictures are just lovely and the writing is interesting and, well, well-written, which is kind of rare these days.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

I did not realize my desire to be a real part time ceramic artist until creating pieces for my own wedding.

I love New York City and will most likely never leave it.

My shoes size is 6 1/2.

I have to force myself to go on any vacation that does not involve the beach.

I have thin arms and refer to them as my "kermit-the-frogs".

AC and I will sometimes read the same book together. I love this.

I am a sucker for rose gold.

3. Award inspirational newly discovered bloggers.

I am using "newly discovered" very loosely. I have been reading Thoughtful Day since the A Farm Fresh Wedding days.

For inspiration, please click below:

Thoughtful Day - great discoveries posted by a creative designer

Brooklyn Rehab - a refreshingly personal blog created by a savvy fashionable lady

City Lady Country Girl- the life and times of a city lady getting married and building (yes building!) a home with her husband in upstate NY

Mint Peach- my last studio mate and an amazing ceramic artist

mexico dreaming, on such a winter's day

ours for a week, the view from our cabana- Tulum, Mexico

I'm back- not in the studio, but in Brooklyn. AC and I needed to escape the winter wonderland of 2011. We visited my good friend and excellent cooker of very fine food, Anna. We not only ate well with her, we snorkeled with the manatees on the western coast of Florida. Then we were off to Tulum.

Grace of design*sponge does a design storm that reflects a chosen movie; some of my favorites of hers are living in Party Girl and living in Out of Africa.

Well I have created a little storm of my own devoted to our trip to Tulum/Against All Odds (which takes place all over the Yucatan and Cozumel). The view from our little cabana on the beach is above. What to wear there (with chocolate on top) is below... or you could just grab your old bikini and go. Either way it will be fine- a Mrs. Craven promise.

halter onsie from Opening Ceremony

Lace detail sandals and bathing suit from Anthropologie

Joe Jeans Dylan canvas and leather bag at Alter

dull diamonds bracelet on etsy- via thoughtful day

YUM! The yummiest mexican chocolate I have tasted- if you know of a yummier one, I'm all ears

Daydream Shepherd

This can be yours- available in my Etsy shop.

Speed Bump

A bump in the road-3 weeks ago:

My entire kiln load was ruined. I think my glaze was too thick. This REALLY threw me. I mean it really threw me- I haven't stepped foot in my studio for 3 weeks! The picture above was taken next to the Maritime Hotel on 9th. Looking up and seeing the sign in front of the building struck a chord.

I took some time, worked on the Craven house (before and after pics coming soon!), and I'm back.

I was in a slump, and not quite ready to be back- but these picked my butt up!:
1- a visit from my sister in law. I really love a houseguest.
2- a few sales through Etsy!
3- these from Nest. A tiny little bit of twisted craftsmanship for an extra lift. Some people think they are creepy, I love them.

4- thumbing through the recently published pics of Marilyn Monroe's visit to Banff in the Canadian Rockies. The pictures are full of bears, which I think is great.

Back to the task at hand... studio here I come!

Happiness is

being at the studio...

(and everything working out in the studio)

What's new at Craven Home

I am currently working on using my spinning top vase as a hanging airplanter (pun intended). I have a few grouped together on our dining room table now in the NOT hanging version (above).

I am also working on a new series of creations that did well at the flea that I am calling Living Dioramas. I am using animals to tell a little story with a green backdrop they are almost like an adult playset. They are being made in found containers and a few in my own ceramic bowls and trunks. I am hoping to be back at the flea in September (motivation pending...)

Everything here is in my Etsy shop now!

They don't love you like I love you...Soft Maps

These map quilts seem pretty cozy. (via re-nest) I love that the Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill embroidery puts No. 7 "on the map"(AC and I's favorite neighborhood eatery) - they deserve it!

The Flea- It was HOT!

So I had a great time at the flea. The food was delicious, and necessary sitting in the 90+ degree heat for 8 hours! Also, the shaved ice from People's Pops saved me from a heat stroke (see last pic).

A few things sold and I learned a lot... I will be back on Saturday to try again. I am hoping for cooler temps. It's great to share with Small World Terrariums- the day goes by so quickly with all of our chatting! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to shop, grab a card, or say hi!

I few new items and new pics in the etsy shop too!.

This weekend I will be joining Small World Terrariums at the Brooklyn Flea!! It's a long story, but to sum it up- I blogged about her terrariums, wrote her, she wrote me back, we met and ate dinner, and that was that. Now we are sharing plant tips and a table at the Brooklyn Flea this Saturday, July 17th!!!

Tanesha Smith Wattley, the woman behind the terrariums is featured in this week's Time Out as one of their "Most Stylish New Yorkers". She is so chic in her photos!

I am hoping for a great turn out... and honest feedback for this little side life of mine.

Sedum sprung

Our little Hens and chicks are about to flower!

This little pot reminds me of a small foreign world... the very beginning of a terrarium. I have been emailed this NY Times article about terrariums by a number of friends. I am glad this gardening craft is taking off. Pretty timely too after making that custom terrarium last week. Here is another I made at the same time

The article mentioned Small World Terrariums. I love seeing the green growing work of others. She specializes in terrariums for special events too!
pics below from Small World Terrariums

Pizza and Puerto Rico

This past weekend AC and I went out for a fabulous dinner at Saraghina in Bed-Stuy. It was well worth the short trip further into Brooklyn. What stood out most for me was the capocollo pizza.

AC and I are off to Puerto Rico to warm up. I can't wait to relax on the beach and dive into some mofongo.