New Home possibly found!... creative life continues

So, I have a real excuse this time... we are moving (just up the street really). A place HAD to be found ASAP though, so it was really the only thing on my to do list. If this is the place... the blog will get very interesting. Gut renovation interesting.

Up next... unfinished business.

Here's lookin' at you, Bad Hausfrau

My friend, fellow blogger, talented creator in cloth, and a junior high classmate, recently picked me, Mrs. Craven, as a great blogger. Can you believe it? It can be hard to make it all happen: a full time job, time with my wonderful guy, time with my sweet dog, creating a warm and inviting nest, and time in the ceramic studio. This blog is where I put up beautiful creations and ideas I am moved by. It becomes so important to me, especially when I cannot make it to my studio. Recognition for it feels good. I will have to respond to the other conditions of the award after my well earned vacation. But until then, K, this post's for you. Thank you, this nomination means a lot to me and is so encouraging (and I really need that little boost).

K stated in her list of 7 things about herself that she collects vintage paint by number. Well this isn't vintage, but Trey Speegle brings paint by number to a whole new and wonderful level. I picked these specifically for their words and the possibility of each of them being little mantras to say to yourself. Some of these pics just don't do his work justice. You can zoom in on his paintings here.

Ceramic Inspiration- Hella Jongerius

pics from ceramics art daily

Hella Jongerius designs everything. She has a what seems to be a very (very) mixed media exhibit going on right now at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. The exhibit is organized by color, very much how I have organized AC's 80 million books along our shelves.

She has an eye for imperfection in the the most perfect way. The exhibit is aptly named Misfit.
Below are 2 works of hers I love from way back in 2004.
Enjoy these pics then head over to Jongeriuslab for intoxicating inspiration!pics from jongeriuslab.com

Custom Living Diorama for S-- Lost Sheep

Thanks S! I hope you will enjoy pondering the thoughts of the three little lost sheep.

You will cry

Maurice and his horse, Rocky- pic from the NY Times

This story in the New York Times was just so touching. It came at me from so many places. The focus was the life and death of Maurice Mannion-Vanover, and the lives around his seem so relevent to mine.

From his love of horses (yes, I am the cliche horse-loving girl) to the two men who adopted him, both named Tim (the farmhouse we escape to is owned by our friends Tim and Tim and their little girl May). Maurice clearly had a soft spot for dogs too.

Working in HIV also made it all hit close to home. AC and I found it impossible to read with dry eyes.

Oh Chair part 2

pic from johnhoushmand.com

This chair is just beautfiul. It is made by John Houshmand on a farm in upstate New York. Words of wisdom regarding his craft:
We allow grains to spill. We love crumbling bark. We welcome wormholes.

Me Too, John & Company!

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)

you and me

I am such a sucker for overtly sweet sentiments. I instantly make all things romantic about AC and me (I did say I like to project on art).

Today the Keep Calm Gallery offers a new print by Matthew Rose (above). It is very sweet and reminded me of the oldie, but goodie below from Village v. 2.0. If only I had more wall space!

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!

Bears

pics above from Banquet's etsy shop

AC and I were in the Delaware River Valley in Pennsylvania last week. While there, we saw a bear- a very big bear. It looks small in my photo below, but it was big. It was so beautiful.

If we ever have our own little piece of pleasure upstate (a longtime dream of ours) this screeprint from Banquet will have a place on the walls there.

I have to work. Full Time. Not doing ceramics.

I am having a little post mini break, back to work blues.

Me: You mean I am not independently wealthy and free to craft away, garden, and play with my dog all day?

Reality: (shakes head with disapproving look)

Me: Huh?

So this print by Reetta (of Finland), is really capturing this mood of toiling. Admittedly, she might not be toiling, I just like to project onto art. Either way, she is still "working" while looking off and clearly thinking of other, BIGGER plans. This fox and I are on the same page.

She describes her inspiration and her etsy shop name, Joutomaa: it isFinnish and means wasteland. Think of it as a magical waste land, where your imagination can run free with my imagenary friends.

Well Reetta, your friends and I are playing.

natural processes

I went on a blog stroll last week and caught up with some of my favorites. Two posts really struck a chord with me. One from Thoughtful Day about collages by Alex Anne Mackenzie (pictures above) and the other from Brooklyn Rehab about biological diagram poster reprints (pictures below). I do like all things cute, but I must admit, I like them even more with a dash of darkness. These seem to go together naturally and beautifully.

Posters below available from a great little shop in SoHo, Evolution.

Snap out of it! It's almost been a month!

Okay, this winter has hit me a little harder than I thought. Even though I haven't been able to really drag to the studio I have still been tucking little pieces of inspiration in my pocket. The next few posts are just snippets that have made big impressions on me recently.

Above are the Bearded Men by Ashley G I bought from Gallery Revisited a few years ago. The bottom pictured shows them with my own bearded man, AC going through old CD's on a rainy cold winter day. These men with beards are clean and modern, but warm and fuzzy too- a lot like AC.

Feeling Furry These Days

pics from Sharon Montrose on Etsy

I do love animals, and I guess it shows from my recent posts. These photos taken by the Etsy featured seller this week, Sharon Montrose, are just beautiful. She sells larger limited editions of these at The Animal Print Shop.

At the Studio

I have been spending time at the studio!

Loved this...

...on Design*Sponge this week. Our dog Molly, frequently in the background (or foreground) of many of CH's pictures, is our rescued cutie, so this hit close to home. The leashes at Found My Animal are gorgeous and simple. A quarter of their profit goes to help animals in need.

Nose and Toes

...and we're off to the studio!

Etsy love

Pic from Chakra Pennywhistle's Etsy store

Simply Sweet for sale at Chakra Pennywhistle on Etsy.