New Mug Printed with Linocut and Kicking Myself Offline
Leaves hand built mug printed with linocut
I whipped this mug out last Thursday for something special that’s on the horizon…. Despite carving the design in the linoleum last summer, I hadn’t actually used the linocut to date. The template wasn’t exactly made for this type of mug, but I sort of like that the vining leaves are on an angle.
Linocut mug templates – I used the bottom left linocut for the mug above.
Here’s a couple of my linocuts – I’ve added at least 2 since then and have ideas for many more. I like carving the designs into linoleum because it’s a rigid material, maintains a uniform slab thickness and leaves an evenly distributed texture. And while I do use some commercial textures, I really prefer using my own imagery.
Meanwhile, I’ve been spending too much time online between blogging, social networking sites, Etsy Mud Team, my website, emailing and my volunteer duties with the PTA (which involves the computer). My husband was just a tad irritated with me last Sunday and I agreed that I need to find a better balance. It’s hard being self employed because as many of you well know, my computer and internet use is my life line to the world. So many opportunities have come my way and new connections forged that I might never have made without my computer.
I did ask my husband how many hours he spends on a computer at work – he hemmed and hawed and admitted that it was 8+ hours a day – but he emphasized that he leaves it at work. I asked him how he thought I could fit it all in? As a small business owner and mom who works at home the boundaries between work and home life blur considerably.
Nonetheless, I conceded to limit my tweeting, blogging, commenting, Facebooking, emailing etc. to 10-15 hours a week. I try to accomplish my computer time in the morning while having my coffee, but it doesn’t always work. If I put in 20 hours min. studio time a week, that’s still part time work hours on my part and allows me to connect better to my family. Regarding commenting on other people’s blogs – I’ve decided that rather than trying to digest my whole bloglines subscriptions in one sitting, I’ll answer those who comment on my blog first, and then attempt to read 5 feeds a day. That’s so much easier than 70!
Question: How much time do you spend online a day whether you’re for pleasure or business? What is acceptable – what is too much?
Meanwhile, I made up for the perceived neglect by making some home made artisan baked bread…keep in mind that I’ve never made home made bread before – but I found the easiest recipe in the world. I have to admit that it’s delicious and now my family doesn’t want me to ever buy store bought bread again!
Must run,
~Cynthia
New Glazed Work
Relief printed hand built stoneware mugs
I meant to write a blog post yesterday or this morning, but my flash image uploader in my wordpress dashboard wasn’t working and I was forced to upload one photo at a time. Quelle horreur! Stomping my feet impatiently and yelling at my laptop didn’t seem to solve anything. So, today, I did a little computer clean up and also investigated the image problem. After perusing the WP support forum, I discovered that the new version of Adobe Flash 10 is not compatible (apparently this will be fixed with the next release of WP) – so I had to roll Adobe Flash back to version 9. What a pain – but, I’m happy to say that my uploader is now working fast and properly so here I am writing this post at 8:40pm on a Monday night.
Relief printed frog stoneware covered box
Sales were good at last weekend’s Colorado Potters Guild Sale. I really wasn’t sure if they would be given the economy right now. Maybe folks are feeling a little more hopeful with the election results? I sold quite a bit of my new work and even some older work that doesn’t quite match what I making now. Out of 35 mugs, I took home 5 (deservedly so – I will be reglazing them this week). I love getting this kind of feedback!
Lots of folks remembered my covered boxes from the spring sale and were asking where I hid them. I only had about 5 and came home with 0. I meant to make a bunch of boxes for the sale and just plain ran out of time. I accepted a couple of special orders for boxes at the CPG sale that I’m going to start working on this week at a leisurely pace. These aren’t something that I can rush – they take time and careful consideration depending on the theme.
Hybrid mugs – hand built and wheel thrown
People really liked my new mugs – good thing since I like making them! The relief printed ones in the top image of this post were the first to go, I guess that means that I should really make more of these in the future and also expand my lino-cuts. I haven’t committed to any more sales events before the holidays – something about which I’m happy. I plan to continue exploring shapes and different ideas and will also stock up my Etsy shop, which is currently empty.
Hybrid vases
I like the vases – but need to refine them just a bit more. They would also make a good sized pitcher if I added a spout and handle.
Meanwhile, I spent yesterday reading and commenting on my favorite blogs since I hadn’t had the time to do so the week leading up to my sale. It feels good to get back to a normal routine. I know my family has enjoyed having me back. 
The good news is that I have a full kiln load of glazed work that I didn’t get fired in time for the sale which will help fill my Etsy shop. As soon as I reglaze the mugs, I’ll push the start button. This week I’m also going to start adding images to my gallery page – I’d say it’s about time, wouldn’t you?
Have a great week,
~Cynthia
More Custom Linocut Mug Templates
New lino-cuts for mug templates
I started this post exactly 14 hours ago, but then the day beckoned with all her obligations and I’m only now getting back to finishing my draft around 10:30pm (normally way past my bedtime – yeah, I really know how to party). I wanted to publish the post tonight, however, so that I can spend some time tomorrow morning perusing all my favorite blogs while I drink my coffee instead of forcing my brain cells to align just enough to write something coherent.
I think this one turned out really well considering that this is the first impression and all the linoleum dingle berries have yet to dislodge themselves. The dingles will burn out though when I bisque this. Speaking of doing a bisque fire, I think I will have enough new work to fill the kiln next week!
Here’s the almost finished mug – I say almost because it still needs to be cleaned up once it firms up to the leather hard stage. At this point in the process, I actually don’t touch this very much once assembled. I tweaked the handle template a bit and came up with this sassy one. I like it better than the original which just seemed to have too much clay. I’ll probably tweak the handle template just a bit more so that it’s slightly larger. I’m really excited about these new pieces and the direction it’s taking me – I sure hope they turn out nicely.
^6 stoneware test tiles
In my last post, I mentioned that I had hoped to start doing some glaze testing this week. It’s been delayed slightly. In my enthusiasm to find new glazes for these pieces, I neglected to check if I had sufficient test tiles. I only found 1 usable test tile in my studio and it was a porcelain clay one – so I made about 100 test tiles using the white stoneware clay body on Tuesday night. I want to do some 6 part color progression glaze testing using Mason Stains and need a lot of the tiles to accomplish my goal. I’ll need even more if my tests don’t turn out so well. Time to put on my chemist’s hat…
Meanwhile, I did nothing in the way of clay today. Well, that’s not entirely true. After an early morning Dr. appointment and a few other errands, I spent the day at Park Meadows Mall. I normally consider this an evil place and quite energy sapping, but I promised my daughter that I’d take her for an afternoon of lunch and shopping – she had $44.00 in her pocket that was burning a hole. I had an ulterior motive though. I was on a mission to visit every kitchen store possible in search for some new studio tools. I did pretty well and will be playing around with the new tools all day tomorrow.
Do you know what? I’d love to visit and travel around Japan someday. There’s such a rich ceramic and pottery tradition in Asia that would be wonderful to soak in and witness. No – I’m not going to Japan any time soon, but 3 of my pieces are this week or early next week. I hope they’re well received.
That’s it for tonight,
~Cynthia
PS. I’ll edit this in the morning – so please excuse all grammatical and spelling errors.
