Loving Lana

I love working with artists. They are so creative and easy to work with and it makes such a diference when you adore their work (in fact I have a lovely collection of Lana's work!). I finished Lana's website and it's online. I'm really happy with it and I look forward to seeing it grow :)

Design for Design

I had the pleasure of working with a close friend of mine, Rose-Angeli. She is a talented Canadian ceramic artist who needed to have her work displayed in a manner it deserved, printed and on the web for everyone to enjoy! The business cards were printed 4 colour with a front deboss which made all the difference. The postcard I love, because it showcases her amazing talent on the front and her new branding on the reverse. I also designed and coded (with help from Shafy :) a website for her. It was my foray into web design and I really enjoyed it. Visit her website at  www.rose-angeli.com 

A whale in your tea, anyone?

I just finished a design job for a very talented ceramic artist who is currently a resident at the Harbourfront Centre. Lana Filippone creates really beautiful ceramic pieces that are functional yet quirky and so much fun. She is currently being exhibited in a show at the Harbourfront Centre so check out her amazing work (including a teapot suspended in a cloud!). I don't have to convince you that it was great fun working on these cards for her, and the website is on its way, keep an eye out for  www.lanafilippone.com .

Black and Gold Shades

I have always loved lights. So naturally I wanted to make some light shades with ceramics :)
Creating the sections separately and then joining them to form the shape I wanted, I made two shades that are to hang from the ceiling. I wasn't happy with the look of the black glaze on the outside and I had tried a bronze glaze for the inside but there was no lustre. So I bought spray paint in black and gold and this was the final result.

Ceramic Installation

One of many things I have hanging on the walls in our condo is a framed mini installation of tiny ceramic vessels (about 1"w x 1/2" h) which I made by 'throwing off the hump', glazing and then filling some with bits of broken green and blue glass (thanks SarahA!). The glass melts in the kiln and creates a really interesting look where it's cracked underneath but smooth and perfect on top. So easy to make but has a really nice visual appeal. I want to make another one!

Working with porcelain

Porcelain is beautiful. It is so lovely to work with and so smooth. In my last ceramic class I bought some porcelain clay instead of using the stoneware that is typically supplied for the students. Having attended the classes for over a year I needed a new challenge. I made a series of bowls and deep dish plates (which I ate my eggplant and sweet potato green curry out of tonight. Yummo!).

I glazed the pieces with a matte white glaze on the inside and used a few different colours to decorate them with three simple dots. Kilns are quite temperamental so my work came out a light greyish tone instead of the white, white I was expecting. I have another slab of porcelain waiting for me to use so hopefully next time will be perfect... ish. BTW these muffins were AMAZING! Kiwi fruit and banana muffins. You can find the recipe  here .

Glass Course: failures, triumphs and burns

For a couple of years now I have wanted to take the Glass Course at the Harbourfront Centre (it's practically my second home in Toronto) and I finally got my wish December last year (thanks Tim xo). It was tough and physically challenging but worth the burns and blisters. Pictured above are the first two items I made. The obligatory paper weight and a bud vase. I learnt how to create bubbles in pieces and then we got into glass blowing.

The above picture is of two Christmas ball decorations I made in class using the glass blowing techniques and colour application. The picture of me is evidence of a beautiful bell jar I wanted to make instead a bowl that everyone else in class was making. Unfortunately close to the end of finishing my piece, it fell off in the glory hole... I was so upset and frustrated, but I got to have another go at the end of the day.

The second time I had a lot more help from our teacher (thanks Clayton!), but alas the same thing happened. On the left is the bloody hot glory hole and on the right is my mashed up bell jar. The black ball was attached to the round end of the jar. Oh well, it was still fun and I would do it all over again.