My business web site,,,,,,

Greetings!!

First I must say I have not given up my plans to get my ceramics business going again.  It has been derailed for a short time, but by fall I hope to have things in much better shape and be organized again.  Having to move by the end of August did throw a bit of a curve ball at me, but I am swinging back in the hopes of hitting a home run, LOL.

I have found a new program for designing sites that I am learning now and will be redoing the entire site.  As some of you know I like messing around with web sites anyway.  So once I get it all figured out, you will get to see a new site, with new lay out and colors.  I will be playing with it over the next few days during this heat wave as I can not get much else done right now any way.  I hope to have the basics done and up at least before I have to move my computer on August 9th.  I should be able to do that.

The program actually looks easier to work once you get used to the differences in how things are done.  Everything has a learning curve!!  I will get to have music on the site, videos and pictures galore.  I believe I will also be able to easily link this blog to my site, which I think is way cool, LOL.  So look for that in the near future.  I will post an update on here when the site is set up and ready to go.

I am also going to use this new program for my church's web site, which will also be completely re-done.  Can't wait to get started on that as well.

The move that I am making will actually make it easier for me on the business as my kiln, molds and other equipment will be right there.  Hopefully this fall I will be able to post pictures of my working shop and show you the molds, kilns, pouring equipment and my little glazing corner.  I am excited about that!!  I have some cleaning and organizing to do first before I take pictures though.  Want it to look nice for you to see.  So often ceramic shops become messy in a hurry.  After all it is not exactly the cleanest medium to work with, LOL.

In the future I hope to be able to post some "how to" videos on my site.  I want to have videos of glazing, firing, throwing pottery on the wheel and pouring molds.  It will be a lot of fun.  So I am planning that for sometime next year.  I am also going to open a bisque shop on my web site where you can purchase the bisque and supplies to make the items yourself.  That will be great if you have a kiln or know someone who does and can fire the items yourself.  People have gotten away from ceramics as a hobby but I think it will come back in again.  I guess time will tell.

Well, that is just a hint of the things I am planning this year and next.  I hope I peaked your interest.  :-)

Until next time,,,,,,,Blessings!

A few more pictures,,,,

Greetings!

These are the last of my pictures I am going to post for now.

Today we head back to the VA for the third time this week.  Then I have counseling this afternoon and a few errands to run.  Storms are heading this way though and I might put the errands off.  Time will tell.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and have a great day!!

Salt and Pepper Shakers in the Spring Collection.  What a way to welcome spring, or keep spring in your house the whole year long.

The Spring Collection Bathroom Set got a lot of attention at the sale.

I love this cute Spring Collection Vase

The Tea for Two set is sure to please any one who uses it.

Everyone loved the colors of my yellow ware mixing bowls.  This is a new design very reminiscent of days gone by.  The exception is my yellow ware is done in a high glaze whereas the antique ones are done in a matt glaze.  I like the brightness of this style much better.  By the way, I can put any pattern on any piece.  You can buy a collection one or two pieces at a time.  :-)

Until next time,,,,,,,,,,Blessings!

Pictures of my work,,,,,

Greetings!!

I am running a little behind this morning because I was working on a surprise for Frank's 50th birthday next Tuesday the 19th.  Having so much fun preparing for the special day, LOL.

Here are some pictures of my work.  I am really pleased with how they came out.  Hope you like them!!  And yes, I do take orders and ship, LOL.

These are 16oz mugs done in a Satan Red Glaze.  They almost look like wood.

A liquid soap dispenser also done in the Satan Red Glaze

My Berry Vine design, a wine cooler.  Throw some ice in the bottom and place your wine bottle in there to keep your wine chilled during dinner.

A vase done in the Berry Vine Pattern, too cute!

The Berry Vine Pattern makes for a cute country bathroom set with toothbrush holder, tumbler and liquid soap dispenser.

Set of three red satin mixing bowls.  They nest for easy storage!!

Here is the Berry Vine pattern in a mixing bowl set.

The Americana Design, a favorite!!

This was my first attempt at a Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Sign Style plate.  There are a few things on there I am not sure of, but it sure got attention at the sale!!

That's it for today folks.  I'll post some more pictures tomorrow.

Until next time,,,,,,,,,Blessings!!

Learning from the Amish,,, Keep it simple stupid!!

Greetings!!

Ha!  I thought that title might catch your eye!

Regarding crafts and business what can I learn from the Amish that will benefit my business?

As you know the primary thing I make and sell is ceramics.  All other crafts are just an add-on.  So, I have been thinking about this very thing this morning as I plan on putting my ceramics and crafts in a rented booth in the heart of Illinois Amish Country, Arthur, IL.  I want to offer items that not only will attract the local buyer but also the tourist who come through Arthur each year.  So I have been doing a lot of reading up on it.

I have found, the Amish have no reservations about buying useful items for their homes as long as they are not overly decorated.  For example,,,, those nice painted items I posted yesterday, would not fare well in Arthur.  They are too fancy.  Keep it simple stupid!!  Because of their religious beliefs Amish would not own such fancy things.

Take for example the little green table with the roses painted on it.  The Amish might have use for a table of that size but would never buy it with the roses on it.  They would pay the same price for a plain green table, with no roses.  So things like that, which I enjoy painting, need to be sold in another venue away from Amish country.

But you are thinking, "yeah, but what about the tourist trade in that area"?  Well, I believe when tourist come into an Amish area, for shopping, they tend to want what the Amish want or what the Amish themselves made, either way.  They look for the simple things that the Amish would have in their own homes rather than the fancier items.  They can find those items else where.

So, on my list of items to sell in Arthur are plain, basic ceramics with solid colors and not a lot of decoration.  Hand made pure soaps without fragrances, and hand dipped beeswax candles.  I might make some other candles as well but not necessarily with a lot of fragrances.  Keeping things as simple and basic as possible will allow me to pull sales from the Amish as well as the tourists in that area.

Another thing that keeping things simple is it is less labor intensive and therefore I can charge a little less for the same piece that I might have put more decoration and design work on.  A lower price will attract more buyers.  More buyers, more sales.  You can't make a living on one piece!!

I'm liking the idea of "keep it simple stupid" so much that I might just carry that into a couple of my other venues as well.  I also plan on selling at the 3rd Sunday Market in Bloomington, IL next year.  3rd Sunday Market runs once a month, on the third Sunday of the month, from May through October.  It is like a giant antique and crafts fair.  They get thousands and thousands of people coming through each market.  Not only could I sell my wares there but I can promote my booth in Arthur.  I think dressing "plain" and selling "plain" wares just might be the ticket.  Hmmm, I should think about this some more.

I also plan to have a web site up and running by early spring.  I might just have one page of the fancier items but keep the rest along the same lines as what I would have in Amish country.  Again I can promote the booth in Arthur as well as 3rd Sunday Market on my web site as well as facebook and here.

Sounds like I am coming up with a pretty good business plan.  What do you think?

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Until next time,,,,, many blessings!

Decorative Painting

Greetings!

I decided to share some pictures of things I have "decorative painted".  I used Donna Dewberry's One Stroke technique primarily.  I have sold a lot of these items at the farmers market here and at craft shows.  I did keep a few for me.  The dresser and folding table with the white background I kept.  The little green table with roses was one of the first items to sell.  I can't wait to do more painting but first I must get more things organized in the house.  Christmas is just 8 days away and I have nothing ready, so that must come first.

I plan on taking the winter months to build up some inventory of both ceramics and other crafts.  I have plenty of items to paint on, just need the time and freedom to sit down and do it.

This little child's table was one of the first items I sold at the farmers market last year.  I love how it came out and almost wish I had kept it.

This is a serving tray I painted a couple of years ago, I have kept this one for myself as I love sunflowers and this was my first attempt at doing them.  I do like how it came out.

I have kept this dresser for me as well.  I bought the dresser at a yard sale for $10, it was hand made and not stained very well.  I loved bringing it to life painting it.

This is a close up of the drawers on the dresser.  All my painting is done free-hand, no stencils or patterns to trace, so each drawer will have slight differences.

This is the top of a wood folding table.  I sure love yard sale bargains that I can add new life too.  You will most likely see me using this table at 3rd Sunday Market next year and other sales that I will be doing.

Here is a close up of some of the brush work on the table.  I love doing roses, it is so much fun to see the colors blend right before your eyes.

These ornaments are actually made out of paper mache`.  They looks sort of old world or old german in style.

These are glass ornaments.  I have sold several boxes of them over the years and hope to sell many more next year.

I have a tendency to keep these in a symmetrical pattern so it looks the same from any angle.  However, I have a lot of others that just have a single design, such as a snowman or a candle on the front of them.  I'll post more pictures at a later day when I am back to working on inventory.

Well, I reckon that is enough pictures for this post.  I really need to get busy around the house.  Today I am putting together a shelving unit for Frank's movies and continuing to clean and organize my dining room to get ready for Christmas.

Until next time,,,,, have a blessed day!!

Ceramics & Crafts

Greetings!!

I am a "hobby ceramist".  I make ceramics and crafts to sell.  In the ceramics I primarily focus on utilitarian items for the kitchen and bath such as mixing bowls, coffee mugs, canister sets, dish sets, serving bowls, liquid soap dispensers and such.  I'll include a few pictures for you to look at below.

I also make a few crafts such as home made soaps, hand dipped beeswax candles, soy candles, polymer clay beads, rag rugs, etc.  I love to do decorative painting on wood and other surfaces.

I use only certified non-toxic, lead free paints and glazes.  With the ceramics, I pour a lot of my own molds, or hand form as well as all my own firing in the kiln.

I started out doing ceramics when I was a teenager.  A lady I babysat for took me to a small studio in a lady's basement.  While I loved working with the ceramics I hated the class because I was the youngest there and the older women were busy chatting about things like raising their kids, etc.  I was very out of place.  But I did take a couple of classes and learned the basics.  When a new ceramic shop opened downtown I was their first customer.  They were fantastic.  I told them I did not like sitting in a classroom but I would like to be able to tell them how I wanted a piece to look when it was finished and they would tell me what I needed to do to get it to look like that.  They agreed.

Ceramics became my passion.  I would spend every spare dime I had on making ceramics.  I could sit for hours painting and glazing pieces.  Over the years I accumulated a lot of paints, glazes and brushes.  I kept growing in my hobby and learning more and more.  Eventually, I bought my first kiln.  Taught myself how to operate it.  Had some failures along the way but I just see them as learning lessons.

At one point I took on a part time, temporary job in a ceramic shop in NM.  It was cool.  I was primarily glazing but while there, they taught me the basics of pouring molds.  They were selling off some of their older molds to make room for new molds, so I took some of them as part of my pay.  They thought it was great and wished they could keep me on longer because I had such a desire to learn.  Unfortunately the job had to end.  But I had fun playing with those molds I got.

Of course, my first few pourings were not the greatest, but I was determined to learn how to do it right.  I read a lot and kept trying until I was good at it.  I had about a dozen molds to play with.  A few years later, after I moved to Illinois, I got really serious about the ceramics and decided it was time to start buying some new molds and equipment. 

Little by little I accumulated over 2000 molds.  Thousands of jars of paints and glazes, pouring equipment and even more kilns.  At one point I actually owned 4 kilns!  I also have a potter's wheel, which I taught myself how to use.

I started out giving classes in the basement of my house.  Eventually I opened my first store downtown.  It was great!  I sold supplies and gave classes and also sold some finished wares.  Due to family emergencies I closed that shop and about 5 years later I opened another one.  Eight months later I would up bedridden with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and wound up again closing my shop.  I had done some craft shows after that, but not much else as my health was getting worse.

For years, as I struggled with my health I did very little with the ceramics.  I am still struggling with the fibro and cfs but am once again, little by little getting back into my passion and working with the ceramics.  I am selling finished ware only and not doing classes any more.  I am building it up gradually.  I will be selling at a few shows, online and will eventually be advertising in Country Sampler Magazine.

When I have the web site up and running I will post a link to it.  I'll also let you know my show schedule for next year and other locations I will be selling at in a future post.  In the meantime, here are a few pictures to give you a sneak peek.  They are not the best quality pictures, fair warning!!

Until next time,,, have a blessed day!!