Another Chance at PORCELAIN!

I'm a featured artist on Sweet Irie Originals' blog this week! She's running a giveaway on a paw print porcelain figurine. Hop on over to her blog to enter. It's easy - just visit my shop and comment back on her blog about what you like in the shop. There are other ways to get extra entries too. DON'T MISS OUT on this wonderful opportunity.

Rules:

1) You must go through Endless Whimsy's shop and comment back here on your favorite item!

2) Comment here in my blog with your name and contact information. PLEASE leave me a way to get a hold of you!!

3) Winner will be announced on April 7th, at which time I will contact the winner to get shipping information for the sponsor to ship out! If the winner does not contact me within three days, I will appoint another winner through a random number drawing.

4) Blog about this giveaway and receive ONE extra entry! Just come back here and leave a separate comment with your blog link.

5) If you do not have a blog, you can email all your friends about this giveaway and come back here to post and receive ONE extra entry. You must email me along with emailing your friends, so I know that you did! My personal email: shellmonster@hotmail.com

6) Subscribe to my blog (become a reader) and earn ONE extra entry! Come back and leave a separate comment with your name and telling me of your subscription.

7) Earn TEN (10) extra entries by purchasing something in Endless Whimsy's shop. Just come back here and tell us what you purchased along with your contact info to claim your extra entries!

8) Contest is open US and Canadian residents only.

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Buying Food on Etsy

if you haven't done it already . . . . DO IT!

I purchased some 'peeps' from Have It Sweet Confections and they are AMAZING. Way better than the processed stuff. I was also sent a sample of Fleur de Sel caramel. Everything is amazing, fresh and delightful. Spread the word!

Crunchy and fluffy and the best vanilla flavor....

What will you purchase from them? :)

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Making a stamp out of scrap clay TUTORIAL

On the same idea as Mitsy at ArtMind's stamp tutorial: I have a tutorial for making a stamp out of scrap clay!

1. Roll your scraps into a ball, be sure to wedge it and keep it moist.


2. Flatten out your stamp so the sides are level.


3. Take your drawing and set it on top of the stamp. Trace over your lines with a sharp needle tool through the paper.


4. Here is the stamp with my picture traced into it.


5. Using your lines as guides, make the 'inside' and 'outside' of the lines so they are thick like the drawing.


6. Spend some nice relaxing time listening to music and carving the inside and outside of your stamp. Smooth it out as you go. Try to not breathe in any dust - keep your room well ventilated.


7. Here's my trial run of wet porcelain stamping! Not bad! I will let it dry then bisque fire it. I had to carefully push up one of my kitties legs so it was level, so double check before it dries that the stamping face is actually level.

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The latest and greatest treat!

Haagen-Dazs and Ben and Jerry's ice creams all have a 4 ounce snack size out in our local grocery store. It's the PERFECT size to have a couple of bites and put away, and do the same the next day and the next day. Indulgent, you don't have to go get the light ice cream. Get the good stuff and only have little bits!

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What does your bathroom smell like?

I bet it doesn't smell like drying porcelain!

Because I have one cat that will eat any thing and another cat that is like a kangaroo in a china shop I have to dry my porcelain things behind close doors.

Here is what is currently drying in my bathroom notice the difference between the wet clay and the dry clay.

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The better to eat you with my dear!

Look at Luxor's lovely Retro Boomerang from Jake and Micah

Open wide!!!!!!!

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Nostalgia Saturday

Double Nostalgia for you! Mine and my husband's - Things that we both enjoyed as kids but no longer eat


CANDY:


Mine: PayDay
I loved the salty and chewy texture of this candy bar. Haven't had them since high school.


photo by Michael K N


My Husband: Big League Chew Gum
He liked the shredded texture.

from Oriental Trading Company

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Opinions?

My friend Michele at Sweet Irie and I have been chatting about branding and logo creation and we might do a trade! But I'm looking for some feedback on the logo prototypes she came up with. I drew the cat, she came up with the font ideas.

1. what colors do you think are "Endless Whimsy", we can change the colors
2. which layout do you like? WHY? :)
3. what do you think of the fonts?
4. changes?

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Which do you prefer

Now you've seen both my polymer work and my porcelain work - and I'd like to know, which do you prefer. What medium do you think is better?

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New entry on the Home site

There is a new entry about projects on the home site -

Check them out

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a stamp!

I made my own paw stamp out of porcelain! Thanks to ArtMind for the idea!

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Expose

We were given this award by Mishkat - the directions are: write 10 honest things about yourself. Actually Stoli Luxor AND I was tagged, since that's lot of honesty that I don't actually know if I can cope with - we'll do 5 each.








Stoli:
1. I love/have to be the center of attention, but hate to be the center of attention to anyone except mommy and daddy.
2. I love bread, if they leave it out - I rip it to shreads. Also I like cheezits.
3. I wait all day and pee one big blob. (right in the corner so it's hard to get out LOL)
4. I love to have my belly rubbed, shhhhhhhhh.
5. I like to be the only cat sleeping with mommy.


Luxor:
1. I chew my tail - to clean my teeth.
2. I let everyone in the house know I have to poop. I have a special poopie meow.
3. I will eat anything that fits in my mouth.
4. I always get blamed for everything because Stoli is 'the golden child'.
5. I hold lengthy conversations with my mom.




Renovia:
1. My car is a federal disaster zone, it qualifies for disaster relief aid
2. I am NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT a morning person
3. My side of the bedroom is also included in the disaster relief effort
4. I get up and pee at the very least - 4 times a night, not that I have to go, 'just to be sure'
5. I have the uncanny knack of picking, choosing, wanting, 'needing' the most expensive and hardest to find items.




We're supposed to tag 7 others, so we tag Daisy the Curly Cat and Harley, Polymer Paula, Anna at the House of Mouse, Mitsy at Artmind, Michele at Sweet Irie, and anyone else who'd like to be tagged that comments on the thread (good idea Mishkat!)

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Nostalgia Saturday

I thought I'd post double nostalgia this month~

My husband's and my favorite toys.......

He loved his Big Wheels tricycle



Of course I was really young when I used it but I have fond memories of this apple with chimes in it.

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Friday Feature

WONG POTTERY

What is the name of your store and what type of items do you sell?
Wong Pottery and I sell mainly functional pottery. I love making teapots, platters, bowls...everyday items that people will use and enjoy.

What made you decide to get into this business?
I've been playing with clay for many years. It is a very healing art for me. I escape into the basement to make pots whenever I get the urge, which is whenever I have free time. It's becoming my baby and I love to feel inspired by it and see it grow and touch peoples lives. The business is a way for me to connect with others with my art. I love that my pieces are being loved and used by others. I feel a bit of the creative me is being shared with others and that brings me lots of joy. Pottery has become a very empowering part of my life. It allows me to bring inspirations into fruition which is very inspiring

What is your business goal for the next year?
Potentially to open a shop in the southern Maine area where I can teach classes, have a gallery for my work, and connect with the community to share the healing and empowering aspects of pottery and art with others. I would also love to connect with some galleries locally or nationally that would like to show my work and sell, so I can get some more exposure and enter different markets.


Do you have pets? If so tell us a little about them.
My other baby is my black lab hound mix, Larry. He was adopted from Louisiana and is just the sweetest, goofiest dog. He gives sweet kisses and loves to cuddle, but also can really rip up the back yard playing fetch. We also have a blended family of three cats. My husband's two gray tiger cats, Poco and Mr. Bear, like to torment my female Calico, Declan. They are all very social and loving and playful. I love to lay with a purring cat on my chest. What a wonderful feeling!

Do you do this full time or do you have a day job?
This is a part time endeavor right now. I am a full time 5th grade teacher, but teach clay classes at my school and also do private lessons in my free time. It is a dream for it to be a full time project, or at least a more time project.

Do you have any special interests, crafts, talents? If so, what is your latest project?
I like to think that pottery is a special talent. I've also gotten into mosaics lately, and may start making tiles with clay.
List three things we would be surprised to know about you?
I ran a half marathon, I find it empowering to use power tools, I participated in the National Toboggin Championships


Where can we find your shop products?
Etsy.com
Bittersweet Barn in Casco, Maine

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Tuna!

is finished! Your thoughts.......

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Sneak Peek

at a treat!

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meh

that's how I feel, meh.

I had a snow day today - no school. No rehearsal tonight. I got a lot done including 4 plates and 1 stamp. But other than that I have nothing to say! imagine that....

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so over the snow

Ugh,
There's more snow coming - possibly a foot. I don't know if we'll have a snow day at school tomorrow or not. But I'm ready to stop getting snow. I'll try to make the best of it - I'm hurrying to get everything done so I can relax tomorrow.

Here are some photos from another 12"+ storm. That seems to be all we get, a foot or nothing at all.

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