Greenware!

Violet Crown Festival 2011

On May 7 I will be participating in the Violet Crown Festival. This fun family event has moved from Brentwood Park to the Burnet Road Market. I'll have my pottery, including two new kiln loads that haven't been posted at tinalewis.etsy.com.

I will also have a nice selection of my sister Linda's beautiful cast concrete leaves. She grows the leaves in her gorgeous yard and then selects the best to cast in her special concrete mix. After the concrete cures, she peels back the leaf and begins the process of hand painting. Linda adds layers and layers of colors to create vivid realism to these permanent leaves. She then seals them so they can be displayed outdoors or indoors. These are beautiful simply on the wall or a shelf or displayed as part of custom bird baths, butterfly baths and fountains.

Cobalt and Beads

Guitar Beads for 78704 Market on March 20. One of the things that keeps pottery fun even with long breaks for work is experimenting with glazes, making beads and smaller pieces on the wheel. The kitty sculptures are pure fun too!

Glaze load results: lots of dark cobalt and plenty of beads.

First Kiln Load of 2010

I finally got a kiln load together after a long break. I really missed being in the studio and forgot how soothing a couple of hours in the mud can be. Two weekends of throwing and hand building was enough for an almost full kiln. I can't wait to glaze these, it is like having so many wonderful blank canvasses. Bowls, luminaria, beads, apple bakers, car cup holder liners, cat sculptures, mugs and tiles. I'm also finally signed up for an arts and craft fair on March 20 with Team Etsy Austin. Booth will be full of new work!

Etsy Selling and Buying - It's People!!

It's People! (To use a favorite line from an old movie.)* Buying and Selling on Etsy is a labor of love and it's about the People. I like that Etsy means buying from real people that love what they are doing. As a buyer I am always amazed at the personal notes, extra handmade touches and care that goes into shipments. It's like getting a gift even if you are buying supplies! Yesterday I received some card sleeves from www.cardmaven.etsy.com. She included a really nice note and a nice pile of cut out scrapping paper. Very nice! I'll pass some on to my customers, etc. with my stamp on the back. Thanks Card Maven!

I try to keep the love going whenever I make a sale. A photo of free gift wrapping on my latest Etsy sale is pictured. I was excited to sell one of my favorite pieces to a customer in Arizona who purchased it as a gift for someone in Wisconsin. I sometimes charge for gift wrapping but if there is time and ready supplies I'll gift wrap for the fun of it. It is such an honor that someone likes my work and will give it as a gift. I found an old travel atlas in great condition and am using it for wrapping. This then went into a bigger box with peanuts. All recycled!

*First person to convo me at tinalewis.etsy.com with the name of that movie gets a free magnet! Don't comment in case someone hasn't seen the movie. It's a spoiler.

Etsy Austin at Blues on the Green

Etsy Austin has had a booth at 107.1 KGSR's Blues on the Green series and last night I was able to participate.  What a great time in Waterloo Park!  The music (Carolyn Wonderland who was joined by Shelly King) and the crowd were wonderful.  We received VIP treatment from KGSR and all the volunteers.  Lots of great vendors and plenty of parking...very nice.   We even had some cloud cover and shade!   There is one more show left, on August 12, it should be a good one.  If you go, be sure and take some cash to spend in the Etsy booth.   

This was also an opportunity to try out a smaller table display.  It can be a challenge displaying pottery in a 2 foot table space.  Fortunately I found some items to repurpose and came up with a simple display for beads, cardholders, votives, magnets and other smaller items.   You can see a picture of the "back" part of my display.    

It was also fun to share the booth with some of the wonderful Etsy Austin crafters and artists. Here they are setting up.   Lots of fun, Lots of heat..... Austin outdoors in July...

The Austin Farmers Market - Saturdays ... in Austin

I found myself driving South on Congress Avenue on Saturday a.m. and remembered that the Austin Downtown Farmers' Market was open until 1:00 p.m.   There was FREE parking for the market in the covered garage across the street.  It was great to see at least another row of vendors since I was there last.   Tons of great fresh food and local things to buy.  The Greater Austin Clay Artists (GACA) has a regular booth there.  I have had a great time selling there and was happy to see GACA member, Michelle Turner's wonderful display and the new GACA banner.   Michelle is a graduate of Texas State University and a very talented clay artist.    That big blue bowl to Michelle's left (far right in the far right picture)  is now mine!   

Art of the Pot

Art of the Pot was a wonderful experience.   So much art and information about the Clay Arts that I was in heaven.   Demonstrations and wonderful displays of incredible talent.  I included some demo pictures on my Facebook Pottery (Fan Page).  You don't need to be on Facebook to get to that page,  but I would love to have you as fan too.     For more pictures and information on the artists you can go to the Art of the Pot web page.   The Artstream trailer was parked and housed beautiful work by artists from all over the US.  Next stop is Brookhaven Community College near Dallas.  

Well that capped off a great Mother's Day weekend.  It has been a rough year in the mom department but things are really looking up and I'm a happy mom right now.  :-).   Cheers to all! 
 

Strange Weekend...

This weekend turned out to be really strange.  First the Austin Handmade Market was cancelled on Thursday.   Disappointing but since we had business travel plans for Sunday it was o.k.  Well, then a possible flu pandemic outbreak in our destination - Mexico City happened.   Sigh..  So many fun things going on in Austin but I think I better stay close to home.  Post on Etsy, take photos...    Here is a photo of one of the pieces I am entering in the GACA member show.  (see postcard and link in posts below).    This is the first in a series and was created over about a year and through multiple firings.    I'll look up and post the actual time line from throwing to final firing.     

Sharing A Passion for Clay - GACA membership Show

Only two more weeks until the opening of the Greater Austin Clay Artists Annual Member Show: Sharing a Passion for Clay.  I will be at the opening Thursday night and gallery sitting on Saturday from noon to 3:00p.m.    Come by and say hi and see all the wonderful art.    

Magnets!

               I just emptied a nice kiln load with the last of my cobalt glaze. This firing included a ton of magnets.  I sent a bunch to Milly with the Etsy Texas Crafters for promotions.   These should be in Ft. Worth for next weekend's Funky Finds Spring Fling.  Click on the title Magnets and you will go to their great vendor list.  The list includes some of our Etsy Austin team members.  It's free and indoors!  If you go, make sure to stop by the Etsy Texas Crafter's booth.  

Sharing a Passion for Clay - GACA membership Show

The Greater Austin Clay Artists are preparing for the upcoming member show.   You can find more details by clicking on the title.   I am planning to put 3 pieces in the show this year.  Last year there were over 36 artists represented.  Some wonderful work - you can see it displayed a the GACA site (www.austinclay.org).  I'm looking forward to see what people did this year.  

 

New pictures with flowers

We had a great time at the Grapevine Market Homegrown Austin Event.   Sold a few things and gave out a lot of GACA Member Show cards.  One of my favorite things is getting to talk with and spend a little time with all the wonderful Etsy Austin Artists.  My very supportive husband Mark also bought some pretty tulips for my display.  I managed to get them home in decent shape and get some good photos of these delicate flowers.   The tulipiere is already posted in my Etsy shop but the blue set will be posted next week.   Happy Spring!   (and happy Springsteen for me - tonight we are going to see the Boss at the Erwin Center).  Great Spring weekend in Austin. :-).  

Home Grown Austin Event Saturday!

Austin Home Grown - Free Event at Grapevine Market.

Pictures!

I finally took some photos to post a few card holders on Etsy this week.  I'll post them over the week and spread out the days.   The bisque versions are in a few posts back.   Enjoying the sunshine!   Link to the title "pictures" to see the listing at: www.tinalewis.etsy.com 

Etsy Pottery - DarriellesClayArt

There are so many incredible Potters and Clay Artists on Etsy it can be overwhelming.   I try to check every day for new works and am always amazed.  A wonderful clay artist favorited me and I checked out her Etsy shop at:  www.darriellesClayArt.etsy.com.  (Click on the title above and it should take you there).  She has been on Etsy since January 2009 and has already sold a nice amount of work.  I think it is because her work is beautiful, the photos are great and she has a LOT of work posted.  I am inspired to get some more photos up!   Check out her Etsy shop and give her a heart!  

Austin Home Grown at Grapevine Market Sat. April 4.

I will be joining other Austin and Etsy artisans at the Austin Home Grown Event at Grape Vine Market Austin from noon to 6:00 p.m.  I'll have lots of pottery and there will be some other wonderful arts and crafts available.  Etsy Texas will have a booth and there will be tastings in the market and a band. 

More details under events at grapevinemarket.com.   

tinalewis.etsy.com

GACA meeting February 2009

I finally made it to another Greater Austin Clay Artists Meeting.   (http://www.austinclay.org)  (I will post all links below in my links list).    This is a great group.  Austin area potters are a very friendly and open group.  The meeting was at the St. Edwards University Clay Lab (the usual location).  This meeting featured a wonderful presentation by Ryan McKerley (www.ryanmckerley.com).  He demonstrated some of his techniques and presented slides of his new kiln.   Lots of cool information.   He will be giving a workshop at the Eye of the Dog Art Center.   (http://www.zzzdog.com/eyedog.htm.  

Plans for the annual GACA members show and Art of the Pot.  These events and other cool pottery events are being scheduled for Mother's Day weekend and the weekend before that!  Mark your calendars.