My 3 Most Wanted Items Off Etsy

by Karen Mahoney of City by the Sea Ceramics

I always, always come across new items on Etsy that I want so badly, but these are three I can't stop thinking about since I first saw them months ago. I love them all so much!

This Jay-Z finger puppet by Mullish Muse kills me! This puppet, like all others in her etsy shop, completely nails the facial features with just a few shapes and lines. I love the work in this Etsy shop, but the Jay-Z is my favorite, with his distinct chubby lips and Yankees hat.

I love llamas because they are so incredibly adorable (don't you just want to hug them?), and this Llama Socks print from Alexis Rawlins Design has found a way to make a llama even more cute! I love the scarf and socks, the look on its face, and the few curls of tail hair catching the breeze. This is the maximum level of cuteness an 8.5"x11" page can hold I think.

T-shirt drawing by Mikey Walsh

This t-shirt from potter Ayumi Horie so perfectly sums up the relationship when disaster strikes a kiln. I love the irritation of the potter and how the kiln seems to be looking for forgiveness. Of course, as the text tells, the potter forgives the kiln, going on to continue a bumpy but happy relationship. Too cute!

Can you make... ?

by Kerrie of CodysCreations

Recently I have made some very memorable custom pieces for customers who have contacted me through my Etsy shop.

Such as this harness for a Bearded Dragon (a lizard). The customer's landlord required all pets within the building to have a collar/harness, leash and ID tag whenever they were in a common area. For size reference the harness measured about 4 inches around, to date this was the smallest harness I have made.

A custom request from Linzey at Phoenix Assistance Dogs: a leash that connects to a wheelchair. The leash needed to be adjustable, easy to use, and bonus if it could be cute. The leash can be shorted when SSD/Gretal is working and lengthened when Gretal is taking a doggie moment. I will be adding this leash to the shop this week, and for each wheelchair leash purchased 25% of the sales will be donated to the Phoenix Assistance Dogs.

I love requests for custom orders, a chance to think outside of the box, a chance to solve a little puzzle. Wonder what my next custom order will be??

Pink Champagne Cupcakes

by Allison of Fraske Designs

I'm a fan of baking, and I am a fan of getting creative with my recipes sometimes. So when my friend Erin's birthday was rolling around, I knew it was the perfect time to bake Champagne Cupcakes since Champagne and Cupcakes are two of her favorite things! I tried out a combo box cake and from scratch frosting recipe, and it was a hit:

Pink Champagne Cupcakes
1 box white cake mix
1 1/4 cups champagne
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
4 to 5 drops red food coloring

Pink Champagne Frosting
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup champagne
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 to 5 drops red food coloring

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, combine dry cake mix and champagne. Add oil, eggs and food color. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In medium bowl, beat frosting ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with your choice of garnish!

This was my first time making these and I was pleased with the outcome. Since I only went through about half a bottle of champagne, I decided to make another batch a week later. The second time, I only added champagne to the frosting. It was the perfect balance of sweet and chic!

Photo Illustration

by Lucie of Lucie Wicker Photography

I recently finished a class in photo illustration which consisted of four days to come up with a concept, figure out how to illustrate it, take photos of all the components, and piece them together in Photoshop so that they all make up one (somewhat) cohesive image. Whew! We were encouraged to browse headlines for concept ideas and the one that jumped out at me was, "Study reveals long term rise in sea level." After many hours, this is what I had-

Monday Mosaic: Peachy Pinks

Curated by Lynne of Cozy Cottage Creations



1. A Reader by Albert Moore - Pictorial Pendant ,by Parrish Relics
2. Peach Boat , by Arthur Halvorsen
3. sardine and anchovy postcard, by cricicis design
4. 1956 Chrysler Imperial, by Fraske Designs
5. Cherry blossom brooch - felted wool, by Stray Notions
6. Ramona - Raw Silk 400 yards by Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design

A Start to Summer (in Photos)

by Lucie of Lucie Wicker Photography

It's finally July and summer seems to be in full swing! It has been so lush and green and warm; I have been busy taking photos of this lovely season as much as possible. Here are a few that say "summer" to me:

Now I just need some beach shots! More to come soon...

Excited for SOWA this Sunday, July 10

By Evan of Evan Webster Ink

This Sunday, July 10th I'll be hanging out in the South End with lots of other creative types. One of those is my booth partner and fellow Boston Handmader Karen Mahoney who makes great pottery. But there are tons of others and the range of styles and media is what makes the day a must-see event for travelers and locals alike.

The scene from another outdoor event I attended.

I hope you'll come join us this Sunday! There's lots of good food to eat, friendly folks and art to peruse. Even if you're not coming I have one request: do your best sun dance to help keep everyone dry ... experts recommend doing the dance twice daily for best results.

For more information (and directions!) about SOWA check out: http://www.sowaopenmarket.com
To see some of the items I'll have at my booth check out: http://www.sqrzmarket.com

Studio Happenings

By Arthur of Arthur Halvorsen Ceramics

So I have been working hard in the studio and doing a lot! I sent 2 huge boxes of work off to the Schaller Gallery in Michigan. (Be on the lookout for their website to upload all of my work that I sent them) I have been hard at work since sending off those two boxes working on a new body of work of more complicated forms and I wanted to share some of the works coming out of the studio these days.

This tiered deviled egg server I am THRILLED by! I love everything about it and that it's probably my best piece I have ever made at Mudflat. I love the center post, the birdcage on top ugh EVERYTHING! It's coming out the bisque today and I can't wait to glaze this one next week!

another new form is this bigger flower brick. I'm dry throwing the basic form of the flower brick and then handbuilding the rest. I see the dry throwing process as more of a handbuilding process then an actual throwing process. (Here's a video showing dry throwing by Ayumi Horie)



I made the Flower Brick for the Mudflat gala that is happening on September 9th (Be on the lookout for more info coming soon!) It's going to include an auction of nationally recognized ceramic artists from around the country.