Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Making Things...

I admit it: I have a problem. I can't stop making things. LOTS of things. Every kiln load is packed full of objects and forms I am constantly experimenting with. I never have time to list everything so I pick out a few things and list those. I make a lot of one-off designs that I don't plan to make again so I sometimes give those away. Then someone tells me - you know that thing-a-majig you gave me, can you make more? So off I go...

I LOVE exploring shapes and textures - my favorite thing, even more than glazing. Over the past few months I've really been into making discs, rings and hoops. I've been getting more and more primitive in my designs, using bits of sea shells, worn bits of sea glass and pottery shards collected over years of beach combing, and my own hand carved porcelain stamps for texturing. I have tons of these discs and rings that have been sitting around for months. I have decided to start listing them in the next few weeks. Not sure how, maybe in sets of 4 - 6? I'll figure something out...meanwhile here's a few pictures I snapped from a kiln unloading a couple of months ago...





Oh yeah... see those little flower bead caps? I'll be making more of those soon...

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17 comments :

  1. UnknownJuly 3, 2012 at 8:55 PM

    Gorgeous stuff!!! I covet.

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  2. Dia Sobin (Araqinta)July 3, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    Really astounding output, K... quality-wise and quantity-wise. The flower bead caps are really unique - what a great idea!

    And I really like the idea of incorporating natural objects, which compliments the organic quality of your work. Actually, adding unnatural objects might be kind of cool too... your own artificial life forms! :-)

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  3. LesleyJuly 3, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    I want those bead caps...!!!

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  4. A Polymer PenchantJuly 3, 2012 at 9:24 PM

    Happy to hear I'm not the only one who does that. I'll often test out some downright wacky and weird shapes, as I finish up a batch so to speak. I have boxes of the stuff waiting to be what I don't know. But just like I love the pictures you have hear with it all piled high, I love just gazing in the box thinking what may come out and play, what may never see the light of day...

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  5. Patti VanderbloemenJuly 3, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    GORGEOUS - as always!

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  6. Linda LandigJuly 3, 2012 at 10:01 PM

    @Lesley--You can't have all the flower bead caps, 'cuz I want some too!
    Karen, I love these and wish I could pick up and admire each piece in your pictures!

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  7. RanaLeaJuly 3, 2012 at 11:12 PM

    I wanna come play! Those beads caps are gorgeous.

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  8. SkyeJuly 4, 2012 at 8:49 AM

    You know, another way to get stuff listed quicker, especially your one-offs and things that you have tons of, would be to toss together little 'bundles' and offer them up. You could even toss up some 'mystery packs'- just name a price, and estimate on the number of beads/elements included, and maybe a color scheme.

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  9. KristiBowmanDesignJuly 4, 2012 at 9:00 AM

    Those little black discs with the red dots, oh ya, I want some!!! You do such amazing stuff Karen!

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  10. AliceJuly 4, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    Gorgeous stuff here! I nearly swooning.....

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  11. Marsha of Marsha Neal StudioJuly 6, 2012 at 4:32 PM

    You know Karen - you could always make the trip up to Bead Fest and sell your stuff (let everyone else do the work of picking out :) Then we could all get a chance to hang out and see you!!! Awesome gathering of pieces - what lucky kilns you have!!!

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  12. Karen TottenJuly 6, 2012 at 5:04 PM

    Thank you again guys!!! And Kristi I'll be making more discs with dots - these were my first run.

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  13. Karen TottenJuly 6, 2012 at 11:58 PM

    Working on it Marsha! Hoping to raise the funds and clear enough vacation time at my day job!

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  14. lunedreamsJuly 9, 2012 at 7:04 PM

    It's a treasure trove! I could spend hours on the floor with those (my favorite place to paw through treasures...)

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  15. richelleJuly 28, 2012 at 4:23 AM

    I'm going to need some of those floral caps!

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  16. gretchenJuly 31, 2012 at 2:14 AM

    oh, such a wealth of beauty! you do great work!

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  17. Lorelei EurtoAugust 14, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    Love the flower bead caps!

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