Design in the planning

Christmas is coming soon, so I'm planning on cooking a turkey this year.

I've made a rough design for a turkey plate that can be use in the oven and can be easily transported in the car without all the spills.

However, so far, it's just in the planning stages. I may build a small model to give me an idea of what the larger version will look like.

Inspiration from error

Sometimes...most times actually, you can learn from errors you make...


And other times, you can get inspiration from errors...


and build upon them...

Patience is required to see the final outcome.

Let's see how these hand made plates look after they have been fired and glazed.

Raku Workshop

One thing I learned about raku is how easy it is for a piece to chip or in some cases BREAK.


I also learned the glazes are toxic (the ones I used anyway).

Raku is not for functional pieces.

Glazed Work

Here are the results of some work a did months ago.


Making plates by hand takes time...

Creative Pause

Since being back in Melbourne, things have been like a roller coaster...


Finding work, reverse culture shock, new living arrangements and more....


Occasionally, I've taken the family dog for a walk...


It's helped me to gather my thoughts...

And helped me to get my creativity back.

Goals - Study Patternmaking

One of my other goals for this year was to study pattern making. Last week, I completed a five week introductory course in pattern making at CAE in Melbourne. Although the course was short, I did get a lot from it, and enjoyed it enough to want to study this further on a 'hobby' level.

The Melbourne School of Fashion offers a part-time course in pattern making and garment construction which runs for just under a year. I think it would be difficult to juggle work and the course since it requires a lot study and practice outside of school hours. However, it is something I am considering doing next year should I have the finances.

What have I been doing...?

Attending an "Introduction to mold making course"...




doing tutorials with the "Digital Textile Design" book...



Glazing my hand built bowls...

and...

planning a small "home wares" range, which won't be ready before Christmas..

AND working a few days...which I expect to increase in a few weeks...


Busy, Busy...

Home and a goal achieved

And now we are home! We arrived on Sunday afternoon from Canberra, in time for my Uncle's 70th birthday party. It was a nice way to end our four month trip around mainland Australia.

We'll have to leave Tasmania till the warmer weather I think.

So now it's time to look for work and to get back into pottery and all things to do with art and fashion. Stay tuned...I have so many ideas! So many!

Canberra

In Canberra, we saw the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.



And Parliament House...we also went to McCubbin: Last Impressions 1907–17 at the NGA.

Sydney

Also in Sydney, we stopped at a french bakery and had one of the best hot chocolates ever.

So try and visit Le Pain Quotidien if you can.

Sydney and Surf

The Three Sisters at the Blue Mountains and signs of spring