i spent my weekend over on the Eastside, and all i got was this lousy crack rock!

Seriously, kids, don't let the EASTside of I-35 scare you! It's full of wonderful art, culture and diversity and it's all waiting for you on this, the last weekend of the East Austin Studio Tour. So, get your bikes out or good walking shoes and be a tourist!

My work can be seen at #43 on the map...2710 E. Cesar Chavez, just west of Pleasant Valley. I'm in the back, under a tent. Saturday around 1, the lovely ladies of Guy Town will be coming by to sarenade us all with their twang and time.

EAST picks

Well, the first weekend of the East Austin Studio Tour is under our belts and I even managed to take off yesterday AM and take in a bit of art. I also spent a lot of time looking through the catalog and picking favorites and desires to see in person. There are few catalogs to be had now (I don't know if they are printing more up or not), so I've compiled a list of my EAST picks. I have a feeling next weekend will be a little frenzy to see what wasn't seen this past.

★ Catherine Dudley(#90a) @ 701 Tillery street, just east of Pleasant Valley.




★ #90b There are also some charming & powerful photos by Sarah Wilson right outside Catherine's studio.



★ #18 Denise Prince @ 1404 Willow Street Suite B (alley entrance).



★ #29 Andrew Long @ 2106 & 2110 Willow Street



★ #35 Carin Rodenborn @ 2507 B East 6th St.



★ #44 The Decoder Ring Design Concern @ 638 Tillery Street



★ #45b The Wondercraft's mobile studio "Stella" @ 629 Allen Street


★ #52 Court Lurie @4704 Cesar Chavez, Buildings B, Suite 300



★ #63 Jaime Jo Fisher @ 5609 Steven Creek Way



★ #70 Daphne Holland with Cari Washburn @ Pagoda Studio 5306 Bolm Road #8



★ #77 Ginko Studios @ 800 Gullett Street



★ #121 Catherine Hart @ 3023 E. 13th



★ # 137 Adaptive Re-use @ 4017 Cherrywood Rd.



Ya'll there is soooo much to see, just go out and see what you can. It's going to be beautiful this weekend and I hope to see some of you!

spend the evening with yours truly

Alrighty folks, NOW you can call (512) 974-4040 and register to take 1 or all 4 of my specialty clay workshops at the Dougherty Arts School. WOOHOO. Here is the lowdown.



Tiles & Trivets Workshop with Stephanie Nance
Thursday, November 5th 6:30 – 9:30 pm

This workshop offers an introduction for proper slab rolling techniques in order to produce decorative tiles, trivets, coasters, etc. Great for adults and beginners who desire to explore in a new medium and wonderful for experienced potters yearning to experiment with different clay techniques. Rolling and pressing textures into the surface of your slabs opens the door wide for all kinds of surface decoration. Students will walk away from class with their heads swirling with ideas for more fun projects to do on their own and a handmade work of art! Supplies provided. Paint your pieces with a one fire cone 06 glaze. Class held in Clay Studio. Limit 12 students. $29/ 1 class

Stamps and Appliqués Workshop with Stephanie Nance
Thursday, November 12th 6:30 – 9:30 pm

This specialty workshop will focus on making bisque-ware stamps and appliqué (a smaller ornament or device applied to another surface) molds for use in your future ceramic projects. An easy way to build your collection of tools for surface decoration; stamping and applying small appliqués to wares add ornament, interest and texture to plain surfaces. Students will leave knowing how to make & use their new tools. Supplies provided and pieces will be bisque fired only. Class held in Clay Studio. Limit 12 students. $29/ 1 class



Exploring Texture Workshop with Stephanie Nance
Thursday, November 19th 6:30 – 9:30 pm

The pliability of clay offers its users never-ending opportunities when it comes to surface design. This class is loosely designed as to give you the opportunity to experiment to your hearts desire making textures with unassuming items like, doilies, nails, cake decorating tips, fabric, buttons, etc. Feel free to bring items to share in making texture “test tiles.” We’ll take notes on what you and others do, so you may carry these processes on to your future projects. Supplies provided and paint your pieces with a one fire cone 06 glaze. Class held in Clay Studio. Limit 12 students. $29/ 1 class

Adornments Workshop with Stephanie Nance
Thursday, December 3rd 6:30 – 9:30 pm

This one day workshop is all about adorning yourself, home or loved ones. Students will have the opportunity to make drawer pulls, belt buckles, magnets, garden stakes, and/or ring bowls...little things that brighten up the home, or make wonderful gifts. Perfect for beginners wanting to explore clay or experienced artists looking to enjoy a one night workshop creating unique adornments in clay. Supplies provided. Paint your pieces with a one fire cone 06 glaze. Class held in Clay Studio. Limit 12 students. $29/ 1 class

fantasies

i secretly want to become an illustrator and surface designer and be represented by her.

seriously.

Airstream Roundup

"Airstream Rain" by Austinsplace via Etsy


A friend alerted me to the fact that my Airstream cards are included in their Airstream roundup today. Thanks Elka for the heads up!

Check it out! So much cool design happening with that stream line shape.

Cutting the Cord

okay, i'll admit it (if it's not obvious), Facebook is crack. it's become an unnecessary evil in my world. a world in which i need to be more productive and organize some affairs. i have a super busy fall and need to focus! so, this is it....i'm breaking up with Facebook....for awhile. a holiday is more like it. i love keeping up with everyone and in the isolated biz that art can be, and the social person i am...it is a welcomed treat.

that being said, i do have a business to run and an online presence that needs tending, so i won't be completely gone...just personally in absentia. my email is listed in my info...so feel free to use that if needed.

au revoir my FB family. for now...

Patience, a virtue?

Ceramics does not provide the instant gratification I am so used to. There are many stages of process with kiln visits and drying time thrown in between. It is testing my patience threshold. One one hand, it provides time to think about the next step as opposed to just going for it, which is my usual fashion; on the other....well, it's just a waiting game.

It is good for my ADD brain, that is a benefit. So while waiting I work on other projects! Thursday I trekked to Dripping Springs to my old j.o.b. to make stretcher bars for some painitngs! Here are some snapshots of my production. That resource has proven itself over and over again to be a godsend when I need to build stuff, etc. Thanks Ted.









Then, I headed to Dougherty again to continue sample making for classes.

Archiving

I have been designing a coffee table book about my tangent trailer project from awhile back. I'm flip flopping between computer programs to get the final look just right, but hopefully soon it will be done. There is an obsession to have my whole life documented and organized into these books. All on a bookshelf for perusal. This desire to do so eludes me, but I have to do it.

Back to Future Days

I ventured to the Dougherty Arts School, where I will be begin teaching in November, to make acquaintance with the ceramics studio and produce a few samples for the workshops. I was all alone and just had a ball. The smell, the standard equipment and ways all seem the same since the last time I graced a traditional clay studio (a decade ago). I'm anticipating my workshops and looking forward to them evolving into bigger & better classes; but I need to get back in the swing of things first.

Here are some stamps I made at Stefanie's the other week, for the applique class.

Nice!

I'm so proud of my friend Lisa Crowder! My trailer/studio used to be in the backyard of this studio space. I miss it...immensely...even though I was rarely there. Ha.

VIMBY - Lisa Crowder

Dogs & Donkeys & Cats, Oh My!

It all started as a holiday gift for some close friends who own miniature donkeys. Never touted myself as a realistic painter, but it was easy as paint by numbers with my method; plus they are not true lifelike in the traditional sense in my opinion.

The process:
find a picture I like,
print out to desired size,
use carbon paper to trace patches of color or shadow, etc,
connect the dots.

That painting led to a pet portrait donation for a lucky winner, then posting that on lovely Facebook led to other interest all of which lands me to my third pet portrait EVER....Archie the cat. Or should I say THE cat of all cats? I was roommates with Archie's mom and got to know Archibald (until we found out HE was a SHE) for a couple years. Here it is a decade or so later and she is a most beloved member of the Bloom family still. With a baby Bloom on the way, and Archie in her golden years what better birthday gift for mommy than a painting. So Sig and I secretly planned and I must say, it turned out incredible for my abilities.

Next up, is Addie and then possibly some more donkeys. WHO EVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I would be decent enough at this that people are interested in more? Thanks guys! I'm flattered. So, I leave you here with some images of the 3 I have finished so far.

wiping the drool from the floor

I'm in love. I want. Must go someday.
How amazing would this be to participate in. Sounds like multidisciplinary heaven to me. I have never given myself the gift of attending one of the many art centers around the country such as Anderson Ranch, Penland, Haystack or Arrowmont. I've taken little workshops, but nothing that I am immersed in day in and day out for a length of time. Continuing education is critical and I've fallen off the wagon. Perhaps this will inspire.

Ahead of the Curve.

image via Cupcakes Take The Cake
It bewilders me when I think about how ahead of my time I can be. I mean, I knew about Birkenstocks back in the 80's before their popularity spread like wildfire! Throughout my lifetime this has happened, however this is a big one and I really need to know...

Where were all the trailer park eateries and shops when I owned my Airstream 5 years ago???? And where was MY VISION when I became fascinated (okay, obsessed) with them 10 years ago???? Why did I not receive the memo from the Airstream fanatics about the "phenomenon" that was about to take place????

I KNOW there was a secret society, and I was not invited.

Okay, I had a vision, I just didn't do with with the gusto these brilliant people have. The invasion of the Airstream dreamers is alive and being well received here in Austin, Texas. Cupcake trailers, gift boutiques, gormet taco stands, yummy crepe noshins, hamburger joints, a smore house, a mobile craft studio? Let me count the ways folks have been using their creative juices and travel trailers to contribute to a more weird Austin, and I believe this is not just limited to Austin, as it has been spreading throughout the world like a never ending Gobstopper. Did it start with The Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona, and move onto more boutique airstream hotels like The Grand Daddy's Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park in Cape Town?


What came first: Hey, Cupcake? or Daisy Cakes

Whatever, or whomever started this, the trend has been happening for years and continues to grow. I just sold my travel trailer/studio a few months back, but now seeing clever ideas like this makes me swoon for more.

le sigh...

image via Design*Sponge