Alina Hayes - Finding Clay

Etsy Circles - Was It something I said?

2011-10-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

So I have to be honest, I did not get into the whole "circle" thing at first, and it took me a little while to embrace it. Once I did however, I really enjoyed all the new "clicks" I was a part of. Recently I've been getting denied access to add more people to my "circle" if you will as it is "bursting at the seams!" Really?
Am I so unpopular that I cannot and should not add more people to be friends with? I've done some research to find out that my circle limit will be expanded once more people add me to their circle and so I sit and wait to be allowed to become clicky with more Etsy folk. I have to say, this is hurting my self esteem. Etsy's solution is to "remove folks from your circle to make room for more" . So now I cant help but think that with every circle lost, that person is removing me to make room for a much cooler person.
This whole thing is making me feel like a redheaded stepchild. There I blogged about it!

Etsy Mud Team Mug Swap

2011-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Etsy Mud Team has a mug swap. Where all the team members randomly exchange a mug they made, for a mug made by another team member. Even though this swap takes place at the same time every year, for some reason it takes me by surprise and I always miss it. This year I am on the ball and have my mug ready! I am very proud to swap this prefect little mug and hope it goes to a faminine cat lover. As much as I love my mug, I find it kind of humorous to imagine a man using it. You can find other great mug entries here.

A Need for Clean

2011-07-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

I really had to push myself this past month to keep a steady work schedule. Despite Finn becoming really active, I have been working and making stuff during every nap and free moment I can get. As a result, I am firing my kiln for the first time in months and it's stuffed!

I've had many new and intesting ideas, experimenting with colored porcelain as well as decals and cannot wait to see and show you the results in another post. I've also had a chance to finally develop letters to be used for personalized items like mugs and vases for names and monograms.

Having been so busy (and lazy) my studio became absolutely dingy. I've finally had to force myself to get down and dirty. It took me 3 1/2 hours of scrubbing on hands and knees to clean about a 5'x5' space, after which I was so exhausted I could not continue.

This is a small part of what I have to tackle tomorrow....ehhhhhh.....

Vintage Taking Over Etsy?

2011-06-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

So while I've been kicking back being a mom, I've began to notice a shift...an Etsy shift. Even though my pottery production has now taken a back seat to mommyhood I still check on my Etsy shop and some of my favorite categories daily. I couldn't help but notice the number of vintage shops and vintage items that now seem to pop up more than ever on the front page as well as Storque articles and the Etsy Finds emails. This caused me to stop and think about what this may mean for us handmade folks and the site in general. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge vintage fan. I've scored a gorgeous mink stowe and some magazines from a couple of my favorite vintage Etsy shops. However, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by the presence of craft supplies and 1950's kitsch as I browse Etsy's pages. Part of what attracted me to Etsy was that it sold handmade! It somehow made it a special place so very different from EBay! It wasn't a place for everyone, but rather a group of people that could "create". Now I know that vintage shop owners may read this and say I am only complaining because I sell handmade, and that would be true to a point. I am not saying there should be no vintage or supplies on Etsy, just not sure I like the site moving in a different direction. After all, it's not "Etsy, where you buy and sell handmade" only any longer.I am not really sure where I am headed with this, other than that I would like to know what others out there may think.

Would I Trade My Finn For a Thousand Etsy Sales?

2010-11-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Not even a million!
With my production schedule going at a steady crawl, I can't help but wish I had more time for clay. Especially for the busy holiday season. However, when I look over at the little person playing in his playpen as I write this post, sales don't seem important. With another kiln load cooling off in the garage, I wonder if I should rename this blog " Finding Finn". We've sure been having fun these last few months and can't wait for Christmas!
Thanks to all of you who's patiently waiting for new work to hit the shelves. I appreciate you sticking with me! I am excited to take a peek inside the kiln today and take some photos of all the fun pottery.
I've been perfecting a new pink glaze... let's hope it looks fab!

Getting Back To Work

2010-08-28T11:54:00.001-07:00

For the last few weeks, I have been carving out more and more time to spend in the studio. With Finn having more of a routine, it's becoming easier to plan around his schedule. Creating hand built work allows me stay in the house and work at the same time. While this places "limits" on the type of work I make, it actually helped me think outside the box and come up with new ideas. Speaking of carving,the Etsy Mud Team is having a Tile Challenge. Stop by and vote for your favorite, and receive discounts offered by our team members. I entered my Abstract Pears Tile, which I carved from high fire white stoneware clay. I really love the glazes on this tile. They are muted and neutral, yet still create depth.

Father's Day Taste Test.

2010-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

When I can't mix glazes and work with clay, I bake. Baking and mixing glazes is pretty close to the same thing (in my mind anyway). Both require concentration, love and precise measurements. This Father's day, being my husband's first, gave me the perfect excuse. My husband is a huge chocoholic, and swears by Betty Crocker's Milk Chocolate Cake Mix, and Betty Crocker's Milk Chocolate Frosting. I on the other hand is a "from scratch" kinda gal. So I gave him a blind taste test. The cake on the left (Cake A.) is made completely from scratch using Beatty's Cake Recipe from the Food Network. The cake on the right (Cake B) is made from store bought Betty Crocker Milk chocolate Mix and frosting.

I first fed him a piece of Cake A, followed by Cake B. Upon tasting both, my husband stated that they were both great, but he preferred Cake B. A little disappointed (I preferred cake A of course) I pushed over the plate with Cake B, and said "here's your cake." He tasted it and said "wait a minute, very funny, now give me my cake!" HA! I win! I win!

Don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for store bought cake mixes, and I have to say, Betty Crocker's cake was not half bad, and took no more than 20 minutes of prep. time. But I loved the richness of Beatty's Chocolate cake. It had a much firmer texture without being dry and the chocolate butter cream frosting was truly amazing. Makes me want to have a slice just thinking about it!

So the test revealed, from scratch is always better! Much like it is with glazes isn't it?

Future Potters of America

2010-06-05T16:19:00.001-07:00

I would like to Introduce...

Finnian Patrick Hayes

Born on April 28th, 2010, Weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces

Measuring 20 inches

It looks like he might be a leftie like his mama.

And Oh Boy has he been keeping me busy!

Move over Clay...

2010-04-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here comes baby.

For the last nine months I have been working on a new exciting endeavor. Having a baby growing inside you really takes over your world and your life. Before you know it, it consumes you whole and it's hard to think or do anything else. After months of planning and purchasing every baby gadget made by man, I am at the end of the road. With my due date just a few days away, I am ready for this new and exciting stage in my life...(and I am really tired of being pregnant.)

The smartest thing I've done for me, and would recommend to all future moms, is to start and finish your nursery as early as possible. There are so many things to worry about towards the end, that having the nursery complete really helped me feel at ease. With so many unknown aspects, I found that pouring some of my creative juices on something I can control was a very comforting experience. I painted the room using pastel blue, green and cream. Variations of those neutral colors were placed throughout the room that tied everything together. I personalized the space by painting three jungle animal illustrations that fit in with the the bedding.

With the last month coming to a close, what I've heard from every mom is all too true. The last month is the absolute worst. The baby is getting heavy, your belly is stretched to about as far as it can go, all the while being punched and kicked from the inside at every angle imaginable. It's during these moments that my mind drifts back to pottery.

I haven't set foot in my studio for the last 2 months, and it's really beginning to eat away at me. I am over the being constantly tired and exhausted. I am fired up and ready to come back!!! We'll see what the baby has to say about that. Being a first time mom I have no clue what to expect. I have read what seems like every pregnancy book, including the bible "what to expect when you're expecting" followed by "what to expect: the first year". I have also armed myself with the latest and "hottest" mimijumi baby bottles to minimize "nipple confusion". Yup there's nipple confusion apparently and I am ready for it!

From Ladybugs to Bunnies

2009-11-18T11:56:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, a customer who purchased a Ladybug in my Mug - Mug asked me if I would place any other animals or wild things inside my cups. I thought about it from a practical stand point and tried to come up with a shape that can be simplified to sit flush against the bottom without creating too much of a headache when washing the cup... and so came the bunnies. They were so darn cute I couldn't help myself and I placed them on all sorts of things!

TRAPPED

2009-11-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

It maybe hard to believe, (with such fast turnover in electronics) but I've had the same Dell Inspiron Laptop for almost 8 years. This sweet little dinosaur has served me so well and gave minimal problems. Over the last year however, with my excessive pottery photo, and i-tunes downloads, it became really slow and started to overheat. To combat the problem, I've positioned it in such a way, that the fan portion of the bottom would hang off the desk slightly to create a bit more ventilation. (Can you tell I have a problem with change?)

However, it's time had come and it just had to go. So for my birthday, my dear, sweet, husband bought me a new HP Entertainment notebook. I thought this thing was great!!! It was practically weightless, and are computers really this fast now a days?

A big surprise came when I needed to install some of the basic programs, you know, the anti-virus and the printer. The damn thing was a complete lemon. It would not install anything, and when I attempted to restart, never turned on again.

Luckily, Best Buy's return policy is wonderful, and they took the awful thing back without a question.

Frustrated, I decided to stick with what I know best, and buy a new Dell. I ordered a new Dell Inspiron that weighs all of 5 pounds :) and so far (knock on wood) works splendidly. The new Windows 7 came automatically installed and is very similar to the type of function and look of the Mac Safari. (I suppose a way for PCs to compete)...

Oh but this story does not have a happy ending. Much like my ancient Dell, I also have an ancient (by graphic software standards) version of Adobe Photoshop 7.0. That version is no longer compatible with Windows 7, and has not been compatible with any Windows since Windows XP. After numerous calls to Adobe Tech support in India, I discovered that Adobe will not upgrade me to the New CS4 photoshop unless my version was Adobe Photoshop 8.0 or greater. So until I cough up around $700, I have no photoshop.

So while I type this blog post on my fast and efficient new Dell, I will have to edit and list all new pottery photos on my dinosaur. God give me strength.

Diversity in Clay at the AMOCA

2009-08-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

This upcoming weekend is the Opening of the Diversity in Clay exhibit curated by the American Ceramic Society, Design Chapter. The reception is this Saturday August 8th 6-9pm at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. I urge all to attend if you're in the Los Angeles area. I haven't been before, but those that have, said that the food at this reception is pretty great! So come on down and check out some fabulous pottery and mingle with yours truly and other amazing potters!

Reflection

2009-07-11T18:17:00.001-07:00

Get ready for a long one folks...

Some recent events made me want to take a step back and reflect on where my pottery came from and where it's headed. Since my two year Etsyversary is looming, I guess my first Etsy sale is a good place to start. This is the first piece that sold. It had contrasting color, a curvy egg-like shape, still very similar to the shape I throw today.

With my first wheel-thrown pieces my first goal as a student and a potter was to make the form symmetrical, centered as well as making the piece as light as possible. I have succeeded at this over the last two years as you can tell by cheaper shipping prices.

Then came the Eggs. The fool proof blue/brown color combination that satisfied my need for both contemporary and traditional styles. After the arrival of the Robin's Egg, my pottery took a turn for the more refined, feminine style that is very much reflected in my pottery today.

A short while later came my trip to Paris and my discovery of hand-carved and still very much color contrasting Poppy. Shortly after came the Sprout. I still have to be perfectly relaxed and in a great mood to successfully throw those little suckers. The sprout teapot is yet again a perfect example of the modern/contemporary in me.

So where am I headed? With a larger collection of flowers and now my own blend of glaze colors, will I let the curvy, vind-y win out and settle on with the press molds and the slip? Or will I continue to be all over the place with my pottery much like I am in life?
Today's trip to the Getty was no help. I was yet again torn between the 1600's decadent, French gold and robins egg vases on the interior of the Decorative Arts Section and the museum's overly modern, clean-lined architectural exterior. But if they can live together so beautifully, why can't I?

I fast forward to my last sold item. Ladybugs!

They are awesome, fun and now that I found a glaze that does not run, I can add them to everything.(Strongly considering it!)

With a kiln full ready to go for yet another bisque firing, only time will tell.

Featured

2009-07-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Bekah at BekahQuilts who was nice enough to feature me on her blog!

Bekah's quilts are beautiful! and can be found on one of my favorite websites - Etsy.

Diversity in Clay Exhibition

2009-07-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that this piece was accepted to the 2009 AMOCA/ ACS-DC Diversity in Clay Exhibition. The exhibition runs from August 8th until August 28th at the American Museum of Ceramic Art - 340 S. Garey Avenue, Pomona,CA 91766. There will be a reception on Saturday August 8th from 6-9pm where awards will be presented. This is a fundraiser and all work is for sale, so I encourage everyone to come! This is a very happy moment for Alina Hayes Ceramics.

Bust Update

2009-06-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share an update on the bust. It showed

some minor cracks on the inside after it was bisque fired and I feared the worst. My teacher suggested I use paper clay to fill the cracks. Strangely, none of the cracks I patched opened, but there were some others that showed up in areas I did not expect. It survived Cone 11 reduction firing, and the head did not fall off. None were on the face and overall I was very lucky. The porcelain slip I used gave it a beautiful almost marble-like appearance that I am very happy with.

Hand Built vs. Wheel Thrown

2009-06-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

When I first discovered pottery, all I wanted to do was throw. I had no interest in learning anything having to do with hand-building and was fully consumed by the spinning and lifting of the clay. I have continued to create wheel-thrown pottery until this spring when I had enrolled in a hand-building class and became in awe of what I was missing.

Being a bit of a perfectionist, I loved the perfectly centered form the wheel helped create (on a good day). At first my impression of hand-built pottery was that it was very wonky and misshapen. However, once I took a class with Biliana Popova and discovered that you can create very symmetrical, smooth forms much like the wheel with liberties that the wheel just does not allow. I realized that I was keeping myself from something so satisfying. Hand-built forms, even when perfect and smooth still have a textile quality that cannot be reproduced on the wheel making you want to feel it, allowing you to unmistakeably recognize that a piece is hand-built once you hold it. If you never held a piece of hand-built pottery, do it.

I am not sure I will fully convert to strictly hand-building from now on, but I have developed a respect for the quality it creates and look forward to adding those elements to my future works.

Unconditional Love

2009-05-16T20:14:00.001-07:00

I can't help but feel a strong connection between clay and the human condition that we call life. It all started when I was attaching a spout on a teapot. It was surprising how it's personality changed each time I repositioned the spout. Then I accidentally nicked it, and immediately began to rub it to make it better. I imagine that love for pottery is very much like the unconditional love a parent might have for a child. When a woman gets pregnant, she may wish for a boy, but in turn get a girl. She might think her child will have blond hair with blue eyes, just to give birth to a green eyed red head due to some recessive gene no one knew she had from her great great grandmother. But the child is loved all the same. Each time a kiln is fired, I find something unexpected, even thought it is so different from what I was hoping for.
I have always wanted to sculpt a bust, but was always hesitant to take on such an endeavor. However, this semester I am taking a hand building class with Biliana Popova, and as part of the curriculum were asked to hand in one hand built piece of my choice for our final project. So I thought - Just Do it! - This is the piece I've been working on. Now anyone who knows anything about clay will tell you that it is still very early in it's stage to get excited. But I don't care! I have always enjoyed painting portraits, but this was so much more satisfying. To be able to run your fingers across the bridge of the nose or placing your palms on the shoulders is very different than staring at an image from a canvas - No matter how life like it looks. At the moment this piece has not been fired and is still its leatherhard stage. I wanted to photograph it just in case something bad happened during firing. I hope that the kiln Gods have mercy on this humble potter.

Attack of the Robins Egg

2009-04-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

Spring is here, the birds are singing, the westeria has bloomed and I can't help but smile. My latest Robins Egg kiln load came out and the pieces are lovely! I feel like a proud mama of her babies and it feels good. We may not be certain of a lot of things, but one thing we can be certain of. Every year spring will come, the robin will return, and I will have speckled Robins eggs in my shop :) and I wouldn't have it any other way.

A Streak of Bad Luck

2009-04-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

I am generally a very laid back person, and when throwing I get to zone out and create little pots and shapes without giving much thought of how many pieces an hour I can make or glaze, or what is my top seller. However, now that I rely on pottery for money, I've become a complete basket case. I've become Etsy obsessive, and to make matters worse, for the first time ever, my pieces started to come out of the kiln firing wrong! I've had to re-do a custom order a third time because my copper-red glaze came out white during the first two firings, and a custom vase cracked. I shouldn't say that I've never had a piece stick to the cookie, or come out a totally different color, but not when it mattered. I now understand completely about the frustrations experienced by full-time potters that have orders to fill and deadlines to meet. I am sure feelin ya now.

April Fool's 2009

2009-04-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Etsy Mud team comes through again with their good, clean, fun for everyone April Fools Joke.

They have infiltrated the Etsy Ceramic Showcase for the day, along with 225 listings containing TP.

All works are available for sale, minus the toilet paper of course.

Here are some of my favorites:

Maid of clay

Studio Elan

Judy B Freeman

Where does the time go?

2009-03-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

Its been almost a month since I've broken free and became a potter. I had some family visit for the first week and a half, then we went on vacation for another week, and I find myself wondering where did the time go? I have certainly been engaged in more pottery so that's been simply awesome, and it is nice to be on your own time for a change, but that may be the problem. I no longer have to get up at 6:30am, so even if I go to bed at my usual 10:30pm, I still feel the need to sleep in until at least 8:30. Then I get up, feed Mopsy, pick out the mug to drink my coffee out of, and head into the garage. Several pottery pieces later, its 2 o'clock... and I didn't even eat lunch! Not working in an office has done wonders for my figure, so I am not really complaining. It's amazing how preoccupied with food you are when you're stilling still for eight hours. Days and weeks have been flying by, and I am so grateful to be swooped up in it.

Step two - getting organized.

I am Free

2009-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

With spring comes rebirth, renewal, new beginnings to celebrate. Today I am celebrating something greater than any holiday, anniversary, or birthday. Today is the day I became a full-time potter.

I first visited California when I was 18 years old. A friend of mine was doing a co-op program here, and invited me to come visit him when he was working here. I stayed for two weeks, and while here sent out my headshots to a couple of agents. I got a really favorable response from one, who suggested that I stay here and pursue acting as a career. Oh I wanted to so badly, but I was 18, and when I called my mom to tell her, she was begging me to come home. So I did. What did I know, I was 18. I was bit by the acting bug for a while after that, but supporting yourself in New York and trying to be an actress is even less glamorous than it is in LA. So needless to say, rent and bills took priority over a dream and soon I had to accept reality. I somehow became a medical biller/collector. After a few years, I met my husband and endlessly talked about how I would love to move and live in Los Angeles. We were married on September 17, 2005. Two weeks after we returned from our honeymoon, he was offered a job in Los Angeles, CA. We packed up our clothes, threw out all the furniture, put our Weimaraner in the back seat of a 1997 Jeep Cherokee and headed west. I quickly found out that I was no longer the cute 18 year old with no responsibility, but a married 26 year old, and that is like being 45 in show biz years. I needed a job. So I went back to doing what I did best. Being a medical biller/collector. This job did not lend itself to a flexible schedule required to audition, and so yet again, my acting dream fell on the back burner. One of the women who worked with me had a daughter who took pottery classes at the Burbank Community Center. I’ve always wanted to try the wheel and enrolled in the next available class. I was hooked. Today is the day that has been ten years in the making. Everything in my life for the past ten years led me to this place, to this moment. When during casual conversation, people asked me “ and what do you do?” I always cringed at the moment when I had to reply “I do medical collections”. You certainly did not reply “an actress” because everyone is an “actress” in LA, and then you just sound stupid and shallow. Somehow what you “do” sums you up to the person asking the question and I was soooooo not a medical collector. I wanted to scream “No look at me, I am creative and I am so much more and…” Today I can proudly say “I am a potter”, and if the faith allows, I will have acting as a hobby :)

The Golden Cage

2009-02-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

During a time in our country, where one is lucky to even have a job, I find myself trapped inside mine. I work at a retirement community for actors and do medical collections there. It is a job that is so un-stimulating, that to call it boring would be an understatement. In case you do not know what a medical collector does, let me tell you.I speak to disgruntled patients that don’t want to pay their medical bills, I peruse patients medical records searching for additional diagnosis and in turn read about STD exposures, their stool quality, the detailed descriptions of their genitalia on the daily basis. I also call insurance companies that come up with every possible excuse not to pay patients medical claims.

During my two 15 minute breaks, I daydream of teapots, vases and different type of flowers I will adorn my jars with this spring. I also get 30 minutes for lunch, during which I try to stuff and digest some sort of a sandwich. Having said that, the job is located 7 minutes away from my home, and while I am not a morning person, and have to be in by 7AM, I am home by 3:37 PM. This allows me to run my errands, swim in my pool in the summer, and take my pottery classes at Glendale Community College.

So while I whine and complain about this awful day job, it allows me the time to do all the things I love, but at what cost I ask you? I have been keeping an eye out for something else for the last two years, but I am still here. Still in this half cubicle, still staring at the computer screen in a micro-managed environment. The reason for this is that our economy is in the shitter, and I have not found another comparable option that is as convenient as this. So here I sit, while my mind wonders through Robins Egg valleys and Poppy jar meadows.

Even as I am writing this, I know I should be grateful, but I can’t help tearing at myself wanting to get out and do something creative. My husband who is one of those people who does not have a creative bone in his body. - I am not being mean, it’s a fact and he would tell you this himself, finds it difficult to understand that it is not something we, the creative people choose. It is in us, and if there is no outlet, we go crazy! I know I am not alone this. Back me up people!

A Much needed Break

2009-01-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

I did not create a single piece of pottery in the past month. December was the month for selling. As my shop became bare, I took a much needed break from pottery. I had a few distractions. The Twilight Series being one of them. I had no idea what all the hype was about, and went to see the movie before I had any desire to read the book. After being swept off my feet by Edward Cullen – the handsome vampire, I simply had to read them all starting with the first. Now I know I’m not much for a critic, and always give even the worst of films/books a warm review. I should start by saying that I found Twilight the movie to be a pleasant version of the book, and was happy when all the little gaps left by the film were filled by the book. Book two – New Moon was painful, Book three – Eclipse was excruciating, and I was looking forward to Book four – Breaking Dawn to relieve me from the repetitive, crawling writing of Stephenie Meyer, all the while hoping that I will once again find the same innocent sweet romance between Edward and Bella that drew me into this swamp in the first place. It never came! I suppose it serves me right reading books written to high schoolers. Although I have been doing a survey and the teens are not too thrilled either.

Going back East for the holidays is always a treat. I love returning to New York to enjoy it, but leaving before it leaves its dreary mark. I used to be completely in love with that city. After living the easy life here in Los Angeles, NYC just seems like too much work for me. It’s absolutely true that if you make it there, you’ll make it anywhere. I do not know any other city where it’s inhabitants have more resilience than New Yorkers. I was really glad about the chance to hang out with my sister. She is away at school and I only get to see her a few times a year. We did all the necessaries. Saw the tree, turned the cube.

This month it’s back to work, back to responsibility, back to reality…uuurgh. My studio is in desperate need of a serious cleaning. How long do you have to do pottery before you can look for an intern? J I am in serious production mode and cannot wait to get my fingers into clay. I’ve been brainstorming during my time off, and have some exciting new pottery ideas that I will attempt to execute in 2009. I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful New Year!!!

December in L.A.

2008-11-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

December is right around the corner here in Los Angeles, sunny with temperatures in the 80’s. But then again if you live here, you already know that. I’d like to give an update on some events I am participating in this month. If you’re in the Los Angeles are, stop by the Local World’s Fair, sponsored by Etsy along with other companies. Maybe you’ll snag some one of a kind gifts, or something really neat for yourself. I’ll be there on Saturday, December 6th with current and new pottery you’ve come to know and love. So even if you don’t want to shop, but are really bored, stop by and say hi!

Two of my teapots are off to the Steamboat Invitational Teapot Show in Steamboat, Colorado. I wish I could go see them, but I am off East this holiday season. So all you tea lovers in Colorado,
check out the show. Teapots will be on display December 2nd through February 1st.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Art vs. Craft

2008-10-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

After spending all day playing with clay, my husband and I decided to take a trip to the bookstore. As soon as I walked through the door, I waived good bye and marched proudly into the “Art Section”, to look through pottery books for inspiration. After scanning through hundreds of books on Art history and famous painters, photography, books on fashion design and make up artistry, books on motion pictures…hmmm before I knew it I was in the adjacent “Architecture Section”. Puzzled, I walked over to the information desk and asked if they can help me locate books on ceramics. The girl politely stated that if they have any, they would be located upstairs in the “Craft Section”. Oh… So I walked upstairs and located the “Craft Section” In the very corner, next to the “Pet Section” was a small insignificant “Craft Section”. There on the bottom shelf between quilting and jewelry making, I was able to locate a total of four books having to do with ceramics. FOUR! So hold on, let me get this straight, putting lipstick on someone’s face is more of an art than ceramic sculpture? And what about Ceramic History? One of the oldest art forms in history. Are advertisements from the 60s more of an art form than million year old Chinese porcelain teapots? I was beyond furious while flipping through these mediocre soft cover “books” on the floor of the craft section where I belong. So my question to you is, what is art and what is craft? Who decides where Art ends and Craft begins? Why do we get shoved aside while make-up artists get all the glory together with Oscar De La Renta and Andy Warhol? Hello, I am a make up artist… and what is it you do again? Crafts?

October Love

2008-10-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

Fall has always been my favorite season, with a particular love for October. Maybe it’s because New York finally began to cool down during this time of year, maybe because it’s my birthday month, or maybe it’s because of Halloween. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday (that’s right it tops Christmas). My best friend from high school and I were still trick-or treating when we were 16 years old, and since I can no longer trick-or-treat at the age of 29 - without looking like the neighborhood freak and I don’t have any kids, - I am dressing up Mops.
I know, I know it’s kinda mean, but I just can’t help myself. (I’ll post pictures of that later.) Sorry, got side tracked. Back to fall…Star from lunaarcana shares my love for Autumn as well as my Acorn Jars, and was kind enough to feature my pottery, and myself in her blog. It never seizes to amaze me how nice are the folks of Etsy.

Acorn Fever

2008-09-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

As I am feverishly throwing my acorn jars, They were featured on Miapella's Blog!

The acorns are very excited. Thank you :)

Fall Season is Here

2008-09-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

Even in Sunny California, summer is coming to an end and I am really looking forward to fall and the holiday season. Lately I’ve been gearing up and making pottery like a mad woman. I’ve learned the hard way not to get excited about your pieces until they are out of the kiln, out of your car and tucked away safely on the shelf. Now it’s time to get excited. The glazes came out so wonderfully that I am still a little skeptical talking about them. Something had to go wrong somewhere… but it didn’t. So here we are. Off to make more Acorns!

My First Year on Etsy

2008-09-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

I have celebrated my one year Etsyversary on August 30, 2008, and I have to say it feels good! I tallied all the sales I’ve had, all the Etsy money I’ve made and I feel a bit more seasoned as an Etsy seller. I’ve become a firm believer in re-listing and hanging out in the Promotion Forums, but above all providing excellent customer service and product. I’ve always been my worst critic and my goal is to double the number of sales this year. If you ask me how I did, I’d probably tell you I did ok. But if I reflect on it with an outside perspective (as much as possible), I realize I did pretty good! When I started this blog, one of my first posts was titled “Help me quit my day job” and I feel that I am definitely a step closer and Etsy is the reason. I am still at the same office job, writing this post from my office chair, but I somehow feel a sense of optimist even as our economy is in the shitter, still constantly inspired by Etsy interviews from sellers that have been able to devote themselves to their craft full-time, thinking that one day that will be me. With my classes beginning again this week, I am looking forward to this holiday season with new work and ideas and anxiously awaiting for that first kiln load to be fired, so I can continue to offer my pieces to the Etsy world yet again. I’ve since turned on six other fellow potters and friends to Etsy who are also having a good time. So if you’re reading this blog, and you’ve my customer, friend or just a fellow Etsy seller, thank you.

Exciting Prospects

2008-09-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

With summer coming to an end, I’ve been pondering some new ideas and forms for the holiday season while being a new mama to my baby girl pug Mops. I am so excited about some new goodies I’ve been working on, that I had give you a sneak preview while they are at their leatherhard/greenware stage. These teapots are sort of a hybrid on my sprout vases. When I started working on the vases, other potters at the studio were intrigued by the idea of pulling the handle directly from the form while attached to the wheel. Personally, I haven’t seen a take on this idea or seen teapots that are similar to these. So if you see any let me know. I was told by one woman that they produced similar forms in ancient morocco, but I was unable to find any pictures. I know that if I claim them as original designs, chances are somewhere in the world a similar version exists (I hope not, because then I am a true pottery genius!)… and I don’t want to be like that one woman on the Martha Stuart show who claimed he petty coats were “the original”… umm lady, petty coats have existed long before you were born. These teapots are so much fun to throw and I love that they all have their unique personalities. To me, teapots in general seem very humanlike with their spouts and handles. My other recent discovery are these Acorn Jars. Now seriously… how cute are these? Stay tuned.

Before and After

2008-07-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, my bisque firing was a success. The glaze stuck to my pots and went through the Cone 10 firing successfully, and some of the pieces are now on sale in my Etsy shop. Although now that I am looking at the two pots next to each other, there is something sweet and innocent about it being in white. Hmmm... something I will have to explore.

The Art of Art

2008-07-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to make tribute to this person ever since I returned from Paris. I do not know his name, but he made such an impact on me during my visit to the Louvre. When I lived in N.Y. it was pretty common to see artists doing reproductions of master’s works, painting away for hours, but at the Louvre they were everywhere. I have always wanted to be one of those people, but as luck would have it, never had the time. It always put a smile on my face when I saw people work, but this was astounding. I watched him for at least twenty minutes and was completely in awe of the insane amount of detail as well as the fact that his copy looked exactly like the original. I loved him and that painting that day. His amazing talent, dedication and PATIENCE! So this makes me wonder how many people go through life, unassumingly making a difference in someone’s life without ever knowing it…
After my husband pulled me away, we went to see” the painting”…the Mona Lisa. That was as close as I got. A little disappointing I know, but it was magical.

I Finally Did It!

2008-06-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

After much delay due to fear and anxiety, I have finally fired the first bisque load in my kiln that I've had sitting in my garage ready and able for the last seven months. With some fumbling and ten eaten cuticles later, Ta Da...I present to you my first Cone 06 firing. Everything survived with no cracks, and it makes such a lovely "ding" sound when you flick it with your fingers. Of course the true test will be when I glaze them and then we'll see if we'll live happily ever after.

Non-Sellables...in a good way

2008-06-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

With my First class over at GCC, and a new one beginning next week, I just wanted to pause and share some of the pieces I don’t think I can part with. Usually the pottery I have at home are the left over seconds, and my husband calls our house the land of misfit pottery. But these are different, these I won’t sell… ever. This is the first time I’ve felt this way about my pottery. With my paintings it was different. I couldn’t part with any of them regardless of how good/bad I thought they were. With pottery, I didn’t mind letting go at all, actually happy to. It’s kind of interesting to see the style and quality of your work improve and evolve. I wonder what other non-sellable items I have in my future.

Clay has taken over my life!

2008-05-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am going to say it again… CLAY has taken over my life. I think about it 24 hours a day. I think about it before I go to bed, in the shower, as I fall asleep. I think about it when I wake up in the morning. I’ve never had a “to do list” in my life, but now I have THREE lists tracking the stages and locations of all my on-going clay projects. I can’t flip through a home decorating catalog without focusing on all the ceramic accessories it contains and forgo all the necessary objects I actually DO need for my house. I’ve signed up for a summer class at Glendale Community College, that takes a full semester class and compresses it into a five week, Monday-through Thursday 6-9:30pm session, (yikes…) because I couldn’t imagine being limited to only ONE pottery studio in Burbank for my glazing purposes with a three week summer break (God forbid I actually enjoy the pool we pay for dearly every month). M y husband…shockingly… supports me on this idea (we’ll see how he feels once I actually start taking the class).
What to throw, what size to throw, how to trim, what to add, how to glaze, slips, wax resists, designs, molds…. Ahhhhh make it stop!
Most of my comfortable clothes, that once were presentable enough to wear to the office, now look tattered and faded. Most of the time, I look like I’ve been washed ashore onto an uninhabited island. I am a pretty bad nail bitter, but having my hands in clay all the time and not using lotion, (stupid) I’ve bitten my dry cuticles to shreds. I still resemble a sort of version of myself, but I fear not for long. Hi, my name is Alina and I am a clayaholic…

Testing my limits

2008-05-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

When I first started throwing, I wanted to throw as large as possible. I wasn't worried so much about the perfection of the form, but was more preoccupied with it's size. When I got tired of off-center pots, I decided I should work smaller and make my forms more perfect. Light, centered, and perfectly glazed. (Ha!) When I began selling on Etsy, I once again became size conscious for shipping purposes. Throwing items that would fit comfortably in flatrate USPS priority boxes. I was comfortably settled into the 7 inch zone, when I was asked to throw a large porcelain egg vase exceeding 9 inches when fired. I thought, no problem...Right?After my fourth attempt, I was worried. I just couldn’t do it. I went to the studio to get some support from my pottery buddies, covered with clay, and still nothing! I would pull the porcelain up, and the darn thing would slump back down. I went home, hating myself. The next day I decided I had to give it another try, and what do you know, I did it. I threw the 10 ½ inch porcelain Egg so it can shrink down to it’s intended 9 inches. :)

Spreadin the love

2008-04-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, someone will do something nice for no reason at all. Meet Urbanflea. She has an amazing blog that features some really great interior designs and ideas. I especially love the West Elm Branch table for $179.00. She was kind enough to mention me along with some amazing pottery artists on Etsy in her Weekly Etsy Fix: Ceramics. So if you're visual like myself, check out her blog for some delicious eye candy.

Off to Paris

2008-04-10T08:29:00.001-07:00

For the past several years I have been obsessing about going to Paris. I am not sure why exactly, perhaps it was the season finale of Sex and the City or the Devil wears Prada. I’d like to think it’s because of my deep seeded French roots belonging to my great, great grandmother. I remember one day my husband asking me where I wanted to go first, France or Italy, and I had decided France for sure. So on a day in February, he surprised me with a trip to Paris. I have been beyond thrilled ever since. So this Friday, we are taking a 12 hour direct flight to Paris and staying in a rented ‘flat” a block from the Louvre. I will do my best to put my “poterie” on hold, while I stroll through Versailles. I am not leaving without some antique trinket from one of the Parisian flea markets. I am sure I’ll blab all about it when I return. Au revoir.

Home Sweet Home

2008-04-03T22:24:00.001-07:00

I was really excited when I sold this pitcher and bowl set, but was even more excited when I found out that it was going to a really big Alina Hayes fan.... my mom. Thanks Mom!

Sneak Peak

2008-04-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pieces that I will be listing on Etsy. After I’ve had pretty good success with the Robin’s Egg vases, I thought about throwing a complete egg as a closed form like more of a sculpture. I think these three came out really well. I love that the speckles are nice and dark.

My Girls

2008-03-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

I can no longer contain myself. I have to share my girls with the world. Veronica and Felicia are my absolute favorite clay people. (But I know I'd love them even if they weren't clay people). Veronica was and still is my first pottery teacher. If it wasn't her encouragement, I would've dropped clay before I even started. Felicia was her sidekick. She helped me put a handle on my first cup! I still have it. This is the three of us at the Fine Arts Federation Show this February. We all had pieces in the show.

Reavealing my space

2008-03-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Over the past week or so, I have been perusing the blogs of other potters and I have been amazed by the studio photos. They are beautifully lit, large, incredibly clean and roomy. Having a house is a definite step up from living in our small 650 square foot apartment in New York. Perhaps I should give you a quick background on my “work space” throughout my life. When I was growing up, we lived in a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. There were four of us. I shared a room with my sister, and at one point I remember painting with oils in the bathroom. This is really the first space that I can honestly and completely call my own. Considering that I would paint in the middle of our living room in New York, having this “garagio” (as some Etsy Mudders refer to their garage studios) is beyond awesome. So even though it may be small, it is peaceful and it is mine.

Winning the Juror Award

2008-03-25T20:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've entered one of my paintings in a Fine Arts Federation Member show, where it was exhibited at the Creative Arts Center Gallery in Burbank. To my surprise, I won the Juror Award.

Here's how excited I was. Hehe... yay!

Vote for Me in the Etsy Mud Team Salt & Pepper Shaker Challenge!

2008-02-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

The Etsy Mud Team are having a challenge from February 3rd through February 9th.
My shakers are the little brown and white balls :) Three voters will be entered in a raffle and have a selection of pottery prizes to choose from. How awesome is that?
Go to the EMT website and Vote! I am #22! So come on get out there and Vote... for my Salt and Pepper shakers that is!

http://etsymudteam.freeweb7.com

Help Me Quit My Day Job!

2008-02-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

Being a Libra and being very indecisive by nature, I found it very difficult to select a profession.
Even though I was an Illustration Major at the School of Visual Arts in New York, I’ve somehow managed to stumble on a “career” in Medical Collections. Don’t ask me how. For quite a while now, I have been working in various offices Monday through Friday for eight hours a day.
So yet again another Monday, I am sitting in my office, collecting money for a Hospital, all the while designing pots and vases in my head. Do you know how many vases, teapots, jars and pots I can make in 8 hours?!?!?
I am very happy to say that I have made a decision to do everything possible to move towards Ceramics becoming my future career. (note: no quotes this time) I have enrolled into Glendale Community College, California to start taking ceramics and sculpture classes this February.
This is it. I am in love. Ceramics for life. So help me quit my day job!
(Stay tuned for pictures of works in progress and my studio)

First Post

2008-01-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

So how do people do this? I suppose this is where I talk about myself.
Well, this is my first blog. I just wanted to say "hello" to the blog community and I will write more when I have something to say :)