Anticipation

So I have been waiting patiently, checking my mail box daily, and biting my nails. Now I know how all the online shoppers feel! I helped the Etsy Mud Team organize a mug swap between over 40 pottery artists and I absolutely can`t wait any longer to get two fabulous mugs from my peers. It is a bit nerve racking sending a piece of my work to a fellow potter. I feel like I am in high school again...will they still like me, am I good enough... Every artist took a photo of themselves holding the mugs they were swapping so we could see who we received our mugs from. Don`t mind the bags under my eyes in my photo; I am told that that happens to all pottery artists around the busy holiday season.

Recycling part 2

I just received a great little letter from Textured Turtle, a mosaic artist on Etsy. The Etsy Mud Team joined forces with other Etsy artists to become a little more environmental while we hone our crafts. It was always a challenge to find something to do with those pots and ceramics that just weren't up to par. Pieces that fired wrong, cracked, weren't food safe, or were just plain fugly often cluttered up a corner of my studio because I just couldn't let them end up at the dump. Many of us potters dread to think that future archaeologists would find our thousand year old pottery rejects in the midst of the petrified landfills our current society has created. So my little pile of rejected works sat in a corner collecting dust. I tried to use them at the bottom of newly potted plants but that only takes care of a small percentage. My little backyard garden is looking rather cluttered with those pieces that are still aesthetically pleasing but not functional enough for indoor use.

So, (pauses for dramatic effect) the EMT and Etsy Mosaic artists made a deal. I sent a box of my rejected work to Textured Turtle to use in her mosaic works. Win-win situation. My dusty corner is now clean, some new mosaics will have a little bit of my ceramics in them, and the landfill will not be getting filled with my pottery shards!

I challenge everyone to rethink their trash. It sure feels rewarding to help reduce waste and at the same time help add more beauty into the world!

Give Away!

To celebrate a great year on Etsy, I will be giving away a free set of ceramic magnets with my 100th sale. You could choose from Winter White, Blue Hydrangea, or Dark Olive colors. These super strong magnets can hold up postcards, photos, notes or whatever you choose. They add a little class to your fridge or office with the gentle textures and colors. If you can't wait to be the 100th sale, you can purchase them in my shop on Etsy too.

Funny for the weekend

Thanks to Gina of PhenixPottery for this potters clip. I hope it gives you a chuckle!

Tis the Season for Online Shopping

This may be a bit off topic but I love sharing good ideas. I buy Handmade as often as possible but sometimes it just doesn't work for some of those people on my Christmas list. So, I would rather enjoy shopping online than getting stressed out in the overpopulated malls with bad lighting. In my roaming around, I found a great site that could help save a few bucks and thought I could share it with you.
Check out couponsforeveryone.com They offer coupon codes for a wide range shops and also have a huge list retailers that offer free shipping .

Hope this helps your budget a bit. Also, Etsy is my first choice for finding quality handmade gifts any time of year. Especially when the gifts are for me like the greatest handmade Whipt Pudding hand lotion from bathinginluxury.

Artisan's Gift Fair

This is one of my favorite gift fairs in Toronto. I will be selling there on Dec 8th and 15th. I have been busy making gift soap tray sets since they sold out last year. Make sure you come early in the day for the best selection of colors. It runs noon to 6pm at the Transac Club. I get most of my holiday shopping done there too!

New Chance to Win!

Join the Etsy Mud Team for our "MUD-IN-THE-TREES" raffle - November 4 through November 11

Purchase an item from any Etsy Mud Team member shop November 4 through November 11 and your name will automatically be entered in our "Mud-In-The-Trees" raffle. The prize - - Your choice of a FREE Christmas tree ornament. Three (3) winners will be chosen!

Visit our web page - www.etsymudteam.freeweb7.com - for a complete list of Etsy Mud Team shops. Click on "Current Contests" to view all available ornaments.

Tis the Season

Well, November snuck up on me. The weather is still beautiful and the Autumn leaves are just turning but I have been in the studio thinking about the holiday season. Here is a sneak peak of a new design for me. Each ornament is a bit different from the next just like a real snowflake and they look pretty hanging from the little juniper tree in my kitchen!