Time for a little Kickstart..

I've been busy working on a little project the last several days.  Though I do my best in my little home pottery studio, there are still tasks that need to be done that are very difficult for me to accomplish with the equipment I have available.  I LOVE what I do.  I infuse my emotions into each and every piece I make.  My heart and soul goes into my work.  Clay absorbs the sorrow, the pain and hurt, the joy of accomplishing a new level in a task... It heals all wounds...for me.  With all this in mind, there are various pieces of equipment that will greatly help me as I continue this endeavor.  SO, I created a Kickstarter project.  For those of you that have linked up with through Facebook, you may have already seen the link.  For those of you that haven't, here is the little blurb I have been sharing. :)

"The last week, I have been quietly working on a project, reaching out to a few people for guidance and advice. Well, today, it goes public! I have started a Kickstarter project to help achieve some goals with expansion for my business. This will help make creating pottery so much easier. Please check out the page, spread the word, and help me achieve this new milestone!
Freedom Through Clay - Kickstarter Project "

Many of the pledge rewards are NEW items, not yet released to the public.  My Kickstarter backers will be the first ones to receive these new creations in my new line of ware...inspired by dragonflies! 

If you have a moment, please look through the project and considering lending a helping hand.  If you can't pledge anything, no worries!  The key is to get the word spread out through the digital web.  Sharing is caring, right?  :)  So share away and help me accomplish this goal!!

Coming soon:
Feature on Spruce Cottage Knits!!

Shoutout for Four Winds Farm

Day 3 of 10

(In a society dominated by big name box stores, it is quite refreshing to network, interact, and shop from small businesses.  Especially when they are local!  For 10 days, I will be talking about 10 small businesses that I have the pleasure of having made their acquaintance.  Networking is everything, as is reaching out a helping hand to your peers and neighbors.)

 

 

Four Winds Farm in Maine is run by Jan Winsor.  After purchasing their farmhouse in 1997, she met members of the Saco Valley Fiber Artists and discovered that she could combine her love of animals, art, and teaching into one endeavor. They now have a small flock of sheep, along with a variety of other animals at Four Winds Farm.  Jan is a very talented fiber artist offering felted, knit, and woven fiber arts and sculptures.  She also hand spins her own wool!  Wool sculptures?!? you may ask.  Look again at the adorable little lab picture...That is a felted wool sculpture...NOT their pet!  

Her Facebook page is full of many more examples of exquisite felted sculptures and felted soap.  Need a souvenir of Maine?  Why not lobster felted soap???  

     In a world where everything is mass produced and you never know where your purchases are REALLY coming from...Four Winds Farm Maine makes us all feel a little bit better.  All of her wool products are produced right at her own farm.   Meet Josie and Morgan, twins, displaying their gorgeous winter coats. :)

 

For more photos and information about her amazing fiber art, you can find her on Facebook HERE.

 

She has her own website, www.fourwindsfarmmaine.com which you can find by copying and pasting the web address, or by clicking HERE.

 

You can shop for your fiber art needs at her Etsy store, HERE.  

Thanks for stopping by to support small, local businesses!!  Please continue to follow me the next 7 days for more shoutouts to small businesses! 

 

   

Shoutout for Friesen Art

Day 2 of 10

(In a society dominated by big name box stores, it is quite refreshing to network, interact, and shop from small businesses.  Especially when they are local!  For 10 days, I will be talking about 10 small businesses that I have the pleasure of having made their acquaintance.  Networking is everything, as is reaching out a helping hand to your peers and neighbors.)

Daisy Friesen of McPherson, Kansas is the mastermind behind Friesen Art.  She is a VERY talented ceramic artist and I feel honored to call her my friend.  She finds great joy in being able to take a lump of clay and transform it into something useful and beautiful with her hands.  She also finds the process calming and relaxing. "I love being able to make something that someone else will cherish and be able to use to serve lovingly prepared food to friends and family."  You can see the love of the process in each and every piece of her pottery. 

 

 

Her Facebook page is full of photos so you can see the process and what it takes for her pieces to come to fruition.  I LOVE these dragon fly dessert plates!! 

One thing I truly love about being a ceramic artist myself, is that the community of ceramic artists is soo amazingly helpful and inspiring.  Daisy is not different.  I WISH I was capable of some of the pieces she creates.  This GORGEOUS lamp from her Etsy store is just an example of one of her pieces that inspires me. For the every day person who values a good mug for that cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, here is a wonderful mug for just that!!  Also from her Etsy store.  I LOVE the bright blue glaze she uses!!  She also stays true to her "branding".  Most all of her pieces feature the wheat design. 

You can find her on Facebook HERE.  

You can see her amazing pottery on Etsy HERE.

Shoutout to Lakeside Quilts of Maine

In a society dominated by big name box stores, it is quite refreshing to network, interact, and shop from small businesses.  Especially when they are local!  For the next 10 days, I will be talking about 10 small businesses that I have the pleasure of having made their acquaintance.  Networking is everything, as is reaching out a helping hand to your peers and neighbors.

Lakeside Quilts of Maine

I LOVE this bag of hers that can be found in her Facebook album.  It is a BEAUTIFUL black and green floral motif bag with lots of pockets!  Quite handy for us working mothers!!

This flour sack cover is a PERFECT Valentine's gift as well!  I LOVE it!  Click HERE

Lakeside Quilts of Maine is run by Brenda from her home in Naples, Maine.  You can find their items on Facebook , MaineMade and Etsy.

This is from Brenda's Etsy profile: 

"♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I make many one of a kind gifts that are perfect for birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, hostess gifts or weddings, any occasion. If you like it, better buy it, I only make one at a time!
I also offer custom Embroidery, contact me with your ideas and we will work to make it happen.
My prices are very affordable but please know I don't skimp on quality.
I love to create and sew, I never know what I am going to make next so visit often! Write me if you don't see what your looking for, I just might have it.
I love anything fiber, buttons, and Threads!!
I also enjoy making my own pizzas, breads and jams. I have re-kindled my love of home canning. My way to control the quality of what my family eats, plus every jar I fill keeps a can out of the landfill.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I don't mass produce, I am one person doing what I enjoy. Everything is made in my SMOKE FREE home. I put a lot of creative heart into each item I create.

Member of the Etsy Maineteam and registered with Made in Maine products "Maine Made" is recognized worldwide as a term for quality and integrity.
Thank you for supporting handmade"

Find the Etsy Maine Team Blog by clicking HERE.

Etsy Maine Team M.O.M

WOW!  I'm really glad I decided to take a break from playing with clay and was on the computer editing pictures!!  It was just announced that I was nominated to be Etsy Maine Team's Member of the Month!!  What a GREAT way to start the new year!!!  <3  THANK YOU to all my colleagues and friends who nominated me.  You all are just too much!!

Please check out the Maine Team blog HERE.

You can see my "About Me/Profile" section HERE. 

You can support the Etsy Maine Team on Facebook HERE.

I'm just...stunned...and truly honored!

Chaos VS Order

Good evening to all! 

Man is my sleep schedule all FUBAR!!!  I haven't been falling asleep until sometime between 0400 and 0500 in the morning and waking up after 1400 (2pm)!!  OY!  Today was no different.  So while everyone else is getting ready to eat supper, I'm gearing up for my lunch.  :)  Damn insomnia...if you can call it that.  Once I fall asleep, I stay asleep for the most part.  So I don't know if I can call it insomnia.

FINALLY was able to wrap some Christmas presents that I had ordered online.  Made me a happy camper.  Seeing something under the tree.  It's not much, but it still put a smile on my face.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Christmas???  :-D  Now, I'm impatiently awaiting for the rest of my goodies to get here.

Through some networking, I have come across several blogs in recent days and have noticed a theme amongst many of them.  They have a schedule of postings, so to speak.  On Mondays, certain topics are discussed, Tuesdays might be to highlight treasures they've found or treasuries...etc.  What do YOU think of that kind of set-up???  As readers, do you like/prefer blogs that have a set schedule of postings, or do you like the random tidbits and posts?  Let me know in the comments section!  Would love lots of feedback on this one!