How To Train Your (clay) Dragon

Good morning ladies and gents!  This last week, my studio has been over run by dragons of varying sizes, types, and shapes!  No...I'm not a huge Game of Thrones fan... though I'm looking forward to reading the books before I watch the series...  I DO love the movie How To Train Your Dragon...very cute indeed.  Waiting for the second one to come out on DVD so I can watch it (I can't go to the theaters...I would end up doing the funky chicken in no time).  So what's up with all the dragons, you ask?  WELL...A good friend of mine suggested I sculpt a dragon, to get out of my current comfort zone of where my sculptures have been going.  So, once Lady Liberty was done, I figured I would do just that!  What I discovered is that I really LOVE sculpting these fun little mythical creatures!!!  In the last week, I've created 3, each one quite different from the next.  I've also created a habitat/home for them, which just helps to set the mood, I believe.  Each sculpture has at least one "loose" item, so that the viewer/new owner can set up the habitat/nest anyway they like; an interactive sculpture if you will.  

Spring Cleaning

FINALLY!!  That white stuff is starting to disappear from this northern Maine woods local.  There are still a few areas where the sun doesn't always hit by the treeline that the snow clings to, but thankfully it looks like Spring is here to stay!! *knock on wood*  That being said...I have been grossly negligent in my blog writing...in studio production.. in quite a few things actually.  I've been preoccupied with medical appointments, disappointing and infuriating doctors, house hunting, disappointment from said house hunting, and of course that strange yellow thing high up in the sky.  The last several days, I've been outside as much as possible, soaking up some vitamin D...neglecting the raw clay in my studio that has been calling out my name.  "Shaaaaawna....cooooome baaaaack"  The more I procrastinate, the longer my to do list gets, the more daunting and overwhelming it seems, and the less I want to do any of it!  AHHHHH  The never ending cycle, right?  haha

So what do YOU do to counteract spring/cabin fever?  How do you motivate yourself to get up and get goin' when it's gorgeous outside?

Looking forward to this, this spring/summer!!!

2014 Goals - 1 Down, 13 to Go!

At the beginning of the year, I created a page for my 2014 Business Goals, to not only help me keep track of the goals I set for myself; but also so ya'll can help keep me accountable.  One way to almost always achieve your goals, regardless of what they are, is to share it with loved ones, friends, and/or the public.  Once you've put anything out there for the public to see...there is an innate pressure to uphold your end of the bargain.

Making Your Own Pottery Tools Tutorial

Do you ever sit at your work table/wheel, WISHING you had a certain tool...but not having it??  Or needing a specific size/shape for sculptural work and there's NOTHING available that will work for your needs?  Well...why not make it yourself?!?  I've seen several different tutorials put together by other potters/ceramic artists and took ideas/suggestions from each one to create my OWN way of doing things.  Keep in mind this is my FIRST attempt at making my own tools...  Still a long ways to go before they look pretty...but I'm pretty sure they'll be functional. :)


SO without further adieu...

Etsy Maine Team 2nd Annual Cash Mob

I am a proud member of the Etsy Maine Team.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Etsy, it is an online forum for craftsmen and artisans to sell their wares.  There are also teams where you are able to join, and network with like minded people.  Teams are created by interests, location, and many other variables.  Now...for the good news... 

Mark your calendars! November 8, we're hosting our 2nd Annual Cash Mob! Like it says on the poster, just visit www.etsy.com, type the word maineteam into the search bar and find thousands upon thousands of great items - all from Maine. Perfect opportunity to start your holiday shopping...and all from the comfort of your home...in your PJ's even!!  See you then!

Please share this with your friends, on your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and any other social media avenues you have available.  You will be supporting small businesses that hand create each and every single piece listed.  You can rest easy knowing that all items are made in the USA.  

https://www.facebook.com/MaineTeam

You can find my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/jsbarts

Friday Fun - ABC Get to Know ME!

So going along with the theme, I figured Friday would be a free for all.  Gives me leeway to write about my life, family, and miscellaneous items that might not otherwise fit.  Today's Friday Fun tidbit is an "ABC Get To Know Me Quiz" that I found on The Little Owl Shop Blog (THANKS! :) )  So here goes!  Hope you learn something about me and perhaps are inspired to do the same.

A. Age: 29

B. Bed Size:  Queen...and it's not big enough!  With myself, my fiance, my son, and my service dog Kane all trying to pile into one bed sometimes...it can get crowded!  haha

C. Chore that you hate:  scraping/grinding kiln shelves and putting kiln wash back on.  Time consuming and has to be done outside.  Non pottery related... I hate doing the dishes!  Always have... but now, standing that long to wash the dishes is physically painful... but on the good days I still try to help my honey out.  He takes such good care of me. <3

D. Dogs:   2; my service dog Kane, and my fiance's dog Charlotte.  Charlotte stayed down with his parents when we moved up north though.  She has a lot of health issues and needed to be closer to the vet...AND... his mom and gram just didn't want her to go.

E. Essential start to your day:  Coffee!

Kane and I at a restaurant in Virginia.

F. Favorite Color:  Blue and a dark amethyst purple.

G. Gold or Silver: Silver/white gold

H. Height:  5'7"

I. Instruments you play:  In middle school I played the french horn...and taught myself some basic piano back in HS...but that was 10 years ago..

J. Job Title: Retired Disabled Veteran.  AKA Differently-abled Veteran Ceramic Artist in Training.  Only been doing this 1.5 years, but it has fast become my passion.

K. Kids:  I have an 11 year old son from a previous marriage.  Hope to add to that sometime in the future.

Hummingbird perched on our patio chair. May 2013.

L. Live:  Northern Maine, about 10 miles from the border of Canada.

M. Mother's Name: Kathy.  

N. Nicknames: Na-Na.  One of my younger sisters couldn't say "Shawna" when she was younger...so she called me "na-na" and it stuck.  Everyone in my family (mom and sisters, dad not so much) calls me by it.  My fiance's pet/nickname for me is "love monkey".  There's a story behind that one as well... Maybe I'll get into that one in a later post.

O. Overnight hospital stays:  Several.  First one was when my son was born, another one about 8 years ago, and 2 in a 1 month time span while deployed to Iraq.  Again, maybe I'll elaborate more on those on a later date.

P. Pet peeve:  Ignorance.  Racism.  People being judgmental in general.  Live and let live.

Q. Quote from a movie:  "Hakuna Matata" = No worries!  Yes, from The Lion King. :)  But it's a great quote/phrase to live by.  Live life for today.  No sense stressing about yesterday or tomorrow.  Yesterday is in the past and you can't do sh*t about it, and you don't know what tomorrow will bring...so again, why stress about the unknown??

R. Right or left handed: Right handed!

S. Siblings: 5 by birth, 1 by marriage.  :)  I have 5 younger sisters ranging in age from 27 to 15.  And as of August 10, 2013, I will have an older sister. :)  Sister-in-law by technicality, but she's great and I love her just the same. :)

T. Time you wake up: It really depends on the kind of night I've had.  If it's been a bad night and I'm up with leg pain, it will be closer to noon.  Most of the time I go to bed when I'm tired and wake up on my own.  Recently though, I've been trying to get on a somewhat normal schedule so I can wake up with my son when he starts school in the fall.

U. Underwear:  The comfy kind! :) 

V. Vegetable you hate:  Not a big fan of kale...I like most veggies... thankfully I'm not a picky eater.

W. What makes you run late:  My memory.  Another "side effect" of Iraq.  My short term memory is HORRIBLE.  We have to stop half down the drive way after we leave to go someplace at LEAST once because I forgot something in the house that I need.  

X. X-Rays you've had:  Oh good lord... WAY too many!  Ankle, knee, foot, entire spine/neck... MRI's and CT scans of head and body...

Y. Yummy food that you make:  I can't cook anymore. :(  My left hand has weakness in it, and I have a tendency to forget stuff.  Add on top of that the inability to stand for long periods of time... And my culinary days are limited.  BUT on my good days... I make a mean stuffed porkchops that my fiance LOVES.

Z. Zoo Animal:  I love the beautiful colors on all the exotic fish... and the peacocks.  The peacocks remind me of the mythical phoenix...of which I have a large tattoo of on my arm.

Well there!  Those are some pretty random questions!  I hope you've learned something you didn't know about me and had a good chuckle...or at least smiled!

TTFN!

Working on some fine detail work.  :)

http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/

Shoutout For Spruce Cottage Knits

Day 4 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.)

So after a long hiatus...I continue on the 10 features in 10 days.  I apologize to those who have been waiting for me to make good on my word.  It's been a whirlwind of health ups and downs..

Spruce Cottage Knits is run by a very passionate "Maine-ah", Norma Lee Gunn out of Hampden, Maine.  She is a a valuable asset and team member to the Etsy Maine Team, bringing 35 years of experience to the table. 
 Norma knits with nothing but quality yarn. She uses superwash wool, cotton, soy, bamboo. She is a big fan of using homegrown, local Maine wool as well as Opal's new Harry Potter sock yarns!  Her expertise includes knit socks, mittens, scarves, hats, sweaters, and even Ipod holders. Each and every piece she works on is infused with the love and passion she has for her craft.  It takes time to knit socks with sock yarn and tiny needles. Her favorite thing to knit are socks, despite the tedious nature of it! There is nothing like the warmth of hand knit items when it's cold. 

Her items are TOO CUTE!!!  I wish I had a little baby girl to spoil rotten with some of these items!  I'm not a big fan of Hello Kitty attire myself, but I know it's popular with the little ones.  Look at these pants!! You can find them in her Etsy store (click HERE).

I'm a sucker for anything and everything ocean/coastal.  These blue/green/brown socks remind me of sitting on the beach, watching the ocean waves crash onto the shore.  LOVE!!

She is very diversified as a business woman as well!  She has Facebook established, an Etsy storefront, and Ravelry to boot! 

Thanks for stopping by to support small, local businesses!!  Please continue to follow me the next 6 days for more shoutouts to small businesses! 

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!