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Sunday, January 29, 2012

the truth.

you never know what really goes on in a relationship behind closed doors, but the truth is that CLAY and I are in a BIG FIGHT. i’ve been working on new cups using different clays, slips, and glazes for weeks now. and after many trials and tribulations, test firings, more test firings, tears, tantrums, disappointments, and new supplies, i thought i had finally nailed down the perfect formula for clay + slip + glaze + temperature = nice cup. well, i thought wrong. turns out that what happens in your test kiln is NOT necessarily what happens in your big kiln, and what happens in your big kiln is NOT necessarily what happens in your even bigger kiln.


i know that all of my testing and inconclusive results are just part of the process and nature of this beast we call CLAY, and it really IS part of the adventure and surprise. but, when you actually need functional cups for a real SHOW, it can be maddening and heart breaking. i wish CLAY would just behave the way i WANT him to right now . . . but at this point, all i can do is cross my fingers and close my eyes.

Friday, January 27, 2012

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

july 2004


one of my top 3 favorite countries has to be italy (tuscany, to be exact). tuscany is so luscious and rich with culture . . . the FOOD, the colors, the people, the art, the landscape. i could easily spend a year eating and sketching my way through tuscany . . . (a girl can dream).

Monday, January 23, 2012

shake it.

these are new salt + pepper shakers that i designed for my manufactured line.

they were based on and inspired by these bells that i made last summer in france. i had many requests to design a set of salt + pepper shakers (in addition to my cellars) and this shape was perfect for the job.


the gift shows are now in progress and i have A LOT of brand new products hot out of the kiln. be the first to stock your store while you can. my manufactured line will be shown in new york THIS weekend:
New York International Gift Show

January 29th to February 2nd

Magenta presents in “Tabletop and Housewares”
Javits Convention Center, Booth # 3066


Saturday, January 21, 2012

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

24 may 2003
paris, france

one of my favorite things to do in a foreign country is to hang out in a bar with a delicious libation, reading, playing games, sketching, writing, and rubbing elbows with the natives. paris has some of the best bars anywhere and a leisurely drink is always encouraged. did you know that i am going to paris in may with some of my clay posse?

i can’t wait.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

beautiful ugly.

i love the term “beautiful ugly.” this is when something is SO ugly that it is actually beautiful. i’ve been experimenting with new glazes, underglazes, slips, and clays. when these bowls came out of my test kiln, i was HUGELY DISAPPOINTED, as they were nothing of what i expected. i slammed the kiln shut and stormed out of the room. but the next day when i looked at them again, i found them to be quite beautiful . . . exquisite, even.


one of clay’s biggest life lesson for me is to not have your heart set on something. when you think you want something a certain way, it could turn out in a completely different way and you just might love it even more. i love when the clay speaks to me like this. it opens up my mind to even more possibilities than i ever imagined were out there.

what you think you might want, might not be what you want at all.

(click on the image for a closer look at the beautiful ugliness)


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

a foot to stand on.

i’m making new cups . . . hand building the cup and using my new best friend, the kick wheel, to trim the foot. this is much harder than it sounds, as it is IMPOSSIBLE to center something that is OFF CENTERED to begin with, but i am having much fun doing something new. trying as it may be (yes, there have been naughty words cried out, sweat dripping from my face, and cups flying off the wheel), i think i am gaining a new appreciation for the wheel. stay tuned for my new series of goofy footed cups . . .

Friday, January 13, 2012

remembering dad.

my dad and his brother owned and operated restaurants. one of the restaurants, the leilani, was a HUGE part of my life. it is so often still in my dreams. growing up in a restaurant and having a dad who was the MOST amazing chef is the reason for my innate love of food. my dad and i had many things in common, one being the love of any and all foods. there is not a single food that i will not eat with delight (except mint jelly . . . but that is really a condiment . . . and my dad liked it).


yesterday someone sent me this lighter from our restaurant that they thought i would want (I DO). it is well over 50 years old. and today marks the 4th anniversary of my dad’s passing. i’m sure he is having a big feast somewhere. bon appétit, daddy-o.

Friday, January 13, 2012

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2011

berkeley, california

just a page from my clay sketchbook. one day these will be made into actual vessels . . . stay tuned.
Sunday, January 08, 2012

savon.

this artful photo was taken by the lovely food stylist + painter pouké .


you can get one here.
Saturday, January 07, 2012

o p e n .

the gallery will be OPEN today from 11-5
come by and say hi !
Friday, January 06, 2012

and the winner is . . .

contest closed. wilma chose the name of the lucky winner out of a hat. the last winner she picked was a friend of her aunt’s, so people were just a little suspicious. i blind folded her this time so no one could question the outcome. NOBODY likes a cheater.

next contest will be in february.

you will enter it here.
Friday, January 06, 2012

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

emeryville, california

yes, it’s true. i am one of those typical girls who LOVES shoes. but not just any shoe. i love sturdy, good leather, well made shoes. fiornentini + baker shoes fit the bill for SURE. ooooops, i left out the “i” on the sketch . . . fiorentini puts the “i” in I WANT MORE fiorentini + baker shoes !

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