my wheel throwing class begins at art house next monday! it fills up quick. to sign up visit http://www.arthouseinc.org. you can take the class for 5 weeks or 10 weeks. its all levels. i hope you can join us!

my monday off.
i forgot to bring my camera to the studio. i always do. i trimmed lots of stuff. hopefully the mugs turn out ok. the heat was on and things were drying quick.
i also spent the day responding to emails because somehow my linkedin acct sent out invitations to join to everyone in my address book. i can't email people to tell them it was me because it was my address book from over 2 years ago. since then addresses have been deleted and added. ugh. i just deleted the whole thing. i had not gained any real job connections through it. oh, internet. last month i got the anti virus virus from adding a song to myspace page. why am i on these things?
dakota update...she is still hanging on and still not out of the woods. continue sending happy vibes.

***update 1/18/09...dakota is a strong little pup and gets to return home on monday. i will finally get to see her next week. i will take more pictures of her being cute. because that's what puppies do. i'll take some of bella too because she is the big dog in charge. and she likes the camera. all about the attention.

this is dakota. please say a little prayer for her. my parents just got her on friday and she is sick in the animal clinic with parvo. i have yet to meet her but i hear she is a sweet little girl with a kind demeanor. i love animals as do my parents. they think they caught it quick enough. again, please send happy thoughts her way.

my bowls make ramen taste better, don't you know?

i have just completed my business paperwork in preperation for tax season. my dad is the poor soul who gets to deal with it. this year was a loss by all means. it was also a year with record internet sales and a show with an all time career high during the total economy crash. i broke down everything this year to see where my money went and what was worth it and what to scrap. its clear i need to fix up my site to get more traffic from more buyers. etsy was more profitable this year. if there is not a major turn around i will not be returning to a wholesale website. shows are hard to tell with the way the year was going. i will do less in 2009 and work on the online thing and enter more shows for juried gallery exhibitions.

selling stuff on etsy in january! during a recession! yeah me!

and thank you buyers for continuing to shop handmade. i just had the discussion tonight of why art is selling during these scary times. here are my 2 reasons behind it... first art will increase in value. of course it can decrease as well. but not like your stock or 401k. investing in tangible goods like art, real estate, etc make sense while the retail prices have been lowered. second, people are being more "thoughtful" about their decisions. i define thoughtful on this basis: we are realizing how badly large companies, stores, corporations have been living large, over charging us and shipping jobs overseas. supporting local and national artists keeps the money in the u.s. to the individual not the corporation. if i have little money to spend i want to make it count.

i have been very organized so far regarding art stuff for the new year. i have plenty of photos ready for listing on etsy. i need to get some new artwork sorted out for baycrafters. i finished writing my workshop proposal-i think-i'm being a bit obsessive about it.

tomorrow i get to go to the bubble to hide and clean and be back at making things for the first time in over a month. but first, i sleep!

Art House Events you should attend besides my awesome ceramics class:

WEAVE:
cocktails + connection + collaboration
Art House has been revitalizing our SEAN program.
Art House staff want to meet
current, past, and future SEAN members.
Mingle and network with other local artists.
Don't forget to bring your business cards!
where: Art House 3119 Denison Avenue
when: 7 - 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Free and open to all artists!
R.S.V.P. to Elizabeth Emery
eemery@arthouseinc.org
or 216.398.8556

visit http://www.arthouseinc.org for more information.

WEAVE:
cocktails + connection + collaboration
Art House has been revitalizing our SEAN program.
Art House staff want to meet
current, past, and future SEAN members.
Mingle and network with other local artists.
Don't forget to bring your business cards!
where: Art House 3119 Denison Avenue
when: 7 - 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Free and open to all artists!
R.S.V.P. to Elizabeth Emery
eemery@arthouseinc.org
or 216.398.8556

Two posts in one night. I am Cleveland Handmade's featured artist this week. Stop by and check it out.
http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/?p=210

New work posted at Flickr: Your Photostream

I am very excited I can get back to my studio this week and next to throw some new pieces. I haven't made anything since early December. I had been consumed with both preparing for and participating in shows. I have lots of clay waiting and new glazes in transit.

home ill. a swell side effect of a medication i am on is migraines. today was my second one. luckily i was prepared with some over the counter medication. i had to leave work and sleep it off. i feel slightly better now but still not like myself. i will happily note that after january i don't have to take this stuff anymore which includes other amazing side effects like weight gain and joint pain. good times.

in my boredom i marked things down on etsy. i plan to list new things too. then make some soup and go back to bed.

Below is the link to my 2009 horoscope. Sounds promising. Click away any fellow pisces.

Pisces Horoscope: Yearly Overview horoscope - Astrology on Shine

goodbye 2008.

the christmas decorations are out of sight until next year. the party clean up is done. i have lots of left overs. i don't think i will so eagerly have a new year's party again. i think it kind sums of a year of overextending myself and spreading myself way to thin. it was a good opportunity to clean out my second bedroom which is where i store etsy work, shoot photos and box up wares to send to you. it is organized and functional once again.

the studio is next. i need a clean up night and then i can make new things.

more to-dos for the new year:

1. shoot more artwork for etsy. its made, its done and i'm not doing a ton of shows this year.

2. get out apps to the few shows i will participate in.

3. right grant.

4. finish workshop proposal. its half way done.

5. enter some juried gallery shows.

6. re-market myself online. including reorganizing my etsy.

7. website updates for my gallery.

happy 2009 to all of you!

Winter 2009 Classes

Ceramics on the Wheel with Gina DeSantis
Jan. 19- March 23
10 weeks or two 5 week sessions
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Instructor: Gina DeSantis
Location: Art House, 3119 Denison Ave, Cleveland, OH.
216.398.8556. Contact Stephanie Kluk to sign up.
http://www.arthouseinc.org.

Class fee: $125 (5 weeks), $225 (10 weeks)
Class fee includes: 25lbs of clay, glazes, and firings.
All levels welcome.
Throw bowls and cups on the wheel. Or if you are more advanced, work on plates, teapots, and large bowls. Classes are small so this course is tailored for each individual. Enhance those thrown shapes with hand-built handles, spouts, and decoration. All clays and glazes are food, microwave, and dishwasher safe.

I will be missing in action for a few days from this blog. Holiday madness will take over. I also need to clean up the second bedroom to make it more efficient for cataloging, shipping, and photographing artwork. Then its off to the studio to clean up the mess I left while preparing for a whirlwind of holiday shows. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In the meantime visit my flickr page to see some new photos.

Last Minute Reminder about the Cleveland Handmade Last Minute Market!

I will have super fantastic sales again. $20 Mugs (they usually retail for $22-30)

Clearance necklaces for $5. I have a discontinued line and I need to make space for new jewelry ideas for 2009.

Ornaments are all $8 except the large snowflakes. They are $12.

Happy Holidays!

Last Minute Market!

Before I tell you about my last show of 2008 I must thank everyone for stopping by Bazaar Bizarre. It was my most successful show to date! During these crazy times it was a great feeling to have Clevelanders shopping and buying handmade! Also thank you to all of my new and returning etsy customers. I am doing my best to get everything shipped out USPS 2 day priority. Please order by this Friday, December 18th so that I can get everything out on time!

Cleveland Handmade is throwing a procrastinator's shopping event this Saturday, December 20th from 5-9 pm. Visit the google page kathy set up for all the info including a map.

bazaar bizarre is this weekend. sat 12-9 and sun 12-6. located at 1300 w. 78th st.

over 60 vendors including moi! i have older work, newer work, lots of ornaments and some new and clearance jewelry. goodies at all prices. please stop by and say hello!

I will be at Bela Dubby on Saturday from 10-5 selling my wares. Come visit Ruth and I and have a mocha or a christmas ale.

or both :)

Etsy :: Treasury List

nice to be included in this list...
Etsy :: Treasury List

Bela Dubby Holiday Sale. Saturday, December 6th,11-5. Bela Dubby is located at 13321 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH. Locally owned and operated. Its a great show to support a local business and local artists simultaneously!

If you like things on etsy and live local please note I will not have these pieces with me at shows. Drop me a line and I can bring them along. If you purchase online and want to pick them up that would be lovely!

Thank you to everyone buying handmade this season.