Ready for the weekend

I'm claiming this weekend in a way that I haven't in years. Can't wait...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! xo

What on earth is this? [a love story]

I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it! [Elf]

Does anybody out there have any idea what this thing is? A letter sorter? A collator? I said I was going to Goodwill, but something told me to stop at the Salvation Army store instead. [Serendipity]

It was like the end of a romance movie - I walked right through the crowd until I found her (it). [Elizabethtown] I thought I'd never find anything this perfect, and there she (it) was right in front of me. [When Harry Met Sally] I swooped it and its 99-cent price tag up-and-out-of-there faster than it could say, "You had me at hello." [You know this one.]

I wish I knew what it was, but it doesn't matter. [Shrek?] It's so so perfect. I couldn't have designed it better. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship! [Casablanca]

[Cue mushy music]

[Close scene] xo

p.s. I'm sorry there's no studio visit today. Please come back next Thursday!

Works in Progress

Don't want to jynx this, but I believe I am ahead of schedule! It's a miracle! I need to run to Goodwill to look for something to help me prop up my covers as they dry (I'm thinking toast server - something you'd see in Mary Poppins or some such film). The next time you see these, they'll be complete and in our Holiday Show or my etsy shoppe! xo

The blessings of the assembly line

Ok, ok, I'm a believer. I have read countless (countless!) books, blogs, articles about being a small, business owner and specifically, a creative business owner. If you're making accessible, affordable art for sale, you have to find ways to save time.

My goal for this week is to have 10 journals finished to completion. Finished. And so for the first time, I worked on 10 cover sets rather than one at a time.  

Granted, this is the easy part, but so far so good! Gotta get back to it... xo

One potato, two potato...

 

 

...three potato, fifty!!! We had no expectations when we went to dig our sweets this week. The heat was crazy this summer, our other plants did horribly, but we dug up oodles and oodles of potatoes. Such fun.

Wishing you a lovely weekend! xo

Rachel Akin: : Ceramics

Today we are visiting Rachel Akin. Rachel is one of three Artists in Residence at Craft Alliance in Grand Center.

Rachel knew in high school that she wanted to be a potter. She attended the Kansas City Art Institute, and then earned her MFA at Ohio University.

She creates here about 20 hours a week. She also has a home studio.

 Today she's making a bowl.

 Rachel uses a mirror to ensure her work is symmetrical.

Rachel's work is constantly evolving, but the one constant? "I want my work to be soothing," she shares. "With the fast nature of life, it's nice to have objects around you that bring you down a little bit and calm you."

Rachel tells me she is so thankful to be a working artist. "I did my share of waiting tables, but since I've finished my MFA, I have been able to focus on producing my own work and teaching."

This is Rachel's view, when she's sitting at her wheel.

 These pieces are waiting to be glazed.

Rachel teaches ceramics classes at Forest Park Community College and at the Craft Alliance. Her 1-year residency began in June, and in addition to loving the space, she loves working side-by-side with fellow artists.

 Works in progress...

 This is one of the classrooms at The Craft Alliance.

 Rachel waxes the bottom of each piece so that nothing sticks in the kiln.

Rachel is also very committed to creating collections with a wide range in pricing. She wants people to be able to afford her work.

 

Access to a kiln this size is a dream come true for many ceramic artists.

Recycled goodness? Rachel can reuse all of her porcelain, from the tiny slabs she slakes off her work, to a bowl that might break or crack. Her "slop" bucket is kept to the right of her wheel.

Rachel won the Local Artist Award at this year's Laumeier Sculpture Park Art Fair.

Rachel's website

You can also find Rachel's work at:

Craft Alliance, The Loop

Necessary Extravagance, Chicago

Craftland, Providence

Thank you Rachel!
And special thanks to the Craft Alliance!