Ceramics exploration

I've started a ceramics course at Maze studios and am excited about the possibilities of what I can explore on the course. There are a couple of things I'm interested in - decals, painting with slip, working with porcelain and building moulds. We did painting with slip on my first evening there, which was great. So much to do and so little time before baby comes! Everyone there was really friendly, and the tutors were helpful in sharing tips and techniques. I think I'm going to love every minute of being in that studio!
The picture on the left shows how to paint with thick slip to make sea urchins - I'd love to try this out.

Start of the hyperbolic crochet reef

The growing of a hyperbolic crochet reef has started at Paper Village - for those who are not sure quite what that is, here's a picture example of one created somewhere else in the world. I like this reef, especially the green and blue crocheted thingy on the wall. Vicky at Paper Village has organised crochet get-togethers and classes for crocheting a reef which will be displayed as part of the Southville Arts Trail. It was great spending a Saturday afternoon in the shop, crocheting and chatting with other ladies.

If you happen to read this post and live in Bristol and crochet, please come along to the next crochet jam. All the dates are on the Paper Village website.

Ceramic pen decorated cup

I've been decorating this cup in my head for a long time so I thought it was about time to  actually really decorate it in real life rather than just in my head!

Porcelain pens are great to work with and open up a world of possibility, but as usual I find myself drawing dots, my favourite.

Scope Make a Wish star

While we were in Wales, Ellis and I made a star for the Make a Wish Scope campaign. 
The Government is making new laws in England that could guarantee families with disabled children better support – if they hear that we care. The Scope camapaign has given us the opportunity to send home made stars to Parliament to be hung on their Christmas tree, so they can find out our views about the need for parental support.
Ellis loved putting jewels on his Christmas star.

Houses vase

 Here's the last of the houses I made on the ceramics course back in the Summer. Unfortunately, the glaze was quite thick so the details of the windows and doors has been lots a bit. But still makes an unusual vase.

Washing liquid spaceship

One empty washing liquid carton sprayed white

Three toilet rolls stuck together and shaped to make seats

Decorated with stickers and glue

Tadaa! - one completed spaceship for the happy Playmobil people.

Thank you hubby, carboot treasure x

Can you believe that Errol bought this gorgeous set of kitchenware from the Bristol carboot sale for £2! It was a cold day that day - the usual vintage bargain hunters must have been put off by the bad weather, as these were still here waiting to be bought an hour after the boot sale started.

Seriously, how could people walk past these beautiful ceramics?!

Block family and friends

 Here's a new toy that I made for Ellis after a conversation I had with Rachel... she got the idea from Pinterest. You basically print of images of family and friends and attach them to blocks so your child can do imaginitive play with them. So far, Ellis has attempted to take his grampa to school in his school bag, and he's had various conversations with nana and great nana, and tried to chop his friend's head off with a scissors... but daddy fixed him again.

Here's Ellis demonstrating how you can put soldiers in prison and use mummy, Ellis and grandad as prison guards!

Pretend fish tank

It's been ages since I wrote last. First thing, I got pregnant, then I lost all power of concentration on anything crafty. My whole focus seemed to change to cleaning cupboards and drawers! So when I haven't been feeling nauseous or focused on nesting, I have done just one or two creative things. Here's one of them. A fish tank made from a gift box!

Here is Ellis demonstrating how you can lift the fish up and down inside the tank. They're printed both sides and laminated. He loves Nemo, Bruce and Dory.

Pirate Birthday cake

It was Ellis's 3rd Birthday recently and so I conjured up a pirate birthday cake which he absolutely loved!

It was a victoria sponge covered in white icing, with a chocolate matchsticks treasure chest and great pirate birthday candles.

I'm not blogging much at the mo, too much going on over the Summer. My 40th birthday coming up and more gigs with the Moonflowers. I hope to get my blogging bug back in the Autumn when Ellis finally starts at preschool. :-)

Bristol Independents Day

We spent the morning and afternoon on North Street supporting Bristol Independenents Day, and taking photos to enter the competition. Thankfully, Ellis enjoys smiling at the camera!

It's a great idea - basically, you keep your receipts or take photos of you shopping at independent store, then send it in and hope to win a prize. It really encouraged me to buy more on North Street, and the great thing is I've got some merguez sausages from Rare to try out. YUM!

I bought some fimo clay and an empty bezel resin ring from Vicky at Paper Village so got more supplies to get on with my projects. Am going to make some coloured Bristol terraced houses to go in my new clay dioramas.

North Street treasure

Here's my latest vintage finds, I recently discovered the joy of vintage pyrex on Pinterest after researching pattern ideas so was really happy discover some at Rachel's second hand shop on North Street. I would so love to work there (except it probably wouldn 't be a good idea as I'd spend all my wages there!).

Lovely 1950s sugar dispensers

Austrian saucepans!

Snowflake pyrex serving dish

Another ceramic house

Here at last is a little ceramic house vase that I made at Pot Stop in Bristol. It isn't finished yet as I want to bake some flowers on it using ceramic paper, but I like it just plain too. It's a take on the Bristol terraced houses that I love - I made a similar one but bigger when I did a course there years ago. I'm currently working on a three terraced houses in a row vase. I though this vase could also be used for growing cress. :-)

Southville rope swinging

What a joy it must be to be two and a half and swinging up high into the sky on a swingy rope, embracing all the confidence and bravery of being little but big and strong. 

My first poppy

To celebrate my updated blog design, I'm posting an image of the first poppy I've ever grown. Lots of new things happening, which means time to get creative. :-)