Sweet Girl

I took some photos of Marisa Avelar's wonderful wreathes, gnome scenes and shadow boxes as part trade for her helping me out so much designing my website and postcards.

She really gets my aesthetic and I get hers too!

She collects lots of vintage toys and decorations and pieces them all together with lots of loving care!

I recently got shown round her studio and she has organized boxes with 'gnomes' and 'mushrooms', etc. I really wanted to look through all those labelled boxes, but I restrained myself, Marisa did give me a very sweet little bambi that may have to appear in my christmas cards this year. Her studio is a treasure trove of vintage kitsch and cuteness

Sucker for a bit of Faux Wood

Yes, I am a sucker for faux wood, and I just made these new planters, the plants seem a bit fragile to send so I havn't added them to my Etsy shop, but will be selling them at craft fairs over the next few weeks.

This one is made with fig leaves from the tree that I grew from a little branch that I got in San Antonio a few years ago. I'm enjoying making the new slab pots which have come about from teaching people how to make them in my classes

This little one is my favourite, but the worst photo of the lot! red and turquoise is always a good match

The weather is getting cooler, it feels like autumn is finally here, had the windows open today which is a rare thing in Houston, sun streaming in, lovely

I have had such a busy week and more ahead too.

Dj ing for Tina's fundraiser - got me in such a great mood

Designing tiles for the bathrooms of the new cafe - Black Hole

Making some new work for the Craft Fair this weekend

and

She's a Pistol at T'afia

Halloween - dressed up as my Dad, moustache and all

Busy, busy, busy like a bee

McCheek's Stuff

This last week has been a busy one, with McCheek's Academy and various other new things including taking photos for Houston Dairymaids which was a pleasure to do and I got some delicious cheese to take home too, I love that place and they have the best cheeses.

We also got a great feature on our house over at Casa Sugar too which was muy bueno.

Life with our newest cat Bobby is pretty crazy, but this is one of the fewer peaceful moments with her big brother Bones.

I love my new desk setup at the top of the stairs, it really is my space , still needs a little organising but that'll happen soon.

Me and the cats can check out the birds outside the window.

Review of Clay and Cabernet

Clay and Cabernet got its first review today on The Height's Life blog!!!

See it here

New work at Hello Lucky

My new schedule is kicking my ass - well its my poor time management that is. I love my new work life and am finding it really inspiring, but there isn't quite enough time in each day for all my to - do's. I will get there though, and promise I will keep trying to manage my time better!

In the meantime I will LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE and LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE - a saying from my very dear friends Rhonda and Chris

These are all pieces that I took into Hello-Lucky and I have just uploaded more to my etsy shop too. Millie needed to get in on the action when i was taking photos.

I

Update

All my classes are going really well so far, the kids have made cats, fruit, plates, hand aprints and have gleefully got their hands dirty in the clay.

The adults at Clay and Cabernet have drunk wine and made planters, door signs, tiles, wine glass markers, cheese plate, plates, coasters.

The pic is of mother and daughter duo Tara and Elliot with planter and plate in hand.

I've also been doing some photo shoots for Hello - Lucky - my favourite shop in the Heights and Yeti Sunshine - fabulous snow cone makers.

McCheek's Academy

I'm very excited about my new venture - McCheek's Academy , teaching kids and adults ceramics in the studio next door- now that I have registered the name it seems even more real. Marisa sent me the first look at the webpage last night, its very 'McCheeky'.

The kids made some really creative slab pots this week and I can't wait to see what the little ones( 3 year olds ) make today

Bird Nerd Mug Giveaway

City of Dionne is doing a feature on my work and a giveaway, click here to win this Bird Nerd Mug - saying what kind of slogan you'd like to see on a mug!

Poppytalk Oil Spill Response Market

Check out Poppytalk Handmade online market this month, its a special one that benefits the Oil Spill in the Gulf.

Each person who is in the market is giving the cost of at least one piece to Oxfam to help go towards the fundraising.

Teaching Kindergarten

I thoroughly enjoyed the ceramics Bug project I did with a group of 21 three to five year olds this week, how come I was the only one who got paint on herself, note to self, don't wear your favourite new skirt next time!

The kids loved it too, they got to choose a bug image and transcribe it onto wet clay, I then fired them all and they painted them and fitted them with string so they can be hung on the wall

Fourth Chunk of 365 Photos

a photo a day for a whole year, the latest chunk

House Feature on Paper n Stitch

I was very happy that Brittni from Paper n Stitch featured our house on her blog yesterday, you can see it here

Summer Ceramics Camp

I got my flier done for the Summer Ceramics Camp for kids, starting soon at the McCheek's Mansion

Loot from Renegade Craft Fair

I had a fantastic time at Renegade Craft Fair, I sold my ceramics and also bought and traded lots of 'loot' from crazy talented and creative people

It was so nice to be around such a big group of 'my people', I felt quite at home and realise I need to do this kind of thing more often . I got to meet and chat with lots of them as I wandered around

The first thing I got bought ( by my lovely husband) was this fantastic skirt made from vintage polyester fabric by a sweet orange haired girl going by the name of Orangyporangy

I traded this fantastic necklace with Danielle Maveal, I finally got my kind of rock, I'm not a traditional diamond gal, this suits me way better

I also traded this vintage french alcohol label necklace from Lucky Me Beads, and the beautiful bird necklace made from a vintage eye glass lens , Whitney's was the most beautiful set up, using old bird cages and vintage metal displays.

I have seen these T towels before online and been wanting to get some for a while, they are made by The Heated

I'm going to make a list of all the great stuff above starting from left top corner going clockwise

Japanese Polka Dot Tape - Tinted Mint

French Liquor Label Necklace - Lucky Me Beads

Texas Produce Calendar - Krank Press

(below calendar) Ceramic Rings - Lusterbunny

Cat Wallet -Eleven Eleven

Diamond Necklace - Danielle Maveal

Mistakes I've Made Postcard Set - Miss Natalie

Postcard - Your Secret Admiral

You Are Amazing - Hello-Lucky

Bird Eyeglass Lens Pendant - Lucky Me Beads

You and Me its Love Card - Rar Rar Press

Thank You Notecards - Your Secret Admiral

Hen Card - Krank Press

Do It card - Rar Rar Press

Cup Cake Stand and Cactus Cups

I unpacked new work out of the kiln this morning, its been a hive of activity here at McCheek's Mayhem headquarters, and very hot with the texas weather plus the heat of the kiln! So I've essentially created my own sweatshop, with me doing all the sweating.

This 'cactus in a cup' is made using cups that didn't quite make the grade as a functional cup ; ie seconds, I fired on the' I love cactus' ( I know its not grammaticaly correct but couldn't say cacti, because I don't think it sounds right) and ... drilled holes in the bottom and gave a new home to a cactus

This mug is a one off so far, testing Marisa's great idea of using gold lustre on the handle, it came out sooo shiny, but I will be making more after this weekend, I like shiny!

And last but not least, a Cup Cake stand, using two tiered vintage plates with ceramic decal words fired on - so Super, Yummy, Delicious

I have been wanting to make one of these for ages, and finally found the parts.

its so wrong though , I've mixed gold and silver, posh and punk, and to top it all off I got one scary looking cup cake from Kroger, would have gone to Crave if i'd had time, those cup cakes are delicious

anyway, these will all be on sale at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, along with all the usual Bird Nerd mugs and bowls.