Happy 2013!

 Happy New Year!

I hope your holidays went smoothly, but most importantly, that you enjoyed them with family and friends!; May 2013 be a healthy, happy and prosperous year for you and your loved ones!

Mine was filled with amazing food, loving family and dear friends as well as lots of gifts and tons of great ideas for my handmade business. I gotta say, I had set a goal for myself when I started, and by the end of the year, I tripled that goal!, that lets me know that I am capable of way more than I think I am, and that is such an amazing realization!, sometimes our biggest critic is ourselves, and to know that we're honestly in awe of our accomplishments, well that is flat out FANTASTIC!

So aside from all the winter wonderfulness, of course one of my special highlights were the amazing gifts I got!. From boots, to sweaters to vintage jewelry to gift cards from Starbucks  one of my amazing new toys is the SUPER useful slab roller, courtesy of my amazing hubby. This 20 lb gadget allows me to flatten a smooth sheet of porcelain clay at my desired thickness, this is amazing news for my hands, as pounding and rolling the clay is not an easy task, and with my new roller baby, I can do this fast & easy!. Thanks baby! *_^

Since it is a new year, and that always results in resolutions for everyone, I thought it appropriate, if not fitting, to create a line of inspirational bracelets, to give the wearer a boost of confidence, strength and to remind them of a special message that in the heart, has mountain-moving meaning.

I have many deigns, which I will be listing this weekend, so far you can get your hands on the "Believe" one, which is already for sale in my Etsy shop.

 Any-who, I will be getting back to my roller baby, I swear I hear it calling my name...Meli, come play with me... lol.... ok maybe not, but I will take off to work on some cool new designs.

See you all next friday, have a splendid weekend and an amazing new week!.

Toodles,
Meli

My first craft show

Hi friends!; as some of you know, this past saturday I had my first craft show ever.
It is a funny thing to think that with all of my craftiness, and my previous attempts at trying to sell things I made, I had never tried to sell at a craft show before, and I must say that this particular show was a great way to get my feet wet in the handmade-vendor pool.



My booth being set up

The entire week before the show, I was averaging a bed time of 4am, waking up for work  at 8am; the late nights were due to glazing, creating pieces, making tags, pricing pieces, taking inventory and working on my displays.


I used natural crates to create height and interest

I tried to be unique, making sure that my look remained natural and cohesive. Many buyers and vendors complimeted me on my booth look, many even asked if I had a shop location!; I am always so flattered to receive any and all compliments!; It's so nice to see that other people appreciate your work and efforts as much or even more than I do! *_^

 

I met a number of great people, vendors and buyers alike; and made a good amount of sales, so overall, even though I have been sleeping super late lately, and I feel so tired from rushing to get ready for the show, I must say that I am so happy that I did this, and I feel I will be doing more craft shows and fairs next year ^_^

I love fall! ^_^

Happy friday dear friends!; last week I was having issues with blogger, I guess they resolved them since I am able to post today ^_^

 

I have so much to share!; first off, I was accepted to be part of the "Giving Market" taking place in Apex, NC on Nov. 3rd, this is on a darling downtown in a gorgeous historical Baptist church!; This will be my very first craft show, so I am equal parts of excited and nervous!, I have soooo much to do and very little time to get it all done

Downtown Apex, NC a lovely and quaint slice of history overflowing with great shops and restaurants!
 

I have been working on yarn bowl, jewelry dishes and new jewelry lines, they should all be done in about 2-3 weeks tops!, many of my orders are becoming personalized/monogrammed, so those will be as always, made to order, so as much as I am working hard now, the work doesn't stop, and I honestly do not want it to ^_^

 

 

Making porcelain daisies ^_^

I have a huge selection of jewelry pieces that I know will do great on the craft show and open house I'm having... These are gorgeous, delicate and unique



A Pile of beautiful earrings ^_^

 

Amongst all the work and dedication it takes to try to create my dream business, I make sure I sneak in personal pleasures, like knitting, baking, shopping (my exercise of choice *_^, and spending time outside with my hubby and baby doggy ^_^)

 

 

A few of my favorite things ^_^

 

Gorgeous baby roses from the fresh market, a weekly delight for me and my home ^_^

My addictive homemade oatmeal-raisin-coconut cookies, to DIE for!



The fuel of my life, starbucks Frappuccino! ^_^

Fall fabulousness!

My pumpkin haul!, I will be going back for more next week...I have a total weakness for pumpkins!

I hope you are enjoying life and have wonderful plans for the weekend! 

XoX, Meli

A hectic week with a lot to show for it ^_^

Hi dear friends!

 

This has been a super stressful week, mainly because of my reg. 9-5 job...I get extra stressed when it takes my free time away from doing my pottery, but today is friday, and until monday morning, I rule my weekend ^_^

 

I have been making, glazing and firing many pieces this week, but let me show you all my goodies

 

Enjoy the photos

My new dessert dish line YUM! ^_^



This line will offer the possibilities of customizing the text and color! so cute!..coming very soon! *_^

This is the large batch of yarn bowls that were in queue from orders, they were glazed, high fired and shipped to their happy owners ^_^
 

A fabulous thing happens when I open the lid to a cooled kiln after a high fire!

All the great finished new pieces! so perfect *_^
 




All the orders get wrapped up and shipped..a happy process!, I love wrapping ! ^_^



 

I haven't knitted in a few months, but it always helps me find a little zen time to have a knitting project...so I worked on a chic and super easy triangle knitted scarf in a very chic bubblegum pink!

I am absolutely loving it!  My yarn bowl customers will receive a copy of this pattern with their purchase ^_^

 

Between all my work, house chores, pottery, knitting and family, I take the time to enjoy all the little things around me, I am so thankful for all I have, I am very blessed and God is to be thanked! ^_^




My sweet baby Chloe, the apple of my eye *_^

I am so looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend ^_^  I hope you have a beautiful weekend yourself!

XoX, Meli

A fantastic week filled with great results!

 

Happy friday my dear friends!; I have so much to share with you!

 

Herb Marking Stakes ^_^

 First off, as you know, I have been testing my new kiln; so far it has gone through 2 bisque firings (up to cone 05 or 1888F ), and yesterday it went its first critical firing test, cranking the heat up to a high fire (cone 6 or 2232F). As I type I am curious to see the results of this last firing (it is currently cooling off, and I won't be able to open the kiln until a few hours from now); I must admit that I feel the kind of anxiousness I remember feeling as a little girl on Christmas eve, ready to rush and open my present!...the kiln provides me with that fabulous feeling every time I fire ^_^.

Needless to say, "Steven" (my kiln) has been a very VERY good boy!, and I am very happy and proud of his performance!...Long live Steven! ^_^


 

 

This week I have also glazed a good number of freshly bisque pieces (the count until last night was over 90), oh yeah, it takes a while to decide on the color scheme, and actually proceed to carefully glaze and wipe each piece so it can be high fired.

 

 

 

 This weekend I am looking forward to going bright and early to a flea market and a farmer's market, with the beautiful weather we've been having, I really just want to be outside!

 

I will also be baking up as storm, as I make biscotti, oatmeal cookies and pumpkin loafs to mail to my family in 3 different states, I looove to bake! ^_^

 

 

 Before I let you go I wanted to share a special coupon code to save 10% on my entire porcelain jewelry line on Etsy, visit my shop MUDDY HEART POTTERY to browse my jewelry section, I know you will fall in love with many of them!

 

Use code  SWEETSEPTEMBER during checkout to receive your 10% discount ^_^

 

 

 

I hope you have a lovely and fun weekend! ^_^

XoX, Meli