Glimpses of new

I just got some of the proofs of the photos Curtis took with me in the studio the other day!  We always seem to take one photo by accident with my hand or head half in the photo, making last-minute adjustments, but I kind of like that.  There's something about my hand being there that brings it back to being hand-made. 

Some day I hope to do a styled photo session, but for now, the simple grey backdrop accurately represents the work and documents.  I can't stress enough to people who are just starting out in their careers how important good photographs are.  At the same time, I sometimes see amazing photographs of work out there and then am disappointed when it comes to seeing and handling the work in real life.  So when I get feedback from people who tell me that my work is better in person then in my photos, then the compliment means so much more!

I have a small selection of new work that is now available in my shop here, and a little bit available on my Etsy shop.  I can no longer guarantee that it arrive outside of Canada in time for Christmas, although if you want a gift receipt to include in a card or want to bump up your shipping to courier service, just send me an email or convo.  I won't be doing a proper 'launch' of new work on my website until the new year so stay tuned for that!

One of a Kind Vancouver 2011

I'll be at the One of a Kind Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre West over the next few days! If you are in Vancouver, please do stop by- I'll be at booth H42!

Show hours are as follows:
Thursday-Saturday 10am-9pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
admission $12 ($2 off if purchased online)

And a sneak peek at just a couple new photos of work that will be available during the show!! Photos by Curtis Hildebrand photography

Gift Guides and more!

Well I don't have any of the lovely images that my photographer shot this past week yet, but I just wanted to stop in here before the weekend to say 'hello'! It's been a busy week at the studio, with me trying to re-stock some of these lovely mugs for the One of a Kind Show coming up in a couple of weeks.  There are a number of Gift guides out there that are featuring my work and I've spent the week packing up orders and shipping them off in the midst of trying to re-stock.  It's busy and I feel like a little elf dancing around the studio trying to get it all done in time.
Speaking of which.  Ceramics takes time, so if you were thinking of putting a little dahlhaus under the tree this Christmas, please note that my last firing will most likely take place early December.  I'm not expecting to make new work late into December, because I'll be planning a special someone's birthday party, getting ready for Christmas, and spending time with loved ones after my last show on December 8-11th.  So, please note that my shop is up-dated to include ready-to-ship items that can still make it in time for the holidays!!
Ok, off to the studio for the day I go- have a wonderful weekend (finally sunny out here- time to rake the leaves:).

Close up frost

A couple of close-up photos of frosty leaves and winter stems make for lovely abstract photos. 
I'm fighting a bit of a cold while trying not to stress about the impending Olympics and orders that need to be in the shops before February 1st and the city shuts down to any traffic. Somehow the Olympics have crept up on me rather quick even though we've known about it for a number of years.

Indie Love

The Poppytalk Indie Love Market opened this morning with some really lovely hand-made items brought to you in time for a little early Holiday shopping! I know it's only mid-October and there is lots of time to shop, but if you are like me and try to avoid the Malls at all costs, online shopping is the way to go! And better early than later or your shipping costs and time-frame get tighter- that's stress I could do without!

I did another attempt at a photo-shoot yesterday afternoon- it was pretty cloudy outside, and while it's certainly not anything close to my professional images, there is a bit of a 'charm' to them. Anyways, it's still clear to me the home photo-shoot is something I have to work on this coming year- I might just have to buckle down and buy some lights and a good backdrop!

On the studio front I finally came up with a good Christmas Tree Decoration for this year. I do try to come up with one every year and this year I was drawing huge blanks. I really didn't want to do a cookie cutter ornament, let's just put it that way. So some prototypes are in the works and I'll post photos when I have some samples!

dahlhaus eye candy in Red & Peach

A little eye candy today from my poppy series with red and peach poppies. Familiar work of mine, but re-photographed to up-date my shop, apply for shows, etc. I'm hoping this last photoshoot can keep me going for another 6 months or so before I start itching to do another one! Whenever I see the photos, I fall 'in love' with my work all over again! My work is extremely tedious and labour-intensive to make, and sometimes, when I'm in the midst of glazing, I wonder if it's going to be worth it in the end. Definitely worth it when I see the photos.

In other news, I was reminded about the ETSY MEET-UP tonight, with admin staff from Etsy here in Vancouver for the evening. Starts at 7pm at the Cambrian Hall- should be a good get-together!

Photo Session, Summer 09

I just got the photos from my last photo session and wanted to post one of those 'oops' shots that I thought was really lovely. I'm working on some formatting/ editing and sorting for my online shop and for the website, so I'll post more this week and they will be on my flickr site soon as well. My photographer, Curtis Hildebrand, just launched his new wedding website that is really lovely called Studio de Luxe Photography, do check it out!

photography of print

My latest photo assignment for myself has been to capture print in unlikely spots. Here are a few recent ones: The classic VIA logo on a great older passenger train on Vancouver Island, the view from down home amy's studio of the Morris building, and then Dean, recreating his name out of driftwood at the beach this summer!