mushroom {spring}

The weather has been really weird this winter/spring and now mushrooms are popping up all over my garden where they've never been before.

lilacs

Lovely lilacs in one of my little vases.

spring tree blooms

{collection} indian wooden stamps

pottery {works in progress}

Here are a few more pots I'm working on. These are trimmed and coated with underglaze and I will crave them next week before they are bisqued. I've only done small test firings with these colors so it will a little surprise on how they turn out.

{collection} feathers

fiddleheads {spring}

The Plaid Barn {new obsession}

So if you haven't heard of the Plaid Barn, go check them out. Everyday they have one deal on a craft item, it could be supplies or a kit. It runs for 24 hours or until they run out. But the great part about it is the deal comes at a huge discount, at least 50% off. I've already scored a few things, including these buttons!!

 

Who doesn't love buttons?! Just head on over to their site here, sign up and every morning you'll get an email with the deal of the day. It's like Christmas morning when checking your email!

spring chickens {eggs}

A friend of mine has chickens and they are producing eggs like crazy! One of my favorite things about spring - eggs that you know where they are coming from. 

Plus, aren't they just gorgeous!!

pottery designs

I've been taking pottery classes at my local art center for about 5 years now and absolutely love it! Recently, I've gotten into a different look with my glazing techniques. I've been so into patterns and illustrations lately and now I've figured out a way to incorporate them into my pottery. I've been doing it in couple of different ways, either using an underglaze over a trimmed pot that is leather hard and then craving out my design or after the bisque firing 'drawing' on the design using specialty bottles with fine tips. I'm still working on my technique but I'm really liking the outcome. The pictures below are all works in progress and not fully glazed yet but what do you think?

Target - inspiration

So I've really been into patterns lately. I've started incorporating them into my pottery and my drawings. The possibilities are just endless and the inspiration can be found anywhere. Like yesterday, my daughter and I went to Target to pick up some things, just the usual cat food, diapers, etc. But then I noticed something - beautiful patterns. They were everywhere, on a ceramic dish, pillows, clothing. I snapped a couple of photos, thanks goodness for cell phones, and will be adding them to my inspiration book. Which, by the way, I think everyone should have. It's just a small sketch book that I always have in my purse so whenever an idea comes to me I can just jot it down. Whether it's a website, book, drawing, whatever I want to hold on to. Cause with my memory these days if it doesn't go in that book I lose it!! Then when I need that little push to create something I can look back and get those creative juices flowing. And it's not about copying some one's art, it's about drawing from that inspiration and creating your own - like, as you can see from the photos below, I'm really drawn to blue! So my next piece might draw from those color combos. Who knows where it will take me!

Where do you get your biggest inspirations?

Photo Challenge Day 1 & 2

Day 1 - your view today

Work. Not terribly exciting, but it is my full-time days to be at work plus it was SUPER busy.

So yeah, this was what I got to look at ALL DAY LONG.

Day 2 - words

So now that I have gotten back into reading my Kindle has been a blessing, especially those 99 cent books! Reading the series 'Wool' right now, highly recommended.

Trying the again...

So, I kinda ran out of steam on the January photo a day challenge. 

BUT the February challenge starts tomorrow and I am determined to do it! 

And this time I am not using my cell phone camera, I'm bringing along my 'real' camera to really get me back in the grove of taking GOOD pictures!! I think what got me last time was I felt like I had to post everyday and when I couldn't I would get discouraged and then not take that days picture. 

So this time I'm going to take the pictures and then just post in batches as I can, it might work out into some nice collections.

Here it is:

 

The challenge is created by fatmumslim and you can find links to all the others participating in the challenge, plus it's a nice blog so just take a look!

So, we'll see how it goes! Wish me luck!

Day 18- Something you Bought

 

Went to Old Navy and they were having this crazy sale so I picked up a bunch of cool tops. It was only after I got home that I realized everything I got had a pattern - no plain old solid tops for me this spring!!

Day 16 & 17

Day 16 - Morning

Woke up this morning to snow! That's a big deal we haven't had any since the big blizzard in October, it is winter we need snow!

Day 17 - Water

Day 12 & 14

Day 12 - Close-up

This is a piece of my own pottery, it's a tiny little pinch bowl that I painted a little flower in the bottom. Don't know why but I just love it.

Day 14 - Something you are reading

Got a little bit of everything going on right now. About to make the leap into potty training!! Getting ready for a raku firing - so fun! And trying to catch up with the rest of the world and read The Help.

Photo a Day Challenge - Days 9-11

Day 9 - Daily Routine

 

Not the best picture in the world, but this is my baby girl taking a nap. Because no matter what I'm doing, each and every day I put her down for her nap.

Day 10 - Childhood

So this is not my childhood but my husband's. This was his rocking chair when he was younger and he restored it for our little one for Christmas. She just loves it!

Day 11 - Where you sleep

My side of the bed: complete with butterflies, pictures, books, knitting projects and a sleeping cat.

Day 8 - Your Sky

Totally rainy, gray, cold day today. Taken through the window of my daughter's room.

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Day 7 - Favorite

I have recently started to get back into knitting, part of my finding time to do more things I enjoy. My baby girl found this yarn at a Sheep and Wool Festival we went to back in the fall, she LOVES orange, and I've been trying to decide what to do with it ever since. I found a pattern for a great cardigan for her, a little ambitious for me since I have only made one other sweater (baby) before but I figured I would challenge myself. My goal is to have it done so she can wear it this winter - I have a long way to go!

Day 6 - Makes you smile

Baby girl just loves the tub, and anything makes her happy makes me smile.

Day 5- Something you wore

 

Being that is was 24 degrees when I woke up this morning, the scarf is necessary! 

Day 4 - Letterbox

I happened to be in Home Depot for today's challenge, $69 for a mailbox? Really?

Day 3 - Something you adore

This one was pretty easy. I adore everything about this girl, and this photo with her tongue sticking out and playing music just totally captures her spirit!

Day 2 - Breakfast

Tea, water and apples at work. Eating at the computer, pretty much a daily routine.

Day 1 - You

 

First photo in the photo challenge I am participating in.

This is me with my baby girl resting on my shoulder, she has the stomach flu. Poor baby.

Photo a Day Challenge

I thought since I've gotten out of taking photos on a regular basis I would try to complete a photo challenge.  I'm in no way up for a 365 so a 30 day will do. For this challenge I'm just going to use my cell phone camera, since I always have it with me I'll have no excuse to not take a picture! Then I thought this might be a good way to help me get back into blogging! So I'm going to post the photos on my flickr and here as well.
The challenge comes from the blog fat mum slim and it is meant to be a January challenge but I'm starting this late (on the 6th) and I'm just going to start at number 1 and go with it - so it's really a January/February challenge!
Here is the challenge:

 

I've been so wrapped up in being a mommy and, more recently, increasing my hours at work, that I just haven't been able to find the time to do ALL the things I enjoy. But now my baby girl is almost 2 and I feel like I have finally figured out my routine and am starting to find ways to be a good mommy and still do those things that I enjoy. Photography being one of them, I figured this challenge would get me back in the groove. I've also started reading again, in the middle of The Help and really enjoying it, and have started a knitting project, a sweater for my girl in her favorite color, orange. I am hoping to get back into my etsy shop at some point as well.

Hopefully this will lead into more photos, blogging, books, etc.!