porcelain and enamel

My new venture.

Porcelain meet enamel.

(thick coatings of dreamy colors of enamel overlaying delicate porcelain objects for the home.)

I'm drawing out ideas now and I'll start the making soon.

Can't wait.

the terrariums at the very top are made by artist Paula Hayes.

inspiration lately

I'd like to acheve this sense of balance in color and rhythm within my work. mmmm...calm and realx. maybe it's just the rainy morning that is making me love these images.
or the sheer love for the incredible detail of the folding stool.
my new work will play with linen+ceramic and enamelled metal+ceramic.
linen pendant lights with ceramic involved somehow....nice.


images courtesy of Pinch Design and Tenebras

two months in.

The first 2 months of grad school have been fast. and playful. and slightly productive, but very thought - full. i've learned that grad school for me, so far, is all about discovery and learning to create in flux of what i expect and what outcome i arrive at. i'm focusing on ceramic vessels for food production. come to open studio night, November 6th, to see all that is happening. 280 S. Columbus Drive, Studio M152F.

a few quick images. one of inspiration for all things fleeting and fast. and another of a recent commission project.

Fire Escape Farm

Some quick photos of the Fire Escape Farm so far for the season.

Tomato, Tomato

This past weekend Michael and I spent a good full day, with the help of some very talented friends, reconstructing the derelict raised bed that adorns his parents yard. They have an amazing backyard, complete with several types of grandfatherly trees and loaded with hundreds of fireflies come summer. In the middle of the yard a small, 7'x7', raised bed was completely overgrown and needing some love. So, we decided to implement Riha Family Farm and set to work ripping out the weeds and putting in some veggies.

The weeds were relentless, some of them went down to what seemed like forever, and we ended up axing out a few of the tougher ones. After weeding and turning some of the topsoil back into the bed, we added a good amount of manure (thanks to Scotty's mom's horses) and made the soil perfect for growing some hearty veggies. As we planted we supplemented each hole with some loose potting soil, to give a little more O2 to the plant roots. Once everything was planted we topped it off with some rich organic mulch that will help to maintain the moisture in the bed.

The bed now holds 4 different varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, dark green zucchini, 4 varieties of hot peppers, one sweet pepper, cilantro, basil, lavender, purple sage, rosemary, Italian parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums, and some pretty purple flowers that I couldn't resist. Hopefully Michael's parents will reap a great bounty off the plot for the rest of the summer!

Projects like these reaffirm for me that we can complement the food system in a really positive way if we approach the idea with the right tools, and the right friends! This idea of small space farming, manageable to two people who work full time, is a continuing project for me. Round one, done.

Madsen bikes make me happy