Pavlo Pottery

In a trade that I made almost a full year ago (at the By Hand Show in Toronto last year), I acquired this beautiful piece of pottery (square plate seen in the photos), as well as a huge round serving platter, wine cooler, and brie baker that I gifted to my sister and her husband this past Christmas.

I kept the square piece for myself, and use it every day, as you see in the photos!

What attracted me to these pieces (they were all finished the same way) was the combination of the rich undertones of the base colour (brown) with the silvery, almost pewter-like glaze over top. Add the pattern detail (it reminds me of a tattoo or henna), and the overall effect is exquisite and unusual!



The pottery in these photographs was handcrafted by...

Pavlo Pottery Studio & Shoppe
Rockton, Ontario

Trading!

A prologue to the mini-series on varied artisan works (which I hope to expand on as time passes and I acquire exciting new pieces)...
a short word on trading.

As an artist, my eye (like many of yours I'm sure) is tuned in to great design and workmanship. This means that I not only appreciate the beauty of the object, but also the time and skill that has gone in to the making of the piece, not to mention the inherent dollar value of the materials involved...

Which brings me to the next, or perhaps previous, important word...starving! Yes, as an artisan, young in experience and business, I am a "starving artist".

This puts me at a great disadvantage, you see, because while my eye is scoping out all those beautiful objects (easily found at the juried craft shows), appreciating their value to the truest sense of the word, I am admittedly short on cash...at least when it comes to justifying the spending of money on artwork (of any form).

And so, in comes the trade! It can't always be done, but when other artists are willing and open to the idea, it's a great way to get your hands on new and exciting craft pieces!

Over the next few posts, I will be featuring some of the pieces (& their makers) that I have traded for...so stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

Most sincere "Thank You"s go out to all of our customers, family & friends, and fellow crafters & artisans who have helped make 2009 a big success for Subtle Details!

A note for what's to come in 2010: a short mini-series of blog posts featuring varied artisan works...most pieces having been successfully traded for at past shows!

Happy New Year to you all!


-Karen

Art Clay...a new line?

'Been away for a little while, sorry!
I have a lot of posts in mind that I want to make, so I'm hoping to bring them to you soon...over the holidays!

I do have a preliminary photo of one of the pieces that came out of my first Art Clay Silver class that I took back in November.

I had to look for some polishing tools (perhaps another class will be necessary!)...but this is the piece that I'm really inspired by!....

I think it speaks to the lines that are currently in my repertoire, though perhaps a little simpler.

I still have to finish this piece off, adding an extension chain & charm (as per usual detail)...but I can tell you that the pendant sits nicely at the nape of the neck, on a 14" long sterling silver snake chain.

I've already worn it several times! If anything, this is where I can see my work heading with Art Clay...but give me time, I still have another two pieces from my class that I need to finish off...so the rest is yet to be seen!

More photos to come soon!

Take care everyone, & have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

-Karen

latest preoccupation...

Just waiting for all my image files to move from one drive to another (I've run out of space!)...but I'm really excited to download the latest!

I've been working on a collection of Li'l Decor Trees!

Most or all of them will be available to purchase this Christmas season from
Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery in Port Perry, ON.

I'm glad of the opportunity/incentive to make so many at once, as it allows me to have some fun with the photography, and hopefully provide me with a few good images to use for my latest product, greeting cards.

He he! Here they are!....



This is one of my favorite designs! Simplistic, fun, and whimsical.

Sold as a set of 3.



Bye for now...I have more creating to do!

messy studio!

So, I've finished off my last big craft show for 2009, ending on a +'ve note! Yay! But am now desperately trying to regroup!
I have a couple of custom orders to fill & ship (yay!), and a big order for Meta4 (they're going to carry my Li'l Trees this year...yay!)...and so even though I'm done with the shows, I've continued to be quite busy with deadlines...leaving my studio in one huge mess of an aftermath of car unloading!

another pre-show night...

and I'm finally organized!

It's a miracle! I have (virtually) all of my things packed (just a couple loose ends...but nothing big, honest!), and I'm just about to sit down & finish off a couple of extra ornaments.

Yes, I am making "just one more" item for sale tomorrow, but I think I'm finally doing it the right way...after everything else has been taken care of.

Can't wait to get my good night's sleep, so I'll be bright and cheery (ha! as if that will ever happen) tomorrow morning, take my last few remaining product photos (of the ornaments currently under production), load up my car, then take off to the Heintzman House!

Speaking of, I'm off!

Next time,
Karen