Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Believe to be beautiful or know to be useful

One thing I've learned from my pottery class is patience - it really is a slow business. I have been going since January and have so far managed to bring home only one piece. But all that changed last night because a whole load of my stuff came out of the kiln.

These little chaps were inspired by some Matthew Mead paper doves which I saw over at The Felt Mouse last Christmas. Told you pottery took time - six months from idea to completion must be some kind of slow crafting record.

And it is a lot harder than it looks too. I'm not happy with any of the glazes on my stuff - too milky looking, too uneven, pock marks from bubbles, not the colour I was expecting. But I'm trying to love the imperfections. They're what makes things unique.

My six year old has been appreciating my unique qualities too.

Mark: " I love you Mummy"
Me: "Oh, why's that?"
Mark: "You know how to cook my favourite food. You're very useful"

19 comments:

Junie Moon said...

I love the doves and am so inspired by your re-interpreting the paper doves into pottery form.

laura capello said...

note to self: add "useful" to the list of naughty words.

dottycookie said...

Those are beautiful doves. I did a bit of pottery years ago but your doves are miles better than anything I ever made!

My little girl wrote in her Mother's Day assignment in school "My mummy is special because she gives me things I like." Glad to know I'm such a pushover!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you're useful, I feel better about things now.

Anonymous said...

I blame it on Thomas, the very useful engine.

I think those doves are fabulous... (do they like their dovecote?)

And the buttons?

Anonymous said...

sweet :)

Anonymous said...

Love the birds and nice to know you are useful!

Joanna said...

I get told i am silly so useful is not bad. Love the doves - i tried pottry once it was not an overwhelming success!

Heidijayhawk said...

those doves are stunning! i hope my kids think i'm useful too. you know the whole laundry and cooking business.

Victoria May Plum said...

Isn't it lovely to "be useful".
The doves are really beautiful
Victoria x

Anonymous said...

The doves are lovely, very Swedish looking. Some nice fat satin ribbon to hang them up maybe?

Bless! Mark speaks from the hip doesn't he? At least you know where you stand when the little ones are young and innocent. It's when they learn how to be 'charming' you have be wary...

julie said...

the doves are great - your pottery skills are definitely emerging. I love the things kids come out with, apparently I'm nice to cuddle because I have 'squashy boobs' (I knew not having implants would pay off somewhere down the line!)

caroline said...

I love them and I think the glaze works well it lends them a sort of etheral quality. And hey they could live in your beautiful dovecote because you can guarantee them won't mess it up.

Di said...

I think that the doves look beautiful!! Well done!

Me and Him said...

Those doves are beautiful. Well done.

Good thing you're useful:)

Anonymous said...

I believe they're very beautiful.

Kate said...

Love the doves - they look really well done!

weirdbunny said...

I went to potery classes a couple of years back. I'm no good at it, as I like to make things in an instant. The 2 foot high camel was never going to work, but I perservered ! In fact I drove the poor teacher insane. Then she gave me the ultimatium theat the next time the camel collapesed that was the end of it, I'd have to try something less ambitious. It collapsed later that class, so I tried an elephant instead !

Anonymous said...

the ceramics are so lovely...you need to continue with this media. I love how the wings are different.