Dishes

(serving set of three porcelain plates by gleenashop)

(which I think I need)

I love handmade dinnerware.

In fact my bowls, plates, and cups (with the exception of my cherished latte bowl collection) are all handmade out of porcelain or stoneware clays.

When I hear word of an even with ceramic pieces for sale I'm there.

Finding bowls and mugs are easy.

Plates on the other hand are a challenge.

I like something lightweight, pretty, unique, and of a certain size. Lately I can't find any plates at all (sandwich or the full sized dinner version). I've taken to the etsy streets on this quest for the handmade plate, and there are so many to choose from! The one drawback is that I can't hold it (to see if it is heavy or light) before I buy it.

Anyone buy any handmade ceramic plates on etsy before?

If so which seller, and what do you think of them?

I think a plate from Gleena's Shop will be in order, sooner rather than later!

Flickr Favorites - First Love

1. Untitled, 2. porcelain handmade ornament, 3. crochet patterns porcelain dangle necklace detail, 4. wide rimmed bowl with outline leaves

When I saw Mitsy's favorite 'Flickr Favorites' from last week, I fell in love with with the ceramics that she too adored!

It reminded me of how I got into art in the first place. I had take some painting classes in high school, always enjoyed them, but didn't think much about it beyond that. A few years later when I was in college I had to fill an art credit and I decided to take a basic ceramics class.

I fell in love.

In less than 3 months I had switched my major and worked hard to earn dual degrees in ceramics and digital media.

Even though I am not working in ceramics at the moment, (I moved on to earn degrees in illustration and graphic design) I long for the day when I can take another ceramics class, or, and this is certainly a dream, maybe even someday have a little studio of my own.

In the meantime I will be inspired by the beautiful work of others!

(Like Miss Mitsy herself!)

Want to make your own flickr favorites?
Head on over to Mitsy's blog and sign up!

Fueling an Obsession

Normally you wouldn't catch me out in all that Black Friday shopping madness, however there was a local pottery sale on that fateful day and you bet I wasn't going to miss it! My first degree is in ceramics, and I'm a huge admirer and collector of all things clay. After being the first person through the door (of course I was there the second the doors opened) I managed to grab a porcelain mixing bowl, ice cream bowl, and two beautiful cups (one for me, one for Lee). What? That doesn't sound like very much for an obsessed pottery collector you say? My grandmother purchased two dinner plates, one salad plate, and two bowls for our everyday eating dinnerware collection, and my mother purchased an additional plate for our collection. Oh, and I'm making my grandmother truck back up there to purchase a pin I've decided I need for some of my knit scarves. <---These last gifts are for Christmas. (you'll see pictures as soon as they are in my hands) I guess Black Friday shopping isn't so bad! (You won't catch me at any mall though)