Lots of works have gone to loving homes!

My studio life has become hectic. The day for the start of construction for my studio is decided; it's the 29th February. So I have a month before disruption will start. No rest for me until then!

Lots of sales have happened since the last post. Thank you so much! Here are some of them.

A girl with red shoes has gone to a lovely lady in the US. This work is based on a Japanese children's song, 'Akai kutsu' (Red shoes) written about 100 years ago. It is a poignant song. At that time, ordinary people wore traditional Japanese footwear, not shoes, let alone red shoes. It is about the girl, who was taken away to abroad by a foreigner.

Girl with red shoes

The Medieval Lady mask has gone to a lovely lady in the South East. I'm hoping to make more Medieval themed works in summer.  

The Medieval lady

As for animals, whippets are running off! :D The largest, the third from left, and far right are in my shop. All others have gone to loving homes! They make fantastic gifts for sighthound lovers!  

Three whippets are still available. 

At this time of the year, rabbits are also popular. First, this little chap has gone to a lovely stone carver, Jennifer Tetlow. She makes beautiful stone animals. Link at the bottom. 

He is living with a stone carver now. 

And this one has gone to a textile lady.

She went to a lovely textile designer,  Scotland, 

And this one has gone to a sweet lady in Japan. 

You haven't missed out yet! I have made more recently. Please check my shop!

Lots of rabbits

The first tapir porcelain spoon (top) has gone to a wonderful couple in Scotland. They are not only beautiful and sweet, but also usable; they has food safe glaze. Other two are in my shop.

Porcelain tapir spoons

The last and not the least is Wind swept owl who flew to Scotland on a stormy day! I will make more owls soon!

Wind swept owl

 Jennifer Tetlow: http://twitter.com/JenniferTetlow

New arrivals in my shop!

How was your weekend? Mine was a full working one. Mike has also spent three days to move the greenhouse to a new site; he took Friday off for that. We have been busy as tender for our extension, which will be my studio, is close. He has been preparing lots of things for that, and I have been working hard in anticipation of disruption, especially firings.

I have listed lots of new works this month, and some of them have already gone. Please do check often, as I am adding almost daily.

Tapir greeting cards

The right one has gone. 

Mother and her cub -  Polar bear

All Pockets Friends -  The kitten has gone. 

The left one is just listed, and others will join soon! 

Owls! The right one has gone.

A pair of bunnies - Pocket Friends

And the last but not the least, A giant anteater! :D Have a great week!

Anteater

They are avaibale from my Etsy shop!
http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/midoritakaki

Christmas is coming!

Hello! Christmas is coming! So early! You might say, but I have noticed signs. My shop is getting busier and busier.  Post office has a longer and longer queue. Before I see the first Christmas tree, I can tell it is coming!

Today I will share some photos of the works that have gone to loving homes recently.

As soon as I tweeted this photo, the little Lamb in blue dress was snatched away. Cuteness alert! They are really sweet! The little rabbit in a red dress is still in my shop. She has a toy rabbit in her pocket!

These three Super Moon rabbits found homes, too. They are larger cousins of my ordinary Moon rabbits.

Medium size whippet went to a lovely home in London. There are still large bronze glaze whippets and greyhounds in my shop, if you are interested! 

Water Boy flew to a lovely home in Canada. I will list his friends and Forest Girl soon.  

Water Boy

 Polar bear went to a lovely lady in US.

And this delightful pair of Surprised owls went to Scotland! 

 
There will be more to leave for new homes soon. I have also posted my work to a gallery and will deliver more to another. So I'm spending my mornings packing and posting every day. It is the time of a year, Mr Tumnus.

Before the end, I would like to share lovely photos sent to me. Angel has arrived in NZ and met another Angel.

New critters from the kiln!

Hello everyone. The extreme weather seems to have stopped for now. Spring flowers have started in our garden. They cheer me up so much!

Lately, I kept seeing referrals from My Owl Barn site to my shop. So I investigated it. Look what I found!
My Owl Barn

How wonderful! My owls are featured there! This site is for owl lovers. There are loads of owl goods, art and everything owly. There are also other animals shown together. If you are looking for a gift for owl lovers, this is the place, you should browse!

I have been busy working until late this week. In mornings after desk work, I packed and posted work with Topaz. In afternoons, more desk work and then studio work until nine at night. Today is the first day I finished at eight! I aim to finish work before nine this year, but I haven't done well so far.

Monday morning, I opened the kiln. There are lots of rabbits and owls as well as other things.

New rabbits from the kiln.

I use same white glaze for all rabbits at each firing. But each time it looks different. This time, it looks like Japanese traditional white glaze. Last time it was very white like milk. Intriguing.

Owls, rabbits, baby otter and farm animals!

 Thankfully, both heads and the large owl have survived, too.

After firing

Most go to firing again. As this owl mysteriously appeared on that night Mike was away, I had no plan how to glaze him. He will go to the second firing like this. I am carefully listening to what he says, and going very slowly.

Crying owl

In the garden spring has come albeit very wet.

Anemone

Primrose

Pumpkin was going to attack flowers!

 She soon scratched flowers with her big foot, so I had to run to stop her! She doesn't appreciate flowers.

Crocus

And our first daffodils this year! 

Spring has come!

Soul in the clay

Hello everyone. I had a productive weekend. I started one sculpture about 10 days ago, and finally finished it this morning. It is different from my other work. That excites me. When something unexpected comes out of clay, it takes me to another world.

 Here is the face that I made about ten days ago.

Friday, I started extending it.

I coiled it. 

By Saturday morning, it became like this. It was a bit like an insect. 

I made wings, tails and face pattern. It became an owl last night.

'I am flying.'

Side view

Top view

 I cleaned it a bit, and made a mount for it this morning.

Bottom view

Details

So here is my latest owl! I kept making owls recently. I keep thinking about Mochaccino, our late owl finch. I think that' the reason, but I am not sure. Nothing is sure. I am very happy with this one and I can't wait to see how it will be finished.

After the owl was finished, I sandpapered all bisque-fired sculpture. It was a very dusty and unexciting job. But I kept an eye on the Olympics; this made the job more tolerable. My favourite events are snowboard, figure skate, ski jump and speed skate. It was strange that while I watched high adrenaline sports, my adrenaline goes high, too, in front of the TV. It is the modern equivalent of watching gladiators or hunting, I guess. There are four hours time difference between Sochi and UK, so I might adjust my working time. I could see my favourite events. One of the good parts of working from home alone.

Christmas creation and storm

Hello everyone. I hope you had a great Christmas. We chilled out and probably ate a few too many sweets, especially Turkish delights and chocolates! We also looked after cats for a neighbour.

I have also made several little creatures.

Ice Baby

 I made Ice baby for three children over the pond.

Mother dog

Feather

Turtle

And also made several owls. These are larger than the previous ones, You can see very sleep owls!  

Owls

The storm we had was the biggest one for some years in our area. Next morning, we saw a couple of fences came down in neighbours gardens. 

Two fences were down.

 When we walked dogs, we discovered more damage caused by the storm. 

Fences were down here ...

and there.

We won't walk near the tree.  

Lots of houses lost ridge roof tile at the corner. We were lucky not to get any damage.

Ridge roof tile fell. 

Then I received an email from a lady in Surrey that she had had no power since last Monday! It's terrible. I hope you are safe and sound.

Pearl decorated!