Story masks. Tinderbox and Alice

After working together for four months, the two masks were handed over to a lovely client visiting Britain. It was finally great to meet him.  

One of the great things about commissions is that I am challenged.

Alice is the largest and the most intricate story mask I have ever made. There are unseen details for the client. He will find them once he holds her in his hands. They are secret gifts from me.

I wish they will give plenty of imagination and joy to his family for a long time. Thank you so much.  

Yuki-onna and Spring flowers

From late August, I completed one commission, made several masks,  and did one interview in the studio. Also I have been busy with sales. Thank you so much.

Yuki-onna - Sold

Yuki-onna, Snow Woman, is such a special mask. I am so glad that she went to a lovely lady.  A funny thing is that Japanese told me that she looks scary because of her long black hair. Well, we Japanese have mostly black hair, don't we?  British people told me that she is beautiful. Now she lives in a lovely hotel, in England. A happy ending.

Spring flowers -sold

Spring flowers has gone to a lovely lady, Japan. She has red camellia, blue hepatica, a pine tree and hazel catkins. All plants are in the garden, except for the pine, which used to be in the garden. She was one of several Spring flower themed masks. Now only one, Primula, is left.

Large works like these masks are available from my website, www.MidoriTakaki.co.uk You could also see most works I have made in 'Gallery' section. If you find the work you really like, but already sold, please drop me a line. I would be probably able to make a similar one for you.  

There are 20 animals who have found good homes from Etsy shop in the mean time. How lovely! I am adding more daily. Do check the shop once a while.

I am going to make another post, later, but I am going to do an Studio sale weekend on 30 September and 1 October, in Canterbury, Kent. Do pop in if you can. The details are here.

Bevere Gallery, Worcester - Featured artists of June

I am one of the featured artists with Debbie Barber and Martin McWilliam, of June, in Bevere Gallery, Worcester. Do pop in if you can. My work will be there until the end of July.

Angels

Primula

Red Ridinghood

Whale sort of day

Answer was in the box.

Bevere Gallery, Bevere Lane, Worcester WR3 7RQ • 01905 754 484

I'm longing for spring.

This winter seems dark. Flowers in the garden are slow to bloom. I long for spring. I started making works for Ceramic Art London. A theme came naturally. Spring. 

Bird's nest

Snowdrop and Tulip are small masks. 

Snowdrop

Our crocus are still not visible. But red Chaelnomeles are. 

Crocus

Primula

Camellia, Hepatica and catkins. 

We lost all snowdrops and winter Hellebore when we moved a greenhouse last year. I will buy some bulbs this autumn. 

Beetles, bugs and birds exhibition at Artichoke gallery

I'm off sick today. I have had fever and headache since Sunday evening. Last night I loaded the kiln, and that was it. I was free to be unwell and to get rest today! :D Don't worry. I will be ok. I have to be ok, as I will need to get back to work!

Dawn Chorus - 17.5cm W, 16.5H, 5.2D

My three masks are in Beetles, bugs and beetles exhibition at Artichoke gallery, Ticehurst, East Sussex. It has just started on the 1st of July. It is a lovely gallery in a beautiful setting. Three ladies there are very friendly.

Dawn chorus - details

Dawn Chorus

Another mask in the exhibition is One swallow does not make a summer.

One swallow does not make a summer - details

One swallow does not make a summer - 18.0cm W, 16.0H, 5.7D

One swallow does not make a summer

The gallery is much larger than we imagined from photos. Liz Moys, the textile artist was there with her Peggy, one of the canine gallery assistants.

From the entrance

Liz and Peggy, the assistant 

A lovely bright sign 

Forest Boy - 13.0cm W, 14.5H, 5.8D

It is not far from Sissinghurst garden. The exhibition is until end of September. Why don't you pop in when you are in the area? You won't regret it. 

About the exhibition

Artichoke gallery website

Four galleries you could visit on a day in the area



  

Working as if there were no tomorrow!

Happy Easter, everyone! Midori Takaki HQ has been unaffected by Easter! We have been working as if there were no tomorrow! I am not a morning person, but I start glazing before nine. That's tough. I work after eight in the evening. I feel so exhausted I collapse in bed before nine. That has been our Easter. Mike has been making display boards, making glazes for me and doing all other things that have to be done.

A week ago, the big head was bisque-fired. It was really tight.

 Then, back to back bisque-firing started.

Lower shelf

Top shelf

 In the meantime, I have made more. Here is Forest Girl-Spring.

Forest Girl

 Then another back to back bisque-firing. This time a Wolf. His nose is in the morning sunshine!

While the wolf was being cooked, I had to clean the studio tables to glaze all bisques. I'm having a bit of shortage of space here. The guest WC is already filled with my greenware!

Next day is back to back glaze-firing! 

Lower shelf

Top shelf

Today, the big head was glaze-fired. Tomorrow another back to back-firing with bisques. These will continue for a week or so!  Madness here! 

The shop must go on!

I hope you had a good weekend. Mike and I went to the Sunbury gallery to take down the exhibition yesterday. We saw Alan, Barbara and Robert. It was a bit sad that we had to say goodbye to them, as we have worked together for a while. I also met 2 year-old boy who chose one of my little rabbits. How lovely to meet him! It has been great four weeks.

When we got home about eight, we were exhausted. We adjsuted ourselves to summer time quickly and I went to bed about 10:30 (Mike 9:30). This morning, my neck was not doing well. The whiplash didn't like the drive. So I have taken a day off from studio work to rest.

Even though I have been busy with the exhibition and preparation for the Cetramic Art London, the shop must go on! It has been very busy! Thank you so much!

Here are photos of those who went to loving homes this month!

A special black cat for a special lady!

Mia -front

Mia - side

 Piglet and Lamb went to a lovely lady in the US.

A pair of whippet joined a loving whippet home in the US.

A little Polar bear went to a lovely lady.

They went to Sigapore and the US. 

Goat, Carrot and Lamb

Monkey went to a  lovely lady in the US.

Both Carrot were snapped up.

Lyra, Polar bear spirit went to a wonderful lady in the US.

Alice joined Lyra.

Commissioned whippets by a specal lady with a special whippet. 

These are the largest ones from the last firing. They went to a wonderful lady.  

A line up rabbits from the last firing. All have hopped away to all over the world; Sigapore, US and UK! Thank you so much!

So did this one. A talented painter got her for her friends.

The middle wren went to a bird lover in Scotland! 

Whippets are very popular among sighthound lovers as well as gifts.

And this rabbit went to a lovely rabbit lady's home today!

 Are you interested? I still have two rabbits in red dresses in my shop! : ) Come along!