lillygiggleblissblog

Renegade Handmade Townsville

Once again I have neglected my poor blog. I have however been busy with my Facebook page, the Renegade Facebook page and the Renegade Blog. I've also been insanely busy in the studio making all sorts of wonderful new pieces. Let me tell you about Renegade though.

We had an amazing turn out. The local paper ran our article on the day of the market so thousands of happy shoppers turned up. The vendors we're all pleased as punch.

Unfortunately our amazing photographer didn't get a snap of my set up. She took such wonderful photos though and we greatly appreciate her.

Be sure to stop in a check out the market. It is held on the second Saturday of each month.

 

Busy in the studio, sort of.

I have had a mix of busy work days and not so busy family days. My husband is at a training seminar everyday for two weeks so I don't have any back up babysitting. I am enjoying the more relaxed atmosphere without squeezing in studio time, although I did roll out a few larger plates while Matilda watched some Playschool.

I have been quite busy trying to organise some sort of weekly and or monthly artist market in this teeny tiny city. There is a weekly market but it's focus on handmade is lacking. I am working with them to boost the quality and quantity of handmade art, craft, design and fashion. We could use a few more artists to match the number of doilies and crochet topped dish towels. Don't get me wrong, it's a good market but it's has a bit of a church bazaar feel to it am I am missing my Boston Indie markets.

Mish mash post.

So I realize it's been six weeks since I last posted. I find Typepad quite frustrating and slow to compose a post and upload photos so I may have to move over to Blogspot or something. Anyhoo, I'm going to post a few photos and ramble on a bit.

I have been super busy making pots to send off to all corners of the country. I have a kiln load to send to Creative Waves in Coolangatta as soon I can get over my Christmas exhaustion. I told myself I was going to take some time off work and relax. After my parents left from their visit I put Matilda down for a nap and layed on the couch. I had about ten minutes of couch time before I got a call from Skyrail requesting more bird bowls. Don't get me wrong, I love taking wholesale orders but it's kind of a running joke that I plan on taking some quality time to relax and I always end up in the studio.

The other vendors at the Cotters market were talking about whether or not they would be in on the Sunday after Christmas (tomorrow). I said I was taking a month off the market and felt guilty, but meanwhile my mind is racing with all of the Valentine's possibilities and products I want to make.

I'm doing my best to relax for a few days away from the studio but I've spent more time on the laptop cropping photos and listing Etsy items. This is actually one of my major goals for 2013. While I have always been primarily a wholesale potter supplying stores, the cost of pottery in Australia is staggering so I need to make more retail sales myself to be able to afford to stay potting.

It's not the best photo but I wanted to share these keepsake dishes I made for a store called It's Australian, in Darwin. They ordered a whole array of items with Darwin on them. At first I wasn't keen but I really liked the way they turned out. I hope they liked them. I am not a fan of souvenirs but this is something I could live with. This order inspired me in ways that surprised me.

These little guys were made for an awsomely adorable store called Stylishh right here in Townsville. I love how they turned out and wanted to keep a few for myself but they all live there waiting to be adopted to loving homes. I can't wait to make some more once I get back in the studio, after I make the Skyrail order of course. Can you see that my engagement ring needs a repair job? The other two gold rings belonged to my mother in law. She was such a sweet woman and I miss her everyday.

This photo reminds how thrilled I am to have found a place in my home where I can take good photos. I have struggled for a while now to find just the right light to photograph small and shiny pottery. I have taken dozens of photos that looked great on the camera but turned out to be, well crap. This photo was taken on my phone in a corner underneath my house. Just on a table in the corner with my phone. I know it's not super fancy and could be better, but it's shiny and bright and that's all I care about. It's truly one the best things that has happened to me all year. Thanks phone.

I will post again soon, well maybe next year, about all the other exciting developments that are churning away in the background.

Happy Holidays!

 

 

I just saw this on ABC and thought it was hilarious.

It's official. I live in Townsville now.

 

One year ago we boarded a plane, and then another two planes to move from Rhode Island, USA to Queensland, Australia. After 24 hours of international travel and now 12 months of waiting patiently we have finally arrived at our destination.

I grew up in Townsville and couldn't wait to get out of here when I finished high school and moved to Brisbane for TAFE. I lived in Brissy for ten years before moving to America. Nine years in America and couldn't wait to move back here with my family.

Townsville has grown and it now seems like it's just the right size for us to raise our children and set up shop. My business is doing really well and my husband, Tom, plans to start a martial arts school soon.

We are thrilled to be here.

I will be at the Strand Night Markets tonight from 5-10pm.

Sunday I will be at the Cotters Market on Flinders Street from 8am to 1pm.

 

Townsville.

I'm heading down to Townsville for this weekend. I will be at the Strand Night Market tonight and then at the Cotters Market in Flinders Street on Sunday. I have so much market stock I can hardly believe it.

I also have a zillion wholesale orders to work on. Skyrail up in Cairns has ordered dozens of olive trays and bird bowls so that will keep me busy.

Mission Arts in Mission Beach is also selling out fast and calling for more bird bowls and spoons. Soon, I'll get them there soon.

Appletree Grove in Brisbane has also ordered over three dozen Wish Dishes so I need to moving on those little ones too.

I have a new store called Buba and La, from Brisbane just ordered also so there will be more wonderful Wish Dishes out there waiting to be snapped up.

Next weekend is the Greek Festival at Riverway and I have been invited to sell my pottery and feature my olive trays. I feel very honored to be the only crafter chosen.

Speaking of Townsville, I have taken some Wish Dishes into White Poppy at Castletown Shopping Centre. They are selling well and I am hoping White Poppy will be my Townsville outlet for Wish Dishes. Pop in and say Hi.

 

Black, white and bold all over.

Home?sick

My husband has taken a trip back to America to visit family and friends. I miss him. I miss all of his, my, family. I miss America and everything that we left behind. During the nine years I lived in America I missed Australia and I called it home. I longed to live here again and have my girls grow up as Aussies. I still want this for them but boy do I miss "home" now.

I miss my little house with my big fancy kiln in the basement. I miss all my wonderful crafty ladies. Ladies that had very different beliefs than I but so much the same, and soon became more fantastic friends than I could have imagined. I miss my thriving and exhausting pottery business, even though I still have that here, I miss it. My big, fat, cuddly Kitty. He was such a great friend to Lilly. I am glad he has a new family with little boys that now call him Cuddles.

This picture of Tom and Lilly at a local carnival makes me homesick. You can see the cars on the wrong side of the road at the big intersection at the Stop & Shop where I got my groceries.

I miss snow. Not this insane amount of snow like we had in 2011 but I love the way it sparkles in the moonlight and makes the whole neighborhood glow.

I wanted to post so many more photos from "home" here but it's very distracting to go back through them and wonder, "where do I fit in?" I suppose as long as I have my family and a block of clay I am home.

 

Wish Dishes

Wish Dishes are one of my favourite things to make. They are so cute and fun. When I open up the kiln it's so exciting to see them all smiling back at me with their beautiful colours and pretty little flowers.

They come in three sizes as shown in the first photo.