odette at anaise

photos from Anaise

Have I told you how much I love Renee's new shop Anaise?  It's beautifully photographed and expertly curated.  I got to meet Renee when I was in New York last, and she is just as lovely and kind as you would imagine.  I'm excited that as of today Anaise is now carrying pieces from Odette, pictured above.  I have the Spear ring myself, and I love it so.

japanese braiding and natural dyeing class

photos from Erin Considine

Erin Considine, one of my favorite jewelry designers, is teaching a class at the Textile Arts Center in December.  There are still a few spots left.  I wish more than anything that I could be in New York to take this class!  My interest in natural dyeing has been growing since summer, when I checked out some books on the topic at the library.  Colors from nature are just so much more beautiful than any colors I've seen, and I love the idea of using ancient techniques and things that surround us to create beauty.  Check out this video showing some of Erin's process, and see her new collection here.  I really respect all the work that goes into her pieces.

short row sweater

photo from The Purl Bee

Have you seen this project from The Purl Bee?  So genius!  You could wear it either forward or backward, and it would look amazing over a silk dress.  I wish I had time to curl up with a Cary Grant movie marathon and knit this up, but I'm too busy sewing those silk dresses.  I have photo shoot part 2 next week, and I can't wait to show you my new products shortly after!

behind the scenes

I only took a few pictures at the photo shoot yesterday because I had a long hectic day, and I was just too tired to care.  The incredible John Allen was the photographer behind the shoot.  (Did you see the beautiful photos he took of his sister Anna's wedding?  And this video?  Dang.  I love his work.)  After the shoot we drank hot apple cider to warm us up!

Last night after the shoot was my last ceramics class, so I brought cupcakes for everyone.  I glazed all 10 of my pots this week, and they should be finished two weeks from now.  I'm sad to see the class end but am signed up for open studio hours for the next two months and will maybe take another class after that time.

Lissa's Shop

photos by Lissa Paul

Do you remember my lovely red-haired intern Lissa from last winter?  She made some beautiful knits for our Dobbin Mews Holiday Shop.  Well, now she's in Montreal and has a blog and an Etsy shop!  She's quite a prolific maker, so I won't be surprised if she updates her shop quite often.  I'm so excited to be able to see more of her around these parts, because truth be told, I just love that Lissa.

ceramics studio

we are explorers

Spent Tuesday afternoon location scouting in Cedar Rapids with a photographer I'm working with and had a delicious cup of coffee.  I've been enjoying exploring my new surroundings and meeting new people.  The photo shoot is tentatively set for next week.  Get ready for some new Wiksten products, Iowa style.

new shabd

photo from Shabd

Dang, I love this dress.

hanging pots

Just one more inspiration post to conclude what turned out to be Ceramics Week on the Wiksten blog.  I went into the studio everyday this week in a marathon attempt at improvement, so I have pottery on my mind.  One night I even tossed and turned all night, dreaming about throwing pots.  Yesterday I had some truly spectacular failures, and in true Jenny Gordy fashion, after obsession comes burnout.  I will be taking the weekend off.  Going apple picking with the husband tomorrow.

top and second row: MQuan bells
third row: hanging planter by Stephanie Renee
fourth row: hanging birdhouse and planter by Stan Bitters
fifth row: hanging bird nests by Shino Takeda
sixth row: more hanging birdhouses by Stan Bitters

pink arizona sky

photo by Kate Miss

I am now the proud owner of this awesome print by Kate.  Read about her fundraiser here.

what i made this week

Your response to my ceramics post was encouraging--I had no idea so many of you had taken classes before or plan to in the future.  I took some photos of my shelf and wheel at the studio yesterday so you could see what I've been working on.  These are the first pieces I've made that weren't a total disaster, and most of them are from this week.  I think I've finally made a breakthrough to point where I'm starting to enjoy it.  None of my stuff has been bisque fired or glazed yet, so you're seeing it in an unfinished state.  We won't get to that stuff until two weeks from now, so it'll be about a month before I have any finished work.  Needless to say, I'm such an amateur and it shows.  I haven't had enough experience to find my own style yet, but I look forward to practicing and growing.  I do hope that someday I'll look back at these pots and find their exploratory, rough-hewn qualities endearing since they were my first attempt.

playing with clay

I've been taking ceramics classes at night for over a month now in a gorgeous studio in a nearby town.  Both wheel throwing and hand building are on the agenda.  Without a doubt I suck.  I'm just terrible.  In fact I didn't keep anything I threw for the entire first month.  My instructor has been laughing at me constantly, and last night I finally realized it was because of my perfectionism.  (Well, my belligerence towards the clay always elicits a chuckle too, especially when I'm slapping it loudly against the table to work out my aggression.)  When I finally decided to just let go of perfection and enjoy the whole darn process, I finally made some progress.  In one night I threw two bowls and two cups, and I'm keeping all of them.  I didn't say they were good.  They're not.

Hand building, on the other hand, is not as much of an exercise in patience and letting go.  It's just plain fun.  With hand building you can really explore the primitive handmade look.  Since I tend to favor simple shapes, I've been decorating my pieces with lots of random markings and texture.  I like to pretend the pieces I'm making are ancient artifacts that came out of the ground, mysterious and strange.

I've been collecting these inspirations up, and now it's time to share them with you:

Top photo: taken by me during a Wiksten photo shoot at a friend of a friend's apartment.

Second row: lamp by Victoria Morris on the left, photo from Clam Lab tumblr on the right (link sent to me by Lena).

Third row: pieces by Stan Bitters from here, here, and here (seen on Intelligent Clashing).

Fourth row:  from Fifty One and a Half by Monika Dalkin (seen on the Simple Things blog, so much inspiration there).

Fifth row: bowl by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg.

lunch at caitlin's

I went over to Caitlin's for a lovely meal while I was in New York, and we discussed our upcoming project together (which I'll tell you about later).  I tried on beautiful Mociun clothing and jewelry and ended up with this wrap dress (although I'd love to buy it in another print as well since I've been wearing it a lot), this tee, and both of these leggings.  Shino Takeda dropped by, and it was very cool to meet her since I own many of her ceramic pieces and treasure them dearly.  On my way out I noticed my two favorite Ermie scarves hanging on the coat rack by the door.