7 weeks

 Ah!
Where did the time go? ....so cliche but where? 
Your three weeks here, small, beautiful and cheeky! We had just taken you home again from hospital, yes again! A week stint in the special care nursery because of a nasty bug.

 The first of many sleep hugs with your dad...he's a good man, he will always give you hugs.

Me, your mother, not too shabby...considering a bit of sleep deprivation, sore nipples and a sore tail feather......it was a drug free Vbac, you know!!
Here is your brother, he's very loving and will be your biggest protector and friend!
Mind you if you eat his Lego, there could be trouble?

 Us, your loving parents! 
I imagine this is what you see as we gaze at you in your cot!
We have been together for 14 years, not a bad effort?
We love each other..... and we love you and your brother.
That will do.

This is you.
I wonder who you are, what you'll be and how you got here? I know how you got here, birds and bee's and all that!....but after so long hoping, one day you'll come and then you did!

Me again! Soon to be 39....then 40! cough, splutter!

Who and I?

Very happy....the rest will figure itself out.

You two are our babies, your doing tummy time on your brother, later on you can call it 'stacks on'!

xx

This is a no 'drive thru quick fix' creative class!

Indeed!
I'm second class in and we haven't even touched Porcelain yet!
I'm talking about my clay class at the Slow Clay Centre in Collingwood with Prue Venables.

Instead there has been lots of discussion and sharing of ideas and concepts, some making in terracotta to get the ideas flowing and research, it was set for homework!
.....so being the perpetual art student I have created some inspiration pages in my sketch book.

Of course when I think jewellery these days, I think Modernist Scandinavian! 
In Australia you can't beat Dinosaur Designs for inspiration!

In the future, I'd like to venture back into wall hangings but with a ceramic twist! You cant go past Heather Levine for inspiration on that front!

How my ideas will translate and what I think I might do is still a bit of a mystery? 
Prue wants us to develop our own ideas, take our own risks with the material and experiment! 
This is not a make as I make class but a real journey of self creativity. 
It takes patience and trust to feel able to do this....I'd forgotten? 

This is what real teachers do...any thing else is cookie cutter instructor!

If you have a strong desire to develop your skills and ideas then find a class such as this to develop you....I believe that the recent influx of 'get creative' classes about, aren't really teaching you anything but the ideas of someone else?
A creative quick fix, drive thru mentality!

Creativity cant be taught but fostered and nurtured and it will blossom when given permission to develop.

I mean no offense to anyone in saying this but sometimes I think things need to be said?
As a teaching professional this is what we do, as an artist, we sometimes need reminding?

Next week we are learning how to make a plaster cast of a bead. I'm going to spend sometime on creating a special bead to cast off, with the hopes that it will be good enough to hang round my neck and admire....Woo Hoo getting closer to making in porcelain!!


On another front!
I have been working on a craft collab with Clare from Zillpa.
Tasseling up her rope vessels has been a delight to do, must get this finished before 'love hearts' arrival!
Yes love heart!....ouch boys idea!

Kick Start!

Robin Best

So I thought to myself, if your really serious about doing this clay thing again, well your gonna need to do some research, some listening, some learning?
I thought if I approach this turnabout the same way I created,
Ouch Flower then I could do no wrong?
So some time ago I became a member of Craft Victoria and last week I attended this event.

Talk About Craft: International Focus

'For a chance to network with key ceramic identities and listen to Robin and Kris discuss how to market your ceramic practice and gain representation within an international arena'. 

ROBIN BEST
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Best attended the South Australian School of Art, Australia to attain her Diploma Design Ceramics in 1976. Best continued her studies at the University of South Australia, Australia and received her Graduate Diploma Visual Arts in 1993.
After her studies, Best went on to develop her work in Jingdezhen, China which resulted in work included in the 2013 exhibition “New Blue and White” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
She is noted for delicately painted narratives and patterns on translucent, porcelain vessel forms.

Robin Best

Kris Coad

Kris Coad

KRIS COAD

Kris Coad is a ceramic artist living and working in Melbourne, Australia. She has been a practicing ceramicist for over 20 years, dividing her time between her studio and being an educator at RMIT University Melbourne Australia and Hong Kong.
Kris produces ceramic works for exhibition, pieces for commission, and a translucent porcelain bespoke tableware range for selected retail.
In 2002 Kris was awarded a Masters of Fine Art by Research RMIT. During the same year she was the only Australian honoured at the Sydney Myer Fund International Ceramic Award Shepparton Art Gallery.
Kris has exhibited in over 80 exhibitions internationally

Kris Coad

Both create such beautiful work and I could of listened to them talking about there ceramic practise for hours but I din't learn anything new about gaining international recognition that I didn't already know?
These ladies are doing it 'old school', the way that my 20 something self found too inhibiting then. 
Getting a portfolio together and working with galleries who weren't interested in new up and coming in the 90's?
Working with agents to source projects and act as go between for galleries?
There was no mention of social media and collaboration?
There was talk about working with stylists, that's about it?

Granted the art pottery audience is very different from the standard insta-community but it's a great platform for self promotion and sharing!

What was the best bit about the night was meeting
Christopher Plumridge a renown Australian potter who's name I remember in circulation when I was at Uni,
His work is divine! A potter's Potter!

Chris Plumridge

Chris Plumridge

I hope to meet with Chris again and view his studio some time :)

If your on insta check out Sheppartons Art Gallery insta feed for more clay goodness!

Next up is some pottery classes, at the Slow Clay Centre in Melbourne!

Prue Venables

I'll be creating porcelain jewellery with another renown Australian potter, Prue Venables.
You can imagine my excitment!!!!

There alot of porcelain clay making workshops around....but for me it's important to learn from someone with a bit of pottery street cred!
I could rant about that alot, but that's for another post :)

 If you have got this far in the post, thankyou for reading!
I hope you'll join me on this new journey!

Pippa

Prue Venables

 

Prue Venables

Some explaining to do!

Fablefolk bangles

So now that I have lured you to read this post with a pretty picture of the work of FableFolk.

I know I've got some explaining to do!
Where have I been? I had such big plans for this blog!

Well I have been seduced by the evil temptress that is Instagram, I'm there alot and so pleased that alot of you are there too!! #suckedintoo

I now speak in #hashtags ....that my students find highly annoying and I find highly amusing! :0

I divert!
A series of incidences from December 2013 to now, has forced me too reconsider my actions, my goals and what I want from this creative life?

Here's the deal!

I need a change from the pace of Ouch Flower, I needed more time to do the things I love and best of all, more time to be a better parent!
So I have put my shops on hold, I'm taking a break from tassel making and macramé knotting!
I'm making a return back to pottery as I want to create in porcelain again!

The tassels have been a real joy to me but my claim on my work has been shaky. 
The advent of social media and pinterest has encouraged others to recreate what they see, with no consideration of the maker they are copying etc.
Now to see something and create for personal satisfaction is OK with me, knock yourself out! 
but to peddle the wares on social media as your own, well I struggled with that greatly.
So the decision to share my ideas, processes and knowledge is the best answer I can come up with? ...cause the battle to hold onto my design is not worth it? 
I can't control the foibles of others?
So to share what I do with you, is in the hope you'll share my knowledge with others, in an open and authentic way!

So look forward to some tassel and macramé DIY this year!

Lastly we at chez Ouch have been blessed with the knowledge that three will become four! #ouchbaby
I thought that my run was done and was making peace with that when the morning sickness train well and truly arrived!
It's been a shock, a blessing, a joy and slightly annoying but I'm up for more stretch marks!

So I leave you with another pretty picture and hope to be back soon!
#seeyouoninstagram

Pippa



 

Ouch Flower/Rock Garden

Winter musings

 We have woken up to the coldest morning in Melbourne so far this winter! ......0 degrees!
Mr Ouch is out at his weekend job at the local golf course, mowing the greens...I fear an icicle will return soon :)

This year for him has been caring for us and running Ouch Boy around and to find the career change he has needed.....out of the classroom and into the unknown.

A while back he mentioned a desire to be a grounds keeper, a job that harks back to his park ranger days in Wales. Working outdoors, getting the earth in your fingers!
We mused, how does a man still on the sunny side of forty get an apprenticeship?
I suggested he write an old fashioned letter to all the local golf courses and offer his time, for work experience.

His letter was answered and it has been some months now, that he has been busy learning this new role.
We are hoping this will turn into full time work soon as Ouch Boy goes to big school and we as a family step into another new adventure!

For me, it's time to take stock and find the new direction I would like to go?
Ouch Flower has achieved many things I never thought possible and at times it seems to have a mind of it's own...free will?
Some must think I have a massive PR firm peddling my wares but that's not the case, it's just me, at home with a bundle of twine at my feet.
I think I will do less and make more of what I do?  
I think I will choose to take on opportunities that keep me still in control of my work? ...and I think I will only do things that make me happy, too?
I feel detached from the goings on in the blog world too, I have missed too many posts and have not been able to visit you all as much as I would like? I need to find a better balance, in all the things I do!

Day job is good, at times intense, getting teenagers to reach their creative personal best is exhausting there's alot of 'you can do it" (smile) speak!!! and alot 'you better get your work done' 
(disapproving look) too!

Now to what this post was meant to be about...thrift!
I now have a complete desert set for my dream dinner party!
I picked up three of the small bowls and the large one last Friday, what a haul!

  
The Figgio was found by my thrift pal Estelle, cause she knows I can't always be there to get the good stuff!
Isn't it lovely!!

Estelle has a craft label called Fable Folk, pop over and have a look at her store!


Well, it's one more week till school holidays........and it's going to be giveaway time!!!



Thanks all
Pippa x

Corner of my Home

So pleased to be apart of Donna and Kylie's Blog link in today!


I'm definitely a Retro girl!

This is our Lounge room, a mix of collected Mid Century and trusty IKEA!
These leather sofa's are super comfy and very kid friendly!
They are small and wide and it was love at first sight! 
I was told they were Danish! 
and the leather could be Reindeer? =:0

......but I have seen their like in 'Real Living' and they called them Italian, so you choose!

Note the original tassel too :)

My books, glass and pottery collections! 
I gaze at my Devil Ivy's and assess their growth daily!
I think they un-IKEA my IKEA shelves?

One day they will be a pair of 'String' shelf system!

 ....and say hello (Kylie) to my Fig!
 I love house plants and she's a bit special!


 The following pic's were again taken by 'Ouch Boy'! ...no lie
I think I will hand over the camera to him from now on, I genuinely suspect a creative eye.

Cacti

Parker & Bitossi

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Kitchen

The composition of these pic's, intrigues me....

Kitchen stool

Looking forward to seeing everybody's homes today!
I will bring the cake!

Pippa

Mums the word!

I don't think you, whatever the age, tire from wanting to make your Mum proud!
This is my Mum, Ouch Grannie!
She was out and about in Melbourne town and went to see my work at the CAE!
Thanks Grannie xx

 This is Mum and I, 
I think I may be responsible for the happy but exhausted expression on her face

 .....but then there was toddler 'Ouch Brother' to contend with too?

 Looking good "Seventies Parents"...check out the retro tash on 'Ouch Poppy'!

 All good 'Eighties Mums' supported the Scout and Brownies movement!

Bring back the eighties pant suit and shoulder pads! 
Love this pic of you, Grannie! xx
Happy Mothers Day!

Wouldn't be a post if there was no macramé, 
so here are some Tassel Top Hangers I have been working on!

......and I'm over here today!
Having a play date with Lisa from 'The Red Thread'

I hope you enjoy your 'Mother's Day'!

Pippa


Ps: Tove, there's a pic of your lovely kitchen which has been mixed up with mine, I laughed, hope you do too! 
Sister from another Mother! 
Our tastes are so similar and frankly I'd love to have everyone think I own your gorgeous Teak kitchen! xx

(let me know if you'd like it changed?..no probs!)

Me at the C.A.E

Nice an early this morning I made a beeline for the CAE, to install my macramé in their kiosk window!
Which happens to be in the busiest coffee drinking, cake eating part of Melbs, Flinders lane!
The installation is to promote my macramé classes but also my work as well.
I think I would love to dress more windows in macramé, it was fun!

I'm pretty happy with today's effort!
I felt like a real artist,....I haven't felt like that for a while!
 
My reward is a roast chicken dinner, thanks to Mr Ouch!



Pippa