Devil possessed rabbits...

Remember this post just a few days ago where I gushed about how my sweet little rabbits were finally getting along, how they had been together for over a week with no fighting, how my long four months of hard work had finally paid off? Remember that? Well, you can just forget it now. Yesterday morning I came downstairs to what looked like a war zone. Fur was EVERYWHERE. Petey has two holes in one ear (I am not kidding, you can see through them) and a hurt paw. Laurel has massive patches of fur gone. The honeymoon is apparently over. My frustration is at a new all time high. I tired to see how they would behave together today. Big mistake. They went after each other like a couple of crazed soccer fans. Why why why why why?

Because, they are possessed by the devil. That can be the only reason. If anyone out there is experienced in performing exorcisms drop me a line.

Hello, Lover...

I had a hot encounter today with this pizza. I was alone. I ate the first half in one sitting. It was good for me. Very good. If I was a smoker I am sure I would have sucked down a pack after this affair.

Paul hates Pizza Hut pizzas (being a health nut and all) so I rarely have the chance to indulge in this guilty pleasure when he is around. However, today he was out of town and I have the Hut on speed dial. Just look at all that grease! I am laughing all the way to the coronary...

My self-destructive behavior was slightly egged on when I received this book (below) in the mail today from my grandmother. After all, if life is too short to fold underwear then it is surely too short to be concerned with eating a pound of lard. Ironically, the ONLY thing I do fold is my underwear. Perhaps I should start folding other things so that I can give that up. Hmmm... I'll have to think about this...

New Work

I thought I would share some of my latest pieces that are now in the shop. I must have a real thing for necklaces at the moment because it seems to be what I make the most of these days. No, not true! How could I forget that I spent nearly all day last Friday making over 100 porcelain bands?! (I really did. Some people call it obsessive-compulsive disorder - I call it... ok, it's OCD, there is no way around it.)

Anyhoo, this batch of lovelies features designs from my personal collection of antique and vintage buttons. They made some excellent press molds and I am very pleased with the results. I am especially fond of the rocket ship (top). I think I actually let out a squeal when I found that button at an antique show. Judging by the faces of those around me I would say I definitely let out a squeal. Perhaps I should stick to shopping online, out of the public eye...

Petey & Laurel sitting in a tree...

The bunnies have bonded! Yes, it appears to be so. Almost a full week has passed with no barriers, no lock-downs, no flying fur - I still can't believe it. The above blurry photo is the only one I have been able to snap of them together. Laurel is far too inquisitive to let me take photos (as you can see by her rushing towards the camera). They look like a celebrity couple that has been caught being naughty and she is coming to attack the paparazzi.

Petey, on the other hand, loves a good photo session. Not to mention Laurel's pink blanket and rug. He has planted himself firmly in pinkness (he must know how it matches his rosy eyes) and has no plans of leaving.

It has taken four months for Petey and Laurel to learn to like each other. They aren't best friends just yet but every day they get closer and closer. I never thought they would be able to live together peacefully - not after seeing how viciously they fought and how long they would hold grudges afterwards (yes, rabbits do hold grudges). I still worry that something will trigger a fight and we will have to start over, but so far, so good. (keeping fingers crossed at all times)

Blue Dog Rose & the Little White Rabbit

I finally, FINALLY treated myself to some wonderful goodies by Nakisha Elsje Vanderhoeven, otherwise known on Etsy as Bluedogrose. When I saw these limited edition art pendants I completely freaked out. A little white rabbit and a black and white Dutch bunny together - OMG it is my little Petey and Laurel - how perfect! Some people wear a locket with photos of their children inside - well, these pendants are my version of that. (Yes, I am one of THOSE pet people.)

Above and below are close-ups of the pendant images. I just love the adventures that Nakisha sends her bunnies on! She captures the joy of bunnies being bunnies perfectly.

I was also thrilled with the tiny little watercolor and the postcards that were sent along with my order. Thanks Nakisha! Be sure to check out her shop.

Never assume...

For those of you who have followed the creative saga of my porcelain rings I have a new chapter to add to the story that you might find interesting, or annoying, depending on whether your glass is half empty or half full at the moment.

As many of you know selling your work on Etsy can be a mixed bag. If you can establish your business and maintain regular sales your are doing something right. I have worked very hard to achieve this and will continue to work harder by creating new, unique work that will continue to interest and inspire others. It can be frustrating, to say the least, when others feel the need to take your ideas and present them as their own. Copying does happen, it has happened to me in the past and I am sure it will happen again in the future. Today, however, I found myself at the other end of that spectrum. I received a convo from a kind fellow Etsian who let me know of some recent discussions that have taken place in the Etsy forums, private forums and blogs. Apparently another Etsy seller feels that I have copied her ceramic rings. No, my name was not mentioned (publicly) but it is very easy to tell who she is talking about since, after a quick search, it appears that there are only three people making and selling ceramic bands on Etsy. I am sure you can imagine how shocked I was to learn of this and I quickly went to her shop to see what I was being accused of copying. Yes, she makes ceramic rings and they are very nice, but no, mine look nothing like hers. Our styles are completely different, our glazing technique is completely different - the only similarity lies in the medium of clay. So how did this person come to the conclusion that I am copying her? I have no idea.

The first ceramic band I made was over five years ago when I was fairly new to clay. At that time I lacked the skill to make it as refined as I would have liked so I put the idea on the back burner until a few months ago. The first time I saw ceramic bands and knew I wanted to make my own version was years ago as an Art History student studying early jewelry design of the ancient Egyptians and Chinese, both of whom made rings of clay. I have viewed making porcelain rings as a continuation of a long tradition in jewelry design, just as numerous other potters have and do today. I guess the point I am trying to make is before you accuse someone of copying you do your best to inform yourself. Don't simply assume you know the motivation and inspiration of another and don't assume that you hold the patent to a design that, most likely, has existed for centuries if not thousands of years. And most importantly, don't bring those accusations to a public forum where doubt is cast upon an innocent person's work.

The things you see...

Late yesterday I put this fun new necklace in my Etsy shop and posted the photo on Flickr. When I logged into Flickr this morning I was greeted by this hilarious pairing of the photo of my necklace with a photo of bcyrjewelrly's interesting bug bite. Emikw saw the similarities and made this juxtaposition. Darn funny to say the least!

Saturday catch-up...

I am running being with the blog this week, I apologize! The studio where I work as an assistant has its annual Spring sale this weekend so I have been busy doing last minute firings and trying to get some new pieces finished. All while keeping a smile on my face as students ask me to "please fit my pot into the kiln because I need it for the sale" - when a dozen or more people are all asking for the same favor I start to get cranky.

Anyhoo, these photos are from last Saturday at the Farmers' Market. The word of the day was FLOWERS. Flowers were everywhere and it was so temping to go crazy and buy everything. I kept reminding myself that it is just a little too early for this part of Upstate NY to do any major planting just yet so I appeased my need with the lovely shrub shown above. It is called a Moonlight Broom and it attracted so many people into my booth, I felt like I should put it on the payroll. Paul found the cool vintage hand painted Mother's Day sign which completed the booth's look for the day.

Before...

They say that the first step is to admit that you have a problem. OK, here goes... My name is Nancy and I am a cluttered mess. This photo shows the scene that is directly to the right of my computer. I have titled this post "before" as though there will actually be an "after" photo to show - as if I am actually going to organize this chaotic menagerie into something that resembles order. I can dream, can't I?

I remember watching Oprah years ago and she was talking about getting organized and how when you are organized in your everyday life everything else just magically falls into place. I suppose that this idea has merit but I can't seem to get with that program. I am not this cluttered in every way - I am highly organized with my work, at the studio, and you should see my underwear drawer (!) - basically anything that is not visible to most people is in perfect order. I am a closet neat freak. Literally.
To see an amusing annotated version of this photo see here.

That's my boy!

This funny photo of my little Petey is featured today on the Disapproving Rabbits Blog!! Check it out here!

Saturday Scenes

It's Monday and I am just now writing about Saturday. Maybe I will catch up to Monday by mid-week. Anyhoo, Saturday was spent at the Farmers' Market in Syracuse, NY and it was a lovely day. We had the pleasure of being set up next to our friend, Chris, from Bluetree Studios, who sells the most beautiful handwoven Bolga baskets from Ghana. They are so colorful and the craftsmanship is superb - I wanted all of them!

As we left Syracuse we drove behind an ice cream truck that was playing its creepy carnival/circus music on a loop. I did develop an ice cream craving but stayed strong and resisted knowing that we had a basket full of homemade strawberry cake from the market in the back seat. (The most sinful cake in the world - full of heavy cream and butter - Paul swears he can feel his arteries clogging as he eats (and eats, and eats) it.)

The drive home is always so peaceful as we take rural country roads back to our little town of Owego. I had to stop and jump out of the car to take a photo of this old graveyard that has somehow survived all these years even though a corn field completely encircles it. Once the corn grows it will be totally hidden. Seems like a nice place to rest...

Eye candy for the neck...

My week of insane production continues. I just finished off a pile of these fun necklaces and I am very please with how they came out. I wanted to create a simple, fun and affordable necklace that would appeal to younger girls and this is what I came up with. The black ball chain gives them a casual and kind of sporty look and the pendants are so colorful they look like candies!

Kitsch is the theme and I will be adding more pop-inspired designs as I go so stay tuned...
I have started to put some in my Etsy shop and will add more in the coming week. :)