A Little Pot Party

Some friends and I decided to have a mini Pot Party.

I think everything turned out beautifully :)

We even created a new artist.

Success.

Graciously Bowing Away

Vwa La! 

I did it! 

PERFECT Practice Makes Perfect

I am currently taking a class at the Mesa Art Center. Thankfully, it is under the supervision and expertise of Mr. Jeff Reich.

With his help and patience this was today's work. The pot on the right was numero uno, and chronologically follows to the left. 

I shall be following my instructor's advice and practicing on the basics more so this week.

This post is dedicated to Mr. Reich :)

Another DIY Halloween Costume Attempt...

Well this week I am aiming my creative abilities toward Halloween. I am Morticia Addams. And yes of course I decide to try and make the costume. Last year's dancer costume was a 50% success given that my grandmother, the real seamstress, helped me out enormously. This year.... nope. I have refused to let myself buckle under the holiday's pressure.

I was working in my family's living room cutting out the first step of the dress when my grandma comes walking in with the puzzled look on her face, cause I was obviously doing it wrong. I put a hand up and proclaimed, "Stop right there. I know I am doing this tremendously wrong. Don't even try to help cause I won't understand a word you're saying. So when this doesn't work just watch and laugh because I'm going to try and fix it myself." She giggled and said knowingly, "Just let me know. I'm happy to help." Shoot me lol.

Currently I have the dress, sleeves included, sewn and fitting very nicely, may  I add. Now I will be putting the finishing touches on it today and tomorrow and will make sure and let you know how it all ends up.

As I posted on Facebook: If this dress turns out horribly I am cursing every sewing machine I come by. If this dress turns out even decent I will retire graciously from ever sewing again. Trust me you'll know either way. Thank you.

I'm now starting to organize my pottery essentials. I remember when taking classes that they always had a sample tile of how the glaze turned out after firing. What a good idea compared to my "Winging It" philosophy haha.

Really looking forward to selling a few of my pieces at this year's Kandy Kane Castle Boutique. Really need to keep the creativity flowing for these next couple weeks. Not including needing to keep the productivity a going cause who needs to help set this boutique up? This girl.

Peace. Love.

An essential aspect

of creativity is

not being afraid

to fail.

No limitations.

No restraints.

Just me.

Jacie's Pot Party

Time	Tuesday, June 21 · 3:00pm - 7:30pm
Location	Jacie Bendure Birt's Studio 3039 E. Backus Dr. Mesa, AZ 85213
Created By	Jacie Bendure Birt
More Info	Come join me for some artistic pottery time! I will be showing a selection of pieces I have made from 3pm to 5pm. All items will be for sale, you will also be able to place orders to be made for any occasion. But the fun doesn't end there. At 5pm the gallery room turns back into my studio and we can start creating! Mi pottery wheel es tu pottery wheel. Let's create a masterpiece together! Maybe you would like something personalized. Help me create what you would like and then add your individuality yourself! Come and enjoy my passion with me. It's too good to keep to myself.

A Productive Paw... Helpful Hand=Productive Paw... Get It?! ;)

My Bryn and I.

My studio door opens out to our front patio, so when ever I go into work Bryn always know. She comes and follows me in and watches me. We talk, and she gives me input. Rubbing up against my leg means "I love it," and sitting and staring at me means, "I'm thinkin' it needs something else."

So There you have it, My Partner, Bryn.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2 down... an unlimited amount to go

This has inspired me to do something for winter.

More so for the skiing and snowboarding lovers.

Now THIS will be a work of art.

So cute!

Days like this one are far and few between.

Isn't there just one thing, or one person that inspires you more than you can ever imagine? It's hard to find. For example, landscapes. Landscapes inspire me to draw, paint, throw (pottery) do something that captures the feeling it gives me. Or a person. I have a new friend that can easily put a smile on my face, but not only that, she can make my heart smile.. and that is hard to do sometimes ;) This happiness, and carefree joy enlightens me as well as my heart. Not only does this emotion take a weight off my shoulders, and put creativity in my spirit, but it make me focus!

So I got to work on my pottery. Yes, this past weekend my father and I bisqued my first set of pottery. So I am working on glazing that batch and am creating new pieces for another load to come. Today, also I got to read! Actually read a book, LEISURELY!!! Just an absolute novelty right now cause things have been so busy lol.

I definitely recommend finding that one thing, or person that warms your heart. Search within yourself to find joy, comfort and peace and, like today, it'll all fall into place.

Oh this pot lol. Believe it or not I was planning on making this a hummingbird feeder. A bit too ambitious at my beginning stage. But I stuck with the flower concept and worked with it. I have yet to figure out a purpose for it, except for pure decoration. Vase for flowers, writing utensil holder, a place for my sister to keep her millions of hair ribbons together. People can come up with the coolest ways to use some unordinary things. Any ideas for this unordinary item? :)

The great and glorious masterpiece of

man is to know how to live to purpose.

Michel de Montaigne

Towards the end of this week i have started to take a small step to have a control over my life and my activities when essentially they were controlling me. With a little weight off my shoulders, today i went to my studio. Instead of going directly to my kiln i worked on pieces i had already started. Im great at starting a project and not finishing it when it doesnt come out exactly the way i want it to begin with lol impossible i know but thats my mental state. So i smoothed, carved and designed several pieces, even pots i havent touched in months. When i was finished with that i continued to clean my studio, organizing and designing ideally how i want it to look. I thought that would of drowned out my energy and optimism but it didn't! So i created some more pieces :) I smoothed and smarped edges and now they will dry.

Next weekend my dad will come down and we are dedicating our time to the kiln. I need to prepare my art for the kiln by fri! First official deadline for me and i believe im on my way to make it happen.

I'll post a few sneak peak pictures soon but until the final unveiling in April it will all remain a mystery. Wish me luck!

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In Honor of Inspiration

Last night we had a KKCYR meeting. Talked about all our different options and ideas for the new and improved website and it inspired me, as I'm sure it did all the other crafters. So when I was going to bed last night I thought I could sacrifice one day of classes for my creative and inspiring mood. And surprise, surprise I definitely took that opportunity and ROCKED IT!!!

I had patience, an open mind and creativity flowing! I'm trying to step outside my boundaries and test other waters, other uses for clay. I'm not just making decorative pieces anymore! I want to see if I can make everyday, needed pieces. We'll see how these turn out...

Hooray for Saturday! Potentially, wouldn't we love to get everything we need done prior to Saturday so we can leave this day to ourselves! I know it never really works out that way but this is just another goal I have this year that is for ME.

School will be starting up for me as well as many other college students this coming week. So, the past few days I have been working my butt off going back and forth from the main campus setting everything up so that my first week of school will go as smoothly as possible. But I must confess I had to get all that out of the way because I could not wait to get started on my pottery and craft projects.

Talking with friends and family has severely and sincerely inspired and motivated me to really push my creative boundaries. It's so funny that the people around me in my life can see what I could have the potential of making, yet I cannot haha I think we're all good at looking at each other and pointing out the good and even bad things but we can never look at ourselves. Reminds me of Jennifer Lopez's movie The Wedding Planner. She explains why she has never gotten married when she creates such beautiful wedding events. "Those who don't wed, plan." Enough said lol

I'm so lucky to have such artistic, creative and loving people in my life. Hopefully, once I can put more work out there to the public my audience will see that with every item there is a story and a connection to myself in some way. The people in my life as well as my own self inspire the creation of my artwork and if my artwork were to sell I hope that every purchaser or receiver knows and feelings the story behind every piece.

January 10, 2011

What a roller coaster. You know, today I started with the idea of a mug. Tall, cylindrical, round handle. I attempted this mug 4 times in one sitting at my wheel with no success. I consider myself a talented and growing artist, why could I not make this mug?! I let myself step away from the problem and rest, think, and EAT:)

Why was I trying to make this ordinary, plain mug? Why did I have to make this ordinary, plain mug? Who's rules was I following?! And then it hit me.

There are no rules in Art.

So after a little realization and motivation I went back at it, letting the clay help lead my hands into the form it was supposed to be. Simple as that, I made an identical 4 piece mug set. Yes, you must think I'm crazy. I'll agree it's not that simple to create and form an object. But yet it happened.

It happened because I let myself go. I let my mind roam free. I gave myself permission to not make a stereotypical object. I gave myself permission TO BE ME!! Just being able to allow myself to not follow any rules overjoyed me. I feel such happiness and contentment knowing I was able to portray the artist, I know, I am in my art.

Allow YOURSELF to let lose and remind you of who you are and what you can do. Tomorrow's a new day; explore this new lesson and exercise. I hope it opens your eyes, like it has mine.

With this post, I will tell you Good Night.

Genius... is the capacity to see ten things when the ordinary man see one.

-Ezra Pound

When I was a child I used to love drinking my beverage out of one of my mother's big mugs. When searching for one of my own I could never find one big enough.

I love a big handle, a cup that fills out the size of my growing hands. This has been my visualization of comfort and warmth in a mug my whole life.

So, instead, I made myself one. Given it is not perfect but the idea and concept are there. One day it'll be my ideal mug but until then this makes me happy.

This piece, The Dipper, was one of my first pottery items that I made in college. Working with glazes is almost always an experiment, (TO ME), so for me to actually "like" the final outcome of colors... it means a lot. So far, this is my favorite. You will notice that I used this pot in my business cards, so hopefully one day this will be THE item that everyone will be jumping for.

Hey, I can dream can't I?! :)

Better Late Than Never

Happy New Year!! 2011 is here! And so is the first post of Jacie's Pottery Blog!! Pottery has been a big love of mine for a very long time and I have continued to put this on the back burner telling myself that there are other priorities that need to come first. But not this year of 2011. This year pottery, a medium that let's me relax, decompose, and reflect, will be one of those priorities for me.

Maybe you can try it too. Not pottery per say, but a medium that lets you relax from the everyday. Do one thing everyday that makes you happy, that keeps your spirits up. A bubble bath, read, draw, playtime with the kids or family, or a walk.

Join me in 2011 to celebrate creativity and happiness! Pottery is just one element that brings out MY creativity and happiness. What's yours?