Support Your Local Potter (even if you don't live close by!)

There is so much cool stuff in my Etsy store! Seriously, GO LOOK NOW! 

You Need to Sleigh This Sale!

See what I did there? ;)

Anyway, yes! I am running a sale in my shop: 30% off all Christmas ornaments and 20% off everything else in the ShellHawk's Creations shop. All funds after I cover expenses are going into replacing my kiln and all the stuff that goes with it, so every purchase will help to get closer to that goal!

Meanwhile, I hope you're having a very happy Holiday Season!

Guess What I Got For Christmas?

A new shoulder! :)

Which is why this will be a brief post; typing with one hand stinks!
From what I can remember the doctor telling me through my anesthesia-soaked brain, the surgery went well, overall. Just before we went into surgery, he told me that depending how thing looked once he got inside, I could expect about 70% of---mobility? I think? To which I said I really needed 100%, of course. I told him about the international shows I'd already been in, and the submission deadlines I would be missing this year because of my shoulder.

And really, why should I allow 70% be my expectation? Why not 100%? I mean, if this guy, Arthur, can walk again, after the doctors told him he wouldn't, why should I settle for 70%?

I shouldn't, right?

I don't remember most of what he told me after the surgery, but I do know that while he was in there, he cleaned out some "debris" having to do with my arthritis, which is all to the good. Since I seem to have inherited my mother's genetics--and she had a shoulder replacement several years ago--I'm glad that he was able to do something about the arthritis. I really am not looking forward to having my very own shoulder replacement anytime soon, let me tell you!

I did get a bunch of stuff taken care of before my surgery, not the least of which was shipping this custom 20 ounce mug off to its new home!

As usual, I had a couple of minor train wrecks in the kiln when I opened it, but I don't think they're anything which can't be repaired.

And hey, if you want to get some presents for folks, here's my plug for my shop, ShellHawk's Creations: Buy gifts from me! Ornaments, plates, a teapot, mugs! And if you would do me the service of passing word along, I'd be grateful!

News

Getting ready for glazing!

It's been a week since Thanksgiving and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by! I've been prepping the house for my shoulder surgery and getting loose ends tied up. And by loose ends, I mean getting one final load of ware glazed and fired. The kiln is still cooling. I may be able to open it tomorrow!

I'm also trying to clear out my collection of ceramic ball ornaments, so do stop by the ShellHawk's Creations shop if you're looking for Secret Santa/ornament exchange/hostess gifts! I only have four Jack ornaments left, and have decided I won't be making any more of them, so if you've wanted them, now is the time!

I also have more traditional ornaments, all ceramic and tougher than your typical glass ornaments, plus Christmas plates.

Thanks, too for following along on my adventures and being so supportive. It's much appreciated!

New in the Shop

 Christmas has come to the shop! I've posted a bunch of ornaments, including the last of the Jack ornaments I will probably ever do.

 I also have other ceramic ornaments available!

Since they're all ceramic, they're tougher than the glass ones you get at the store, and the color stays true.

More at the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store!

Moving Right Along...

I say every year that once Hallowe'en is over, it's a greased slide kind of ride to the New Year (even though for those of the Pagan persuasion, Hallowe'en is New Year's!). Everyone gets busier and busier, and the inevitable "Have you gotten your shopping done, yet?" question is asked. 

Someone asked me yesterday, to which I honestly replied, "I haven't even thought about it!" 

Heck, I still have Hallowe'en decorations to put away! My excuse is that I need help to put away the stragglers, since I'm not supposed to be lifting anything with my bum shoulder. (More on that in a minute.)

But, since I'm a giver, I have managed to get some of my ornaments into the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store. I have a limited number of Hallowe'en-themed ornaments which will be going in this week, plus some ornament dessert dishes and a few serving plates, too.

Please buy them! :)

In other news, it turns out I need to have surgery on my shoulder to repair the tear I have. Can I tell you how thrilled I wasn't to hear that delightful news? I'm told it's a three-month recovery and it can be done arthroscopically, so it's not as bad a time as when I got my feet done this time last year and earlier this year. I just worry that I won't be able to go back to throwing.

Of course, in celebration of knowing what's wrong and knowing I'll be going in for surgery, I'm going to do some throwing to replace the product I've sold this year. I potentially have a studio assistant (I need to give him a call this week!) to get some of the harder physical labor done around the studio before I go in for surgery, which will be a huge help! I have clay to be reclaimed and some plaster bats to be mixed and poured (no, they're not the kind of bat with wings!), plus a few other odd jobs. I just need to take it easy and listen to my body where making things is concerned, and not go overboard.

Well, onward with the week, eh?

Ornaments in the Shop!

I've started to put my Christmas ornament in my Etsy store!

 Head over to the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store and pick up a pretty ornament for yourself!

Historic Folsom Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday!

My kiln has been working extra hard these past couple of weeks. I've been glazing like there's no tomorrow, plus trying to get ready for my surgery, which is next week, already! The Folsom Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair is this Saturday, already, and though I'm in overdrive and short on sleep, I'm chugging along!

These last weeks have not been without setbacks. A few casualties, such as the plate above (along with half a kiln load of mid-fire ware), have occurred. Even so, I keep going. Mr. ShellHawk has been great about pitching in, keeping me fed and putting clear glaze on ornaments and plates so I can get things in the kiln faster. At this point, I'm only limited by how long it takes for the kiln to cool between loads!

I've already been thinking about how I'll need to plan my time for next year, and how I can add some creepy elements to my Christmas offerings. It should be interesting!

I haven't even had time to take proper pictures of everything, so you're getting the raw, in-studio snapshots!

In any case, if you're in the neighborhood this Saturday between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., please swing by the booth and say hello! I'd love to see you!

A Few More for Your Creepmas Tree

The Jack ornaments are almost sold out, so don't wait! I've also added a couple of other Hallowe'en-themed ornaments for you, too...

 Merry Creepmas!

Work in Progress

I've been working hard to get these ornaments done for y'all! (By the way, you'll be able to hang them right-side up!)