Splatter Mugs

Mugs seem so simple, but they actually pose a lot of questions.  How do I want the cup to feel against my lips? Thin or thick? Smooth and slick? Or matte and earthy? How many fingers should the handle fit? And how big? Do I want a small cup that holds just enough to drink while hot, or a large cup that lets me swim in my coffee? 

These mugs are on the petite side, with a thicker lip and handle.  They literally hold about a cup of coffee. The "colonial white" glaze on the outside and clear glaze on the inside are glossy smooth and cool to the touch.  The fun part was splattering the blue and the black glaze on top.  I received a request to make another set with blue and yellow splatter.  Will I be able to recreate this set?  Wish me luck!

Handbuilding also raises existential questions.  Sometimes I just stare at the block of clay and wonder: why? why make a mug when there are a billion of them out there? what is the point?  I try to push past all of the questions and remind myself that I do this because I like to.  And that is a perfectly fine reason to do something.

Special Project: Succulent Wall

I've been stumped by the light well outside our kitchen forever. Over the years I have tried to grow potted herbs, jasmine and other forgotten flowers with zero success. Depending on the time of year, the sunlight in the space is either dull or searing, which left most plants totally fried or straining for light.  Combined with my absolute annoyance with having to water plants, the space was a lost cause of barren vines and dried leaves. 

But all that has changed! While walking around Flora Grubb (a best-of-the-west home gardening shop in SF) last June, I came across a display with these vertical planters.  Having been defeated by the light well so many times before, I cautiously came home with just one of the containers.  After playing around with the layout a bit, I decided to go all in and buy 5 more containers, plus a load of succulents.  

Designing each planter was like making a living art collage.  I found that contrasting the colors and textures made them more interesting.  But the key was getting a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood and painting it a bright, fresh green color as a back drop for the planters.  It really made the whole display pop.

Over a year later, I'm happy to report that I've sustained life in the light well! 

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Hot Tip: 1)  Play around with the arrangement while the plants are still in their plastic container.  2)  Use coconut fiber to help keep the vertical plants stable and keep the soil moist between watering.  3) Picking the right color backboard makes a world of difference. 

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