measure me.

These measuring spoons are downright fiddly to make and paint, but my goodness are they lovely to line up when they're finished!

compass.

I made one odd spoon with a compass design last year which quickly sold from my Etsy store, but a good friend asked me for a full set. Christmas and her birthday passed, but last week I finally finished and delivered them - I love them (as does she), but my goodness were they a labour of love. Only for Emma!

measure.

I LOVE this bird's eye view of the kiln. This was Christmas Eve morning. A perfect firing, yay!

I've made a few measuring spoons this year, with the intention of making sets but somehow never got to it. Luckily a friend ordered a full set for her daughter's Christmas present - awesome motivation and I LOVE them. 

[spoon love]

twenty.

A little Autumn celebration - here’s a 20% discount code for my online store: AUTUMNLOVE

It’s valid ‘til the end of October.

Off you go then!

[scoop]

compass.

I'm thrilled that this new scoop has flown out of my online store. 

I've been drawing compasses since I came home. A dear friend gave me a silver compass ring before I left Australia and I've worn it nearly every day since!

They symbolise the journey from there to here. A reminder that I'll always go the right way, even when I don't know where that is. 

online.

About time: my online store (thanks to Etsy) is updated and shiny. 

I'll look after it properly this time, promise.

snug.

It is absolutely Autumn. I had hopes for an Indian Summer, but gale force winds and rain have blown in.
I'm snuggled up in a tiny cottage in the north of the island this week, cat-sitting for a friend. I might complain about the colder temps, but it sure is nice to light the wood burner!

I've been spending days messing about with my website, PayPal, Big Cartel and html in an attempt to create an online store that I'm genuinely happy with. It hasn't worked. I don't have enough coding knowledge, I don't have room in my 'start up' budget to pay a programmer and frankly I need to prioritise MAKING as soon as I get access to the new studio.

So, after running in circles I've decided to settle with Etsy for the short term. I like a lot of Etsy features, especially the ease and speed with which products can be listed. It concerns me that there is a lot of low quality products available on the platform, but I'm reassured that there are 'big' names still using Etsy; Rae Dunn, Whitney Smith and Linda Fahey to name a few.
Give me a week or so and I should have it up and running nicely. I have to say, it's great to be dealing with more affordable postage rates!! Take note Australia Post...

These earthenware spoons came out of the Craftworks kiln over the weekend - I'm rather in love with them! Especially the stumpy fat on on the left hand side. They'll go into the online store too.

scoop.

In the absence of a wheel, I've been making a lot of hand pinched spoons in the last 5 months. The spoons are now evolving into scoop-like things, which I'm rather fond of. 

love / spoon

I can finally share something special with you: a Love Spoon!

It arrived in Darwin, Australia just today as a belated wedding gift to my friends Karin & Alister.
Inspired by Welsh, Irish and Swedish traditions and imagery ~ a hand for friendship, a heart for love, the crown for loyalty and a compass so they will always know the way.
Originally carved in wood by lovestruck young men as gifts for the objects of their affection, some people say that the lovespoon was presented by the carver as a gift in hopes that a relationship could be started, whilst others say that it was given as a proposal of marriage. Sadly lovespoons are rarely given for their original purpose (but how cool would it be if they were?! I'd totally want to date a guy that made a spoon for me.), they are now given at engagements, weddings and anniversaries.

[more lovespoon experiments.]

The illustrations are an extension of the Ebb Tide collection referencing the Irish Claddagh ring, which represents love, loyalty, and friendship and was traditionally given as an engagement or wedding ring. I've loved the design for years and have 2 silver versions that I wear on different fingers!

spoon love.

I've been making scoopy-like spoon thingies. I like them A LOT. There will be MORE!