Etsy Shop Update Saturday Evening

I've been working hard on getting new work made, photographed, edited, listings created, and so much more for this Etsy Shop Update at 7pm EST tonight 2/2/13. 

And I'm pretty excited about launching this new line of work.

Terrarium Ceramic Mushrooms Sculptures Marsha Neal Studio

Terrarium Ceramic Sculptures Marsha Neal Studio

Terrarium Bird Nest Sculpture Marsha Neal Studio

Terrarium Tendril Sculptures Marsha Neal Studio

Textured Finger Bowls Marsha Neal Studio

Small Ring Holder Marsha Neal Studio

Textured Rustic Ceramic Discs Marsha Neal Studio

Spiral Ceramic Shards Marsha Neal Studio

I am so excited at how this new line will grow and develop as I work through the mountains of ideas that these forms and colors are creating.

By the way - if you purchase something, and go back for more - while I have your item in house (orders will most likely be packed up by Monday 2/4/13), and have already paid for shipping, use checkout coupon code FREESHIP to avoid excessive shipping fees.

If you pay by direct checkout - this is especially important as I cannot credit your account for the excess fees. I can only send credits back via PayPal.

Progress and Thoughts

Finally! I spent some time in the studio with these pieces again. It has been far too long...

I cut and cleaned the steel wire for these head pins (my friend Nikki of Thornburg Bead Studio makes them).


And used Epoxy to set them into place. Now they are dry and I could play with then.
Just like anything new - I like to see how they look and hold up. Do I need to change anything before selling them?

Now for photographing them. How do I want to do that?
I need to get some nice house plants and terrarium shots for some that I have in mind, but what about the every day sell them shots?


So I grab what I can find: I had a brand new block of that green oasis (must be in that "safe place where I can easily find it" because I cannot find it...
Oh we'll. the one that was poked at by my Chloe (5) will have to do.


I remember being a kid and loving to do that too (heck - I still do!)
Just fill it in with little other bits - not a big deal for this purpose.


Cover it with moss (just randomly spritz the moss with water to keep it alive over time). This is a messy process, so do it somewhere that can be wiped easily.


Then fiddle with accents.
Wait. Isn't this a prop for photo shooting? ADHD kicked in and I totally started fiddling...


Oh - wait didn't I make other things intended to use in little terrarium type planters?


The little turtle I made for Chloe (was in one of those shape cutter sets from the store and I added some texture to the shell).


My friend Nikki sent me a photo of a few sets she had fiddled with, and she added a couple of her head pins that she spiraled the steel base, then put them in as accents. Perfect!


But this is such a small space, and my brain says too much. Well maybe. Then decided upon that this is one of the joyous things about this line of work I am now making... That it is a changeable display. It will change to suit your mood as you move pieces. Remove some. Add others.


And then there is the "put some into house plants to be found by curious eyes". It reminds me of the holiday tradition of hiding the Christmas pickle ornament on the tree. Makes people stop and take a look at the details when they know something may be there hiding - waiting to be found...


So this is where I am at with this.
I am dedicating more time this week coming up for photographing this new work.
Then a website and or Etsy shop update...

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Tiny Garden Mushrooms and Accents

After the Christmas and New Years Crazy Holiday time is over - these pieces will be available for purchasing... 

(I know I have been saying that for a while. But the pieces are being photographed and things are moving forward. And I am driving my husband crazy, and that alone is enough motivation to get these out there to you all).

So start to look in my Etsy shop and my Marsha Neal Studio Website in early to mid-January 2013.

(get on my mailing list for the details and head's up!)

Or add these to your Pinterest boards to remember to look for them soon...

In the last few years I have been creating, testing, thinking, re-making, re-testing glazes, and now I have begun to focus on the marketing of this new body of work.

Tiny Garden Mushroom Sculptures by Marsha Neal Studio

I want these tiny sculptures for your terrarium, house plant, or non-frozen garden to be seen in a particular way.

Not just as something that you can buy.

(Although - Please... DO buy them so I can pay bills and make more art...)

For me, they are more than that...

They have a story.

They are part of a journey.

They touch on many things from deep within.

Things that go back to childhood.

Texture detail from Mushroom or Textured Tendril by Marsha Neal Studio

They touch on obsessions with color and texture...

Texture Detail of Tiny Mushroom or Tendril by Marsha Neal Studio

They are meant to be part of daydreams and personal healing.

Texture and edge detail of Tiny Mushroom Sculpture by Marsha Neal Studio

They are something that you can stop and look at.

Tiny Porcelain Terrarium Tendrils by Marsha Neal Studio

Move them around in your environment (they have a small piece of wire fired into them that comes out from the bottom of the sculpture to insert into your medium of choice to help keep them standing up).

Think of them as little zen sculptures for your mind and table top gardens.

Water Nest Sculpture by Marsha Neal Studio with Nikki Thornburg Glass Bead.

They can be tucked into nooks where they can be discovered...

Bird Egg Nest by Marsha Neal Studio with Nikki Thornburg Glass Bead.

In my minds eye, I become child-like again with the joy and pleasure of these objects.

I am able to explore them by sight and feel.

Although, be aware - these are not intended to be used by children. They are porcelain and stoneware clay, that is covered by glaze (which is glass) and they have metal spikes coming out of the bottom. All of which can be sharp if broken or poked into you. So please be mindful of where these are when little ones are around (be aware of pets too - they love to get into trouble sometimes). 

So now that I have my new creations ready to make their way to you, how do I best do that?

I think I have packaging and shipping 80% figured out.

Pricing will be in line with all of my other work (never an easy thing to do, but once done - phew!)

I am easily excited and overwhelmed with all of these thoughts.

I am working through them, which seems to be taking forever...

Every one of these is unique although they are somewhat similar in the way they are made.

They are family for sure.

There are variations in styles and clay bodies used.

Variations in sizes - height and diameter (although all to be held in your hand easily).

And Colors are limitless (and every kiln firing producing different results adds to the natural variations within color palettes).

Sorting of Small Garden Sculptures into Colors by Marsha Neal Studio

And with that, I am off to put pen in hand to paper and get this communication and ease of ordering figured out.

Glaze Firing Peek!

Words cannot describe the events of yesterday. I tried to not watch the news or be on FaceBook a lot because every time, my heart was wrenched...

I took some time in the early afternoon to spend some quiet time in the studio as my glaze kiln cooled enough to open then unload. I did remember to take photos!


Above = before glaze firing.
Below = after (cone 5 which is @ 2230 degrees F)





I wanted to make some smaller, more tiny sized Terrarium sculpture pieces.


Perfect since I needed some meditation time (this is one of my new nature texture pendants from this firing - a test firing for them).


And as I am working, if distracted, accidents can happen (this wire had to be trimmed - way too long!).


Then finally the kiln was cool enough to unload...


There are many spiral texture textured discs in this load.


And some more tests of that new ocean/sea object spiral impressed plate.
I wanted more blue, so back to more tests...


Then, the bottom shelf. Above = before glaze firing. Below = after Cone 5 firing.





There were a few fatalities (with firing new shapes, with different weights, in new ways, there are always lessons to be learned!)


I want to get some of these petite pieces fired ASAP! Loving these glazes...


There are so many combinations and directions I can take with these.


The ideas for colors and use are overflowing... Now if only I had the time!





This is going to be so much fun moving forward with these!!!


Then it was time to get the kids from school. And now a weekend full of family time (maybe eeking in some glaze time and a small glaze firing) and parties and food making!


Off to start my day while the house sleeps in for a bit...

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