Katie McFarland's Pottery and Clay Murals

What's New

2010-08-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

So a lot has been happening lately. On the 1st I am getting a brand new studio space downtown above Handmade in Apalach. I am very excited to have a new, big space to work out of. This summer I was super busy, I taught art at our local summer program. We had like a 150 kids a day! It was craziness but a lot of fun. I got to go on field trips to a science/art museum and to Wakulla Springs. It's nice when you get paid to be a kid. Now fall is here and I am just waiting on my studio which is try hard to do. Also I signed up to do book reviews so I can try and make a dent in my book buying bill. I'm going to pick my very first book now

New Store

2010-05-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

So I am being carried at Studio on 4th in Port St. Joe Florida! I am also doing the art and wine night on June 4th at the Port Inn in Port St. Joe. My pottery will be there along with Dolores Lowry's artwork. I am very excited. I hope I can keep everything moving in the rigth direction :)

I forgot the link!

2010-03-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

So I didn't post the link right, but here it is! Please take a look, and give lots of comment love!

http://latenightdesigners.blogspot.com/

I was featured on a Blog!

2010-03-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

Please check it out! I think it was a great interview.

Gardening

2010-02-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

So I totally neglected pottery today for working out in my yard. The weather wasn't too cold, and my seeds said they could be planted in March, that is only a few days away so I jumped the gun! I planted sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, daisies, cosmos, a humming bird, shade, fragrant, and perennial mix. I can't wait for them to come up. I also ordered some spring bulbs of rain lilies, corina lily, anemone, glory of the sun, toad lily, and a bleeding heart. I am going to put the yard back to what it used to look like. I don't actually have a clue what I am doing, so if anyone has great gardening advice I would love to hear it! Also the bulb bed I planted before has come up, and I think my daffodils will be blooming in the next few weeks. I had three little tiny yellow flowers already bloom! I will keep you updated on this new adventure in gardening, let's hope I don't kill too many plants. I did plant some clover so maybe I will grow myself some luck!

I Added a New Casserole to Etsy!

2010-02-24T13:48:00.001-08:00

It is a bright green casserole dish, and it is looking for a new home. Food, Microwave, and Oven Safe. It is made out of terracotta clay that was then covered with a white liquid clay. I ten added raised flowers. The vines are the red clay showing from beneath.

It's finally sunny!

2010-02-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

So I went to the store, and got two new plants to put in my yard. I got a confederate jasmine and a yellow jasmine. They are going to smell so good! I want to get a gardenia too. I also noticed that my first bulbs started blooming! I have three little yellow Crocius' that popped out. I posted a green summery casserole on etsy today to get ready for Spring.

The horse show did not go as expected this weekend, I bombed! It was the worst I have done in ten years! Oh well, Snoopy will get 'em next time.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftsbykatie

Going to a Horse Show this weekend

2010-02-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

My dad asked me to come up to Georgia and go to a cutting horse show with him this weekend. I am very excited, I haven't taken my horse anywhere in several years. I know he is ready to go, but I am not so sure about me! I will let you guys know how it goes on Monday!

While I am gone check out my newest etsy listing at
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40980124

or my website at
http://katiemcfarland.com

New Cat

2010-02-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

So we got a new cat this weekend from our local shelter. Now the family has grown to 3 dogs and two cats! My friend told me I officially qualified as a zoo. Our neighbors have been trying to get rid of their mice, and some how ran them onto us. So I decided that putting out poisons scares me (I don't want one of our animals or a neighborhood animal to get into it), so I thought having a cat around might help. I know you are thinking don't you have a cat? Yes, but she doesn't have the game plan. She runs up to the mouse as fast as she can, and then stops and looks a it. The squirrels in our yard will actually sit next to her because she is so unthreatening. The new cat is black with a white chest and feet. She is about a year old. She is quite the little pistol. She doesn't sit still ever, and I have a scratch on my chin, neck, and hand. She loves to play so I think she will be good at keeping everything ran away. There was a beautiful calico there, but it wasn't spunky at all! So I thought she would be better. Fate has only growled at her once, and we haven't had any fights yet.

I went to a Grant Writing Workshop Today

2010-02-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

It was put on by the Shand's Arts and Medicine Program. It was really informative. I also got great ideas on how to improve my Public Art Applications. I can't wait to try to apply for new projects. I also learned a lot about writing grants. I had thought about applying for an artist grant, now I feel more confident.

Also good news from the social networking world. I actually have fans on my fanpage, 66 to be exact!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-McFarland/283992774283?ref=nf

I also have been getting some views on etsy too!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftsbykatie

My final shameless self promotion is for my website, it has my wall murals, sculptures, and more pottery!

http://katiemcfarland.com

Helping Raise Money for Charity through Art

2010-02-11T18:04:00.000-08:00

I was asked to help run the art section of Bay Aid Franklin. It is a group that helps with disaster relief for Apalachicola, Florida (and all of Franklin County). I am going to be organizing an art sale. We are going to post art on the internet. This is great for artists because they get a percent of their sales, and get free promotions. It is also great for the community because they get to raise money for the cause, and introduce new artists to the community. Here is the website
http://www.bayaidfranklin.com

The art part is not up yet, but it will be soon. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

Arts and Medicine

2010-02-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

I went to a workshop today all about how the arts can be involved in health. It was put on by Shan's Hospital. They started a project in the town that I moved to recently, and I am trying to become involved with the program. It will be a great chance to help the community, and to let people know that I am here and in business.

Please check out my work at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-McFarland/283992774283?ref=nf

or

http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftsbykatie

2010-02-09T08:50:00.001-08:00

Exhibition

2010-02-09T05:36:00.000-08:00

We met with the city yesterday to get our prospectus approved for a maritime art exhibition I am helping to put together. It is going to run at the same time as the Classic and Antique Boat Show. Hopefully a lot of people will come in and see all of the local art.

New Etsy Featured Blogger

2010-02-08T04:59:00.000-08:00

Is Tilt Creations http://www.etsy.com/shop/tiltcreations
This talented etsian makes all sorts of bags, clutches, and purses in fun patterns.

Found Mk

2010-02-04T09:01:00.001-08:00

So M pushed the door open last night and went on a self guided trip around the neighborhood. We stood outside driving, walking, yelling, squeaking toys for the last four hours. Luckily the lady two houses down found her playing with her border collie. Scared me half to death! I wanted to kill her before I found her, now I'm happy to have her home.

Great News!

2010-02-03T14:01:00.000-08:00

Today Dean sold his motorcycle today so now Friday we are going to get a Brad New Used Truck! It's white. Next great news is I might have gotten a art project today! I am very excited to start designing it. I hope it all works out! I also posted new pots on etsy today.

Finally Back!

2010-02-02T12:12:00.001-08:00

I started taking pictures of pottery and posting it on etsy again today. I have been really slacking since the move. On another note I am becoming involved with the new community. I am trying to start volunteering with the Arts and Medicine group here, and I am jointly putting together an exhibition. Here are the two pics..

Please check me out on etsy as craftsbykatie
or my website at http://katiemcfarland.com

New Home!

2010-01-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

Well we finally moved back to Florida! We are now living in Apalachicola, in the panhandle between Panama City and Tallahassee. It's a little tiny house but it sits right on the bay! Mk is kind of freaking out because I don't think she completely understands that we live here now. I am looking for a new studio, and will hopefully have my pottery back up and going before spring!

Mini Donkeys

2009-11-24T08:35:00.001-08:00

So this weekend we got two mini donkeys! One is regular donkey grey her name is Marigold. We also got her baby which is grey with a glaze face and a white spot on her butt. Her name is Zinnia. I am super happy about getting them!

Etsy Blog Carnival

2009-11-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

I participate in the etsy bloggers monthly blog carnival. This month the question is 1) What was your most successful sales event or product, and why do you think it was?

My most successful event was my very first festival. It was a seafood festival down the street from my great aunt's house in the Florida panhandle. The economy was still good, so that helped. I look back and think "how did that happen" My dishes were heavier, my display was no where near what it is now, and my colors weren't fully developed. My display was some white shelves, and that is it. Now I have tables, stands, table clothes, etc. I sold a large ceramic wall mural, and boxes of dishes. It was great! It was the push I needed to keep going, making, and crafting.

Etsy Blogger Featured Artist!

2009-11-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

This month the featured artist is The Fab Miss B! http://www.etsy.com/shop/thefabmissb
She has great vintage items, as well as fun and funky crafts. She has clocks, framed art, and aprons. This shop has all sorts of stuff.

Turtles

2009-10-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished sculpting a new piece. It is two baby sea turtles crawling towards the ocean. When it is done it is going to have a new home in Canada. I guess this means I am officially international :)

Last weekend I spent all day firing the Raku kiln. It was a lot of fun, and my hair still smells like smoke. This is a pretty cool process; you heat the piece up to red hot (1900 degrees or so) , open it up and pull it put, then set it in combustible materials, and cover it up. I made a wall mural. Unfortunately, I had a bit more cracking then I wanted. But the colors were fun. Here is picture of a piece on fire before it was covered up.

Halloween

2009-10-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year! I love decorating for it, and candy, and costumes. I like that for a week you can watch all the old great, crappy, gorey, scary movies. I love making costumes. Even though they get too involved, and end up taking way too much time.
This months etsy bloggers question is what is your favorite halloween memory? This is a hard one for me because I have so many. My most memorable halloween was when I was a little kid. My best friend Beth and I went trick or treating in her neighborhood every year because I lived out in the middle of no where. She was dressed as a genie, and I was dressed up like a mummy. My mom had spent forever wrapping me in little strips of cloth. So we went up to this house, and walked up the stairs. And about that time the guy cranked up a chain saw and started chasing everyone. It scared us so bad that we started running to her house. Beth lost her genie top, and I started unraveling. Beth's mom had to pick up our costumes all the way back to the house behind us!

MadeByMelissa

2009-10-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

The featured Etsy Blogger this month is MadeBy Melissa ! Her store is having this great promotion- Halloween BOGO Sale! Buy any Halloween item and get a second Halloween item for 50%!! Refunds given via PayPal.
So please check out her skull pendents! I have to admit I am a big fan of skulls, and hers are pretty sweet! I really like her bat pendents as well. So check out her store!

New Piece

2009-10-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

I made a new clay mural today! It is a sun with a pirate patch, with stars and planets. I can't wait to fire it. I am going to use a process called Raku where you heat the piece up to 1900 degrees, and then open it up while it is red hot. Then I am going to put the pieces into combustible materials to add smoke into the crackle glaze. I will post a pic next week when it is done!

Worst Hair Cut Ever!

2009-09-29T20:06:00.001-07:00

So I got my hair cut today. I grew it out to donate it to locks of Love. Well it was long enough to donate the ten inches and still have it come about an inch above my shoulders. Ha! The woman didn't measure right and cut off twelve inches in the pony tail, which still left me some below my chin. I asked her not razor it, and leave it as long as possible. Needless to say my hair in the back it shorter than Dean's! Let's just say he does not have long hair. My layers are about an inch and a half from the top of my head! Also my hair is now barely below my ear lobe. I can't even pull it back to work. I want to cry it is so ad. The worst part is my high school reunion is next month. Lucky me! The back is like an inch long. I look like a cross between Meg Ryan and Kate Gosslin. I guess in six months it'll grow out.

Very Excited - Blog Carnival Post

2009-09-20T17:21:00.001-07:00

For the last week I have been firing my kiln like crazy trying to get ready for my show this coming weekend. I am doing a festival in Pensacola, and I am very excited. I haven't been to many festivals this year because I was trying to see what the economy was going to do, but I have decided to jump in and try one out to test the waters. I am bringing a bunch of small murals, including one that I just got out of the kiln today, it is of a shrimp boat docking. I also got out a lot of chip n dips and sculpted bowls with blue crabs on them. I am also very excited because my light blue had gotten a little faded looking, and I tried something new and punched up the color. I am going to get some pics up of it because I really like the results.

Here is a pic of me and one of my dogs MK in my studio. I work in an old tin building that is out in the middle of nowhere. It has several other artists in other tin buildings. My studio has leak in the roof, and a concrete floor. It gets really cold in the winter, but I still like it.

I guess for me I have always loved to craft, and now I am just happy that I get to do it full time :)

What's new in my studio!

2009-09-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

This week I had to sculpt a ruddy turnstone. Which was a challenge to get it to look like it was walking on those little legs. I also fired a glaze load, but I wasn't paying attention, and instead of a green turtle I got a black turtle! Oh well it is not the first mistake, and I know it wont be the last. I also got a new line of soap dishes out.

Also, this weekend I am having an Open House for my home, and I am hoping a lot of people come and take a look. Keep your fingers crossed for me that someone love's it! I can't wait to move. I love my studio here because it is surrounded by other artists, and is in an old building from the seventies, but I am also excited about getting a new studio too. On one hand, now I am close to my mentor, on the other hand, when I move I will be closer to my market and be able to sell more pots. I hope to be able to get a shop next time that I can make a little gallery in the front for my work.

Designs By Vanessa

2009-09-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

Is a really cool shop, that you should check out. She makes these little bird necklaces that are really neat, and she also works in paper. Plus she is one of the great people who keeps the etsy blogger team going!

Here is the link to her shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5984534§ion_id=5674666

What's happening this weekend!

2009-09-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

I posted three new pieces on etsy today, please check them out!

I haven't been out to my studio this weekend. Instead I went and watched outlaw race cars. They are like crazy go-karts/cars with a metal kite on top. Maybe that wasn't the best description! But it was a lot of fun.

Labor Day Special!

2009-09-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend if you buy a piece of my pottery I will send you a surprise gift!

Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=75275

or

http://katiemcfarland.com

I joined the Etsy Bloggers team

2009-09-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

The group does a cool event called a carnival every other week where someone asks two questions about life etc. We blog about it on our blogs, and then submit it with everyone else's. The question this week is What are you most proud of in your life?

This is a very hard question to answer! I am proud that I try to be a good person, but I think my greatest accomplishment right now is my studio. It has been such a hard road. I knew when I decided to make the switch from going to law school to being an artist that it wasn't going to be easy, but I didn't realize how hard it would be! First, I had to learn my craft, which with clay you can never really learn it all! There is way too many different ways to make pots, decorate pots, fire pots. Then after you kind of get a grasp on that you realize there is a whole business side left to learn. I proud that I am finally starting to get the business side, not that I have all the paper work and promotion tips down. I also am proud that I have been able to stick with it through the ups and downs, and now I have a product that is all my own, created by me.

Two new items on etsy

2009-09-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

I just posted a turquoise soup tureen and a bright green bud vase on etsy. Please check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=75275

I also have lots of pieces on my website at

http://katiemcfarland.com

I went to my studio this morning to take a peek at my glaze experiment from last night, and from what I could see through the crack it did not come out good! Oh well, next time! I also have started back making dishes. In the beginning of the year I focused on sculptures, then murals, now I am back on dishes. I do have a new sculpture that I am going to post on my website later this week.

Punch Bowls

2009-09-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

So I tried making something brand new today, a punch bowl. It is pretty funky it has raised flowers sculpted on the outside, and carved flowers around the inside. It also has twisted coils that like like vines around the top. It took way too long, but I am happy with the way it came out. I also am running an experiment in my kiln tonight. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

Craziness at the Studio

2009-09-01T07:48:00.001-07:00

So I bring my dogs to the studio with me everyday. I have two border collies and a Kelpie. Well today Ty, my youngest and craziest, decided that while I was making dishes he would sneak over to the shelves and eat the corners off all of my pots that I had just made. He also ate a chunk out of a bat (the thing they sit on). Well, I guess it's just another day in the studio, and it was pretty funny to see his expression when he realized he was caught.

Hot out of the kiln

2009-08-31T13:33:00.001-07:00

Well I unloaded the kiln, and found that I had a lot of great stuff in there! I have new chip n' dips, soup tureens, casseroles, mugs, and bowls. I wanted to post some pictures here first, but they will be available on my website http://katiemcfarland.com and my etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=75275 shortly.

I also joined the etsy blogger team, and will begin featuring some of the other artists soon!

Kiln Opening

2009-08-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

Today I am opening my glaze kiln, and I hope to get a lot of great new pots out. Most of the pieces that were put in are functional pots with sculpted details. I also posted a new pink casserole on my etsy site.

Check out all the great stuff on etsy!

2009-08-29T17:44:00.001-07:00

This week in the pottery world!

2009-08-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

This week I fired my kiln, and got a really nice canister set. It is dark turquoise with sculpted shells on top I also got two pretty pink vases. I did have a few pieces that didn't turn out, but that is ok. I hope to have pictures up of the brand new chip n' dips by the end of the week.

I reloaded the kiln last night, and should be getting the results soon! I'm crossing my fingers that all is well.

I got some very exciting news this week! I might be nominated for the local art council, and a picture I submitted is being considered for a catalog! I was very excited to get great news!

Also, I posted a new piece on etsy today! It is a butter dish. The link is http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30062985

New Article on Pottery

2009-08-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

I had an article come out in the Athens Banner Herald this week. Please check it out at
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/081909/oco_483077826.shtml

Bus Busy Busy

2009-08-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well the studio has been pretty crazy the last couple of days. I have been working with plaster to make new molds. It is a lot of work, but I hope to be able to produce a lot of fun new shapes! I am going to be going out of town for a couple of days now that most of the molds have been made. I had one screw up in which I broke the original piece I was molding, but it happens! And I have learned a lot about the process.

At the studio

2009-08-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today I unloaded my bisque kiln from yesterday, and started another kiln. I am also making brand new molds so I will be able to make a lot of new pots. A majority of my pieces are hand formed, but it is nice to be able to have some stable shapes to go back to! If you want to see more pottery check out my site at.

What's new!

2009-08-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

I make functional, fun brightly colored dishes, fanciful sculptures, and ceramic wall murals. I wanted to create this blog so my friends and customers could keep track of what is going on in my studio!

Today has already been a busy day. I fired my bisque kiln. This is the first firing my pottery receives. This step is to harden the pots before I add the glazes. I also finished up sculpting a brand new mural. It is a small mural about two feet by two feet. It depicts a shrimp boat on the water with reeds and a heron in the background. It reminds me of the gulf coast of Florida!

Please check out my website at http://katiemcfarland.com