2010 January | Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics

My Profile on Swanky Maison

My profile page on Swanky Maison has been set up about 2 weeks now, and there are a handful of my products available on the site. I couldn’t resist sharing this lovely statement wrote about me and my work by the two Swanky Ladies Cath & Emma, I think it makes my products sound inviting!

“We love Charlotte Hupfield’s work! Inspired by her natural surroundings, the peace and harmony she finds in the natural world simply oozes from her sculptures. All her creations are completely individual and unique making them the perfect additions to our boutique collection” Emma & Cath, Swanky Maison.

‘Colourful Landscape Bowl‘

I’m also really pleased with the statement written about me and my work. You can view it on the Swanky Maison site here.

‘Seashore Ceramic Clock‘

I’m feeling very positive with all of the much appreciated help, support and encouragement from Cath & Emma at Swanky Maison, they are doing a great job. Thanks ladies!

Ceramic Wall Art

I had some old sample pieces of ceramic in random shapes that were used to test glazes, melted glass, coloured slips and surface impressions. I love all of the effects that have been created. I’ve decided that they are too pretty to keep lying around not being used, so I mounted some inside these quality wooden frames – What do you think?

‘Fragments of a Landscape‘

They are all currently for sale at my online store. (Click here to go straight to the Wall Art section). Click the images to get a closer look at the decorative detail and to find information on the decoration effects and dimensions. I also have one framed piece available at my Folksy Shop, which is my personal favourite because I love how the colourful melted glass has pooled and crackled on the middle chunk. See the listing on Folksy here.

The ‘organic chunks’ in the frames are all one-offs, making each piece of wall art unique. There are two hooks on the back of the frames so they are all ready to hang up.

‘Broken Landscape‘

Tunisia here we come!

Me and Dave booked our holiday at the weekend to Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia, for a week in May. We will be staying at Riu Bellevue Park Hotel. I’m so excited and its such a nice feeling having a holiday to look forward to.

Can’t wait to be on that beach!!

Something a little bit different

I made this vase for a family member as they wanted a sleek black vase to give as a gift to someone. This is the complete opposite to my usual style of work. I used the same mould to get my usual vase shape but I would usually decorate it with layered oxides & glazes and add natural textures using a thick slip.

I wouldn’t normally take up any commissions which are completely different to my style of work as they usually end up being far too time consuming, but this was a one-off for a family member. I’m wondering if I should start producing a range of vases in this style with a simple sprayed on glaze colour, as well as my usual style. What do you think?

Inspirational Mood Boards

I dug out some of my sketchbooks and inspiration boards from my portfolio the other day. Just sifting through them all has given me the ‘get up and go’ to start making new work. I’ll be sharing more pages of my sketchbooks soon so look out for that if you’re interested. These are some of my own photographs, mostly close up details of patterns, textures and colours in the natural world, as well as landscapes and some prints & drawings.

I decided to delve into a handful of other peoples’ inspiration collections, and heres what I found:

Above is a collection of inspirations by Bitsandbobbins, with baskets of her work. I love all the bright colours.

‘Afternoon Tea at Tiffany’s’ inspiration board for living room with black, white and turquoise touches by Black_kat1.

Fashion design scrapbook page by OutsaPop Trashion. “I have many inspiration books. I collect magazine clippings, sketches and other ideas in them.”

The wall behind Vee*’s desk where she decided to make it a point of inspiration.

And finally here’s a very inspirational way for displaying your inspiring bits and bobs. Take a look at Maya Luna’s blog for instructions on how she did it.

Feeling inspired?

Handmade Olympics

I’m taking part in the 2010 Handmade Olympics, and you can too, its fun!

It’s all being run by the Rikrak Studio, where the handmade world comes together to celebrate making handmade items. Its easy to participate – all you have to do is click on one or more of the 8 different events and nominate a designer/crafts person or their work which you think deserves to be mentioned in that category. You can even nominate yourself if you want to. There are some amazing prizes to be won if you take part. Have a read of the rules on The Rikrak Studio’s blog and start nominating!

I have been cheeky and nominated myself for the “Favourite item that inspires loveliness & wellness” (event 4), and I’m going to be even cheekier and ask you to vote for me too! If you like my work and the thought behind it, please nominate me for this category or any other that you think my work fits into. I’d be extremely grateful! You can choose from any of my work for sale on my website or a wider selection at my Flickr account. Thank you so much!

I nominated my Terra Cotta Structure. This piece was handmade in response to nature and growth. The way it was constructed reminds me of a tree trunk, growing upwards and outwards in an organic form. What I love about nature is its unpredictability – you never see two marks, patterns, shapes or forms exactly the same, and it is this particular aspect that my ceramics connects to. This Terra Cotta Structure was decorated in a generous and loving way. It would make a lovely focal piece sitting in your home or garden to admire or use to hold dried sticks.

Tasty Treats, Best Friends & New Lights

You will probably look at these photos and think I’m a greedy pig. And if you do, you are right!! I love food and trying out new combinations. My recent favourite was this bowl of nacho’s covered in salsa, chunks of chicken, red kidney beans, and topped with grated cheese. I microwaved it all for about 1 minute to melt the cheese, and I like the nacho’s to go a bit soft. It was very yummy but also very messy finger-eating food!

My mum has been baking a lot over the past few weeks. She’s been using the recipe from Dave’s mum to make loaves of poppyseed bread which are absolutely delicious. This weekend she made a sponge cake with vanilla cream icing and filling, with white chocolate chips on top. It was an alternative to the big chocolatey cake she made last week, but I find chocolate cakes too sickly.

Thanks to everyone who gave me some great ideas for my pastry fillings, I’m definitely going to try some of them out, they sound scrummy!

During the winter we always put a blanket over half of Alice’s (the cockatiel) cage so she can snuggle up under it. Molly seems to have made herself right at home up there! But I don’t think Alice minds, I think she likes the company. They have become quite good friends, although I’m not going to let Alice out of the cage to find out.

I had a successful shopping trip the other day, and found these lights to clamp onto my tables at craft fairs. The height of them looks good, and the shape of the bulb should shine the light a bit further across the tables.

I can’t wait to test them out at my first craft fair of the year on 31st January. It will be at the Northampton Franklin’s Gardens Conference Centre (centrally located, 4 mins from the M1, biggest suite in the region) from 10am – 4pm, an impressive venue with lots of high quality ‘handmade only’ crafts. Postcode for the venue is NN5 5BG. Drop by to say hello if you’re in the area, you could even do a spot of shopping!

Become a fan of Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics on Facebook here.

The Hayrack Gallery – Shout out for new Designers

I paid a visit to one of my favourite stockists yesterday – The Hayrack Gallery in Upper Stowe, Northamptonshire at The Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre. It’s around about this time each year that I take some new stock and swap a few things around, although I haven’t been making any new stock for a while, its too cold out in the workshop! I’m determined to get back out there soon though. Either that or I’ll bring some clay into the house!

So I’ll be taking over lots of new stock to The Hayrack Gallery in a couple of months. My current stock that they have in the gallery is getting a bit low now. They sold a lot of items last year, and I found out another vase and a bowl were sold in January. I think the display will look much better once I make some new sets of coasters, plaques, clocks and maybe some letter racks to go with the current vases, sculptural vessels and bowls.

My favourite designer at the gallery is fused & slumped glass maker Carrie Anne Funnell. One of my main reasons for visiting the gallery is to see what new creations she has made. This photo was taken in the gallery last year, and not many of the glass pieces are left now. Carrie Anne Funnell has been travelling for 12 months and is just about to start on her new glass ideas, I can’t wait to see them. How amazing is the green and red glass lamp?!

The Hayrack Gallery is on the look out for new artists, designers and makers at the moment. They do like to ‘vet’ any new work before they decide if it is right for the gallery, but if you are interested please let me know by leaving a comment on this post.

Blog Award, Shop Favourited & more Baking!

It made my day today when I found out I had been given a blog award, and that someone else had chosen my Folksy Shop as their favourite in an interview.

The interview is over at NiftyKnits blog, where she interviewed Chicita of Gimme That Thing. When Chicita was asked to choose her favourite Folksy shop, she explained my shop was her favourite because “Charlotte’s designs are uncomplicated and effective. As a ceramicist myself, I know how easy it is to take a design that little bit too far, and how difficult it is to know when to stop.” - Thank you Chicita!

Below is my Colourful Glass Base Ceramic Dish which is available in my Folksy shop.

I was also pleased to have received this Sunshine blog award from BLONDEDESIGN, maker of Coast and Country handmade home accessories, decorative items and gifts from new, vintage & retro materials.

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world.

The rules for accepting these award:-

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.-

Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.-

Link the nominees within your post.-

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

This was a difficult decision as there are so many great blogs I love reading. Here are the 12 blogs I have chosen to pass this award onto: (in no particular order)

Bugs and Fishes by Lupin

Funky Fused Glassy Goodies

Check them out for some interesting and inspiring reading!

Last night I made these cheese, tomato and mushroom pastry puffs. They are delicious if I may say so myself! I’m looking for some more yummy ideas of what to put in them – any ideas?

Swanky Maison

I’ve been selected to showcase and sell my ceramics at this new contemporary online market place – Swanky Maison. Alongside a whole range of home accessories, tableware, vases, other ceramics and wall art, I think my products will fit in well and I’m really excited!

Swanky Maison said they are looking for “real gems and exceptional talent.” They want to offer customers beautiful and original pieces that you might spot in a lovely little boutique somewhere. They are looking for items that are “a little bit different, totally gorgeous and create a stir at dinner parties.” … It’s a nice feeling to know that they have selected my work and it meets their standards.

I will have my own product and information page with a unique url on the site shortly so watch this space! In the meantime check out the other current items up for grabs. I love this Home Sweet Home Canvas and these Striped Draught Excluders.

Also have a look at the Swanky Maison Facebook Page and become a fan if you like what you see! There are regular updates, frequently showing new images of a taste of whats to come on the site, plus amazing giveaways.

White yeast bread recipe – yum!

Dave’s mum made me a delicious loaf of poppy seed bread last week. It was perfectly round and quite flat, so each slice that was cut was extra long! It only lasted a couple of days, and after going back to ready-sliced shop bought bread it just wasn’t the same. I asked for the recipe and will be making some homemade bread myself, although I’m not sure it will turn out as good!

With this recipe you can be quite creative – from simple oval loaves to plaited masterpieces, or make a whole variety of rolls.

INGREDIENTS

2 tsp caster sugar
425ml (15fl oz) warm water
2 ½ tsp dried yeast or
20g (3/2 oz) fresh yeast or 1 1/2 x 7g sachets fast-acting yeast
750g (1lb 10oz) strong white flour, plus extra for dusting (optional)
2 tsp salt
40g (1 ½ oz) butter or 4 tbsp olive oil
1 egg, beaten, and poppy or sesame seeds, for the top of the loaf (optional)

METHOD

In a measuring jug, mix the sugar with 150ml (1/4 pint) of the warm water and yeast and let stand in a warm place for 5 minutes until frothy. If using fast-acting yeast, there is no need to let the mixture stand.
Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the butter and make a well in the centre. (If using olive oil instead of butter, pour the olive oil into the remaining water.) Pour in the yeast mixture and most of the remaining water (and the olive oil, if using). Mix to a loose dough, adding the remaining water if needed, plus extra if necessary.
Knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and springy to the touch. (If kneading in an electric food mixer with a dough hook, 5 minutes is usually long enough.) Put the dough in a large oiled bowl. Cover the top tightly with cling film and place somewhere warm to rise until doubled in size. This may take up to 2 or even (on a cold day) 3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F), Gas mark 7.
When the dough has more than doubled in size, knock back and knead again for 2–3 minutes. Leave to relax for 10 minutes before you begin to shape the bread.
Shape the bread into loaves or rolls, transfer to a baking tray and cover with a clean tea towel. Allow to rise again in a warm place for 20–30 minutes, until the shaped dough has again doubled in size. When fully risen, it should leave a dent when you gently press the dough with your finger.
Gently (as the bread is full of air at this point and therefore very fragile) brush with egg wash and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds (if using), or dust lightly with flour for a rustic-looking loaf.
Bake in the oven for 10–15 minutes for rolls or 30–45 minutes for a loaf, depending on its size. Turn the heat down to 200°C (400°F), Gas mark 6 after 15 minutes for the remaining cooking time. When cooked, the bread should sound hollow when tapped on the base. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

New Years Resolution

I’ve enjoyed looking back on my blog to see what progress I’ve made over the past year. It will be interesting to see what 2010 brings. In my last post I mentioned an ambitious new years resolution. It’s something I’ve always thought about doing since I was at uni, but I was put off but my tutor who thought it wouldn’t be the right path to go down.

Anyway, I’ve decided I want to give it a go. I’m aiming to stock my work in a garden centre this year! Since a lot of my ceramics are suitable for outdoor use, I’m hoping it will be a good idea to approach garden centres. I’ve had success with galleries and will continue to restock my current gallery stockists but I want to try something different as well.

I’ve had a look around a few near-by garden centres and I’m aware that most items like pots, vases, trinket gifts, decorations and ornamental items are sold in batches of the same thing – just like other shops. However all of my work is made as individual one-offs, so I would need to find out if a display of my individual one-off items would be ok, or if I would need to make batches of items the same or similar.

At my local garden centre there is a nice gift shop that sells handmade glassware and other gifts (its all quite expensive!), so I might see if my coasters, clocks, magnets and brooches could fit in there too. I’m excited just thinking about it!

I’d really appreciate any hints, tips or thoughts anyone could give if you have experience approaching shops with your work. I’m comfortable approaching galleries but I think a garden centre in particular will be much different.