Catherine Daniel Ceramics

Hello and welcome to my blog where I share some of the thought processes and textile/quilting inspirations behind my ceramic art, and occasionally other random topics!
For more details and pictures of my ceramic creations, please see my website -

catherinedanielceramics.com



Friday 17 June 2011

God is in the Detail ...

.... or is it the Devil who's in the detail - I never know!

At last week's craft fair, along with a few larger items, I sold nearly all my tiny bits and bobs - I think its a sign of the times that most people want to buy something, but can really only afford the itty-bitty bits. So, I needed to re-stock and I've been busy making millions of little buttons and beads of all shapes and sizes and adding detail to each one. OK - well, not quite millions, but it feels that way cos they're all a bit, well, fiddly and painstaking.
But worth it in the end!

I have some very exclusive tools (above) which I use for cutting out the different sizes - plastic bottle tops, an old lipstick tube and the top of a whiskey bottle - but they do the trick.

Once these are completely dry, I 'fettle' them - that's the technical name for smoothing off all the rough edges, etc. and into the old kiln they go.

All my little acorns got sold, so I've made more of those too. They always seem popular with other crafters, for adding to their own work to make it a bit different.


My textiley friend, Bev, used my acorns in her work last year and now she has asked me for some buttons and beads in blues and greens to add to her latest pieces. You can check out her blog here - she's just started it, so it would be nice to pop by and say hello if you have time.


Above is a slightly different take on a patchwork piece. Am still thinking about the glaze colours for it - not sure yet.


It came out of the first firing today, with all the above bits - so now I just have to get down to glazing them all.

Easier said than done, given that English student and Art student are both returning for the summer with all their 'stuff ' any day now! Where does the time go???


Bye for now - Cathy.

18 comments:

  1. I just want to dig my hands into that pile and find my treasure!:)

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  2. Beautiful buttons. What a lot of work. I wish I could sew because I love buttons and never can find a way of wearing them - although I do have a button necklace.

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  3. So many buttons! Ooooooohhhhh lovely! Cx

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  4. I like your buttons - especially the quantity of them :)) But I'm verry curious about the big piece. Left the kids, left the buttons and start glazing the big one :)))

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  5. wow those look so intricate and pretty cant wait to see them glazed they will really come to life then. dee x

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  6. It all looks really exciting :)I can't wait to see the finished results....
    Sue Xxx

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  7. The saying the devil is in the detail can be traced back to the printing industry, from the days when type was laid manually. The printer's devil was a young apprentice, who was often told to do the dirty jobs. The apprentice sometimes ended the day covered in black ink and so earned the nickname. Often, the apprentice became involved in resetting the type by moving the lead casts around. Hence, the devil was in the detail.
    The saying was originally in German...and that is where this type (!) of printing was devised in the 1500s.

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  8. They look great, can't wait to add a bunch to my textiles.

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  9. Glad you did OK .Have fun painting them all.
    Gillxx

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  10. It's looking good, and enjoy the students' holidays!!

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  11. they look lovely ! I think you're right re. smaller pieces,certainly with regards craft fairs....thinking in a similar way myself!!! Great minds eh?!

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  12. Where does the time go indeed? I can't believe we only have two weeks to go until the end of the summer term - ridiculous!

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  13. Oh buttons - I LOVE buttons, those acorn ones are fab!
    Enjoy being even busier than usual then. x

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  14. Thanks so for stopping by my screen porch!!! I love to meet new people! I love your pottery....my mum was a potter amongst many other things...she did lots of things from nature and the acorns took me right back!! she had a little pot she made with an acorn top!! and she also did a bowl with a ridge of acorns all around it!! Your star fish is just heaven!! Have a wonderful day!!

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  15. oh so lovely! it was the little things that sold at the art festival I was at the weekend, but there were no adorable acorns.....

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  16. Greetings from Southern California

    I am your newest follower.

    I invite you to visit and follow TOGB.

    God Bless and Have a Nice Day :-)

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