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



Monday 9 January 2012

New Year, New Direction

Happy New Year everyone if it's not too late to say that!
It seems like you have all done half a dozen blog posts whilst I have been having a laptop-free break!



The new direction I am taking this year pottery-wise is to concentrate more on the border around the design, than the central pattern itself. In other words, the borders will be more intricate and the central design will be quite simple. This block above is called 'Windmill', but the border is all mine own.


As this series of bowls has developed, I have focussed more and more on the borders, as they play such a pivotal part in 'setting off' the piece as a whole.
The block above is called 'Nelson's Victory', which should go down well in these parts, as old Horatio was a Norfolk boy!



I made these two just before Christmas. I have just done two more with really complex patterns around the border. They're waiting to be fired at the moment, but am pleased with the way each piece moves the whole process on a bit further.

So - did anyone make any New Year's Resolutions?
I did, but it's not going too well so far!

I resolved to be MORE SELFISH! In a good way!

In other words, I plan to do more things for myself and less things for other people who, when I last looked, had not lost the use of their limbs. They know who they are!

As I say, I haven't made a good start, but am persevering and becoming a tad unpopular in certain quarters!

Now I'm off to catch up with all your news. Looking forward to sharing 2012 with you all!

Cathy x

22 comments:

  1. I badly want that top one....lovely.

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  2. Happy New Year Cathy!
    The bowls are super and I like the new direction. And I noticed that the pictures are wonderful too :)
    I guess you will have to fight a little bit for your selfishness. Mostly with yourself, of course, to learn new habits.But fingers are crossed for your success. Finally it will pay off.

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  3. What a very good resolution that is - keep it up!
    Beutiful bowls, as usual, I'm determined to own one, one day.

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  4. Happy New Year, I had a bloggy break too. It's quite nice to step away from it for a bit.

    I like your new direction, it's feels good to have a change.

    Not thought of any definite resolutions but am trying to be better financially and not over stretch myself. And use what I've already got instead of buying more crafty goodies!

    Fingers crossed :) x

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  5. That sounds like a very good resolution, well done you. No resolutions but I have written down some goals for this year. More exercise, less cake are two of them but there are some life balance ones in there too. Wishing you a wonderful and suitably selfish 2012 x

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  6. Happy New Year to you too! Hope you and your family had a lovely festive time.

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  7. Hehe I think my resolution should be the opposite to yours!
    Clare
    Glad I've inspired a design, cant wait to see it!

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  8. happy new year Cathy, enjoy filling it with more things for you x

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  9. Hi catherine - thanks for stopping over at the blog and your kind words.
    This is so funny since I was just thinking about quilts, I been doing some sewing.... and i was wondering if anyone was crossing the two- seems you are! I'll have to add you to the roll.
    M

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  10. Happy new year to you, too! I think your resolution is a great idea and I hope that everyone catches on, leaving you with more creative time:-)
    Judy

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  11. Happy New Year to you too. I'm having a rethink and redesign but not sure what direction I'm going yet. Hope you have a successful 2012.

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  12. Wow Cathie those are truely beautiful you are very clever, i love the second one its very delicate and pretty. They will run out the door im sure. I think its good to be selfish and think of yourself more i have had to do this myself and try and make my boys a bit more independant with doing things for themselves and its hard. Happy new year, dee x

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  13. Happy New Year Cathy. Gorgeous work. Sometimes its good to be selfish, otherwise we can find ourselves being taken for granted. xxx

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  14. Love the direction you are taking your ceramics and just love all the colour you get in there... really get the comment about thinking more of your self - major work of mine at the moment in trying to focus on what I want to do, tie it in with what I need financially to survive and to work through relationships etc and guess I've got a busy year ahead too!! :-)
    Hope 2012 is good for you.

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  15. It is certainly going to be interesting to see your new direction develop!

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  16. Oh I love quilting and used to it years ago, these combinations of the geometric and floral are wonderful, lovely work.

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  17. Gorgeous work and Happy New Year. I don't do resolutions but yours sound good.

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  18. Wow!!! They look gorgeous. You have such patience! Your comment re: my jammies, no I never did the school run, but I did used to run my daughter to work on Sunday mornings in my jammies - until one morning when the car had a bit of a fire and I had to call the firebrigade!!!! Gorgeous gorgeous firefighters and some demented looking old bird in her jammies!!!

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  19. The bowls are absolutely gorgeous! I no longer make resolutons - why set myself up to fail by February!

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  20. Lol, i must be even more belated Cathy, I haven't been blogging yet! well on my own page. So very belated Happy New Year to you. I love the new direction, pattern is a huge love of mine. Your new designs look wonderful, I cant wait to see what else you come up with x

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