Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx with Sofia & Raquel Masri

October 14, 2009

You know that old saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”? Well, it sure is true about mother daughter artists Raquel Masri & Sofia Masri. Both ladies are ceramicists—Sofia creates jewelry pieces and her mom, Raquel, makes tiles, buttons, and home décor pieces.

I’ve been aware of Sofia’s jewelry for a while now, but only recently discovered her talented mum and after doing so decided it would be really interesting to interview them both for my Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx interview series.

Work by Sofia Masri

1. What’s your story? What do create and sell and how did you get your start?

Sofia: I had been making gemstone jewelry and my mom, Raquel, had been making mosaic pieces for a couple of years when we took a ceramics class. Soon after, I began making porcelain jewelry and Mom decided to create tiles, buttons, and home décor pieces. We both have art and design backgrounds and had worked with many media in the past so this felt like a natural progression for us. Since we signed up for the class as a way to spend time together, neither one of us thought that it would lead to two businesses. But here we are!

Work by Sofia Masri

2. What’s the best part about working with family? And is there a downside?

Sofia: Aside from having a shared interest, the best part is that we know we can count on each other for help when we really need it. Mom has helped me at many shows, we help each other glaze when we’re on a deadline and consult one another when we have creative dilemmas. I wouldn’t really say that there’s a downside, but working with a loved one inevitably leads to a few tense moments here and there. We bounce back quickly, though!

Raquel: I love working with Sofia, she is not only my daughter but also my best friend. Since I am not computer savvy, I can always count on her to help when I have questions and to give me encouragement to move forward. I want to be like her when I grow up! Sometimes we argue about whose turn it is to fire the kiln, but there is always a way to work it out.

Work by Raquel Masri

3. What’s your creative process like?

Sofia: I usually begin with a mental picture of a piece, occasionally even just a feeling I’m trying to convey. Then I put it on paper. Sketching is an important part of the process for me, I think I have enough sketches to produce ten different collections at any given time! I translate the design into clay, fire the pieces, glaze them, and fire them again. I usually don’t choose a glaze color until I’m ready to brush it on. I know that if I chose one ahead of time, I’d just end up changing my mind anyway. After the pieces come out of the kiln, I’ll pair them with matching beads and findings and assemble them.

Raquel: When I sit down to work I usually don’t have a plan or sketches. The ideas just come as I work and they kind of grow and evolve. In general, I like the end result. I also get my ideas when I’m lying in bed at night, I keep a notepad on my nightstand so I can work on them the next day. Unlike Sofia, I’m extremely indecisive about color. It takes me a long time to choose which piece gets which glaze.

Work by Sofia Masri

4. What are your creative inspiration?

Sofia: I draw a lot of inspiration from the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. I’ve spent a lot of hours in antique stores these past 15 years, it’s almost a magnetic attraction.

Raquel: I get inspiration from nature and vintage objects that have been passed down to me from family members. For color, I love to browse the latest trends at fabric stores.

Work by Raquel Masri

5. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?

Sofia: I read Vogue and Australian Vogue Living. I know I’m not alone when I say that I still miss Domino. Some of my daily blog reads include design*sponge, Desire to Inspire, Oh Joy!, and of course Indie Fixx. When I have a little extra cash, I like to give it to antique stores, Etsy sellers, and sometimes Anthropologie in return for some beautiful merchandise.

Raquel: I read Metropolitan Home. I don’t get to read many blogs but when I do, I go to Apartment Therapy. My favorite store is Anthropologie, I love it (it runs in the family)! I’ve found some treasures at the neighborhood thrift shops, which I visit often. And, of course, I am an Etsy regular.

Work by Sofia Masri

6. What have you recently been reading, watching and listening to?

Sofia: I like historical fiction and collect antique classics, but I’m not reading any books at the moment. I’m watching season three of Mad Men, my Pushing Daisies DVDs (still sad it was canceled), and I’d watch Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, The Prestige, The Age of Innocence and Amélie every day if I had the time.

Raquel: I recently read Out of Captivity by Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell, and Tom Howes. It’s an unbelievable story about three Americans who survived five years as hostages in the Colombian jungle. I’ve also been looking through The Find by Stan Williams and Charles King. It’s a great source for decorating with thrift shop items as well with flea market objects. I rarely watch TV except for Lost. I watched once and I was hooked! Can’t wait for the new season to start.

Work by Raquel Masri

7. What’s new? Any products or projects you’d like to share?

Sofia: Right now, I’m working on some geometric, more streamlined jewelry. I love the intricate details of my current work, but my eyes have been craving something a little different. I’m also working on a small one-of-a-kind holiday collection featuring my porcelain pieces mixed with antique and vintage jewelry components, ribbon, fabric, and beads.

Raquel: I want to experiment making pieces that combine fused glass and porcelain.

Work by Sofia Masri

Work by Raquel Masri

Work by Raquel Masri

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Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx with Tasha McKelvey

September 09, 2009

I’ve long admired Tasha McKelvey’s pottery work, so it only makes sense that I finally got around to interviewing her for Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx. You may already be familiar with Tasha’s bird bowls or gingko jewelry, but now it’s time to learn more about the artist behind the potter’s wheel.

1. What’s the name of your business, what do create and sell and how did you get your start?

Tasha McKelvey – handmade clay goodness and I make handmade pottery featuring woodland themes like birds, faux bois, mushrooms and leaves. I also make ceramic jewelry with the same sort of aesthetic – flowers, ginkgo leaves and birds.

The business name used to be Pottery by Tasha McKelvey, but a few years ago I dropped the “Pottery by” part. I had started making ceramic jewelry in addition to pottery. I changed the name to reflect the change in how I saw my myself as an artist, no longer just a potter but also a designer.

I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but as a kid I figured I would have to be an art teacher to support myself. In high school, I started working as a potter’s assistant at The Poddery (www.thepoddery.com) in Mathews, Virginia. I learned the basics of making pottery while working on someone else’s pots. When I went to college and took my first Ceramics class at the beginning of my Sophomore year, I knew with in a week I wanted to make pottery for a living. I started my business and vending at craft shows the Summer before my Senior year.

2. Share some of your inspirations.

I draw my inspiration from my experiences. I grew up surrounded by handmade objects – my family ate all our meals from wooden bowls when I was a kid. My parents are avid bird watchers and gardeners. My first experience working in a pottery at 16 years old, was working alongside two potters visiting from Japan. All of this mixed together to form my work – flowers, birds, ginkgo leaves on functional pots & jewelry.

3. What do you like to listen to while you create?

This American Life podcasts, Harry Potter Audio Books and my iPod mix, which right now is heavy on Sun Volt, The Flaming Lips, Mates of State and Belle & Sebastian.

4. What would the perfect day involve?

It would take place in Europe, involve fresh baked goods, cheeses, beer and all my favorite people would have to be there. With all those elements present, it really wouldn’t matter what we did because I know it would be awesome.

5. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?

I used to read more magazines, but now I mostly read blogs like Craft: Blog, Apartment Therapy, Modish & Indie Fixx. I still like getting an occasional issue of Ceramics Monthly or thumbing through a friend’s copy of Crafts Report.

I buy a lot of things on Etsy or from my crafty friends, but I go to Anthropology and H&M when I need something a bit quicker.

6. What have you recently been reading, watching and listening to?

I just got Handmade Nation a few days ago and I am enjoying reading it before I fall asleep. Last winter, I read all of Jane Austen’s novels – except I am still working on Emma. I don’t really read much in the Summer. I started re-watching Northern Exposure on Netflix in the studio – it was one of my favorite shows when I was in high school and it is funny to watch again all these years later.

7. What’s new? Any products or projects you’d like to share?

I’ve been having fun making some new faux bois plates & trays. The weathered wood grain goes well with my little birds and new woodland themes like mushrooms & gnomes.

Filed in Ceramics, Home Decor, Home Decor & Wares, Indie Artist Fixx, Interviews, Jewels | | Comments (5) »

She’s Crafty: Ceramic Bead & Button Necklace & Earrings

September 01, 2009

Oh, I’ve been having so much fun creating for the She’s Crafty feature. My latest project involved making a necklace and earrings with some ceramic beads and buttons from Panopoly Creations.

Panopoly Creations is the work of ceramist Lynae Straw and I’ve long admired her creations, especially her beads and buttons. I love the textures and the colorful glazes of her work and I had this idea to string some of her buttons on some sterling chain with bead accents. I’m so happy with how it turned out…see my creation below.

All the buttons and beads are from Panopoly Creations and I used some sterling silver wire, chain and findings I already had on hand (probably sourced from Fire Mountain). I also used some carnelian accents on the earrings.

Lynae’s beads and buttons can be used for all types of projects, not just jewelry. I’d love to use some as an accent on a fabric bag & on this scarflette I am making. Custom requests are also available, so if you have something specific in mind for one of your projects, just contact Lynae.

Filed in Ceramics, Crafty stuff, Jewels, She's Crafty | | Comments (1) »

When They Were Kids: Shawna Pincus

August 31, 2009

You are in for a real treat today for the latest of edition When They Were Kids, the new feature where I ask our favorite indie artists/designers/crafters to share what they were like as kids. I contacted Shawna Pincus of Pinkkiss Pottery and asked her if she wanted to contribute and was so tickled when she said yes and sent along the cutest images ever.

I met Shawna a few years back (as well as her husband Michael of Spaghetti Kiss) and just fell in love with her and her pottery. She is a beautiful person, both inside and out, and her pottery reflects that beauty. I am totally enamored with her latest printed woodland creature collection and even have my own very special deer mug from that collection (I hide and protect it from all other members of my household). Her work is appealing both visually & tactilely, which is so important to me for ceramic work. She also has a great sense of humor as evidenced by the pics below, don’t ya think?

You can see more of Shawna’s work in her Etsy Shop, on her Website and her blog.

1. Share a favorite book(s) from your childhood.

- I was a big bookworm as a kid and read all the time; I had a very vivid imagination and started reading at a very early age. I loved all the mystery books like the R.L. Stein and Christopher Pike series. I also loved the Wrinkle in Time books and for my girly side, the Babysitter’s Club.

2. What’s your favorite childhood movie of all time?

- I actually had a few movies that I cycled through as a kid. Disney’s Robin Hood (the one with the fox), Splash (my cousin and I used to put pillow cases on our legs and flop around the living room claiming to be mermaids), Princess Bride and Cry Baby (I was a Johnny Depp fan from way back!)

3. What types of toys did you like to play with?

- I loved Barbie. I know it’s not very feminist of me but it’s what I liked. I used to create houses and neighborhoods with masking tape on the floor and have the Barbies drive around in shoeboxes. I also loved playdoh, go figure! I had a collection of paper dolls too.

4. Were you an artsy-craftsy kid? if so, what types of things did you enjoy?

- Yes! My Mom is very crafty and we did lots of stuff together. Sewing, cooking, craft projects galore! We even took a ceramic class together once.

5. What have you learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?

- To be more assertive. I was always really quiet and if I had one thing to go back and tell myself it would be to speak my mind more. I had a really good childhood though and there isn’t much I would change.

6. What was the best part about summer when you were a kid?

- I had a love-hate relationship with my summer camp. I hated sports, so I always complained about going, but at the end of camp they would show us this really sappy slide show set to sad music which always made me cry and come home begging my parents to sign me up for the next year! We also had a community pool in my development and I love to swim.

7. What did you want to be when you grew up?

- First, a marine biologist, I learned to scuba dive when I was in middle school and I love the water (Pisces!). Then I wanted to be an actress like my older brother (my sister-in-law was the casting director for Conan O’Brian when he first started) and finally an artist.

8. What are you up to now?

- Now I am living in Baltimore with my husband Michael and our two cats, Mexi and Stranger. I just left my job as an elementary school art teacher to pursue ceramics fulltime so now I work from my home studio making pottery. I also love to cook and keep a blog about my pots and the food I put in them.

Filed in Ceramics, Fun Stuff, When They Were Kids | | Comments (6) »

What I’m doing on Saturday…Philly Buyers Market & Handmade Nation

July 29, 2009

On Saturday (Aug 1st), I am going to the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft show. The Buyers Market is a wholesale show which features over 1,500 artists showcasing their work for shops, galleries and members of the press. I am just super excited to see some new work as well as finally meet some of my favorite artists in person.

After the show on Saturday, there is a screening of Handmade Nation, the documentary about the the rise of craft and diy in the US, which I will also be attending. The screening is open to the public and tickets are only $5.

WHAT: Handmade Nation Documentary Screening and Director’s Q&A with Faythe Levine
WHEN: Saturday, August 1, 2009, at 6 pm
WHERE: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Room 103 Philadelphia, PA
TICKETS: Only $5. Buy in advance at Art Star, the craft gallery, at 623 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, or at the screening, while supplies last. Seating is limited!
FOR INFO: See www.indiecraftdocumentary.blogspot.com or call 800-432-7238, ext. 218

Here are just a few of the artists whose work I am looking forward to seeing in person at the Buyers Market.

1. Happy Owl Glassworks ::: 2. Arin Arthur ::: 3. La Contessa ::: 4. Freshie and Zero ::: 5. Modern June ::: 6. Foundling ::: 7. Rocks and Salt ::: 8. Jenny Gaynor ::: 9. Dovetail ::: 10. Daa Glass

Filed in Accessories, Ceramics, Jewels | | Comments (4) »

Pile Of Craft 2009 wrap-up

June 24, 2009

I visited the Charm City Craft Mafia’s Pile of Craft show this past weekend in Baltimore. I think it’s the 3rd (or 4th) annual one that they’ve put together and this time around they stuck to just local Baltimore talent, which is pretty cool. There are definitely lots of talented Charm City folks.

While at the show, I bought a necklace from Broken Plate Pendant Co, a mug from Pink Kiss (my other one got broken), a t-shirt for Mr. Indie Fixx from Spaghetti Kiss & some earrings from Beth Pohlman. Also, thank you to Jen from The Littlest Bean for the barrette too, a sweet birthday present!

I also had my eye on the crocheted necklaces & earrings from HVM Designs and the copper and polymer clay jewelry from yummy & company. Plus all these goodies below.