New blog

PLEASE visit my NEW blog www.earthbutterstudio.blogspot.com as I will not be posting to this blog any longer. My new blog is about living a creative life in a rural community near Cape Town, regular updates on what's happening in Earthbutter Studio and also free bead give aways! See you there, Desiree

South African Handmade Collection - Decorex Jhb

It was such a great experience to be part of this - the most stunning South African craft from all the provinces in ONE space! There were smokefired ceramic coffeemugs, hand embroidered cushion covers, felt throws, beautiful bags, beadwork, stunning ceramic tiles, woven grass baskets, handcrafted silver jewellry, etc, etc.

Best Product Award went to Sithabe African Crafts from Cape Town - my neighbour on the Western Cape Handmade pavillion. Well done Mathokoza and Nono - I love your garland mirror frames! Go to www.sithabecrafts.co.za for their full range of products. Katie Thompson's repurposed furniture created quite a stir - people were in awe of her suitcase chair, petrol can lampstand, suitcase cabinet and other out of the ordinary decor items. Visit Recreate's website www.recreate.za.net to see her unusual products.

I came back inspired by my fellow South African crafters and craft designers to think out of the box and to move to the next level. There is so much more we can do - the journey has only just begun!

More bead samples

Black spots on bright colours make stunning focal beads! The carved black bead is called Table Mountain...

Texture, Raku, Animal print, Marbles

Colour, size and shape

This is our updated range of shapes, colours and sizes. All the beads can be glazed in any of the colours. If there are any other shapes or colours you would like us to make, please let me know.

Happiness is.....

....mixing a new glaze recipe and loving the fired result!!!

Getting ready for SAHC

I have been stringing beads non stop the past 2 days and this is the result - beautiful bright beads on shwe-shwe fabric! Our stand at the South African Handmade Collection (Decorex Johannesburg) will be colourful and very bright. I was inspired by a fashion article in the July edition of Elle magazine and fell in love with colour all over again. So this is me in the studio with said beads in hand - watch out for us at Decorex Johannesburg and please come say hello.

Brights to warm up the studio!

Its only 14 degrees in the studio today and its been raining the past 2 days. As we live in a winter rainfall area, lots of rain in June is not unusual for us. Autumn was beautiful and the vineyards looked absolutely spectacular turning slowly from green to all shades of brown. The vines are bare now and the soil in the vineyards are covered in soft green grass. Beautiful!

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the kiln today - bright red beads with white polkadots greeted me and the grey, cold day wasn't that bleak anymore! Angelico and Lidihanna worked on new marble beads this week and we can't wait to see them glazed and fired. We are using local terracotta to make them and they will be called Wellies - can you guess why?

Our booth at SARCDA Trade Show, Johannesburg

I think that you will agree with me that our booth looked great at SARCDA. The original idea was totally different - the props didn't make it to Johannesburg and Calvin came up with this most beautiful and authentic Earthbutter look!

Happy New Year!

Ja, I know its late but I would still like to wish you all a WONDERFUL CREATIVE 2011!! We were asked to give a pottery demo at the Department of Sport and Cultural Affairs' Award Ceremony last week at the beautiful Kronenburg Function Venue outside Wellington. On the photograph from left to right: Cheryl, Petronella and Faheema. Thank you girls for doing such a great job that evening!

Raku workshop

The raku workshop during the Bollemakiesie Festival was hectic! The weather played along beautifully after two days of rain and we fired 30 pots with 100% success. Considering the high risk of breakage in a raku firing, it is quite an achievement.

Festive Season

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Xmas decorations at a shopping centre in Plettenberg Bay last week - it came as a shock that it's that time of the year again and inspired me to glaze a few red hearts. The Festive season is of course much more than cheap "made in China" decorations and silly songs - its also about appreciating life and spreading love to each and everyone who crosses our paths.

Herb Pots Project

One of the joys of my work is to introduce pottery to women who have never before had the opportunity to work with clay. The Breytenbachsentrum kindly funded 8 unemployed women and we've been coiling and pinching the past 12 weeks. The herb terracotta pots which they've made will be on sale during the Bollemakiesie Festival which takes place at the Breytenbachsentrum, Wellington from 8 - 13 November. For more information, visit their website www.breytenbachsentrum.co.za.

Wall Heart

This decorative wall heart with beads is one of our new products. It looks great against a patio wall or hanging in a tree.

New beads

It's hard to believe that almost a month has passed since my last blog entry! Sarcda was great and we will be busy working on orders for the next 6 weeks. In the meantime, I am also teaching ceramics and working on my entry for Ceramics SA's national competition...and enjoying every minute of it!!

Here's a few images of our new paste beads (dark blue) and others.

Lavender and blue skies

Its August which is usually a very, very wet month in our part of the world but we've been blessed with lots of blue skies and sunshine. Angelico enjoys working outdoors in the garden where she's surrounded by flowering lavender plants and busy bees. We're exhibiting at Sarcda's Xmas Trade show in Johannesburg from tomorrow until Sunday, 22nd August. Our booth is on the CCDI's exhibition stand and you are welcome to pop in.

All Sorts!

In our latest necklace designs, we're combining leather, glass and ceramics - a collage of mixed media beads. The possibilities are endless and through research into materials used to make beads, we've learnt that we are only scratching the surface. Our main focus will always be our own handmade ceramic beads and we'll use other beads only to compliment our own unique beads. In the meantime, we are enjoying the journey of exploring and discovering - watch this space!

It is here!

The day has finally arrived - also in our small town! Vuvuzelas are heard, people of all ages are dressed in yellow, businesses closed early, our flag is seen everywhere... I took these pictures at the Breytenbach Cultural Centre where my studio is. No need to go to the Grand Parade in Cape Town to catch the "gees" (spirit) - it's here in Wellington! Go Bafana Go!!

4 days to go!

It's hard to believe that the long expected World Cup Soccer tournament is about to start - its here! We were selected to sell our products in the Cape Craft and Design Institute's Collective Shop at the Cape Town FanFest on the Grand Parade. We made a variety of products which we hope will be snapped up by soccer tourists wishing to take something home which is handmade in South Africa.

Thank you to the Cape Town City Council and the Cape Craft and Design Institute for showcasing 200+ Western Cape crafters products during the tournament. It is here!

Colour Chart

At last - our bead colour chart!