Spring Break time!

That's right!  Jared's school has been on break since Thursday.  pretty awesome if you ask me :)  Last week into this week has been filled with lots of sweet rememberings of a year ago this time;  all of the amazing events and people surrounding our wedding!!  Hard to believe one whole year has gone by already.  Doesn't feel like it :)  We shared parts of our one year anniversary together, in between me working.  But we are really looking forward to our mini denver trip the end of this week.  Second honeymoon is what i'm calling it! haha

The past couple weeks have been full of getting projects going and finishing old ones.  Jared is determined to finish a sketchbook over break in order to begin his next!!  It is somewhere close to 5 pages a day and he has been committed to gettin em done.   He also found an old easel in the studio that is taller than him!  He cleaned it and set up his watercolors, what a find.  With the beautiful weather he has started watering and mulching the lawn.  getting ready for that green grass to grow grow grow!  I can't wait for summer.  

I've been dedicated to getting the dogs more independent.  As much as I love their little quirks I have been wanting to help Halpert get over his car riding anxiety for a long time now... and allow both of them to be more social on walks (What i really mean is be less crazy about meeting new dogs).  We have a cute little pond in severance that we have gone and walked everyday for almost 3 weeks now.  And I am happy to report improvements for both of my furry babes.  Amazing what they have accomplished and overcome in just 3 weeks of practice.  I am one proud mama.  

I have also been so thrilled with our Etsy shop and sweet customers.  can't believe how many wonderful people have been supporting us & giving us their business.  Thank you!!  to all of our sweet etsy fans.  WE HEART YOU!  This past week our shop made it's 100th sale, and had a new record of 4 orders in one day.  I love the satisfaction I get from running my own business and taking care of people the way I would want to be.  I love being part of this handmade community.  

 Been excited about customizing more and more of my designs for special orders!!

 

 cowboy brand mugs!!

 Lorax Platter

 something I made just for me!!  I have been wanting a votive holder for the ledge above our stove.  It's rare i take the time to make something I want lol

 practicing teapots!

And I got Jared to add my new self to the wall - my little nook is feeling more organized and creative than ever.  It's got good mojo :)

One more happy share from my art world!!  I got a couple of pieces into a local Jurried show at the Windsor Severance library!  We went to the opening reception to see all the pieces that made it in, and eat some goodies :)

I'm looking forward to making some real eye catching pieces that I want to enter in even bigger shows!!  I have already scouted out 2 that I want to submit to :)  

Only 2 more days of work then it's time for a little vacay!!  WOO! 
hugs & love

XOXO

(also, my apologies for only having pics of or relating to ceramics... how lame!  I clearly need to get outta my photography rut!)

yesterday...

Yesterday I went to the fountain park in severance with the dogs.  they got a ride AND a walk. 

Yesterday I hoped that my on call shift would not get called in. and it didn't :)
Yesterday I dreamed of summer.  It was so beautiful, i wore shorts!
Yesterday I forgot... to check the mail.
Yesterday I heard Jared signing in the car #cute
Yesterday I read some tidbits while waiting for our food @ Roma's (best pizza ever)
Yesterday I watched season 4 of the office out in the studio.  and some parks and Rec in bed.  (possibly my top 2 favorite shows)
Yesterday I said "I love you"
Yesterday I believed that I can help halpert get over his car riding anxiety!   
Yesterday I felt good about myself after doing my workout video. 
Yesterday I wondered what glazes would look best on my teapots...
Yesterday I bought a Houndstooth coat online that i've been drooling over for weeks, yey for sales! 
Yesterday I cleaned up my sewing table to make room for my next project. 
Yesterday I was me.

(copy and repost if you are a blogger!)

Feeling pretty excited about everything I have been accomplishing in the last month.  ArtHaus has an official facebook page!!  you can click on the link to the right -->
and like us/leave us a comment :)  I'm not going to say how long it took me to put the page together (embarassing) but I will say It was worth it!
We got accepted to our first ever SPRING show!  It is a one day down in Highlands Ranch and there should be a great turnout.  I'm excited to have a show again after the post holiday lull!!
Our etsy exploded yesterday with over a 1,000 page hits!!! INSANE!  I was wondering what the heck happened and found out from a friend that a hooter was featured in an "etsy finds" e-mail - a daily shopping guide put together by the site!  pretty awesome stuff :)

Jared and I have been creating lots of pieces, and agree its about time to get the kiln firing.  Hopefully I will be sharing new beauties in the next week.. (we'll see how much glazing gets done before jared's track season starts!!)

 happy leap year! 
xoxo
hugs & love

happy sweethearts day!!

Happy Valentine's Day! XO, Etsy from Etsy on Vimeo.

we hit the big 100

according to blogger this is our 100th post!  feels like an accomplishment, considering the infrequent rocky start this blogging experience began with.  Just had to share my little milestone :)  

We've had a couple productive weeks in the studio and I wanted to share a few lil peeks n sneeks.  This is all greenware, while the clay still has chemical moisture in it & can be easily recycled by adding water...

 a real man mug stein!  this baby is going to hold a lotta liquid. 

 platters

 twistie handle teapot

 this little guy is a miniature espresso shot mug - tiny!!  

and for anyone wondering what the canvas color "paint" is on this miniature... I'm going to share one of my secrets that comes in very handy, especially in a studio where the electric heat boards can cause quick and uneven drying (that nobody wants!)  I use a wax resist to seal in all the moisture when i am attaching my handles and added details.  the wax prevents any cracking or separation - even when the thickness of the pieces you are attaching aren't identical, or when one of the two is a little dryer.  It is my special weapon when i am working against time.. or forget a mug drying out in the open lol

And you can see I use it on almost everything!!  It is def. my (foolproof) special trick o the trade! and woot woot for more newlywed mug sets, easter baskets, and citrus colored coasters (trying out new slip colors before doing a custom teaset.. thought it would be best to know what the glaze fired colors are really going to like like under my clear glaze!)

after tonight they will be bisque fired and ready for glazing!

Jared and I just got home from Denver after a night with the Miller & Hammond Fams - great to see everyone and we got to enjoy some of our favorite take-outs for dinner (Abo's pizza & taste of philly) and went to a sweet piano concert, Jon Schmidt!!!  

I have been a lover of piano music my whole life, especially his refreshing modern rock approach to the instrument.  It's really lovely how he arranges his original pieces and mashes up some of his pop song favs.  

and after tonight I think Jared favors Cello music to the piano :) 

I'm ready for a double shift tomorrow and some breaking dawn being released at midnight!!  Twilight Saga Anyone?!!?!  I have watched all the movies this week in preparation, i'm psyched lol

goodnight all

hugs & love

xoxo

Nuggets Game

Last weekend we got to go to the Nugs Vs. LA Clips at the pepsi center!!!  We had been looking forward to it ever since we got the tix for Christmas (thanks mom & dad!!!)  Our seats were amazing & we got to bring Zach & Nicole with our family 4 pack, perfect!!   I had been contemplating for weeks which jersey I wanted to get from the ladies store and picked Gallinari when decision time came - he just got signed for a 4 year contract, woot!

 me & nicole - we both got Galo jerseys!  in opposite colors :)

 nice & early before the crowds!!  the energy was really amazing, almost a full house

 the boys, jared & zach

Tim Tebow was front and center!!  Rocky was so cute and excited; he got him to sign a football and punted it into the stands.  pretty cool stuff!  only thing that would have made the night better is a Win!!  we were neck n neck the entire game, but couldn't pull it off the last couple of minutes.  Excited to see the re-match in Cali.....

I'm pretty stoked on going to bed after my double today... the plan for tomorrow is to wake up early and make a supply run to denver before work!!  I have been a bit of a slacker and put off some much needed shopping; we need clay, glaze chemicals, and a couple of special slip colors for a custom order i am very excited about :)  Wish there was a ceramics supply store right down the street sometimes.... haha I have friday off this week and I am looking forward to spending the whole day in the studio, yey!!  I think my next post shall be about all of our new creations.. can you say studio sneeks n peaks?!  yess.  

goodnight friends,

xoxo

the happenings

I have been meaning to get on and post about the haps around here for a while now... here's a little catching up for January seems how my last post was all Christmas!! 

Jared Just finished his 3rd week back to school, His Kiddos will be finishing their 2nd trimeseter in early Feb.  He's already getting ready for the next trimester experimenting with projects at home.. He wants to have his kids MAKE the paper for their sketchbooks!!  I have never tried making paper from recycled paper, but i know the look of it is really cool especially when you get different colors in the mix :)  He has a bunch of old printmaking supplies - 2 boxes full of old stretcher bars probably used for screen printing.  So he's going to have the kids turn them into screen trays for creating their paper.  I wanna come to his class lol 

He has also been finding time to work on a new watercolor series.  He is taking Dr. Seuss stories and appropriating them in his own way.. 

I Love these!!  And the Dark little details.. 

He has Also Gotten out in the studio with me this week!  It started with our project on MLK monday - we purchased a slab roller with our sale money at the end of the year!!  and it came shipped in 4 separate boxes.  lol we did a team build on the beast and I can't tell you how amazing it is to finally have this piece of equipment!!  It is different than the ones I have used in the past, but It is really easy to use & adjust the thickness for slabs.  Not like the roller at UNC where it almost took 2 people to remove the long and awkward shams you had to stuff under the table.  I love Ours!!  And Jared is finally able to get to his platter making business :)  He's been creating new designs with colored slips and playing with the idea of making plate sets!  It's very exciting stuff.  Oh yea, and we got a new Stool too!!  I makes throwing and trimming so much more comfortable.  My back is very happy.  

 aint' she a beaut?!

 kisses

 my new best friend

 a perfect dusty paw lol

We have been enjoying some really nice weather.. haven't seen snow in probably over a month now.  But the wind has been relentless.  Kinda scary actually - the first week of Jan our neighbors had a 35 ft. pine go down in their yard.  They were really lucky it didn't come through any rooms in the house, just the attic.  All I have to say Is I'm thankful it was blowing south that day... 

Mother Nature is one powerful force!!  

We have also been enjoying football and Nuggets - our NUGS are doing amazing right now on the road!!  so Happy they have been playing fantastic team ball and winning games!!  We are so excited to go the clippers game in t-minus ONE week!!! Woot! 

And Lets re-cap what an amazing playoff game the broncos had vs. the steelers!!  Tebow made some really great passes, our defense kicked but oh and OT?!  NO BIG DEAL!!  the one and only play was incredible, I think we were on a high for the rest of the night after that win :)  It was sad to get killed by the patriots, but I can't wait for next season! 

I have been a busy beaver working on some fun new valentine's day stuff!!  Just opened the kiln yesterday and have been photographing, uploading, and editing for the etsy shop.  There are some heart mugs, quote mugs, keepsake gift tags, and of course new hooters :)  One of my favorite new designs is this adorable swirl candy with heart shaped wrapper, awee

pop on over and check out our new face lift!!

I am on the Hunt for new shows this season, and organizing all of our business info from last year... taxes time came too soon lol  

happy Sunday to ya'll!

hugs & love

XOXO

some special moments...

with very special people!  I was so lucky to have the time off from work that I did - we got to see all our close family for christmas.  It was so fun & I wanted it to last all week :)  

I love both of our families so much it was hard to split up the time, but I realize we are incredibly lucky to have them so close together.. commuting between festivities took us only 35 minutes.  

had lots of fun with these Hammond cuties...

 miss paytie pants

Laney and grammie (she was all smiles!!  such a cutie!!)

we opened lots of fun presents, played with them, had a delicious prime rib dinner!!! watched basketball, played games, colored pretty pictures and had lots of laughs..

 so happy to see this girl!!  it isn't very often but i love my lil carlee.  and guess what?! she's going to be home in colorado all summer!  that was some exciting news :) 

 we found out my robe was a children's size! lol all moma had to do was cut a little off the sleeves and it fit payton :) 

and for the Butler clan!!  We had fun hanging out, watching awesome movies & going to The movies - saw MI: ghost protocal, which was sweet!! and got to meet Dave's new girlfriend who came with!  ate delicious breakfast casserole, monkey bread & pizza, watched the nugg's first game of the season - they kicked butt - and enjoyed some christmas traditions around the yule log and festivus pole :)  

 bees was very relaxed

 boys all got nuggets hats :)

 pups!

 lynn & I

this pic is actually from thanksgiving.. isn't it a cute shot of the boys, all legged crossed?! and not really enjoying the picture taking? hahaha

I have to say I am one happy girl.  I have some really amazing people in my life and am so grateful to be a part 2 wonderful families.  It makes my heart feel a little swollen :)  

and my favorite of the bunch happens to be my best friend and the most amazing hubby...

  It was such a blast to spend time with you on your winter break.  you make me smile every day, and are the most fun to be around.  love you Jer. 

xo yellski

if you are feeling any of the feelings i am, you want december back.. the magic, the love, that special time of year :) I think i am being a bit sentimental because i took down all of the decorations today.. even though i was thinking to myself i had just put them up lol!  hope your holidays were just as sweet, hugs & love

XOXO