Blog entries from Yvonne

Erotic teacup and saucer

Yvonne — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

This fur teacup and saucer was inspired by Pablo Picasso who suggested to his feminine artist friend wearing a fur bracelet that you could cover anything with fur. In 1936 when the Surrealist leader Andre Breton encouraged her to submit artwork for the first surreal object exhibition Meret Oppenheim purchased a teacup, saucer and sRead More...

Teapot cartoon balloon

Yvonne — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Word balloons were created to reveal in print what a comic strip character was saying or thinking; however, artist Pattie Chalmers has infused the balloons to 3-dimensional formatting. Pattie’s fond childhood memories of reading cheap comic books are now as an adult the foundation of her artistic style. Those fond Read More...

Escher’s teapots

Yvonne — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

M.C. Escher is known for his graphic shapes which created a tantalizing maze. Through sheer determination the Dutch artist started with one subject then repeatedly positioned into an amazing motif tiling. An algorithm created to emulate his process is successfully shown in the teapot image to the right. Escher proRead More...

Desirable Blingy Teapots

Yvonne — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

How many baby boomer girls made potholders with the loom kit mum bought from the local craft store? Madeline Kaczmarczyk perfected potholders then proceeded to creating ceramic teapots. She air brushes her vessels, low fire bakes in the kiln then meticulously embellishesRead More...

Mini giraffe teapot

Yvonne — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:58:07 +0100

There is a TV commercial in the USA with a mini giraffe that viewers just love. Even though not real ,who would not understand why the giraffe’s body shape would not be regularly emulated as a teapot: it’s extended neck as the spout to control the pouring of steeped tea; round body as the base to retain Read More...

Chaotic beauty

Yvonne — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:44:23 +0100

Ever walked on the beach and had some glob catch your eye not because of its beauty but because of its texture caused by the strong seas, ocean breezes and sandy floors? Artist Susan Collett must have experienced this phenomenon. She, with clay, emulates the push and pull forced by nature. The result is a chaotic combination of shells, mRead More...

Teapots are like people

Yvonne — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Lips, feet, shoulders, rotund, jolly are some common characteristics used to describe people and teapots. This is why ceramic artist Suze Lindsay designs her pots with identifiable hips or waists and legs or feet. She uses the handles and spouts as arms, shaping then placing in such a way that creates a mood or personality.Read More...

Tea and politics

Yvonne — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

For centuries tea has entered the political arena hence impacting societies, prosperity and traditions around the world. In 1391 the Ming Dynasty in China ruled that loose teas were to be honoured by the courts instead of tea bricks. In 1773 a historical event in the soon to be USA occurred, rebuking taxation of tea Read More...

Where there's tea there's hope

Yvonne — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

According to accredited research drinking tea can boost your mental state. Tea has amino acid L-theanine which helps the brain relax and stay focused. Drinking 4 cups daily of black tea lowers cortisol, the hormone associated with stress. Red teas are known to relax irritations; green tea studies have shown that 2 cups dailyRead More...

What is a breakfast tea?

Yvonne — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:07:26 +0100

Black, robust, aromatic plus delicious with or without milk or sugar defines a great breakfast tea. Organic black teas from India in the Assam region are some of the most superb morning blends. This is due to Assam’s perfect balance of humidity and heat. These growing conditions result in tea that has a gentle malty yet spicy taste.

Red Tea is not a fad

Yvonne — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:01:57 +0100

Bush tea, rooibos, redbush tea, whatever you want to call it, is not a fad. Tea from the rooibos bush, grown in South Africa, has been used for centuries. In this region, mothers know to use the herbal beverage to help babies’ suffering from colic. EmpiricaRead More...

Jasmine, PMS and tea

Yvonne — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:07:04 +0100

It’s no wonder that the jasmine flower is revered by tea drinkers. It's bloom is one of the most fragrant of all natural living plants. Jasmine is used in most perfumes and its extract in many aromatherapy oils. This midnight blooming flower has been referenced around the world for centuries in a multitude of lyricRead More...

Tea for teeth

Yvonne — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:49:09 +0100

A study published in General Denistry reported that drinking green tea is better for your teeth than sodas or juices. Bottled green teas do not apply as these contain citric acid and sugars. These ingredients, along with milk, are harmful because they have an erosive effect on the teeth. Green tea made at home, uRead More...

Learning to make

Yvonne — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:17:51 +0100

All of his adult life Brian Molanphy has studied how to make things. As a college student he studied bookmaking and papermaking. While participating in a European bicycle tour, he became intrigued at wood fired stoves and kilns. So he decided to learn how to make breads, pastries and ceramic pots. Then, after getting his master’s degree in ceramics, he decided to teach others how to make things. Yet, he continuRead More...

Metamorphosed teapots

Yvonne — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:31:35 +0100

Bonnie Seeman designs utilitarian ceramic teapots to reveal intimate details of living structures and anatomical features. Somehow she manages to create a magnificent vessel by showing a dissected vegetable inserted in a human organ then strategically placing an insect here or there. The combination of coloured glazes, longitudRead More...

Masquerade tea party

Yvonne — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Imagine attending a party full of brainless ladies holding cups that have fingers and saucers that appear to have the ability to walk off the table. The concept and sculpture is that of Ronit Baranga’s, created for his solo exhibition “Shells of Wings”. Additionally, Baranga received honorRead More...

Old Soul teapot

Yvonne — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Jake Jarodsky is an old soul in a young body. He knew in his teens that he would be an artist. Jake was torn between becoming a sculptor or a potter. Because of his intense undergraduate studying, he was hired as a studio aid. This is where he learned mixing glazes, kiln temperature results, glass blowing and much moreRead More...

Communicating with flowers

Yvonne — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:34:16 +0100

Artist Ursula Hargens believes flowers communicate newness, animation and flamboyance. Perhaps growing up in Nova Scotia, where four overtly identifiable seasons occur, exposed Ursula to the glory of annuals and perennials native to her homeland. Ursula’s teapots, cups and platters dance with an array of colourfulRead More...

Names for pets

Yvonne — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:12:48 +0100

What to name the new furry or feathered addition to the family is a joyous debate. Often the owner will select the pet’s physical appearance, characteristic traits, native origin or simply his/her favorite gender name. Some humans put more thought in the process, incorporating one of their own habits into the salutation. This is the case for husband and wife museum curators and writing team Ron and Janet Benrey. Featured in their stories are two British shorthairRead More...

Grappling Teapots

Yvonne — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:49:01 +0100

Mixing up form and function is a balancing act for most ceramic artists. However, this is what motivates Sam Chung to create teapots. If that is not challenging enough, Sam thrives on which role each pot shall play. Chung believes he must decide if it should be historical, tactile, decorative or ergonomically physical. These balRead More...