The Dirt

The Dirt: Frosty Friends

2011-11-04T13:41:00.001-04:00

For this month's edition of The Dirt, we're bringing you some Festive and Frosty Friends that are sure to cheer up any holiday display! Instead of painting the same green and red on everything, try this simple Snowman on a classic ornament shape!

Pssst! As your studio fills up with customers hungry for new ideas, did you know you can print our project PDF's to hand out to painters? One studio told us that they keep the projects in an inspiration binder that they keep with their idea books. The Frosty Friends PDF can be found here. Check out our Technique Sheets area for more project ideas!

Frosty Friends

Frosty never had it so good! This spunky little Snowman is sure to bring a smile to your face. Try switching up the designs and colors to make an adorable set!

MATERIALS

2061 Button Ornament
9591 Paint Dotters
9630 Detail Writer Bottles
9635 Fine Writer Tips
CN074-8 Really Red
CN141-8 Light Aqua
CN182-8 Bright Kiwi
CN253-8 Dark Black
CN504-8 Neon Orange
CN522-8 Really White Sprinkles
Assorted Royal Aqualon Brushes

TOOLS

Sponge
Ball Point Pen or Pencil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Lightly wipe ware with a damp sponge to prepare surface for painting.

2. Sketch three interlocking circles onto the ornament with ballpoint pen or pencil. You may wish to trace the circles onto contact paper, then apply the contact paper to the center of the ornament. You can use the bottom of paint bottles or round stickers to create this shape!

3. Apply a thick coat of White Sprinkles around the Snowman. Use short brush strokes to evenly spread the sprinkles. Tip: You may want to prop your ornament on a stilt so you can easily access each side as the paint dries. Once the wash is dry, remove the contact paper by lifting the edge with a straight pin.

4. Add a little water to the Light Aqua. Using a round brush, fill in the snowman shape with a thin wash.

5. Using a thin brush, paint small dashes of color along the head and body of the snowman to create a scarf. Alternate using Really Red and Bright Kiwi to create a striped scarf and toboggan.

6. Using a Detail Writer with a fine tip, outline the snowman in short Dark Black strokes. Add dots and short dashes of black to create the effect of movement. Then, you can add black buttons, eyes, a mouth, and stick arms. Create a carrot nose with a short stroke of Neon Orange.

7. Dip a small paint dotter into the Really Red and create a dotted outline around the edge of the ornament. Fill in the spaces in between each dot with smaller Bright Kiwi dots. (We used the rounded end of a paintbrush.)

8. Using a fine tip detail writer, paint small snowflakes around the snowman in Bright Aqua.

9. Finish your ornament with a message along the bottom of the Snowman and on the opposite side of the ornament! You can write a holiday message, a family name or the year.

10. Let Dry. Dip in Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze. Fire to cone 06.

As always, there's tons more ideas and inspiration to be found in our Resources area. Good luck, and enjoy the Holiday season!

What time is it? It's Warm Glass Clock Time!!!

2011-11-01T15:17:00.001-04:00

Fall Back. My least favorite time of year. Don't get me wrong, Fall is my favorite time of the year...cooler air, leaves changing, candy corn, pumpkin pie, football, etc. are all awesome. I'm just not crazy about it getting dark outside around 5 o'clock.

So, what better way to ward off the Fall Back depression than a super happy fun happy super fun project. I could think of nothing more appropriate than making a clock, or actually clocks. This way I can put them all over the place as a reminder to set my clocks this weekend and hopefully I won't come to work an hour early on Monday.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the following pics and get inspired to make your own clock! to make the clocks I decided to use white circle blanks to hide the clock body.

Clock 1

The first clock face I made didn't require the use of any tools. I used a sharpie to mark where the hour marks would go, which are represented by Cherry Red Pebbles. Then I added Yellow, Green, Purple and Blue Stringers for the minute marks. I didn't want them to all be uniform in length, so I just broke them at different lengths by grabbing all four stringers at a time and snapping them in my fingers the same way you would break a pencil, just in about 1" increments. I put a small bead of glue in between the pebbles and laid the Stringer pieces in place in random color orders. I just made sure all four colors were in between each pebble. Then I added pieces of the same four stringer colors in the center to tie it all together.

Materials:
8" White Glass Blank (#GBC8-200)
12 Cherry Red Pebbles (#GP151)
1 each of Yellow, Blue, Green and Grape Stringers from a pack of Mardi Gras Stringers (#SM96)
1 Clock Body (#8500)
1 Set of Clock Hands (8504)

Clock 2

The second clock face only required the use of one tool, the Wheeled Nippers. I did the same pebble placement for the hour marks on this one, but used black Pebbles this time. I created a rim around the clock using Red, Orange and Yellow rod dots. I nipped two full rods of each color for the border. I didn't want all the rod dots to be the same size, so I just nipped them into a bowl. In the middle of the clock I used the full color assortment of Mardi Gras Stringers and broke them the same way as the other face, by snapping them in my fingers. As I snapped the stringers, I sprinkled them in the center and tried to cover the entire area.

Materials:

8" White Glass Blank (#GBC8-200)

12 Black Pebbles (#GP1009)

2 each of Yellow, Red and Orange Rods (#RO267-72-96, #RO2502-96, and #RO2702-96)

1 Clock Body (#8500)

1 Set of Clock Hands (8503)

Clock 3

For the third one, the only tool I needed was a glass cutter. I would say this one takes a little bit of skill with the cutter and a good feel for running score lines. You'll see what I mean in a minute. I started with two blanks, one black and one white. I wanted to make a funky organic looking black rim around the white face. This is how I made the rim using the "self healing" properties of glass to my advantage. I call this the easy man's way to cutting rings, but this is what I was talking about when I said it required a little skill to do this piece. I cut the black blank in half and made a wavy arched score on one side. Then I laid the two halves back together so I could find the start and end points of the wavy arch for the second side and made that score line. Next, I gently ran the scorelines and broke out the two halves of the ring. That was the hard part. The cool thing is that the seams between the two will heal when the piece is fired. I glued the ring in place and then ran a bead of glue around the inside of the ring. Then I poured Red Opal Frit in the middle and brushed it into the glue to make the ring border. After that I made a circle of Red Opal Frit in the middle of the face and placed white pebbles to represent the hour marks and I was done!

Materials:

8" White Glass Blank (#GBC8-200)

8" Black Glass Blank (#GBC8-1009)

12 White Pebbles (#GP200)

Jar of Red Opal Frit in Medium texture (#2502-96-F3)

1 Clock Body (#8500)

1 Set of Clock Hands (8501)

After all three were made, the only thing left to do was contour fire them, drill 3/8" holes in the center for the clock bodies, and hang them on the wall.

To see pictures of the clocks before they were fired, go here

The Dirt : Handmade Holiday Plates

2011-10-19T12:05:00.000-04:00

Is there anything more rewarding than giving a handmade gift? We don't think so! Make the gift that much more special by imprinting children's hands on a piece of art that will last forever.

For this month's edition of The Dirt, we're bringing you not just one but two great plates that can be easily adapted to any holiday or time of year! With the holidays just around the corner, studios will be bustling with painters looking for inspiration.

Pssst! Did you know you can print the project PDF's to give your customers ideas? One studio keeps the projects in an inspiration binder. Check out our Technique Sheets area for more project ideas!

My Christmas Tree

This “Mommy and Me” project is one to cherish. Let the child leave their mark on the plate by decorating the Christmas tree while the parent embellishing the rim of the plate with seasonal rubber stamps.

MATERIALS

240 Rim Dinner
957-2 Really Red
9630 Light Kiwi
CN122-8 Bright Kiwi
CN352-8 Dark Kiwi
CN514-8 Dark Briarwood
CN516-8 Sunflower Yellow

TOOLS

FAB3602 Old Fashioned Gingerbread
9591 Paint Dotters

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Using a large wash brush, paint the child’s hand with Bight Kiwi and firmly stamp into center of plate.

2. Using paint dotters or the rounded end of a paint brush, allow the child to decorate the tree with dots, a base, and a star.

3. Using the Old Fashioned Gingerbread set, start to fill in the rim of the plate. Dip your leaf stamp into the Light Kiwi underglaze cup, and press firmly onto the plate. Make sure you check your paint and pressure on a piece of paper before you begin on your plate.

4. Using the candy cane stamp, dip into an underglaze cup loaded with Really Red. Stamp onto the plate, alternating directions and pressure for a varied look.

5. Go back over the rim of the plate by dipping the leaf stamp into the Dark Kiwi. Overlap with the light kiwi leaves to add dimension.

6. Finish the pattern by dipping the Gingerbread Man stamp into Dark Briarwood.

7. You may wish to add the child’s name with a thin detail brush around the base of the tree.

8. Let dry. Dip in Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze. Fire to Cone 06.

Nora's Menorah

What has nine lights and ten fingers? This adorable menorah plate, of course! Add an accent rim to make this project pop off the plate!

MATERIALS

240 Rim Dinner
CN042-8 Bright Papaya
CN142-8 Bright Aqua
CN253-8 Dark Black
CN511-8 Sunflower Yellow
CN518-8 Delft Sprinkles
CN519-8 Aqua Sprinkles
CN520-8 Caribbean Sprinkles
CN522-8 Really White Sprinkles

TOOLS

Assorted Royal Aqualon Brushes
Detailing Tape
Paper Plate
Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Using a large wash brush, paint the child’s hands with Bright Aqua and firmly stamp into center of plate, making sure to overlap the thumbs.

2. Using a thin round brush, paint simple black strokes to create the shape of the menorah around the handprints.

3. Create candles with a swipe of Sunflower Yellow and Bright Papaya.

4. Begin laying out your rim design by cutting varying strips of detailing tape. Lay them around the rim and smooth them down with the tapered end of a paint brush to prevent from leaks.

5. Once you have your rim design in place, cut a paper plate to fit over the menorah.

6. Start to fill in your sections by alternating Sprinkles colors. We chose not to follow a pattern, but rather to fill in randomly!

7. You may wish to add the child’s name with a thin detail brush around the base of the menorah.

8. Let dry. Dip in Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze. Fire to Cone 06.

As always, there's tons more ideas and inspiration to be found in our Resources area. Good luck, and enjoy the Holiday season!

Studio Spotlight : DoItYourself Crafts

2011-10-19T08:46:00.001-04:00

What do you call a person whose mind never stops conjuring up innovative ideas? A person that not only thinks of great ideas, but then calls to tell you about the idea so you can benefit from it too. I call that person Julia McNair.

All of Julia’s past experiences laid the foundation for her longtime career : owner of Do*It*Yourself Crafts in Birmingham, AL. The experience she garnered from her work in sports marketing (public relations), retail accounting (inventory management), anthropology studies (history of ceramics), project management for an engineering firm (strategic planning) and even her time working in a bookstore and coffee shop (customer service) have help lay the foundation for the successful business woman she has become. She is the perfect example of the fact that all experiences are useful ones.

You can’t help but like Julia McNair. She’s not afraid to try something new and when she does it is always well-thought and she has every detail covered. Plus, she has that southern charm that we all love.

So with all of that varied experience, how did Julia end up in the paint-your-own pottery industry? After a management change in a job that she once loved, Julia found herself ready for a change of her own. While considering her options (law school being one), she found herself crafting. Her ultimate decision was to open her own crafting business that included both scrapbooking and rubber stamping but also offered a variety of crafting options. She had painted pottery before but didn’t intend to include that in her store line up. However, as a few local studios started to close, Julia decided to dedicate a 4’ section of her studio to pottery painting. As the interest in different craft offerings changed throughout the years, Julia responded accordingly. She brought in more of what worked and got rid of what didn’t. She was wise to listen to her customers and to pay attention to what they want. Today, she has a studio full of pottery, plus glass fusing, silver clay, tie-dye and mosaics. Clay is also becoming a bigger part of the studio’s repertoire. And if I know Julia, which I do, it will be a success!

A self-described dilettante, Julia truly enjoys trying lots of things. She is not afraid to experiment and enjoys the process of creating a plan from start to finish. One of her gifts is that she is good at helping customers. Not just in a customer service way, but helping them realize that they can create something themselves. When someone enters her studio and says, “I can’t paint.” – Julia’s response is, “Neither can I.” Julia helps to demystify the process to a reluctant customer, which is pretty powerful. We could all use a little of that!

Having owned her studio for 12 ½ years Julia has seen a lot of growth in the industry. Her favorite thing about our little world is how much peers help each other. She loves that her fellow studio owners operate under the understanding that every good idea they have can be enhanced by someone else. The willingness to share ideas is evident when you see a group of studios together. Julia loves attending PYOP events and watching and listening to studio owners. They truly love what they do and want the best for their colleagues – not just themselves. Her philosophy is that anything she can do to help the industry helps her – even if it doesn’t directly affect her. As Julia says, “In the end the circle comes around.”

In the same way studio owners enjoy watching their peers succeed, they relish in providing a positive experience for their customers. Julia loves that her store is a part of so many people’s memories. “Every Christmas hundreds of gifts are unwrapped that were made with our help,” said Julia. “My biggest honor is helping people make things that they cherish.”

So what are Julia’s secrets of success? She’s empathetic. She’s able to understand what the customer is looking for by truly listening to them and by paying attention to what they aren’t saying. In addition to being a business woman she is a mom. She is able to look at her business from the perspective of a parent coming in and is able to provide what her customers really want.

The team at Do*It*Yourself Crafts has a system in place that keeps things going so that Julia doesn’t have to micromanage the store. She knows that things are being taken care of and that the staff follows the plan. This assurance allows her time to figure out what she will do next. What type of event or program she’s going to implement or what her next new product launch will be. What greater gift to a growing business than a leader that is free to lead!

When asked what advice she would share with fellow studio owners, Julia recommended that companies have web presence and maintain it. “Be sure to keep your event calendar and website updated! People want to see what’s new. Engage your customers by using social media, but be sure to expand beyond that horizon. Not all of your customers are tuned in to the magic of Facebook so be sure to meet them where they are. I think the biggest lesson of all is to listen to you customers. Doing so is vital to growing your business and giving customers what they want or don’t want. Listen and respond accordingly.”

Julia is passionate about her business and our industry. Owning your own studio is one of those jobs people dream about and Julia encourages every studio owner to enjoy what they do. Sure, times can be tough and not all days are sunny, but the life of a studio owner is rewarding beyond compare.

Do what you love, love what you do!

Crista

Halloween 2011 Project Ideas

2011-10-04T12:45:00.001-04:00

Halloweentime is almost here! Are you ready for it in your studio? Customers are going to be looking for a great new piece, so make sure you update your samples from year to year! Feeling a little less than inspired? BI's got you covered.

Our glass guru, Chris, just posted a brand new project over on the Glass Bits Blog. Check it out!

For those looking for a new bisque sample, we've also just posted a fun handprint plate that's sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Enjoy this fun time in your studios. Here's to boo-tiful creations!

Add a Little JOY to Your Season!

2011-09-13T08:43:00.001-04:00

Is there anything more magical than the feeling of unearthing your boxes of Holiday decorations and displaying them around your home? We don't think so. And with ornaments of all shapes and sizes adorning one of our classic shapes, we can't help but love this project!

This month's project features an incredible platter we created with a mixture of several techniques and a whole lot of decorating fun!

With the holidays just around the corner, studios will be bustling with painters looking for inspiration. When directing them, you need look no further than the Joyful Holiday project! The concept is simple, but the possibilities are endless.

Joyful Holiday

Let your creativity shine as you design and decorate this festive plate!

Materials

191 Square Platter
9591 Paint Dotters
9630 Detail Writer Bottles
9636 Medium Writer Tips

CN074-8 Really Red
CN142-8 Bright Aqua
CN182-8 Bright Kiwi
CN183-8 Dark Kiwi
CN202-8 Bright Grey
CN244-8 Really White
CN518-8 Delft Sprinkles
CN519-8 Aqua Sprinkles
CN522-8 Really White Sprinkles
R2250-6 Aqualon Round #6 Brush
Assorted Royal Brushes

Tools

Pencil
Ruler
Sponge

Instructions

1. Lightly wipe ware with a damp sponge to prepare surface for painting.

2.Outline where you would like your ornaments to hang on your plate. You may want to use a ruler to sketch your strings.

3. Start with the background color of each ornament, then layer color and designs on top! We outlined each ornament with a detail writer to get a crisp edge. Then, we filled in several coats with a Round Royal Aqualon brush.

4. Once you have your background painted, you can fill detail writers with accent colors of your choosing. We chose to use CN244 and CN522 to make the designs pop.

5. Use paint dotters to make patterns, or layer different colors of blue and white to create a snow globe effect.

6. For our Christmas tree ornament, we carved out texture with the tapered end of a Royal Brush.

7. Now you are ready to write your message! We outlined our words with pencil, then filled in the letters with a detail writer of CN074.

8. Let dry. Glaze and fire to cone 06.

Tip: Keep it simple by sticking to a handful of colors. That way, your patterns and designs will really shine on the piece, while still feeling cohesive and festive!

For more project ideas and holiday fun, check out our updated Gallery! Happy Painting.

Christmas at BI

2011-08-12T09:42:00.000-04:00

We're only 27 days away from the CCSA Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. Yes, we know it's only August. But we can't help it! CCSA time is like Christmas. We love all the hustle and bustle, new treats and fun things to do.

Kelci has been living in the studio, painting day and night to get everything ready to go. Of course we can't show you all our fun new projects just yet...but we can show you a little bit of our process!

We've got new glass, bisque, products and games ready to go. And guess what? We're driving it all down ourselves the day before. That's right, the entire BI Crew is piling into a van to make the trek to Alabama. Sound like a crazy idea? It is. Who knows what will happen when seven creatives join together for a wacky road trip. We can only imagine. Stay tuned for tales from the road.

Wire Decorators

2011-07-27T15:13:00.003-04:00

Do your stencil and stamp designs leave a little to be desired? If you've looked for easier tools with better results, you're not alone! These wire decorator tools are great for getting the look you want with much less effort. We were excited to try these after a few of our customers recommended them to us. And what a great recommendation that was! Once we got started, we were able to create this beautiful platter in no time.

Each kit comes with a set of directions and a tin for your paint. Simply select the shape you want, dip into your paint tin, and stamp onto the piece! Make sure to dip your tool back into the paint between each application. It's also important to keep a thick layer of paint in your tin, so that the tool picks up an even amount. (Tip: in order to waste less paint, let the tins dry once you're done and create paint chips!)

We think these tool will be great for beginners and seasoned artists alike, since the possibilities and combinations are endless. The kits come with nine different shapes that you can mix and match to create patterns or shapes. We had a lot of fun with this project, and it was super simple!

Hydrangea Haven

Your customers will love this sweetly springy platter!

Materials

177 Metropolitan Coupe Platter
CN112-8 Bright Delft
CN121-8 Light Nautical
CN182-8 Bright Kiwi
CN202-8 Bright Grey
CN244-8 Really White
CN263-8 Dark Grape
CN342-8 Bright Pink
CN505-8 Neon Green

Tools

KDS13 Decorator Set 1

9599 Hydra Art Sponge

9630 Detail Writer Bottle
9636 Medium Writer Tip

R2850-4 Royal Aqualon Fan Brush No. 4

RAQUA144 Assorted Royal Aqualon Brushes

1. Lightly wipe ware with a damp sponge to prepare surface for painting.

2. Layer CN244 and CN112 and CN121 on your palette. Dip a fan brush into the paint mixture, making sure to keep the colors separate. Spread in long horizontal strokes across the platter to create a sky. Remember to frequently refresh the paints to keep the colors distinct.

3. Apply a quick coat of CN505 with a fan brush along the bottom of your platter. Create details in the grass with a quick light stroke of CN182.

4. Using your square spiral wire tool, create butterflies with CN342, CN263 and CN262. Add lines and dots in alternating colors. Then, create the small butterflies with the diamond Kemper tool.

5. Dip the spiral tool into CN342. Start creating the shape of your hydrangea, dipping the tool into the paint between each application. Let CN342 dry for about ten minutes and start your second layer with CN262. Once that layer has dried, add a final layer of CN244 with your spiral tool to blend the colors.

6. Use a Detail Writer filled with CN202 to fill in the shape of the flowers.

7. Add stems to your flowers using CN505 with CN182 accents.Alternate the leaf wire tool on either side of the stem.

8. Let dry. Dip in Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze and fire to cone 06.

We hope you enjoy this project! While you're at it, make sure to check out our improved Resources area with tons of Technique Sheets!

Happy painting :)

Studio Spotlight: Bisque Imports Studio Advisory Board

2011-07-19T13:33:00.001-04:00

Pictured from Left: Stephanie Magennis, Trisha King, Hillary Moulliet, Katie Yallaly, Shana Bridges, Julia McNair

I love working on a team. Hearing other people’s opinions and ideas is refreshing and helps the entire organization move forward together. Listening to our customers and acting on what they say is even better!

Earlier this year, the Bisque Imports Crew invited six of our customers to become the inaugural Studio Advisory Board. They graciously agreed to join us for a two-day discussion about how Bisque Imports can be a better partner to our customers and better member of the industry at large. Since they share the same values and passion for the industry as we do the guidance these studio owners gave us has been of utmost importance and value as we move forward. We asked for their feedback and boy did we get it! These savvy studio owners know what they want and were collectively a great voice of inspiration and to us. They challenged us to look at the way we present our products, gave us direction in product design and helped us understand what is really important to our customers. We have already begun implementing many of their suggestions and are working diligently to fulfill the items on their wish lists. It was really a fun meeting and we enjoyed the opportunity to get to know each other better personally and professionally.

The people within our industry are such a great resource! I have not seen other industries share as much as paint-your-own pottery studios and am always pleased to hear from any customer that calls with ideas, comments and constructive criticism. As our mission statement indicates: Bisque Imports exists to make our customers, company and industry successful through determination, creativity and passion.

Thank you to our Studio Advisory Board for sharing your time, ideas and passion for the industry with us!

Stephanie Magennis
Ceramics In The City
Denver, CO
http://www.ceramicsinthecity.com/

Trisha King
The Royal Brush
Columbia, TN
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Royal-Brush/115943734430?sk=info

Hillary Moulliet
Art Space Studio
Charlotte, NC
http://www.artspacestudio.com/

Katie Yallaly
Doing Dishes
Jacksonville, FL
http://www.doingdishes.com/#!

Shana Bridges
Sunshine Glaze
Southlake, TX
http://www.sunshineglaze.com/

Julia McNair
Do It Yourself Crafts
Birmingham, AL
http://doityourselfcrafts.com/

Do what you love, love what you do!

-Crista

New Glass Bits Blog

2011-07-12T09:57:00.000-04:00

Hello friends! We've got a new glass project for you! Head over to our Glass Bits Blog to check out the Nifty Name Plaque Project. http://bit.ly/oSMFTc

From now on, all project ideas and blog content will be located here, so you're in the right place! Chris will still be bringing us all the best advice on glass fusing, and Crista will serve up the studio spotlight, while I'll bring you everything in between! Now it's one blog with three times the content. Sounds pretty sweet to us.

We're working away on tons of great things that will soon be coming down the pipeline, straight into your studio. Stay tuned!

A Letter From a Friend

2011-06-29T14:49:00.000-04:00

We recently received an email from one of our favorite people. She needs our help, and you can help too! Ready? Okay. Read on!

"Greeting from Afghanistan!

Hey Ladies & Gentlemen! Remember me? Amanda from Hearts of Clay, but now I’m Amanda from Afghanistan….well, temporarily anyhow. I think everyone knows that I sold my beloved PYOP for the fun & excitement of an 1-year, all expenses paid trip to the mountains of Afg, thanks to the great US Army. Well, we are having a fun time here, as much as can be had. But, the reason I am emailing…..

Once a week I volunteer at hospital here on base that treats sick & injured Afghan men, woman, and children. Well, when I say volunteer, what I really mean is I go hang out with the kids, read, play school-yard games, and assist with a small literacy program. You know, kinda what we do in our studios, but with armed guards, and no glazing afterwards. These children have really touched my heart and I want to do everything I can to make a difference and make their world a little brighter.

This is where I need your help. I need used children’s shoes. So I am asking you to consider having a shoe drive this summer at your studio.

FAQs:

Why used shoes? Over the 10 years, there have been several shoe drives such as the one I am trying to have, and new American shoes have been found their way to the market to get sold. Used shoes won’t sell at the market, so the kids get to keep them. Yes, this is a sad fact of their way of life.

Why Aug 4^th? Its my husband’s birthday. Other than that, no real reason, your studio can pick whatever date is convenient for you. We will set aside a date approx 2 weeks after all the shipments come in to hand out the shoes, and we will have pictures of the happy kids & their shoes!

Why do these children not have shoes? Well, the Taliban is a fundamentalist Islamic group that, once they took over Afg, banned women from working outside the home. So, when most the male members of the families died in the last 30 years of war, women have very little means to provide for their children. Any money earned goes towards food.

OK, I have shoes….where do I send them?

Amanda Kane

228^th TTSB

BAF

APO, AE 09354

Thank you so much for your help, and I hope you choice to take on this small project that will have a lasting impact on these children for years. "

Your Summer Camp Domination Station

2011-06-27T08:09:00.000-04:00

Now that summer is in full blast (just like your air conditioners, if your weather is anything like ours!) you may be looking for some tips and ideas to refresh your summer camp program.

You've probably hosted a few sessions by now, and are just now getting a feel for what works and what doesn't. Let's face it: hosting a group of kids every day of the week while keeping them interested and inspired isn't the easiest job. After five years of running the summer camp program with one of my close coworkers, I certainly understand how camp can be: even when you know what you're doing! Few studio tasks are as challenging and rewarding at the same time. We don't want your camp experience to just be “okay”, we want to see your programs flourish!

So we thought we'd give you a few pointers, and would love to hear your feedback. What works for you? What doesn't?

We'll start with some ideas on how to gain interest for your camps. Tips won't be of any help if you don't have campers, now will they?

Print flyers explaining the program with prices and times.
Staple camp information to each customer receipt and make sure your employees are knowledgeable about your programs.
Offer two-for-one or sibling discounts when parents sign up two campers. Promote any specials you have in your email list!
Switch up your curriculum each week to encourage parents to sign up their children for multiple sessions.
Dedicate a shelf in your store to displaying the latest and greatest camp artwork. This will get the conversation going and raise interest in your programs!

Phew. Now that you've gotten them signed up, what are you going to do with them? Without further ado, we present:

OUR TESTED, TRIED, TRUE AND TOP TEN TRICKS TO ROCKING SUMMER CAMP.

Schedule your camp with your other customers in mind. It helps to have camp in either a time or place that will minimize it's impact on your other customers. Try starting camps an hour before you open in the morning, or host them in a private room or out of the way table. Whatever you can do to keep the group contained will benefit your other business tremendously.
Start the week by playing a few introductory games with the kids. If they feel more comfortable with you and the other campers, I guarantee it will make your job easier! When the kids can interact, they'll be more excited and involved with the projects. Go around the table and ask names, grades, and a funky fact. Don't forget to include yourself! (Campers love to hear that you're in "30^th grade" ;))
After getting to know the kids a little bit, you'll be able to give more personal and helpful instruction. But sometimes, two or four hands just isn't enough. Ask the campers who wants to be your “helper” for the day. Sounds crazy, but I promise you'll get some volunteers! The kids will feel special getting to go behind the counter to wash palettes and spray the table to clean up. This works really well when you're stretched to your limit!
Have a few small prizes for the kids. Sometimes, we'd offer a lollipop or a silly band to the best behaved camper that day. But my favorite game of all is “I Spy a Magic Scrap”. After messy cutting, painting, or mosaic projects, fix your eye on a single piece of paper or blob of paint. Then, tell the children that they have 2-3 minutes to clean up. Whoever cleans the spot you picked out gets a prize. Kids get really excited about this game and it will do wonders for the strenuous transitions between projects!
Try to avoid down time however possible. The last thing you need is a hyper group of kids running around the studio! Plan a few “filler” projects to do with the kids should one of your projects finish early, or if all the kids are working at different paces. Some of my go tos are: Origami Fortune Tellers 7-up (or 3-up, if you don't have many campers!) or Perler Bead projects that you can make into magnets for an easy Make and Take on the last day of camp. We even painted a hang man and tic-tac-toe game on one of our 8'' tiles for campers to use with dry erase markers.
Engage with your parents, too. If you notice a child is having trouble, ask if the parents have any ideas. Open lines of communication will make the parents feel more at ease (and much more likely to spread the word about your fabulous program to friends)
Have your kids decorate their own camp bags on the first day. (Make sure their name is prominent and easy to read!) That way, as projects finish throughout the week, you can stuff them into their bags. On the last day, they'll have their projects all in one place and ready to go! Easy-peasy.
A fun project for the last day of camp: have your kids make thank you cards for their parents. I like to teach them how to make pop-up cards with messages inside. The parents will really appreciate the extra thought.
Make sure you have parents fill out basic information on their children, including doctor's numbers, emergency contacts and any allergies that they may have. You never want to be in a situation where you don't have this info!
And finally, the number one most important thing you can possibly know about managing summer camps: PLAN! Plan, plan, plan. NOTHING will replace forethought and insight into your campers' and studio's needs. Have a well thought out (but incredibly flexible!) schedule made up before the first day of camp. It's always a good idea to stay one step ahead of the camp. While the children work on one project, get started setting up for the other so you can quickly transition once they're finished. If possible, set the projects up at different tables so once the kids are done they can just switch over and leave clean up for later. Nothing creates chaos faster than rushing to catch up with the schedule. You can recycle the flow from week to week, and by the end of the summer, you'll be a time management pro and a camp counselor champion all in one!

Woohoo! Now you've got ten more butt-kicking tools in your toolbox. The next time that first camper walks in your studio door--you'll be ready!

Ice Cream Party

2011-06-20T14:05:00.000-04:00

We all stay really busy around here, so not everyone gets a chance to paint. We've got a fun new promotion coming up, so we took the opportunity to get everyone into the studio to paint, as well as have a little ice cream party!

Everyone chose their bowls, picked out some colors and went over techniques. Then the crew got to work! We had a blast painting together...it was really fun to see everyone's different styles come out, as well as our similarities!

Two weeks later, we got together and had an ice cream party to use our freshly fired bowls. It was delicious and a great way to break up a Friday.

Among the most popular tools were our
Paint dotters
Detail writers
Decorating wheels

Lots of people used bright, summery Duncan paints like 505, 302 and 511. The Really White Sprinkles were used as well, and they ended up looking a lot like the real thing!

This could be a great project for your summer camps. You could paint the bowls on the first day and have them fired in time for a little end of the week party!

Here are a few photos of our finished products. You can check out more on our Flickr.

Coffee For a Cause

2011-06-15T15:52:00.000-04:00

When we heard that one of our customers is raising money for their adoption through an organization named Just Love Coffee, we jumped at the chance to spread the word.

The organization lets families set up accounts which donate a portion of the proceeds to their fund. Just yesterday, we bought the "African Skies" and "Hello Sunshine" blend. We're excited about the new treat, but more importantly, we're excited that our simple purchase is going toward the Roberts' adoption fund.

You can help too! For the same price as your normal grocery store coffee, you can visit the site, do a little shopping, and enter "Roberts" in the beneficiary line. Voila! Within minutes you'll have fresh coffee beans on the way and at the same time, be helping this sweet family.

We truly believe that communities are capable of wonderful things when they work together. Why not use our crafty crew to benefit people in need? Here are a few ideas to spread the word even further:

1. Repost this blog or our Facebook status to your site

2. Buy some bags for your Dad, Grandpa or Hubby this weekend

3. Order a few items from the site to sell in your studio

4. Post a link to Just Love Coffee on your studio website

We like win-win situations, who doesn't? It's pretty simple. Buy beans, help a family. Thanks for your help. We're so grateful for the opportunity to support others.

Studio Spotlight: Paint Yourself Silly

2011-06-14T09:19:00.001-04:00

Paint Yourself Silly: Lincoln, NE
http://www.paintyourselfsilly.net/

If your business is named Paint Yourself Silly, you must have a great sense of fun. So I was pretty enthused about the opportunity to road trip through Nebraska and Kansas with Jenn Bassen.

The adventure began with a visit to Jenn’s 11-year-old studio at the Haymarket in downtown Lincoln. The studio is bursting with life, color and inspiration in even the tiniest places. It’s one of those places that you can go to every day and something new pops out at you each time. The staff, which could be affectionately called the Silly team, is sensational. They make you feel welcome and any friend of Jenn’s is a friend of theirs too.

As I admired the painted pieces around the studio and I jokingly insinuated that I would love to have a particular piece. Generously and without a second thought, Jenn handed me the piece and pronounced it mine. That lovely piece created by Jenn herself, is now in my home and is a constant reminder of Jenn’s creative spirit.

No stranger to the entrepreneurial lifestyle, Jenn and her husband Trevor opened Canine Consultants & Pet Supply in 1991; a company which provides dog training and retails pet food and supplies. So opening another business wasn’t a stretch.

Jenn has always loved art. She studied it in college and has had the pleasure of always being surrounded by talented people. When her brother was in college he made a mug for her -- that simple gift inspired a new business venture. Jenn thought it would be cool to have a place where people could create art and have access to art supplies. Having read about pottery she bought a kiln and started experimenting. At the time, she had not heard of the paint-your-own pottery concept but had learned that bisque shapes were available and were ready to paint.

When a studio called Creative Clayworks opened Jenn told the owner that she would love to buy the business if they decided to sell. In the meantime, Jenn hosted painting parties in her house and ultimately decided that she could open a studio on her own and run it the way she saw it. Thanks to Jenn’s drive (and one banker that could see the validity of Jenn’s dream) allowed her to move forward with her desire to make art accessible to many people. Seven years after receiving the hand-made mug from her brother, Jenn opened Paint Yourself Silly. Seven years later, she opened her second studio in the Pioneer Woods area in Lincoln.

One of the things I admire about Jenn is that she can be inspired by others, but remains true to her own vision of how things can be. She is always open to new ideas and has a realistic yet unique view of things. Jenn is brave enough to put her own twist on her approach to life, relationships and to her business. That takes courage.

The Paint Yourself Silly studios focus on fired arts – primarily paint-your-own pottery, finished ware and glass fusing. They do a lot of custom work and anything that Jenn creates is for sale.

Jenn loves that the fired arts they provide in her studios appeal to different types of people. While painting is certainly the most popular choice, she notes that customers that have a more detailed approach to creativity seem to prefer glass fusing since it is a more precise art than painting. As Jenn says, “It might look like spray painted macaroni when you put it in the kiln, but it comes out awesome.”

It is Jenn’s hope that everyone has a strong sense of welcome and belonging when they come to her studios. She is personal and playful and enjoys making others happy and comfortable. When in one of the studios, one cannot help but feeling that Paint Yourself Silly is where they belong at that very moment. She loves having a place where people can come to create, celebrate and even play hooky!

One of her favorite things about the industry is, “Knowing all these wonderful, creative, capable people.” How cool that we are in an industry of people that truly care about each other’s success and are willing to share their ideas and experiences with their colleagues? When Jenn began developing relationships with other studio owners she thought “these are my people.” She even traveled to Vietnam with a friend that she met through CCSA (Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association) to spend time with children in an orphanage. We are in a truly unique industry when we can forge relationships like that.

To Jenn, Silly’s (as she calls it) is not just a business, it’s personal. The studios are as much a part of her life as her family and she values her relationship with her employees. Her approachable style allows her employees to talk to her about anything; she likes to think that no subject is taboo. She enjoys the flexibility that owning her own studio provides and thanks to fantastic employees, she has been able to work behind the scenes more in the past few years.

Paint Yourself Silly is an active force in the community. They work on projects with schools, museums and the zoo and they donate time, energy and goods wherever possible. Like many studios Jenn allows WIPs (works in progress) to be stored in her studio. True to the Silly way of doing things there is a slight twist. Jenn washes the paint off the pieces, fires them and then hosts a painting event for at risk/ underprivileged kids.

One of my favorite questions in the studio spotlight is “tell me something unique about you.” Jenn’s answer…Roller Derby! Jenn is a member of the No Coast Derby Girls and loves it! On a recent trip to Bisque Imports she even brought her skates! She is a truly unique individual and lets others be unique too. She embraces the fact that there are so many types of people in the world and the fact that she gets to enjoy them each day.

If more people subscribed to Jenn’s joyful attitude and ability to put a twist on what she says to ensure it comes out in the nicest possible way, we would surely live with a little more happiness and a better quality of life. A phrase that Jenn spoke reminded me of something my grandmother always told me, “Remember to be kind.” What a great way to live!

I spent a lot of time with Jenn during our road trip through Nebraska and Kansas -- we talked a lot. One of the points that Jenn brought up really stands out to me. She said, “I think if you have boundless energy for things you love to do, if you love something it tends to flourish. People sense that.”

That sentiment is so true and is why I like to say -- do what you love, love what you do.

To learn more about Jenn and Paint Yourself Silly, visit http://www.paintyourselfsilly.net/

Cheers!

Come together...

2011-06-14T09:07:00.000-04:00

Good morning, everyone!

Just wanted to drop by and let you know that we're going to be making a few changes in the BI Blogosphere. From now on, all Glass Bits and Studio Spotlights blogs are going to be posted here. So The Dirt will officially be Bisque Imports' one and only blog, your source for all things AWESOME.

We'll have several contributors: Chris, the Glass Guru; Crista, bringing you Studio Spotlights; and me, filling in everything in between! Plus a whole lot of new ideas, tips, techniques and tidbits to inspire and educate you. One big happy family.

We hope you'll leave our little corner of the internet with a smile on your face and a fresh idea in your head. Here's to new adventures!

Talk soon,
Kelci

Hello, hello!

2011-06-09T09:15:00.004-04:00

Hey Everyone!

I'm Kelci and I'm officially the newest member of the Bisque Imports crew. I'm so excited to get started here. I've worked at a pottery studio in Charlotte for the last six or so years, so it's really fun to get to see another side of the industry while expanding on my background and passion.

Creativity and innovation are a huge part of my life, so I'm incredibly fortunate to be working in this industry, surrounded by people that share my passion! I can't wait to get to know each one of you personally. Here's a bit about me:

I'm Texas born, North Carolina and Pennsylvania raised, a Gamecock fan, a travel enthusiast, vegetarian, double jointed, family oriented, a mustard lover and a ketchup hater, and extremely loyal, determined, glass-half-full and goofy. Who are you? I'd love to know!

In the upcoming months, check back for some new things happening here on the blog. We've got a lot of fun changes happening, and I can't wait to share them with you! Get ready for loads more fun content, ideas, and general awesomeness from your friends at BI.

Talk soon,
Kelci

Get Revved Up for Father's Day!

2011-04-21T09:45:00.005-04:00

Father's Day is Sunday June 19th, and although June sounds far away, it's time to start planning out your studio samples and displays to celebrate dear ol' Dad!

Whether your Dad is your super hero, a grill master or king of the road, there are plenty of ways to personalize pottery gifts that match his interests. For the Dad that's always there to save the day, let him know he's your super hero with a themed beer mug. For the Grill Master in your life, paint a special Father's Day platter using handprints from everyone in the family. And for the King of the Road, a race car themed change tray will keep him organized when he's on the go!

Super Hero Beer Mug

This super hero Beer Mug says:

Here's to you, Dear Ol' Dad

For all the sweat and toil

For all the times you checked my tires

and changed my oil

I hope you always know

You are my super hero.

Cheers!

No need to include a card with Dad's super hero mug. After it's fired, have everyone in the family write a special message to Dad and sign the mug using Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens. These pens make it easy for young children (and adults) to write on glazed pottery!

Grill Master Platter

If your Dad is hands-down the best Grill Master, he will really appreciate this #177 Metropolitan Coupe Platter for serving up his tastiest treats. Personalize this platter by having everyone in the family add their handprints in a different color.

Race Car Change Tray

For Fathers that are always on the go, a race car themed change tray will help keep these busy Dads organized! For this project, we re-purposed the #1020 Soap Dish into a change tray; It's the perfect size for collecting Dad's odds and ends when he empties his pockets out at night. Fuse Car Tots around the rim of the tray to add a playful new dimension to this change tray!

Quick Marketing Tip

While you're planning your Father's Day samples and displays for your studio, you will want to incorporate some of these top-selling Father's Day bisque shapes: beer mugs, large platters, frames and business card holders. Check out all these shapes and more at Bisque Imports.

Mother's Day and Auction Ideas

2011-03-18T09:25:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day is May 8th! Moms work around the clock, so take this special day to give Mom a personalized, hand-painted ceramic gift! Mother's Day is an optimal time to encourage Dad to bring the kid's in to paint something for Mom! Give Mom the afternoon off and let the kids create hand-painted ceramic keepsakes for her.

Mom's Escape

Give Mom a mental escape to paradise with this beach inspired Vino Goblet. We used Duncan Caribbean Sprinkles for the inside of the goblet and Ginger Sprinkles for the sand around the base. A great trick for creating perfect white lines for the beach ball stripes is to mask off this area with masking tape before applying color! This simple trick will help your customers create professional looking pieces with ease! Use a Square Shader Paint Brush from Royal Brush to add the black checkered details around the rim in a few simple strokes. Then top it all off with a pair of Small Flip Flop Tag-Alongs. Use Duncan French Dimensions to temporarily hold the flip flops in place during glazing. Once they are fired, they will be permanently fused to the base of the goblet! Lastly, a coat of Duncan Pure Brilliance Clear Dipping Glaze will ensure that this beach-inspired Vino Goblet is food-safe! Cheers!

Easy #1 Mom Frame

This Small Charleston Frame is super fun and easy to create! This is a great project for the kids to make for mom. Select 6 paint colors, grab your EZ Dotz wheel and start creating dots. If you don't have an EZ Dotz Wheel (you can get one from Bisque Imports) or use the rounded end of a brush handle. Dip the EZ Dotz or brush handle into paint and dab color onto the bisque. Once your piece is covered in dots, use Paint Dotters or a small sponge to apply color to the inside and outside rim of the frame to give it a nice finished look. Finally, paint a #1 Mom and Small Flip Flop Tag-Alongs. For the #1 Mom Tag-Along, you don't have to paint around each letter. Simply paint the entire face of the Tag-Along one solid color - yes, you just paint right over the letters. Let it partially dry, and use the angled-end of a brush handle to scrape away the paint and reveal the letters. Wow!

Mom's Favorite

Mom won't be able to resist her precious baby's footprints! This is a plate that she will keep forever. When her baby's footprints are a size 11, she will cherish the memory of how tiny they used to be. The Spoleto Plate Collection perfectly frames footprint and handprints! Use Mom's favorite colors and add a funky border to really personalize this plate for your one-of-a-kind Mom!

These hand-painted gifts from the heart will make priceless memories for Mom! For more Mother's Day ideas visit our Gallery!

School Auction projects are another way to capture the memories from the school year! These projects give your studio a chance to show off how creative you can be while helping local schools raise money!

Popcorn Bowl

This bold and colorful #225 Coupe Serving Bowl is a fun and functional school auction project idea. Each child does three fingerprints using Duncan Concepts colors (2 in Light Ginger and 1 in Light Saffron). The finger prints should be close together to form a popcorn kernel. Add each child's name to their popcorn kernel using a Detail Writer Bottle with Medium Tip filled with black Duncan Concepts. Decorate the outside of the bowl with retro popcorn colors like Really Red, Bright Saffron and Dark Black. Create professional-looking straight lines using masking tape to cover the areas that will remain white. Also, you can add several smaller coordinating personal serving bowls to make a complete set.

For more fabulous school auction ideas visit our School Auction Gallery!

Kisses and Hugs and Pottery I Love

2011-01-05T11:21:00.001-05:00

Crank up the love songs on the radio and get in touch with your inner teddy bear this Valentine's Day! We chose a "Kisses and Hugs" theme for our Valentine's Day samples! Learn how to create an XO Platter, make your own lip prints and paint a Huggy Salt and Pepper Set.

XO Platter - In the language of lovebirds, X stands for kisses and O means hugs. Create this kiss-ably-cute dish.

Lip Smacker Cup - We've all done handprints and footprints, so why not put a twist on it for Valentine's Day with lip prints! That's right- have your customers paint their lips (warn them not to eat the paint - yuck!) and kiss the rim of this Big Rim Cup. Create your own lip prints.

Huggy Salt and Pepper Shaker Set - Shake things up this Valentine's Day with this incredibly adorable hugging couple. Create this lovable project.

We created all our Valentine's Day projects this year based on our "Kisses and Hugs" theme, but you can choose your own theme. Here are some ideas:
1. Love birds - Bird related graphics are trendy right now!
2. Lovely Lace - Create intricately designed pottery in a few easy steps using lace.
3. Love Letters - Use a variety of Bisque Imports Letters to spell out how you're feeling this Valentine's Day.

Kisses and Hugs,
The Bisque Imports Crew

No Bake Marabu Pens

2010-11-15T12:22:00.001-05:00

There are things that just make life easier - like hitting every green light on the way to work, having seat warmers, and the automatic shut off feature on coffee makers. All these conveniences make me smile! So in the spirit of green light commutes, Bisque Imports is now offering No Bake Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens! Now tell me that doesn't make you smile! I see you smiling... :)

Shannon Hegger painted this beautiful Christmas Charger and I personalized it with a Red Metallic No Bake Marabu Ceramic Painter Pen.

So here's the scoop: Bisque Imports is still carrying Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens that you have to bake in your oven for 30 minutes at 340 degrees Fahrenheit. But now we also offer No Bake pens in regular and metallic colors. The No Bake pens have a blue teacup on them that distinguishes them from the regular Marabu pens. After a 24 hour drying time, the no bake paint is dishwasher-safe, but it dries to the touch much faster. If you make a mistake, use a dab of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to remove the paint.

If you see this blue teacup on your Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens it means they are dishwasher-safe without oven fixation.

Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens are ideal for use in your studio during this time of year. Pair them with a glazed piece of pottery to create a make-it-take-it option for all those last minute shoppers! Marabu pens are also ideal for use with signature platters, personalizing custom plates, signing your glass art, or adding last minute details to any glazed pottery or glass art.

I created this glass wreath using a clear glass blank, assorted green scrap glass, red glass rod dots and medium white frit. After fusing the glass, I used a Gold No Bake Marabu Ceramic Painter Pen to add my initials and a few accent dots.

It's a Miracle

2010-10-29T11:16:00.001-04:00

Duncan's Fired Snow is a miracle! It's snow that doesn't melt in your kiln! This specialty product is now available at Bisque Imports (Item #SY546-4) and is ideal for use during the holiday season and throughout winter!

Fired Snow adds dimensional texture that simulates the look of snow when fired. It looks like really thick paint before it's fired, but becomes porous during firing giving it a light, fluffy snow-like texture.

How to use Duncan's Fired Snow:

Use on shelf cone 04 bisque that has been painted and clear glazed.
Stir Fired Snow well to smooth consistency. Don't add water.
Apply 1 or more heavy coats of snow over unfired clear glaze.
Fire your piece to cone 06.
Water clean up.

More Tips and Techniques:

You can use a variety of tools to apply the snow including a palette knife, brush, sponge, ice cream stick or squeeze bottle. I used the angled end of a brush handle to apply Snow to Roxy, then used my finger to smooth it over.
Apply it up to 3/4 inches thick for extra dimension!
Snow may move slightly during firing.
Fired Snow can simulate more than just snow; use it for ocean foam, clouds, etc.

Duncan's Fired Snow captures the billowy magic of snow for your wintertime inspired projects!

Out of the Box Idea

This "Carrots for Reindeer" plate was created using #5727 Light Bulb Tag-Alongs in an out-of-the-box way! Tag-Alongs don't always have to be what they seem. In this sample, I painted the Light Bulbs as carrots and reindeer ears! Remember to stretch you imagination and think out side of the box!

Rubbing Alcohol Technique

2010-05-24T13:58:00.012-04:00

Create unique patterns in your ceramic glaze using rubbing alcohol. From water droplets on flat surfaces to interesting drips on vertical pieces, the rubbing alcohol technique is an easy way to create intricate patterns that appear like magic!

Materials We Used

Bisque: 700 Small Cone Vase, 140 Cereal Bowl

Duncan Colors: CN505-8 Neon Green,
CN302-8 Bright Caribbean, CN253-8 Dark Black,
PB26399 Pure Brilliance Clear Dipping Glaze
Tools: Damp Sponge, R2845-8 Aqualon Ultimate
Fan Brush, Rubbing Alcohol, R2250-4 Aqualon Round
Paint Brush

Instructions

1. Wipe off bisque with a damp sponge to remove any dust.

2. Apply a base coat of color using a fan brush for even coverage over a large area. We chose Neon Green and Bright Caribbean. It is important to choose a base coat color that is lighter than your top coat. Let dry.

3. While your base coat is drying, prepare your top coat by mixing the color of your choice with water to a thin wash consistency. We used a wash of Dark Black for our top coat.

4. Apply color wash in small sections because it is important that the top coat is still wet when you apply the rubbing alcohol.

5. Immediately add a drop of rubbing alcohol to the outside rim of the bisque using a round brush. The rubbing alcohol drop will repel the top layer of color and create a drip pattern.

6. Continue applying the wash and alcohol drips in sections till you are satisfied with the pattern created.

7. Let your artwork dry.

8. Apply a coat of Pure Brilliance clear dipping glaze and fire to cone 06 to finish your ceramic masterpiece.

The Rubbing Alcohol Technique is a great idea for summer camps and year-round workshops. Start by introducing this technique as a kid's summer camp project. Gather the campers around and watch their faces in amazement as the rubbing alcohol magically forms patterns in wet paint! Visit http://www.bisqueimports.com/ for a printable worksheet on this technique and to order your bisque and brush supplies for this project.

Bisque Pendant Light Kits

2010-05-10T09:33:00.002-04:00

Bisque Pendant Lights are an ideal way to add a personal touch to your home or studio decor while using the bisque and color that you work with every day. To create these Pendant Lights, we used a Flower Pot in an innovative way. Simply flipping it upside down turns your everyday Flower Pot into an attractive lamp shade for your pendant light.

MATERIALS WE USED:

Bisque: #615 Flower Pot

Duncan Colors: #CN511-8 Sunflower Yellow,
#CN512-8 Green Apple, #CN302-8 Bright Caribbean,
#CN122-8 Bright Nautical, #CN232-8 Bright Briarwood,
#CN253-8 Black

Tools: Pendant Light Kit, #ST332 1-1/8” Diamond Drill Bit, Drill, Sponge, Detail Brushes, Craft Yarn, Scissors, Tape

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Drill a hole in the bottom of your Flower Pot using a 1-1/8” drill bit.

2. Clean off the Flower Pot with a damp sponge to remove dust from drilling.

3. Sponge base color(s) on your Flower Pot.

4. Wrap your pot with craft yarn. Tape yarn to the inside of your pot to get started. Wrap yarn tightly. Tape the end of your yarn in place on the inside of the your Flower Pot.

5. Sponge over the yarn with colors that are darker than your base color(s). If desired, use a fan brush to add splatters.

6. Unwrap or cut the yarn off to reveal your design. If desired, use detail brushes to add finishing touches.

7. Fire and hang using one of Bisque Imports easy-to-install Pendant Light Kits.

Hoppin' Ideas for Easter

2010-02-16T07:54:00.003-05:00

Paint Your Own Pottery Studios all know that samples sell! If you paint a great sample, your customers will recreate it time and again. The trick is to create an eye-catching design that inspires the customer, but is not so complicated that it scares them off. Often times design templates, simple tricks of the trade and common art tools will help your customers achieve professional looking results with minimal effort. Here are some Easter-themed designs that we created using templates and a few clever tricks of the trade.

EASTER BUNNY PLATE

The Easter Bunny Plate was created using a template that is available to download and print for free from Bisque Imports. Using templates makes creating complex designs a breeze. Once you have printed out the template, trace it onto a #295 Athena Charger. Using Detail Writers, outline the design in black. Then fill in the design with Duncan Concepts color using your choice of detail writers or paint brushes.

Download and Print Easter Bunny with Egg Platter.

COLORFUL EASTER EGG

Show your customers how simple this Colorful Easter Egg is to create using a few tricks of the trade. Pull out a few everyday items like tape, stickers and contact paper, and like MacGyver use them to magically create this Easter Egg.

Thin pieces of tape can be used to section off each color block. Apply circle and heart-shaped stickers on the plate to mask off those areas. If you don't have stickers, you can cut your own from contact paper. Add three coats of paint to each section. When the paint is dry, peel off the tape and stickers to reveal your Colorful Easter Egg!

For more assistance, use our free template as a guide for where to apply the tape and stickers. Download and Print Easter Egg Template.

EASTER MUG

Watch your thumbprints come to life when you add a few simple details with common studio tools.

Using a Detail Writer bottle filled with black Duncan Concepts, outline your thumbprints to transform them into baby chicks and Easter eggs. Add a medium gauge tip to your detail writer bottle to create an even, thin line.

Add fluffy clouds using a small Paint Dotter or sponge.

Use a wide Fan Brush and watered down light blue paint to create the sky background. Create multi-colored grass using simple brush strokes with a round brush and two shades of green paint.

BUCKO THE EASTER BUNNY

When creating your Easter samples display be sure to include designs for a variety of skill levels. This Bucko the Bunny sample is super easy to create and requires no special tools or techniques. Plus, having a painted sample of Bucko will ensure that he hops right off your shelves and into your customer's hands!

When you're creating samples for your studio, remember to K.I.S.S (keep it simple, silly)! When you see a sample design recreated over and over by customers, you will know you have a winner!

Paint Me Technique: "Sweet" Stenciling

2010-02-01T10:48:00.001-05:00

A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes you want to add some words to your picture. Lettering can be tricky with Paint Me since everything you paint is pressed in reverse. Watch our first Paint Me Technique Video for a short and "sweet" stenciling technique that will help your customers add personalized messages to their Paint Me designs.

This is the first Paint Me Technique video that we have launched. Stay tuned for the next Paint Me Technique video episode coming soon...

Displyaing Paint Me In Your Studio

2010-01-25T11:48:00.000-05:00

Last week's video post was quite popular, so we have another Paint Me episode for you to watch! This week we are talking about Displaying Paint Me in Your Studio! There is so much advice we could lend about marketing Paint Me in your studio, but in this case a picture is worth a thousand words, so we videoed a Paint Me display in a real studio! If you’re not quite sure how to merchandise Paint Me in your studio, or you wish your display would draw in more interest, watch this Paint Me video!

And just to wet your whistle, next week's Dirt blog will feature a Paint Me Technique video using stencils. Stay tuned...

Paint Me 101

2010-01-19T08:54:00.009-05:00

I love Paint Me! It is so easy to create instant, pressable art onto t-shirts, tote bags, picture frames, dog tees and more! BI has a huge variety of “pressables” for your customers' original artwork! The printing process only takes 30 seconds and the items are ready to go! From handprint art and doodles to intricate designs, Paint Me is fabulous fun for all ages!

Watch Paint Me in action!

Bisque Imports is the exclusive North American distributor for Paint Me. To find out more about Paint Me, visit our online Paint Me Resource Center. We have an extensive Paint Me Resource Center which includes product information, marketing materials, design templates, customer comments, Facebook group link and project gallery. Plus, all this information is free! We will be adding more Paint Me videos with valuable marketing and technique tips soon!

Last Minute Gifts for the Holidays

2009-11-23T15:57:00.005-05:00

O' Marabu! O' Marabu! Your colors are so shiny! (Yes, we are already listening to holiday music here at Bisque Imports and you can't help but get it stuck in your head!)

With just a few weeks left before the holidays, encourage your last minute customers to create personalized pottery projects with Marabu Pens. Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens are an ideal "make-it-take-it" project!

By providing pre-glazed and fired pottery shapes to your customer and a selection of Marabu pens in regular and metallic colors, your customers will be able to create a masterpiece they can take home with them that day. At home, the customer will bake the plate in the oven at 340 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

Be sure to give your customer baking instructions to make their artwork permanent and include helpful tips such as being sure to put your artwork in a cold oven to bake it and removing it only once the oven has cooled to avoid thermal shock.

Get the word out! One of the best ways to get the word out about last minute gift options for your customers is to create exciting samples that are easy to recreate. In the Hanukkah display we used a coordinating Martini Glass to hold the Marabu Pens.

You can even sell the Marabu Ceramic Painter Pens to your customers so they can take their projects home to work on. Keep a stash of all the most popular colors for customers to select from!

Merry Marabu-ing!

Clay Puzzling: Playing in the Mud

2009-10-30T09:40:00.025-04:00

Everyone knows that being creative can get a little messy at times, and no one knows this better than children. Clay Puzzling is a kid-friendly handbuilding technique that is easy, fun and well...a little messy! So get ready to get dirty and give Clay Puzzling a try.

Clay Puzzling is piecing together small chunks of clay to create a larger shape - just like putting together pieces of a puzzle!

Clay Puzzling Step-by-Step

1. Select a bisque shape as your mold. Look for a shape with a flat bottom, so that your piece won't wobble. (We used the Lafayette Salad Plate and Barcelona Bowl)

2. Select your clay. Cut off a slab of clay using Wire Clay Cutters. Roll part of the slab into a coil.

3. Cut your coil into pieces using Clay Sculpting Tools. Roll each piece into a ball.

4. Press your ball into your mold. Then squish another ball next to it, slightly overlapping. Continue in this pattern until your entire mold is covered.

5. Use a wet Hydra Art Sponge to smooth over areas of your shape to give it a finished look.

6. Cover your Clay Puzzling masterpiece with plastic so it doesn't dry out too fast. Once completely dry, you can fire it according to the instructions for your clay.
7. After the initial firing, use Duncan Courtyards and Concepts to paint your piece. Fire a second time to cone 06.

We thought Clay Puzzling was the perfect technique to discuss for the first blog edition of The Dirt since it is especially "dirty"! And even though I am supposed to be an adult now that I just got married and am almost 30, we all have a little kid inside of us and it is refreshing to let it out every now and then. So no matter your age, go get your hands dirty. But let me warn you, Clay Puzzling can be addictive!

Veiw Materials list at: Clay Puzzling

Get all the Dirt from Bisque Imports!

2009-10-06T13:10:00.000-04:00

Get all the Dirt from Bisque Imports now that we have joined Blogger! Our e-newsletter, The Dirt, is now a blog. Read along as we explore fun and creative new ways to use the bisque products that we offer. Subscribe today and get updates every other month with new ideas, technique sheets, and marketing tips from The Dirt.

The Dirt

The Dirt: Frosty Friends

MATERIALS

TOOLS

INSTRUCTIONS

What time is it? It's Warm Glass Clock Time!!!

The Dirt : Handmade Holiday Plates

MATERIALS

TOOLS

INSTRUCTIONS

MATERIALS

TOOLS

INSTRUCTIONS

Studio Spotlight : Do*It*Yourself Crafts

Halloween 2011 Project Ideas

Add a Little JOY to Your Season!

Christmas at BI

Wire Decorators

Studio Spotlight: Bisque Imports Studio Advisory Board

New Glass Bits Blog

A Letter From a Friend

Your Summer Camp Domination Station

Ice Cream Party

Coffee For a Cause

Studio Spotlight: Paint Yourself Silly

Come together...

Hello, hello!

Get Revved Up for Father's Day!

Mother's Day and Auction Ideas

Kisses and Hugs and Pottery I Love

No Bake Marabu Pens

It's a Miracle

Rubbing Alcohol Technique

Bisque Pendant Light Kits

Hoppin' Ideas for Easter

Paint Me Technique: "Sweet" Stenciling

Displyaing Paint Me In Your Studio

Paint Me 101

Last Minute Gifts for the Holidays

Clay Puzzling: Playing in the Mud

Get all the Dirt from Bisque Imports!

Studio Spotlight : DoItYourself Crafts