It all started back in December of 2017 when we hopped a flight to the east coast to check out a house we had been talking about and looking at online for months. Even though I knew we belonged in that house within the first two seconds of standing inside of it the HH wasn’t convinced. One of the first things he said to me after we had left the house {after looking it over for a 2 solid hours} when were sitting down for lunch in a nearby restaurant was that the house felt like a “Christmas store.”
Mavis: WHAT? What are you talking about?
HH: It feels so old, and the floors creak {they do!} and it smells like Christmas in there. I like the house, the craftsmanship is great, the property is nice and private but it I’m telling you, I felt like I was walking through an old home that was turned into a Christmas shop.
Mavis: You are so weird. The only decorations I saw were the little tree and maybe a candle on the table. What on earth are you talking about….The house feels like a Christmas store? Who says stuff like that? Was it because there was snow on the ground? And, I don’t know…. they had a candle burning in the kitchen and Christmas is only a few weeks away?
Guys, they can be so weird.
But then when my buddy Heather and I went back two weeks later to do the home inspection, that was when I actually NOTICED all the Christmas decorations. Silly me, the first time I looked at the house I was looking at stuff like the floors, cabinets, appliances, the size of the rooms and the backyard. Not all the chachkies.
Fast forward to that moment when my buddy Heather and I were standing in the homeowners living room and staring at their Christmas tree. {Keeping in mind we were at the home inspection for nearly 4 hours}.
It was the ornaments that made me stop in my tracks. Hmmmm…. That’s interesting, wouldn’t you think with a house like this, they’d have more traditional ornaments? Like maybe ones that looked like they were made in the 1700’s?
I don’t remember Heather’s reply, but the lack of traditional ornaments stuck with me.
And then I started thinking about how much I admired the homeowners kitchen table, and wouldn’t it look cool if a kitchen table like theirs was set with traditional redware plates… Like the ones the HH and I would later see at the Cogswell’s Grant Estate. And wow, if we did end up going through with the sale of this house won’t it be fun to fill the house with reproduction period furniture like upholstered chairs, and tables and hey, maybe I could even hook a large rug for the kitchen {that’s how the chicken rug idea came into play}.
And so, that’s where this whole “secret holiday project” began, with the idea that I would buy a kiln and make enough traditional redware ornaments to fill a Christmas tree with.
But, like potato chips, I couldn’t stop at just one tree full of ornaments. I was having so much fun coming up with new ideas, I felt compelled to make more. And more, and more and more.
And then spring rolled around, and one day while I was setting out seedlings in the garden, and I was wishing I had some garden markers to mark my rows.
And so I started making those too. First I made a few birds, then after visiting a few coastal towns in the area, I moved on to making whale garden markers.… You know, because whales are such a New England thing and all. 😉
But of course, I didn’t stop there.
And then this summer as the HH was working on the chicken coop, he was like “You should make a few chicken ornaments.” And so I made those too.
And well, you know how things go…
Pretty soon I was stamping out giant redware chickens with “Fresh Eggs” all over them and then because Hilda had a crush on the HH, I made her a big ornament for the tree as well.
The madness, it has to stop sometime, right? 😉
So there you have it. My big secret holiday project has been revealed.
Who knows what I’ll come up with next. Your guess is as good as mine. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that the winters are long and cold here, and this new hobby of mine, should keep be busy until spring rolls around and it’s time to play in the garden again.
Wishing you the best of weekends, and a day filled with HAPPINESS.
~Mavis
P.S. If you are interested in anything you see above, you can visit my Etsy shop HERE.
Joely says
What an awesome hobby. So fun and creative. I love it!!
Mama Cook says
And no sooner had I finished typing my previous comment…
What a FUN project! Not on my radar at all! The black dresses from the thrift store threw me! Maybe they are part of the process?
LOVE!!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! You can “see” the black lace dresses in this ornament. 🙂 https://www.etsy.com/listing/650377347
Mama Cook says
Beautiful!!! So the lace makes the texture?
Now I have to decide which ornament to purchase…before they sell out!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, the lace makes the texture. They are so much fun to make.
Julie says
Beautiful work Mavis! The candy cane is my favorite. I love how brighter and cheery it is.
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s my favorite too! 🙂
Deborah says
You could maybe make a set of dishes? Or something like that. That is if you’re open for suggestions. These are Be U Tiful! LOL I do have a kiln, but have never fired it up. No place to safely put it. Mine is a large one. Hubby has a small one. Yep, winter time is best for the heat. My MIL, God test her soul, made poreceline dolls. She is the reason we have the kilns.
Mavis Butterfield says
Dinner plates are on my list. Hopefully I can get them done in time for Christmas dinner. 🙂
Rebecca in MD says
Oh, Mavis, dinner plates will be sooooo beautiful.
Every one of the ornaments is pretty, but I think I like the glazed ones with bright colors best. You are a woman of many talents!
Sarah S says
Love all the designs you made-Loved them so much, I placed an order for one!
Robin says
LOVE your secret project! I’m a big fan of pottery, terra cotta, earthenware, etc. so your pieces make my eyes get big and my heart sing. 🙂
Susan H. says
You surprised me! I thought for sure it was a loom! I love the garden markers.
ANita Mast says
I was sure it was a loom as well!
Vicki says
Me, too! A loom seemed the natural progression from rug hooking – another use for all those wool strips.
I absolutely love the ornaments, and your new hobby was a total surprise!
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t think I could handle a loom… So intricate! Don’t get me wrong, I think weaving is cool, but I’d be worried about all those threads breaking or getting twisted.
Kathy says
You should look into a Rigid Heddle Loom…youtube it. You could definitely do that! That is my new hobby this year and I’m having a great time learning it…
Em says
What a treat! You are going to have so much fun with this. I am already seeing the possibilities on Etsy, as well!
Beth says
Can you do a post on the process of making some of the ornaments or garden stakes? I love this and would like to see if it is something that I would like to try as a hobby.
Athena says
Yes! I was going to comment the same thing!
Jennifer says
Of all the things I imagined, this was nowhere on the list. In fact, when you mentioned the difficulties you were encountering, I wasn’t expecting to see a whole slew of finished and gorgeous ornaments!!
Kathleen says
So awesome Mavis !!! Love your creativity, what a fun project 🙂
Stephanie says
THE WHALE!!!!!!!!! I love the whale so much. What a cool project. I have to say, your posts make me miss New England more and more. I’m glad you’re enjoying it so much there. Thanks for the reveal!!! 🙂
Christy says
I was betting the surprise it was quilting related since you said you were going to Lancaster for a class (I think). Nice work. Can’t wait to see what else you create.
Mavis Butterfield says
There was a class in Lancaster that I was going to take but the timing didn’t work out. 🙁
Stacie says
Oh wow these are beautiful! All of them really, but the garden markers are my favorite!!
Kathryn says
A quail, if you would, please make one!
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve been working on some quails…. Just haven’t perfected them yet. 🙂
Kathryn says
I will be waiting patiently, thank you!
Emily says
Beautiful!
Emily E says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! What a cool and fun project! Everything came out so beautifully and I’m excited to see that you are going to carry them in your etsy shop as well! I know they will be great sellers! Love the candy cane! Can’t wait to see the plates!
Teri says
AWESOME!!! Love the reveal! Is a wheel next????
Mavis Butterfield says
I wish! I don’t think I’d be good at a pottery wheel. I tried it once in high school and it didn’t go well. Ha!
Teri says
Practice makes perfect! I betcha you would master the art of throwing. You seem to be good at everything you try! JMHO 🙂
Emily says
I failed miserably at wheel throwing in college, then picked it up again at a just for fun class. I’m still no master, but removing the pressure of being graded improved my skills and enjoyment immensely.
Jennifer Jo says
I want to see the making process!
Sue R. says
Me, too!
Robin says
Me three!
Cathi says
Four!
Laura T. says
Yay! Glad it’s all working out for you! They are all great! I especially like the reindeer, looks like a gingerbread cookie! The whimsical candy cane is cool too!
Sara says
I must be missing something. Why was this a “super secret”? From a marketing point of view you lost something like 6 months of blog fodder and the potential to build excitement since you were planning to sell items. Cute items though.
Holley says
Oh, Mavis!!! I’m so happy the waiting is over and I LOVE the results!!!! You are am amazingly talented woman! Thank you for sharing that talent with all of us!
laura a says
I love all the ceramics! Will you share with us how you bought a kiln and learned how to use it? I’m so curious as it seems tricky and/or expensive. Also where do you get the clay and how do you prepare it? I loved Ceramics in high school so this would be a possible hobby for me!
Mavis Butterfield says
I owned a kiln about 20+ years ago but rid of it a few years later. I wrote a little about it here: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/catholic-sewing-enthusiast-smoker-collector-cookbooks/
Laura A says
I remember that column, it was an amazing story!
Marie says
Love it! Hopefully you have your own kiln? Also, keep in mind the different types of glazes for ware you will use for making plates, cups etc. vs ornaments. Do you have a supply vendor close by? If not, Seattle Pottery will be your new “candy store”!
Next stop-fusing glass!!
debbie in alaska says
I had guessed pottery but you told someone in the comments that you had tried pottery in high school or something and hated it so I dismissed the idea altogether. Turns out it was in the same vein. I love the Christmas tree and the polka dot reindeer. So fun!!! And that whale rug table runner is AMAZING
Mavis Butterfield says
I think someone had mentioned a pottery wheel. I tried that once in high school and holy cow, that takes skill. LOL. I wish I could throw pots and bowls, but it’s just not in the cards for me. I been trying to talk The Girl into taking a wheel throwing class but I don’t think she’s interested. Which of course is a total bummer, I would have loved to have a nice set of mixing bowls.
Stacey says
I would love to try working on a wheel even if I don’t turn out to be good at it. Someday!
Indio says
It took me 2 years of using a kick wheel and an electric wheel before I made a small vase I thought was worth keeping. Still have it and get so much satisfaction from the determination that created it. Now I even do raku firing. It’s all experimentation. Next up try different clays or slab rolling. Having a winter hobby is great.
You gotta check out Edgecomb pottery the next time you go to Damariscotta. It’s on the way to Boothbay.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you!!!
Stacey says
These are gorgeous, great job!
Lolly says
Oooh, I LOOOOVE THEM!!!!! From the first pic of this post, I thought you were making candles….and I felt kinda bummed by that. Lol! But pottery ornaments are amazing!
My guess was pottery, too, and this is so cool! I took a class on throwing pottery a couple of yrs ago, and it was fun! I also experimented with some handbuilt items….but the place we took the items to be fired fired them at too low of a temp, and when they refired them, the glazes were so yucky. It was seriously disappointing, and we’ve not gone back to it….though I should….cause it WAS fun!
Lolly says
My fave is the spotted rudolf, then the whales!
Mavis Butterfield says
Your candle comment made me laugh!!!
Andrea says
Mavis, You are amazing!!!
My boyfriend has purchased not one but 2 kilns at auctions and we have yet to get either one up and running!
I am hoping that you will share more info with us about how you made everything!
Margery says
Love it I was thinking a loom the whole time, reminds me of a store we stopped at in Bar Harbor this summer that only sold ornaments made by people in Maine.
Mavis Butterfield says
We have yet to go to Bar Harbor, but it’s on the list. I’ll keep my eye out for that shop.
Margery says
And I recommend at stop at the drug store it has a old fashioned soda bar enjoyed a malt with my dh.
Teresa says
How about the twelve days of Christmas ornaments? Folks would need all twelve for a set. Keep up the good work; you are amazing Mavis and truly a Proverbs 31 woman.
Kirsten says
12 days of Christmas is a fabulous idea! I second that one!
Erin Seifferlein says
Mavis, I love the glazes you chose. Earthy, natural, beautiful colors. What a fun reveal! Worth the wait! I am so excited for you.
Stephanie Croquez says
Oh Mavis this is fantastic! I sort of thought it was something with a kiln based on something you had said at first. I had gone to an auction from a company and two kilns… a smaller one and a walk in one both working only sold for $20.00. I was beside myself. Anyway will be ordering some of your herb stakes…. now if only this country realized how amazing Tarragon is to make it more commonplace!
SandyF says
Hi Mavis
Would you consider custom orders? If I sent you a corgi cookie cutter-perhaps you could make customs ornaments? I have a 1915 house-and these would be perfect. I have had 4 corgis- two now, and would love ornaments for them.
They are my Lucys…
YOU ARE SO TALENTED!!
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll send you an email. 🙂
SandyF says
I think you will be sold out by today…just ordered a whale.
Love them!
Gina says
Lovely. I suggest ornaments in the shape of new england states.
Katherine says
Mavis, you need to make bird and dog ornaments!! Dog plant markers too!
Mavis Butterfield says
Working on it! 🙂
Barbara Dougherty says
I could not be happier for you. This is so exciting. I’m definitely going to order some chicken ornaments and maybe a candy cane or two. Thanks so much for sharing
Jessica says
Mavis, this was an amazing secret project! Absolutely love it! I’d like to see a post about the materials you use for this. I have a lot of questions I think a little introductory post could address. What kiln did you get? What kind of clay do you use? What kind of glazes? Where did you buy your materials? I took multiple semesters of pottery (up to advanced pottery) in high school. I really do miss it, but it wasn’t something I thought I could do at home without an enormous investment. I’m very inspired by your work! I’d love to read about how you got your home pottery studio set up so perhaps I could start making pottery again. Oh and you don’t have to use a wheel to make bowls. I’ve made bowls by hand. They are a bit more rustic looking, but maybe you’d like the look if you gave it a try! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work!
Kipper says
What about an orca, for the Northwesterners?
Melanie Morris says
They are beautiful ! My mother in law collected flamingos she passed away 6 years ago , my 22 year old daughter got a flamingo tattoo on her ankle in remeberance of her. Is there any chance of flamingos in your future?
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve been working on some flamingos…. I’m just not there yet. Maybe in a few weeks.
Leslie says
This is so super cool. You’re such an artisan!
Jane Hebert says
LOve them!! Any chance you will make cats and sun flowers?
Enjoy, Janie
Tamara Reid says
YES! Sunflowers!!!
Tamara Reid says
I NEEED a Puggle ornament, well 2 actually! For my Toby and Figgy Pudding please!!!!! Just bought a chicken ornament for my Bestie!!! Can’t wait to see what else you make! And I’m going to show these to my husband. He bought a wheel 20+ yrs ago and hasn’t ever used it, hoping these inspire his creativity in some way. 🙂
Peggy says
Love! We have a kiln in our farm basement my mom bought but never used. I think now it may need rewired, but wow, you’re making me think I should have that thing looked at! Thanks for your usual inspiration! Oh….have you,or are you going to make dinnerware for your table?
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m working on plates right now. 🙂 It’s a little tricky so I’m not sure when I’ll have something to show everyone.
Mel says
I thought it might be somehow ornament-related but only because ornaments are obviously holiday projects and fit with the box-folding. And they’re what I make, so that came to mind first. But I’ve never tried clay–I just paint on wood or store-bought ceramic balls–so I didn’t guess that part. That’s very cool.
I’d love to make our own Christmas dishes (we have a set from Pier 1 that chip easily), but I don’t think I’d want to learn pottery just for that. I’ll have to see if it’s possible to buy plates already made, paint/glaze them, and then seal them somehow.
Christa H. says
I am also surprised. I was thinking quilts or life sized dolls or some kind of weaving.
Just want to say I love it all and I feel very proud of you and what you have achieved- new home and the new hobby!
I would love an orange and white fox ornament for my fox Christmas tree!
Ronda says
Oh this makes me miss my kiln. Down sized and just no room for it anymore. You did a fabulous job as those are beautiful! When you start looking for another use for the kiln I’m going to suggest fused glass, as you can make some gorgeous pieces though it takes some practice for sure. And I agree with everyone who said using the kiln in the winter is great with the heat.
nancy says
Mavis…My husband and I have been potters for over 30 years. Started when my daughter was born. We make our entire living doing art shows across the country. We have 6 kilns and a pretty big electric bill. You will LOVE your kiln. I make all sorts of things for the garden, and decorations for the house, ornaments at Christmas, tags for wine and oil bottles, pendants and earrings and have even made curtains in my home from clay! Have a wonderful time with it all. IT will take over your life. LOL I was looking forward to reading about your “secret”….I’m thrilled for you.
June A. Cotton says
What kind of kiln did you purchase and what kind of clay do you use? This looks like something I’d like to try to make my own garden markers and ornaments.