Sweet Mud Clay Works

Spring Colors In Sweet Mud

2012-02-07T13:07:00.000-06:00

It's unseasonably warm in Philadelphia (and I presume in many other parts of the country), so I sometime's forget it's only February. Nevertheless, I'm looking ahead to Springtime! I've got a new batch of jewelry fresh out of the (warm) kiln, glazed in bright, happy, lovely Spring colors.

You can purchase many of these directly from me in the Sweet Mud Clay Works Online Boutique, or take a trip to visit one of my vendors if you're nearby. It's easy to get your hands on some Sweet Mud jewelry!

I think having an April birthday binds me to this season, in many ways. I've always had an affinity for pale colors and pastels, and I love the smell of the air as the last few days of winter melt away.

What is your favorite memory Springtime memory? Hit me up with your answer here, on Facebook, or Twitter.

NEW YEAR, NEW JEWELRY, NEW HOME, NEW LIFE, NEW GOALS!

2012-01-19T21:19:00.001-06:00

Happy 2012!

As you may know, I’m attending University here in Philadelphia to pursue my MFA degree in Ceramics. I’ve been super busy focusing on my school work and fine art, which has diverted my attention away from most things Sweet Mud. I’m happy to report, however, that I’ve successfully made it through my first semester of grad school, and looking forward to what these next 3 semesters will bring. Although my time and energy have been tied up for most of these last few months, I’ve also been thinking about my business plans for Sweet Mud Clay Works for the upcoming year. I’m hoping to accomplish some goals I’ve set, and I’m thinking that most of that will come during summertime. However, rest assured, I’ll be putting the word out about business news through this website, and via twitter and facebook.

Since I primarily post about my new jewelry or online sales here, I decided to inject some additional life into this blog. The next few posts will focus on some things that inspire my work. But for now, you should know that I’m going DOT CRAZY! Dot crazy, you ask?

You see, I’ve been doing inventory on my jewelry and I noticed I’ve got lots of dots! I’m rephotographing some pieces with my lovely new camera and there are dotted earrings abound. I’ve posted some of my favorites below. If you have a dot lover in your life these earrings should be hanging from their lobes, pronto!

Like the dots? More spotted jewelry in the Sweet Mud Etsy shop, or in the Sweet Mud Clay Works Online Boutique. Shop anytime from the comfort of your home, and receive FREE SHIPPING on all orders.

Cloud-Shaped Pink and Mocha Spotted Porcelain Earrings

Petite Spotted Cyan Drop Porcelain Earrings

Minty Green Spotted Porcelain Heart Earrings

I also want to wish all of my amazing friends, family, and fans Happy (late) Holidays! Here’s to a [better] New Year full of excitement, hugs and kisses, and productivity!

EAST COAST SALE!

2011-09-24T12:05:00.000-05:00

After 5 fun years operating in Kansas City, Sweet Mud Clay Works has now moved out East! In celebration of my recent relocation to the city of Philadelphia, I am happy to announce a FALL SALE on all Sweet Mud Clay Works products!

Just enter coupon code 40FALL11 at checkout to receive 40% off your entire purchase (excluding gift certificates). As always, we offer FREE SHIPPING on every purchase!

* CLICK HERE TO GO SHOPPING! *

Sweet Mud Clay Works is continuing to create new designs and expand its brand into new locations. I'm excited about my new city, and I'm looking forward to letting this sprawling urban landscape inspire some new work.

Cara + Sweet Mud's Kansas City studio. So long, yellow walls!

* Thank you for your patronage and continued support! *

News For You About Sales

2011-04-29T15:09:00.000-05:00

As an artist and object maker I love to get my products into the hands of great people. This is why I try to put some of my most popular items on sale every month!

I'm having a SALE right now, today, so click the SHOP link above to visit the new Sweet Mud Online Boutique!

A great way to find out about a sale is to follow me on twitter, signup for my newsletter (see the signup box on the right side of the screen), or become a friend or fan on Facebook. Just to make things a little easier for you, check out the LIKE box below!

Sweet Mud Loves Spring!

2011-04-16T19:21:00.000-05:00

New Cloud-Shaped Parasol Porcelain Earrings, perfect for Spring!

I'm super excited about SPRING (despite the wind and rain)! I've dusted myself off, put away the electric blankets, and opened the shades to let the beautiful sun shine. After a long, cold winter, I'm happy to report I'm cooking up some great new designs! Within the next month I'll be debuting a BRAND NEW line of jewelry specially designed for all you animal lovers!

I also want to let you know what’s been going on in the Sweet Mud Studio so far this year. After an excellent holiday shopping season - thanks to all of my wonderful customers! - I decided to take a bit of a vacation from the studio during the first couple of weeks in 2011. The break was much needed and I came back to the studio re-energized and ready to make some great new jewelry!

Although jewelry production slowed, I did spend some time redeveloping an online shopping venue with the intention of creating a more appealing environment for my customers. Because I don’t currently host open studio events, my online shop is the primary way for my customers to browse and shop for my work. I had this in mind when creating my NEW online boutique. In the new shop you’ll be able to browse and shop with ease - no accounts to sign up for, no strange main menus to navigate. The shopping cart is powered by PayPal, a trusted name in online shopping, so you don’t have to worry about your private information being compromised. Don’t have a PayPal account? You don’t need an account to shop in my online store, you’ll simply input your payment information during checkout. It’s super simple! Now, you might be thinking, “Cara, didn’t you just open a ‘NEW’ online shop last year??” The answer is yes, however I did not find it suitable for me nor my customers. I hope you’ll find that this newest NEW online shop is much easier to navigate and more fun to peruse. So, you can type it in your browser: http://Shop.SweetMudClayWorks.com or simply click here to go shopping or click on the image below!

Click on the image above to enter the NEW Sweet Mud Clay Works online shop!

During the 2010 winter holiday shopping season I conducted a 12 DAYS TIL XMAS holiday sale during which I put one or more items on sale at a whopping 40% off each day. Because it was such a success, I’ll be conducting another few sales this Spring. I’m clearing out the studio to make space for my new work so this will be an excellent opportunity to pick up some Sweet Mud jewelry at a great price! Be sure to check the shop weekly to see what’s up for grabs.

I hope you’ll take some time to check out the new shop. Contact me anytime with questions or inquiries, or just to have a nice chat.

If you've got some spare time visit these other fine websites:
www.SweetMudClayWorks.com
www.CaraLong.com
www.Facebook.com/SweetMudClayWorks
www.Twitter.com/SweetMudClay

December's New Posted Pieces

2010-12-17T13:51:00.001-06:00

The holidays are indeed upon us and I've got some fantastic new pieces listed in the online shop. While you may not need these in time for Christmas, you can shop anytime, year-round. Need a special pair of earrings to wear to an exciting New Year's Eve bash? Have friends and family with January birthdays? Want to give yourself an early Valentine's Day gift because you are fabulous and you deserve it? Stop into the Sweet Mud shop to see what's available.

Red Parasol Porcelain Earrings, XL Diamonds

Star-Shaped Pink Parasol Porcelain Earrings

Star-Shaped Starburst Earrings in Mint & Chocolate

Checks and Dots Porcelain Frame Earrings in Pink & Mocha

We also offer Gift Certificates in any amount.

Visit the Gift Certificate page in the Sweet Mud shop.

*** Happy December! ***

Shop With Ease During My 12 DAYS 'TIL XMAS SALE

2010-12-08T00:53:00.000-06:00

The holidays are upon us! Whether you're currently in full-on celebration mode (Happy Hanukkah, friends!) or trying to squeeze in some shopping during these last few weeks before Christmas, you'll want to keep an eye out on the Sweet Mud online shop!

Every day between Tuesday 12/7 and Saturday 12/18 I'll be listing 1 or more items in the shop at a 40% discount as a BIG thank you to all of my great customers and supporters. If your favorite piece is discounted you'll want to snag it quickly before someone else does. All items purchased before the 19th will take 2-3 days to ship, so they should arrive to you before Christmas!

You may buy as many of the SALE items as you'd like, however additional coupons and discounts cannot be used toward any of the discounted pieces during this sale period.

HAPPY CELEBRATIONS, EVERYONE!

More Holiday Shopping Opportunities for YOU!

2010-12-01T15:17:00.001-06:00

It's happening again! I'm packing up my studio inventory and taking it down to the River Market Event Place this Saturday for a great Holiday shopping event you won't want to miss! There will be 20 artists and crafters offering a variety of handmade goods in different price ranges. You'll be able to shop from some of KC's most talented artists and crafters, so this is a must-attend for the shopping season.


Honeypot Shop Holiday Event at the River Market Event Place 140 Walnut Street, Kansas City

Listed below are a few of the great vendors who are participating:

Billy Sue Textiles- Handwoven, Hand-dyed, one-of-a-kind scarves. (These are amazingly beautiful!)
For Strange Women - Natural Artisan Perfumes and Eccentricities
Janay A. Handmade- Eco-Chic Organic Bridal + other great gifts: pillows, headbands, vintage ties.
Nonna Illustration and Design- Design & Illustration: prints, buttons, cards, art

Here's a preview of some of the small porcelain earrings I'll have on sale this Saturday. These are from my Retro-Inspired collection, featuring great texture and fun dots and patterns! These are just a perfect sized earring for everyone and are great for adding a touch of color to your look!

Porcelain Oval Quilted Earrings in Black and Blue

Retro-Inspired Fishnet Porcelain Earrings in Pink & Lavender

Porcelain Oval Quilted Earrings in Yellow & Blue

Porcelain Earrings with Fishnet Texture in Teal

Each pair of earrings is completely handcrafted by me from a brilliantly white translucent porcelain, and hand-painted with vibrant glazes. I also make the sterling silver earwires to complement the overall design of the jewelry.

If you just can't wait til Saturday and want to do your holiday shopping now click here to visit the Sweet Mud online shop.

Black Friday + Cyber Monday + 2 Days In Between

2010-11-26T00:23:00.001-06:00

As you start checking gifts off your holiday shopping list, please consider shopping locally and buying your goods directly from the maker.

Here at Sweet Mud Clay Works we'd like to invite you to take advantage of our special online Black Friday/Cyber Monday holiday pricing with a 20% discount off everything in the SHOP (excluding gift certificates) AND FREE U.S. SHIPPING! To receive your special pricing use coupon code "20TGIV10" during the checkout process. This discount is valid Friday Nov 26th - Monday Nov 29th, 2010 only.

Start your online shopping now by visiting us in the Sweet Mud Shop!

During this holiday shopping season please remember the importance of buying handmade. Read more about it below and take the pledge at Buy Handmade dot Org

Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.

The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.

The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

Happy Shopping!

HANDMADE HOLIDAY ART SALE!

2010-11-18T23:58:00.001-06:00

Join us for a fabulous Handmade Holiday Art Sale this Saturday at Tea Drops in Westport, where you'll be able to pick up unique handcrafted items directly from the local makers! The event will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday Nov 20 & 21 from 10:30am-5:30pm ... but we'll only be there Saturday so be sure to stop in and say HELLO! We'll be offering some of our jewelry at discounted prices just in time for the holidays! We'll have lots of great gifts under $20 as well as some of our newest designs for Fall.


LOVELY FRONT COUNTER AT TEA DROPS

TEA DROPS

4111 PENNSYLVANIA

KANSAS CITY, MO 64111

816.531.9600

April Mai, another Kansas City-based artist has organized this event and we are so appreciative of her hard work and efforts!

She writes: "Please bring cash and consider trying out one of tea drops' fabulous drinks while you are browsing! They are supporting the handmade and indie community by allowing us to have this event on their premises at no cost, so we want to support them as well!

We will have different sellers each day! Here are a few ...of the sellers we will have and the items they will be selling...along with links for sneak previews!

Saturday:

April Marie Mai will be selling art prints, cards (including holiday), jewelry, and ornaments.
http://aprilmariemai.com/shop/

Billy Sue Textiles will be selling beautiful and colorful handwoven scarves.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/billysuetextiles

Krista Neth will be selling hand knit washcloths with ornate designs, scarves, tea cozies, and catnip mice.

Sweet Mud Clay Works will be selling porcelain earrings and necklaces.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetmud <-------------- THAT'S US!

We're planning on accepting credit/debit cards for easy shopping, but cash is always accepted as well! This is a great place in Kansas City to hang out and relax and enjoy the atmosphere! Lots of great drinks are available, so please consider coming out to support this local business, and do some shopping while you're there!!!

Sweet Mud Jewelry Now Available at Poppy Arts in Columbia, Missouri

2010-11-03T23:23:00.000-05:00

We are very excited about one of our newest retail locations, Poppy Arts, located in Downtown Columbia, Missouri! They'll be carrying some of our most popular designs so be sure to check them out!

"Since 1981 Poppy has brought Columbia the best in contemporary craft and folk art from around the country. Jewelry, Clay, Glass, Fiber, Metal and Wood are all represented. From coast to coast we seek out new artists and bring our discoveries back to you. Visit us in person or online to explore exciting jewelry, whimsical wall art or something for your favorite animal lover. We are always happy to help you pick out something special for that someone special, even yourself."

Poppy
920 E. Broadway
Columbia, MO 65201

1.866.92.POPPY

The unique shop is packed full of great handcrafted items for buyers of any budget, with varied interests. Please stop in for a visit when you're in the Columbia area. Only 2 hours away, it makes for a fun day-trip from Kansas City! There's so much to do in the area from visiting other local shops and restaurants to browsing antique malls and museums.

Sweet Mud teams up with Red Star Studios!

2010-08-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

We're so pleased to announce that Red Star Studios will be selling our jewelry beginning in September. For anyone who isn't familiar, Red Star Studios is a ceramic studio and gallery that has been operating in Kansas City for over a decade. They have a national reputation as one of the premier ceramic art centers in the Midwest, and they regularly produce exhibitions featuring emerging and established ceramic artists.

The origins of their name, "Red Star," came from the studio being housed in an old Red Star Yeast factory on Kansas City's west side. They've recently moved, however, into a temporary gallery and shared studio in the ground floor exhibition space of the Belger Arts Center at 2100 Walnut St. in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District.

Visit the new Red Star Studios website here.

2100 Walnut St, Belger Arts Center first floor
Kansas City, MO 64108
Wednesday – Friday 10am -4pm and Saturdays 12-4pm

Never thought you could afford to buy original art? Nonsense! Red Star Studios has many budget-friendly pieces available for purchase.

We're so honored to join such a wonderful gallery! If you're near Kansas City you should definitely stop in! It's a great place to see an amazing array of contemporary ceramic art.

Featured!

2010-08-25T19:36:00.007-05:00

We're always excited when others take notice of our porcelain jewelry! This week Leigh Ann Sammis of the blog Junipurr has gathered a collection of great Rainy Day-themed items, and our Red Parasol Porcelain Necklace has been thrown into the mix.

Twenty great pieces are displayed in the collection, from many different Etsy categories and artists. You'll find more raindrop-depicting paintings, pouches, pins, and papers than you can shake an umbrella at.

Check out the collection on Leigh Ann's blog HERE.

How do you feel about rainy days?? Karen Carpenter didn't much care for them, but I'd be interested to know what you think! Leave your comments below...

The Magic of Pink & Black

2010-03-03T00:09:00.005-06:00

We LOVE the sexy, sassy color combo of Pink and Black! Have you noticed yet? Isn't it interesting how color trends are created and evolve?

Well, in addition to our love for pink and black, we also appreciate teal and chocolate, and yellow and gray! Keep checking out the Sweet Mud shop in the upcoming weeks as we introduce some new pieces and colors! Afterall, Spring is coming and we all need to look divine with bursts of color on our lobes and around our necks!

Do you have a favorite color combination? Leave us a comment or contact us! We might create new pieces from your suggestions!

xoxo
Sweet Mud Clay Works
making something *purdy* out of something *dirty*

Happy New-ish Year!!!

2010-03-01T16:15:00.004-06:00

Changes are good for new years, right? So, we've made some changes of our own.

* We now have a new website! Check it out here!
* We like followers! Follow us on Twitter for news and updates! Sweet Mud Clay Works on Twitter

* We are offering you yet ANOTHER place to shop for Sweet Mud jewelry online, in your jammies! Visit the new shop here!

* We are looking forward to SPRING!!! New fabulous Spring-inspired designs now available in the online shops. Parasols, Bicycles, and Cherries to adorn your ears and make your friends jealous

* We are sending out a newsletter and coupon soon!!! Subscribe today by cruising over to the sidebar on the right and entering your email address! -------->

* We LOVE our fans! Become a FAN of Sweet Mud Clay Works on Facebook!

Etsy Page Update + Colors

2009-09-18T22:59:00.006-05:00

New look on the Etsy page! Stop in for a visit.

Here are a few offerings in the shop:

Time to celebrate, Twitter style.

2009-09-17T23:03:00.002-05:00

I have recently joined the millions of people in the Twittersphere. Follow me!
www.twitter.com/SweetMudClay

While perusing links, hop on over to my Etsy page to see new earrings and necklaces!
www.SweetMud.Etsy.com

Great Gifts For The Ladies In Your Life ... Maybe That Special Lady Is Yourself!

2009-07-11T12:31:00.005-05:00

I feel like quite the novice at online networking, but I'm quickly increasing my presence every day! With that said, I would like to invite you to visit two of my newest online shops. These are similar to Etsy, for those of you familiar with that site, but each has something a little different to offer.

In the upcoming weeks, I'll have some new pieces listed! But in the meantime, please visit me at the following sites for some jewelry-browsing entertainment!

www.sweetmud.trendyindie.com
www.sweetmud.artfire.com
www.sweetmud.etsy.com

Also, be sure to become a FAN of Sweet Mud Clay Works on Facebook to stay up to date on all the news, events, and special discounts! You can click on the Facebook link on the right side of the page to take you right there!

Cheers & Happy Summering!

New beginnings in a new studio

2009-07-04T15:13:00.003-05:00

Sweet Mud Clay Works has gone through some changes in the last 6 weeks. In addition to having my jewelry accepted into two new retail venues (Renegade Handmade in Chicago, and Bluestem in Columbia, Missouri), other Sweet Mud sales are doing well! New pieces will be rolling into the K.C. retail venues soon, so be sure to visit The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Spool!

Having spent just under two years in the J.Bird Studios facility, we recently had to move. It was a very sad time, as we had so many good times there and created great memories. Our new studio is quite a bit smaller and not quite as pretty ... but we're managing. We were forced to take a month-long break from production to get the new space set up and organized ... but we're happy to report that things are back in order and business has resumed! Keep checking in to learn about new discounts on last season's designs, as well as discounts on shipping.

Also, my fantastic intern from last semester, Laura, has been promoted to be my Assistant. If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet, you just might in the upcoming weeks.

I hope this warm weather finds everyone well. Feel free to contact me anytime or leave comments. Happy summer, everyone!

Brand New Designs for Spring !!

2009-04-18T01:11:00.008-05:00

I've been working hard in the studio to create some brand new designs for this lovely season. Below are some images for your viewing pleasure!

This new design is called COSMIC and is available in different sizes and colors. This is a cheery and versatile design with a great texture and nice graphic elements. The white section of the earrings is simply the beautiful unglazed porcelain. I enjoy leaving some parts of the pieces bare to show the natural characteristics of the clay, and to present a bright, clean backdrop for the vibrant colors.

Cosmic Porcelain Earrings in Teal and Mocha
$60.00

* CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO *

*****

Cosmic Diamond Porcelain Earrings in Pink, Teal, and Mocha
$60.00

* CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO *

*****

More designs to be posted soon!
In the meantime, keep checking my Etsy page for new listings!
www.SweetMud.Etsy.com

Discounts! Discounts!

2009-04-18T00:53:00.005-05:00

Good news, if you live in or around Kansas City, I'm offering you FREE shipping on any online purchase of Sweet Mud jewelry! Simply enter the code KCFREESHIP at checkout and your shipping fee will be refunded! YAY!

** Visit www.sweetmud.etsy.com to do some fun shopping! **

Also, make sure you take advantage of the EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT that I'm offering in my Urban Times Magazine ad (www.urbantimeskc.com) -- hint, hint, my ad is on page 65.

Folks, with these two offers you could receive a good chunk of change off your online Sweet Mud purchase! This is a great chance to get some of the brand new Spring designs before anyone else!

Hope to see you soon!

Survey Says ...

2009-04-12T15:53:00.004-05:00

At random times, and with *seemingly effortless* ease, I will be posting surveys for everyone to take. (Look to the right side of the page!)

Now, don't be shy!

These are obviously anonymous and not designed to gather ultra personal information, rather they will help me gain insight into other people's minds, habits, and styles. As more results come pouring in, I will be refreshing the surveys ... so you don't get bored!

The Dirty Dawning of Sweet Mud

2009-04-11T18:30:00.001-05:00

Welcome, folks!
You have found yourself knee-deep in the newly constructed site for Sweet Mud Clay Works. Here you will find out information about me, Cara, my business, and my art. I am always up for a chat so contact me with any questions or comments.

Here's my studio (in its cleanest state). This is where all Sweet Mud jewelry is created.