Lesley Tuchten Ceramics

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South Africa
Riebeek-Wes
Lesley Tuchten Ceramics

I make custom pet ceramics based on the photos of pets you send me.

07/12/2024

So pretty! Tulbagh, , and pulling out all the stops as usual. If you go, please make sure to pet the dogs, they're so happy to see everyone ❤️.

28/11/2024

This is Kimchi. And this is the story of how I made Kimchi 3 times for Tamsyn who is a saint. He is an example of my 25cm standalone sculpture range.

Time the first: Kimchi blew up in the kiln because I tried to fire him when he was damp.
Time the second: I was photographing the finished and klaar Kimchi when my cat jumped up and knocked him on the ground, smashing him.

Loooooooong pause.

Time the third: this guy ⬆️. Every step was perfect. I loved every moment of it. But I got scared when it was time to package. I procrastinated. Then I screwed up my courage, absolutely COVERED Kimchi in bubble wrap and did the scary thing. He arrived yesterday, safe and sound.

Thank you so much Tamsyn! Your patience and understanding was a gift, and making Kimchi for you was a privilege.

You can order your own! Just inbox me for details ❤️🐈

25/11/2024

🎄You can still order the kitty cookie jars all the way up to mid December!🎄 Inbox me for colour options, courier to your home is included in the price. Boston and Labrador cookie jars are also available.

15/11/2024

🎄Custom orders are closed but the cookie jars are still available for order until 15 December 🎄

They come in Labrador, Kitty, and Boston Terrier.

You can order them a few ways. Either go to my website (link in bio) and use the easy checkout, or inbox me for colour options.

07/11/2024

Look at Kimchi all underglazed up! One day I'll have the guts to tell you all the story of how I'm glazing my 3rd statue of Kimchi over 2 years and somehow none of them have reached the client, who is inexplicably, still prepared to be a client.

But instead I'll talk about how I've had to start pilates again, thanks to a s**tty lumbar disc, and a full life that won't slow down for chronic back pain.

My pilates instructor is an ex gymnast.

I (42 yo) am in the same class as the 70 yo ladies who are recovering from joint replacements. I am not better at the exercises than them. I will be in this class for a long time.

Last Monday, we're all lying face down on the mats trying to lift only the middle part of the back. Is that thoracic? Whatever it is, me and my side of the gym are battling.

Pilates instructor tries to explain which complicated and limited set of muscles to use. She says: imagine someone is giving you a medal, it's your courageous posture.

Goddam but I've giggled since then. Through the slow and spikey death of an entire democracy, through managing hard s**t for an aging parent, through liquid anxiety.

And OK I've been given academic awards (once) but it was so embarrassing and I had to walk onto a stage in an auditorium as a deeply uncool 14yo in front of a whole, sports mad school. I scuttled onto that stage and tried to be as small as humanly possible.

But I have NEVER been the kind of meat sack that is given medals for using the meat sack well. In fact the only sport I ever played was 6 months of netball in grade 8. And the thought of getting a prize for being a really really crap netball player is still so funny that I can't stop laughing.

And I only figured out how to do the movement when she said to clench under my armpits. Try it. You do sit straighter.

31/10/2024

This is a chaotic time of year for us small biz owners. Help a gal out by ordering before the deadline. It's not arbitrary, it's because that's how long it takes to make and send when I'm being my MOST efficient. On the 24th of Dec I fall over and turn into a potato.

In other news, despite a lot of hard work and practice I simply cannot create brand images that look professional. So I'm giving up. This ⬆️ is how it's all going to look from now onwards. Reels will not be carefully crafted to maximise engagement, there will be no hook or "trending sounds". It's just going to be a 40something year old with a janky phone taking s**t pictures and pasting some text over them.

Frankly, you didn't respond to them and I felt like an ar****le posting them. They did not equate to more orders. Only an ad a week has done that for me and if its works and doesn't make me feel like Shein Barbie trying to sell her Temu "mansion" on Facebook Marketplace then great.

If this is just the perimenopause talking then we can revisit in 10 years. Good luck and good night to all who suffer. May we all meet up in a decade waving unfilled prescriptions for Ritalin, Xanax, and Ozempic.

Am I hangry?

30/10/2024

Two of the CUTEST pups for Tasha's wedding cake, Aurie and Moo (belly up as Moo does). I can't wait to see the photos from the wedding 👰🎂🤵‍♂

Another gentle reminder that my Xmas orders close on 8 Nov BUT that doesn't mean I won't hit capacity before then so best to order now.

Inbox me your email address for a pricelist ❤️

23/10/2024

Just a gentle reminder that Christmas orders need to be in before 8 November.

Now that I've caused panic, meet lovely Jackson, who was ordered by Maryke 💛💛💛

Please send recs for period drama series, the hectic period is in full swing and I'm running out of Austens to rewatch (yes I've seen ALL the Bridgertons twice and I'm mostly done with the Bucceneers).

20/09/2024

Clay won't be rushed. All my customers get a note explaining how damp clay will explode in the kiln. Well... this is what I mean. I didn't wait long enough for this sculpture to dry. I rushed. Sigh.

I'm lucky. 1. It's for my mum, so she doesn't mind waiting a little longer. 2. It didn't take out any other pieces in the kiln when it exploded.

I'll post a photo of Kimchi the cat in the kiln in my stories. He sat on a hot kiln for 2 full days, so I'm absolutely certain he's dry, but my heart won't believe what my brain is telling it until he comes out whole.

16/09/2024

Rambo, a custom 25cm sculpture for Rensche. The reference photos Rensche sent me of her boy, Rambo, were so perfect I should have guessed she was a professional photographer.

And then the cherry on the cake was the photos she sent me after the sculpture arrived home: I think it's pretty obvious the first photo is hers and the rest are mine 😄.

What a perfect little guy, a joy to sculpt.

12/09/2024

This is Kimchi, my latest custom commission for a 25cm sculpture from Tamsyn. Inbox me for prices if you want your own.

The bigger sculptures are tricky because they need me to put aside a few days and concentrate on them and them alone. There's a discipline in putting away all the other orders flapping around my brain (and my studio) and giving all my energy to one thing.

And until recently, I thought of discipline the same way I think of olympic high jump: very nice if that's your thing, amazing to watch, but absolutely not my idea of a good time.

And then, no s**t, I learned to meditate while in an MRI machine. It was that or freak out from the enclosed space and the weird noise.

I haven't managed to do it again. But I did learn to just do the thing (at the time it was lie still, hard for a fidgety person). I'm reliably told that is discipline. And so is this kind of sculpture. Happy Finished Sculpting Day, Kimchi.

09/09/2024

Actually it's 4 but my photo of the ginger jar shape didn't work with the collage. Scroll for close ups and the last shape option. Inbox for a pricelist ☺️

Clockwise from the top we have:
1. The "Bovril" jar shape
2. The straight up and down with wooden lid
3. The skinny (perfect for sachets of coffee, sugar, etc

And the last photo is the ginger jar shape, which is more square than the Bovril.

They come in a range of sizes and prices, and some can even fit 2 or 3 sculptures!

The cookie jars also work beautifully as urns.

02/09/2024

Let's talk custom sculptures on cups (because we're back to sunny skies and my solar kiln can go high enough to make these "food safe")*.

You get one (or even two!) animal faces on a cup. I might even be open to doing people faces but I don't swear they'll be as good as my pet sculpture! No one has yet ordered a bird. I will give 10% off to the first person who orders a bird!

You can choose the colour of your cup from a list I send to you.

My cups start at R850, which includes one animal face.

I hate to be the bearer of this news, but... Christmas is coming, and my lead times are 5-6 weeks.

*There is a wide discourse on what "food safe" means. If, like me, you like accuracy, it only refers to whether the clay or glaze is poisonous. Some glazes are literally poisonous if they touch liquid that will go into your mouth. I NEVER use those glazes on cups, which is why you don't get offered gold or bronze glazes. However, I'm choosing to use "food safe" in its widest sense which means "fired extremely high so the clay vitrifies so it can't harbour bacteria" and now you need me to explain vitrification and guys, I just don't have it in me. Your cup is safe to drink out of, I promise. Even if it wasn't vitrified, it would be fi... no, im not getting into this. If you want my opinions on the topic of food safe ceramics in general, just shout, and I will send you a 45-minute voice note 😄

26/08/2024

💫It's been so long since I got an order for a house sign that I thought I'd remind you about them💫

They aren't JUST house signs; they're also name plaques and memorials. All of these are ideas my clients came up with, I'm just the hands on the clay, so if you can dream it (and it's physically possible), I'll do it💪🔨

Inbox me your ideas and your email address, and I'll pop through the price list 😊

19/08/2024

Jesse the Sheltie! Like everything from the Shetland Isles, Shetland Sheepdogs are a bit smaller than their cousins on the mainland. But man, these guys have just as much spirit as the big boys.

Lovely Jesse, a joy and a privilege to sculpt. His dad chose the 15cm option, which is perfect for displaying in any space, kind of like Jesse, not too big and not too small.

If you'd like info for your own custom pet sculpture, pop me a DM with your email address because this lady still hasn't automated that stuff yet.

14/08/2024

Full circle, full heart. This is Birdie (L) and Cricket (R). They lived in Woodstock the same time we did. In time, the doggo, mum, dad, and two human kiddos moved to Norway (we got their amazing, lifesaving vacuum 🙏), and we moved to Riebeek.

And this last month, I got to do Birdie and Cricket for them 💙💙💙.

Birdie and Cricket are inseparable, which is why I sculpted them so close together. Well, that's how Birdie sees it. Cricket is her emotional support dog, and since he's a kind, patient boy, he does a good job at it.

If you'd like your own customs pieces, just shoot me a DM with your email address, and I'll send you a pricelist.

09/08/2024

Delicious Alabama finally got to do some quality checks on her likeness, which mum and dad had on their wedding cake a while back. She said not enough cake left on it, so only A minus.

Alex and Rob opted for a stand so they could display the cake toppers safely at home ❤️

07/08/2024

We have unexpectedly become the foster home for a Pekingese who was probably born in biblical times.

Flupphy comes, originally, from Lesotho. That's how it's spelt on her vaccination cards, so that's how we will spell it.

She was brought to SA when her family, who worked at the AU, had to go back to Bangladesh and didn't want to put an old gal through the trauma of international travel.

She lived in absolute luxury in Riebeek Kasteel until her owner passed recently, and now she must put up with her reduced circumstances in Riebeek West. My husband is already pricing baby papooses.

It's too many dogs. I know it is. But when the grand old lady of Kasteel needs a soft, warm place to rest her bones, who am I to say no?

Address

9 Piedmont Close
Riebeek-Wes
7306

Telephone

27822113881

Website

http://www.lesleytuchten.co.za/

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Videos

It's glazing day for my latest bird commission!

My desire to make reels and tiktoks has exploded since we got Flupphy. She has a passionate following of 4 so far! Flupps is not just spreading joy in the home, she's also earning her keep at HQ. Today she did some quality control on a big kitty sculpture after it had been signed off by client. She does still chase the cat. But the cat is running away slower every day. And frankly, Viviane could do with the exercise. #ceramics #petart #uniquegift #catart #catsculpture #catsofsouthafrica

Apart from the WILD snoring, the easiest adoption and integration we've ever had. Our biggest challenge is she chases the cat, but seeing as she has 3 teeth and they're all out of her mouth, I think Viviane will quickly become the bigger threat.

🥹🥹🥹 This is Louise's reel from her wedding which featured 7 (yes SEVEN) of her pups on the cake. Thank you Lou for the amazing video. Inbox for prices if you'd like to get sculptures of your furries or yourselves for your wedding cake 🎂🐕🐈👰🤵‍♂

Why Go for the 15cm Individual Sculpture 🌟✨️ Picture this: the 15cm sculpture is like the Goldilocks of sizes—just right between the petite 10cm cake topper and the delightful 25cm chonker. It’s practically begging to be the star of your shelf. This size is a dream if you’re all about capturing those little details that make your heart flutter: the dainty paw pads, the adorable textured nose, or those eyes that follow you with love (and maybe a hint of snack-envy). Snag this sculpture and you’ll be snagging a piece of perfect, smiling nostalgia. Every glance at it will be like a cozy hug from a memory🤗🩷

🌟Some of my favourite recent custom orders🌟 A planter A 15cm individual sculpture Wedding cake toppers Another 15cm individual sculpture! Inbox me for prices and how to order. I love Fridays🌻🌞 I start with an hour's therapy session via Zoom with my therapist of 15 years. It's a really good way to settle the week and plan for next week. At the moment all my attention is on a 25cm individual sculpture and a ringbowl with 2 pups that needs to be done before the owner visits SA from Norway.

By restricting sculpture hours per day, I can fit in all my other interests and hobbies, and weirdly, I'm now getting through my order list more efficiently. That means being able to add more clients to my monthly intake! If you have any questions or want a pricelist, inbox me your email address, and I'll pop through all the info.

I made a tiktok. It's not my first tiktok, and it won't be my last, but I think it might be my finest artwork yet. The context is that Viviane likes to get involved in my creative process. She especially likes pencils and oil pastels (ignore the Husband who calls them wax crayons). In Viviane's opinion, it's not worth hanging on a gallery wall until she's eaten some of it or stood in it and then walked on the furniture.

This should be the next gift you give (or receive, let them know!) The ceramic snack platters come in a range of sizes and shapes, and you can choose a custom colour to suit your aesthetic. Also, the pup. Or kitten. Or goose! You choose. Any animal sculpture you can think of! Have you looked at my Chimera range? They would also be awesome. Inbox for prices 😊

Bianca asked me to make a sculpture of her baby playing with her dog and yes, the videos were the best thing eve

Here are some kiddos who got sign-off this week ❤️

I wonder what colour I should make it 🤔 #ceramics #cookiejar #labrador