It’s Cozy Candle Season.

Now that fall has arrived, I have embraced it by lighting a Pumpkin Spice candle every morning while I pray, journal and meditate upon Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith”. It’s what gets me through the day. The harvest season is a time to give thanks daily, although I try to do this in all seasons, this particular time for me is special. The cooler air in the morning invigorates me to walk or garden and the evenings are a perfect temperature for patio dinners. As my last blog indicated, there is a change in the atmosphere. I…

A Change of Atmosphere

September 13, 2021September 17, 2021 Categories: Arizona · handmade · Holiday shows · installations · Mosaic bench · mosaics · Southwest ArtTags: art · ceramics · clay · custom tile · design · holiday shows 2021 · inspiration · Mosaic bench · Robin Chlad · Robin Chlad Designs · tucson1 Comment

September is my favorite month. It’s the beginning of a new season, it’s my mom’s birthday month and everyone and everything seems to get back to a routine. Oh, the temps are still hot in Tucson but the earth has a subtle change in degrees, with longer shadows and slightly cooler evenings. I anticipate the fall from a distance with pumpkin everything. There is a change in the atmosphere in more ways than one. As an artist in business for over 33 years I go through patterns of change, then comfort then change again. Just when I think I have…

A Call for a New Home with Studio Space

August 18, 2021 Categories: Arizona · Butterfly · Canister and Vases · ceramics · mosaics · UncategorizedTags: art · ceramic · ceramics · clayartist · house · inspiration · Mosaic bench · mosaic tile · outdoor space · pottery · Robin Chlad · studio · tucson artist · Tucson house · women artistsLeave a comment

An artist friend once told me when growing your business, try to work out of your home as long as you can possibly stand it. That was back in the 90s. I followed that advise until I couldn’t anymore, then rented a warehouse. It seemed to be perfect timing and everything fell into place. I had a separate work place with room to grow. I had employees, a production area, a shipping department. Do I want all that again? Not really. Fast forward to today….business strategies have changed and I have been able to work out of my tiny townhome…

Adjust, Flow and Grow

February 13, 2021December 6, 2021 Categories: Art and Health · art business · Botanical pottery · Butterfly · Canister and Vases · Custom Art · Flowers · handmade · installations · mosaics · mothers dayTags: art · cactus · ceramica · ceramics · ceramik · coyote · desert · desert garden · hummingbirds · installations · mosaic tile · mosaic workshop · mosaics · quail · Robin Chlad · Robin Chlad Designs · saguaro · secret garden · shopify · tall vases · Tucson Museum of Art Spring Show · valentine's day · vesselsLeave a comment

I am so excited about new things happening this year. I’m still adjusting to how business practices are changing….many are shopping on line. My beloved Stein Mart is no more. Gosh, I just loved that store. Such cute things for ladies my age. But Alas… no more. I am old school. I like to shop in person, I like to talk on the phone. I prefer meeting in person. With the exception of a doctor appt. I love video chat for dr. appointments. But I’m not crazy about zoom. I’m still making art the way I have always been making…

Finding Blessings In All This

August 7, 2020 Categories: 2020 · Art and Health · art business · Custom Art · mosaics · sculptureTags: angels · art · blogs · cactus flowers · cats · classes · creativity · Datura · design · dog · faith · flowers · friends · fun · garden · garden art · garden bench · handmade · handmade tile · health · inspiration · Jesus · music · Robin Chlad · Robin Chlad Designs · roses · shadow box · shrine · trumpet flower · video · womenLeave a comment

Wow, It took the C virus to really appreciate my students. It took the Corona Virus to really make me feel the joy of teaching. I can’t explain it very well but I think it might have something to do with connecting with people who love to create and be a part of something in real time, in real person. There is a lot to be said about this. I am naturally an introvert. And when the whole shut down happened I thought, I got this. I can to this. It’s what I do! But it wasn’t that easy. I found…

Taking The Edge Off.

June 8, 2020December 6, 2021 Categories: 2020 · Arizona · ceramics · Classes · Corona season · UncategorizedTags: art · art projects · Blue Raven Art School · classes · clay classes · corona · design · fun · inspiration · mosaic · mosaic tile · music · painting · quail · roadrunner · Robin Chlad · Robin Chlad Designs · sculpture · small sculpture · still life · tucson · tulips2 Comments

Front side of 2020! Many of us are just trying to cope with what is being thrown at us day by day. There seems to be shocking news everyday. 3 weeks ago it was like “Ground Hog Day” everyday. Then to the “Truman Show” and currently we are in “Twilight Zone”! We are in the thick of it and trying to get to the other side. The other side of the Corona, the other side of civil unrest, many stressors being thrown at us. It’s wise to turn the news off and focus on what brings joy. Of coarse be…

The Tale of Three Benches

April 26, 2020December 6, 2021 Categories: 2020 · Arizona · Art and Health · art business · Art Walk · Botanical pottery · ceramics · Gardening · Jane Hamilton Fine Art Gallery · May Show · mosaics · Southwest Art · Spring Decor · UncategorizedTags: Arizona · art · art bench · art deco · Art Walk · cactus · cactuswren · ceramic art · coyotes · design · garden · garden bench · handmade tile · inspiration · Jane Hamilton Fine Art Gallery · lupine · May 2 2020 · Mosaic bench · mosaics · phainopepla · poppy · quail · quality · Robin Chlad · Robin Chlad Designs · sculpture · Sculpture Art Walk · teal · tile · Tucson galleryLeave a comment

During this down time I have been able to get a lot done, as we all have. But all this free time to ourselves is beginning to grow old and monotonous. I don’t want to go down the corona/ economy/ get back to work road. I just want to let you all know I am eager to share all the new work I have been creating. This stay – at – home season has allowed me to create some more elaborate work and that is always exciting to me. So the “Tale of Three Benches” is about these amazing mosaic…

Peace (be still)

March 28, 2020April 26, 2020 Categories: 2020 · Arizona · Art and Health · art business · Canister and Vases · ceramics · UncategorizedTags: art · design · faith · family art · fresh air · fun · garden · God · handmade tile · hope · inspiration · Jesus · jobs · mosaic tile · mosaic workshop · new thing · no fear · peace · pottery · video4 Comments

Strange are these days. I have been self quarantining but that is normal for me because I am an introvert by nature. No big deal. But I actually feel bad for those whose lives are abruptly edited. I do not like that at all because it’s not fair. But fair or not, it’s not forever. It’s difficult to stay put when someone tells you to stay put. I want to do the opposite, (It’s the rebel in me). Now it feels weird when I go out, like I’m going to be questioned at the grocery store or the post office. …

Rainyness

March 12, 2020May 5, 2020 Categories: Arizona · art business · ceramics · UncategorizedTags: art · art festival · burro · cats · cows · desert · design · dog · farm · fun · garden · hummingbirds · inspiration · mosaics · quails · Robin Chlad · Robin Chlad Designs · saguaro · tucson · tucson art · tucson artist · Tucson Museum of Art Spring ShowLeave a comment

Today was an amazing day, weather wise. We wont talk about the “plandemic” news. But it was a moist day with sporadic soft rain here and there. The smell of the desert was nurturing. The cloud covering set a mood. My plants loved it. And I could have stayed in my garden all day but alas…. This week I am getting ready for the Tucson Museum of Art Spring Artisan Market. Starts the Friday the 13th, ends Sunday the 15th. 10-5 each day. It’s on the street folks. Open air festival. No need to worry. I have hand sanitizer….

A Glimmer of Light

February 26, 2020 Categories: 2020 · ceramics · UncategorizedTags: art · birds · cats · fun · garden · garden art · hummingbirds · inspiration · matilda poppies · mosaic tile · mosaic workshop · poppies · poppy flower · quails · Two Tree park · Ventura · welcome sign2 Comments

I wanted to savor this moment and reflect on the past few months…that all began in late fall. A project. A custom order that is finally being sent off this week. The project between two very busy parties, me and the client. Honestly, I have never had a small custom order last as long as this did. Through my busiest time of the year, we worked together bit by bit to see it completed. (Remind me never to take a mural order again in October). So I wanted to document and share the process from beginning to (my) end. It…

Robin Chlad Designs

3 Dimensional Mosaics, Vibrant Functional Pottery and Southwest Art

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