what's happening now?
September '11
Christmas is Coming!
I know I've hit my groove when in late August I am already
planning my firing cycles based on what I need for the Christmas
season. The good news is that I'm pretty much set. I've
made two kinds of mugs for you: Classy glowy mugs in two glaze
styles, and an every day mug in a fun new design. Over the last
year I've had a few requests for orchid planters, and after some brain
fermenting time, I thought of a really unique ESP design that should
give your babies lots of drainage and aeration (above, in two
styles: one-piece and two-piece). I finished them
today. I also needed a very small watering pitcher for myself, so
I made a few extra. :)
July & August '11
Working, playing
Today I am doing prep work for a glow glaze. I should be firing by the end of the weekend. Many fun things...
I'm also getting geared up for our annual summer sawdust firing - Both
level classes at CSA will be participating so we'll have a very packed
barrel. As always I'll be finishing ideas I came up with MONTHS
ago. If I have time and energy I might pick up some material for
one more idea... We'll see.
Note: The sawdust firing was the best ever. We fired during
hurricane Irene (yes, I did it on purpose...) and the result was that
the strong winds and rain blew rust from the exterior of the barrel
into the firing and created those gorgeous golden browns in the picture
above. I'll be finishing these small decorative planters in the
next couple months with some woven vines and they'll be ready for the
holidays.
(yes, those are shredded bills used to start the fire).
June '11
Gardens, Gallery & Gifts June 4th & 5th
How're those birdbaths working for you? :)
It was fun to have you notice and like the new designs this
season. I'm firing the last birdbath today along with a lot of
smaller things I wasn't able to finish last month: More glass
jewelry, some cool new lizards and a bunch of stuff for me... No
worries! I experiment on myself and pick the winners to add to
production. I'll post some pictures soon.
I'm looking into shows for early Fall: I plan to stay
local. In the meantime, I'll start to plump up the website.
May '11
Mothers Day Sale May 7th
Celebrate the Arts Festival May 14th
Thanks
everyone, good show. Make sure you check out the Gardens, Gallery
& Gifts link above. It's a great show and I should have some
new things ready by then.
I
was able to fit three out of five birdbaths into this bisque.
Those things are BIG. But everything else went in, and it
will cut down my usual long lead time in the next cycle. For
this glaze firing I'll be trying out two new glazes and bringing back a
beautiful pink that I haven't used in a while. Everything is
cooling now: Mugs, bowls, birdbaths and a new wind chime design
I'm trying.
April '11
Gaining Speed
As
in any physical repetitive skill, the only way to gain speed is through
repetition. Since I've avoided throwing mugs for, oh, four
years, you can guess that I don't (didn't) quite have that speed. This in
turn made me avoid throwing mugs since I knew it would start as a slow
and tedious process. But... you can't work as a potter and not
make mugs. I get this since I myself LOVE using hand thrown mugs:
How could I expect you not to want to buy them?
So
guess what? Yep, I got faster and better at them, and you'll get
to have them.. ;) Tonight I'll finish trimming the last of
this batch and tomorrow I'll attach the last handles. Since it
*did* indeed start out slowly and tediously, I may not have them
finished for Mothers Day, but as you can see above there are a bunch of
good shows coming up this Spring and new inventory is on the way.
February '11
Welcome Back!
What uses twenty pounds (!) of clay and will look great this Spring in your garden?
I
try not to count my birdbaths before they're fired (or however that
saying goes), but I'm excited about these. When I run
out of room to dry them, I promise I will start making mugs for you.
I'm also experimenting with a new earthy black oxide & glass
jewelry design. These should be ready for our annual Spring
mother's day sale. I will also try to fit in more centerpiece
glow bowls - You cleaned me out this holiday season. (Yay you!)
I'll also be doing some local Spring shows and will keep you updated on those as they approach.
November '10
Artists Open Studios
Can't type! Getting ready! Visit link above! :)
September - October '10
Shelves, Lizards & Dragons
Ok...
After six new kiln shelves, a long story and a lot of extra work, we're
back on track for Fall. Our big event will be the Artists Open Studios
starting in November. We've added an extra day after Thanksgiving
for the Black Friday Warriors. Think about coming out these
weekends and doing some of your Holiday shopping - The economy has hit
the artists this past year and we could use your support. For my
part, I've expanded my lower-priced inventory and have included some really
fun and beautiful new things. I just pulled a batch of small
crackle-glass pendants that turned out striking. I have added glow to a set of curly votive holders - one of my favorite
new gifts (right side in the picture above). For the young at heart, I've payed attention to what
you buy and have a small, glowing army of bugs (without mugs!),
dragons and lizards. And I have more of your all-time favorites:
Small bowls-with-holes and big centerpiece bowls.
August '10
Check out Artists & Authors the week of August 23rd on CTV14 and see if you recognize any bowls...
Two
full sections of Summer Pottery at CSA will be finishing this month
with a student barrel firing. Sawdust donations accepted!
And...
the first clay cycle in the completed studio should be finishing up.
The new space is much more organized and efficient, and there's
even room for the chihuahua.
May '10
Mothers' Day Sale Saturday May 8th, 10-5pm
First
sale of the new season! The kiln is packed tighter than EVER with
four months of ware. Glazing starts on Monday! I'll also be
working hard to paint the trim, doors and shelving of the
renovated, almost-done studio. (The plumbers don't know what to
do with the five-inch drain hole on my used farm sink yet...)
These pots will be done before that door gets painted...
April '10
New Studio and a Request to my Potter Friends & Students
Renovation
begins! For fun, I would be honored to include tiles you
make on my new studio walls (finished tile size ~ 4-1/4"). I will
probably start sticking them up this Fall. Anything goes - Have
fun!
March '10
Things for Spring
February '10
Refining New Style
What
does my bathroom have to do with you?? Mostly, I use the
post-holiday season to experiment with and refine new ideas
for this year's products. The free-form lace-bowls, for
example, are a result of my sink. The delicate glow-patterns on
some of the tiles will show up on votive hand-built forms and thrown
bowls. The glass tiles will become some larger necklace pendants.
The palette will continue to be creams mixed with water and sky
blues with that feely textural contrast of naked clay and sparkly,
shiny glaze.
After
an end-of-year inventory review, we have also decided to add small
vases to our best-sellers. Have no fear: Votive bowls
with holes continue to top that list.
Bathroom
tiles at night. My goal was to avoid tackiness and have these
look beautiful in day and night light, and the lace patterns did that.
Sometimes things just work the way you hope...
January '10
Registration, Renovation and Things that Glow!
UConn Community School registration for Wheel 1
is happening now. Classes start Tuesday Jan 19 and run for twelve
weeks. I have a great first class project that will be new (and
fun and informative and easy!) for both returning students
and new people.
At the studio, this
winter clay cycle will be very interesting. We are at
last going to do our clay studio renovation. This however
will leave me without a workspace. But...
this fall I've been experimenting with a very special glaze that
will lend itself well to some hand-built vessels. I don't need a
full studio for hand-building. See the connection? :)
What is this new glaze, you ask? Oh... you're going to like
it. It glows in the dark. AND will work well with our
current palette and style... More to come!
I totally wanted to steal those espresso cups
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