Sunday, December 16, 2012

Dinner platter order complete

A few months back I got a request to make 6 plates.  What made this an interesting order was that the customer wanted man platters for dining outside.  He wanted to be able to load up his plate and not to have to go back to get more.  These plates are 13 inches and will hold a large steak and all the sides easily.

This week I have been busy shipping out online orders.  It has been pretty exciting to get orders almost daily.  Most times I was shipping between 4-10 boxes.  Of course this is the week that they are doing bodywork on our truck, which coincidentally was ruined when I backed into a car in the post office parking lot last month.  So, my sons had to take turns driving me to the post office every afternoon.   Hopefully I will get the truck back soon.

Yesterday I went to the supply store and ordered a slab roller.  I am really excited to start making some new work.  In the next few days I will probably draw out some ideas to try once I get the slab roller.  My plan is to also revamp my glaze colors as well.  The glazes I use right now do not show texture well and slab work is shown off best with other types of glazes.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

John C. Campbell Folk School

I spent last week at the John C. Campbell Folk School taking the Textured gifts of clay class.  Sylvia Coppola was our instructor and she did a great job showing us many ideas for hand built projects.  From teapots, to owl bells, mugs, vases and even toad houses.

The photo to the left was one of the items I made using the ideas learned but using my own patterns.  In a few months I plan on having some new glazes and I can't wait to glaze this pot.

The photo on the right is of the whole class with Sylvia and our last glaze load. Everyone had a great time and came away with some wonderful pieces.

My mom was my roommate and she took the copper enameling class.  We had a great time in the evenings watching the many programs they had including dancing, singing, and a performance by the Brasstown Ringers.  It was Christmas week so everything was Christmas related.

To see more photos of the week, check out my Facebook page.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Coffee Table Bowl

This week has been surprisingly busy.  After the Seagrove show I started listing pieces for sale online.  The great thing is that I started selling more items so I glazed some more, then some more.  Today I unloaded the kiln again and have started listing more items on Etsy.

The only bummer was that while I was sanding the bottoms of the pieces, I dropped a brie baker onto two yarn bowls.  The brie baker didn't break but it broke two really nice yarn bowls.  This is a double bummer because I have had a hard time making these pieces fast enough.

This handled coffee table bowl was a special order by a customer at the Shelby show and it came out beautifully.  It took me three tries to get it to finished size of 16 inches.  I wasn't sure how much shrinkage was going to play a part in size.  This bowl started at 18 inches, then shrunk to 17 inches before it even went into the kiln.  It barely fit into my 7 cu ft kiln.

Next week I will be going to the John C. Campbell Folk School.  I will be taking a course from Sylvia Coppola.  My mom will be rooming with me and she will be taking copper enameling.  I am so looking forward to this, since we signed up 6 months ago, it seems like it will never get here.  Hopefully I will come home with all kinds of new ideas.

While I am gone, my son Tarick will be taking over my shipping duties.  This is a little scary for me to turn this over to him but I didn't want to shut down my online shop during the busiest season of the year.  When I get back I need to glaze one more load.  I have 2 more platters to finish for a dinnerware set I started a few months ago, plus I am sure that I will need more items to post online.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Liebster Blog award

Thank you KAB for nominating me for the Liebster blog award.  This is the first blog award I have ever received.


The Liebster Blog award is given to bloggers who have less then 200 followers.



Each blogger should post 11 facts random facts about themselves.
-Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award on to.
-Choose 11 bloggers (less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them to your post.
-Go to their page and tell them about the award.
-No tag backs!

Random facts about me.

1. I have been married for 25 years.
2.For 15 years I was a hairdresser.
3. I grew up on a dairy farm.
4. I was a band geek in high school
5. I have two boys (18 & 22).
6. I read a lot.  When I have books I like sometimes a book a day.
7.I like pop music. Gangnam Style is my favorite right now.
8.My husband and I spend lots of time at our cabin near Asheville.
9.I love flowers
10.I am enthralled with waterfalls.  We try to hike to as many as possible.
11. I have always said that we would go to Europe by our 25th anniversary.  Didn't happen, but cross my fingers that it will happen before my 26th.  Italy is the goal.

KABbeading's Questions for me:
  1. What was your favorite book as a teen?  Boy, so long ago and I read so many books. I remember reading the whole Little House on the Prairie series, but it may have been preteen.
  2. What is your favorite drink? Strawberry Daiqari
  3. What color do you look best in?  turquoise?
  4. What is the one thing you hope to accomplish with your blog?  Giving an appreciation for the arts. 
  5. Have you ever been to another country? mexico
  6. What is your favorite Christmas Holiday song? O holy night
  7. What is your favorite thing to blog about?When I have finished throwing a really interesting new piece.
  8. What would you like me to blog about? fun events you attend
  9. What do you do to relax? Read, go to our cabin to chill
  10. If you could be a super-hero, who would you be? Super cleaning woman, all I would have to do is think clean and my house would be clean.
  11. What is your favorite mode of transportation?  Plane - it means that I am going somewhere fun.
My nominations:



New Day Potterys questions for you.

1. Where did you grow up.
2. What is your favorite place to visit?
3. How many pottery mugs do you own that are not made by you?
4.What is your favorite book?
5. How many art shows do you participate in every year?
6.What is your favorite pizza?
7. What kind of music do you listen to most?
8. Beach or Mountains?
9.Favorite TV show?
10. Last movie you saw?
11.Favorite child hood memory?

Monday, November 19, 2012

New Items for Etsy and Galleries

Yesterday I finished with my fall art shows.  Today I sorted through my remaining pieces and some are going to galleries and others I am listing on Etsy.  This brie baker and cracker tray was photographed and listed. It would make a great hostess gift. Over the next few weeks I will be added many more pieces.

Tomorrow I will be going to Rubys Gift, FABO and the A New You Bodyworks Wellness Center to drop off new work.  Bodyworks is a new place in Mooresville that asked to carry some pieces.

Wednesday I need to try to make the 16 inch bowl again.  This will be my third and last try.  Next week I will be glazing again.  I have a few orders and I need more gift items for Etsy and the gift shops.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Heading to Seagrove tomorrow

Last weekend at the Carolina Pottery Festival I got a request for a extra large handled bowl.  The bowls are usually about 13-14 inches so that they can fit in my boxes when I pack up for shows.  The customer wants her bowl to be 16 inches.  A few days ago I threw 2 bowls and achieved 16 inches but after firing it will not be big enough so today I will try again.  The smaller of the two bowls I decided to try a cross hatch pattern around the rim. (see photo).  It turned out nice.

I was supposed to be done throwing last week, since my last show of the year is Seagrove (this weekend).  Instead I have to make enough pieces to fill my kiln, just so that I can fire this piece.  Hopefully this weekend I will get some more custom orders.  The six platter order I started last month will need to be glaze fired anyway and will probably take a few loads.

Tomorrow I will head up to the Seagrove Pottery Festival to set up my booth.  This year my Auction piece will be a teapot. Check out my Facebook page for a photo. The forecast is chilly, so I need to bring warm clothes.  The festival is always very busy, so I hope that is the case again this year.

Early next week I will start adding new items from my leftover inventory to my Etsy site.  Then I will take some new pieces to a few gifts shops in town.

In a few weeks I head to western N.C. to attend the John C. Campbell school for a week.  I will be taking a pottery course with Sylvia Coppola.  My mom is going to be my room mate and she is taking the copper enameling course.  I am looking forward to the trip.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Gravy Boat featured online



Today I found out that a gravy boat I have listed on Etsy has been featured in a video put together by the Handbuilt Pottery Online.  It's featured about 3/4 of the way through the video.  There are over 100 items now listed for sale on my online shop.  In the coming weeks I will be adding a bunch more to get ready for the Holiday rush.  Remember, some of the items are one of a kind, so order early if you don't want to miss out.

Tomorrow I will glaze my last load before the Carolina Pottery Festival.  I am also getting pieces ready for the Art for Christmas Show in Kings Mountain that runs November 18th - January 1st. The reception is November 18th, 1-4pm.  There is also an event called "Get Mugged" that I am donating a few mugs for.  It is on December 8th, from 10-4.  For $18 you get a mug to fill with a beverage while you shop, then take it home with you.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Location Change for Carolina Pottery Festival

The location for the Carolina Pottery Festival has changed.  Instead of being at the Fairgrounds it will now be held at the Cleveland County Mall.  Read all about it HERE,  I just hope everyone hears of the change and will come down to the Mall to check out the best of Carolina Pottery.

Last week I took a little time to "smell the roses".  My mom and I went up to our cabin near Chimney Rock. We spent time gazing at the beautiful scenery, shopping, and chillin'.

This coming week I will be throwing and glazing for the Carolina Pottery Festival Nov 10th and the Seagrove Pottery Festival on November 17-18th.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Christmas Made in the South - Ready, Set, Go

Today I go set up the the Christmas Made in the South show.  It usually takes around 5 hours to set up.  The good thing is that they have porters there with large carts to help bring it all it.  That saves my back a bit. Hopefully I go home lighter.

Yesterday I unloaded the kiln and this vase was a favorite.  On the neck I used the rounded top of a lag screw to make intentions.  I got the idea from the Joy Tanner workshop.  She used the octagon shaped bolts  to make texture on her pots.

After the show on Monday I will throw like crazy for a few days, then I am taking my mom up to the mountains and our cabin for a visit.  When I get back I will glaze like crazy for the Carolina Pottery Show in Shelby and the Seagrove Pottery show the next week.  I also need to get pieces ready for the month long show at Kings Mtn.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Teapot on Fire

Today I unloaded the kiln and here is my favorite piece.  I have been working on my teapot design and I like how it came together in this piece.  It makes me think of fire, with the glaze color and the flame like knob on the lid.  I will be taking this piece and many others to the Carolina Claymatters Fall Festival this weekend.  It looks like a pleasant day at 66 degrees and sunny.

My goal for next year is to try to get into some new shows.  I have been doing the same shows for the past few years and am ready for a change.  There are still decisions to be made on whether I want to upgrade my booth. I wonder sometimes how much it matters in getting into shows and selling more pieces.  This photo may be one that gets sent out on applications.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Dinnerware sets

Just got back from the Brushy Mtn Apple Festival.  There were tons of people, saw some old friends and met some new.  Tomorrow I will need to make some more earring holders since they seemed to be selling well.

I few weeks ago I finished this dinnerware set for eight.  A five piece place setting is $95, and pieces can be purchased individually.  Other glaze combinations can be ordered.  Wedding Registry is also available.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Finally ready

Finally packed up and ready for three weekends in a row of art or pottery shows.  The photo on the left was the last glaze load to come out and I thought it looked especially colorful.

This Saturday I will at the Brushy Mtn Apple Festival in North Wilkesboro.  The weather forecast looks good so I expect that the crowds will be good.  My mom will be keeping me company during my fall shows.

Today I started an order for Mountain Nest in Black Mountain. Tomorrow I plan on making the piece for the Seagrove Pottery Festival's Auction plus some more teapots and other fun items.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Wall hanging

Last week I went to the beach with my mom and had a great time.  But all good things must come to an end and today I was back in the studio. I made more yarn bowls and brie bakers and I started this wall hanging that I have been thinking about for awhile. I need to think about how I want to glaze it.

Before leaving for the beach we got the new elements put in an all is well.  I fired a bisque load before I left and fired a glaze load when I got back last night.

Be sure and check my Facebook page later in the week for photos of my favorite pieces glazed this week.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Featured Artist at Falling Rivers Gallery

Today I took a trip to Albemarle today to take inventory to the Falling Rivers Gallery.  The pieces to the left were the few pieces in my new line that I was able to get done before my elements went out in my kiln.  I also took some more of the Green Mist line(shown below).

I will be the featured artist September 20- October 11th.  There will be a nice display up front and there is a feature on the website. HERE

Also: The Falling Rivers Pottery show will be September 28th-29th.

In a few weeks I will start going to art shows on the weekends.  The first show is the Brushy Mtn Apple Festival.  This is a large festival covering 3 streets in downtown N. Wilkesboro.  I just love shopping for great arts and crafts and eating apple pies.  Yummm. 

The next Saturday is the Carolina Claymatters Pottery Festival in Charlotte.  I really like this show because our guild puts it on.  My contribution to the guild is that I am the website and Facebook administrator.  Plus I post the Festival on as many event listings as I can find.  
Check out the show listings for more information about date, time and locations of all the shows this fall.

Tomorrow my husband will help me try to replace the elements in the kiln and hopefully I will be good to glaze by the end of the week.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Boo hoo Broken Kiln

Last week I glazed every day.  Then on Friday as I was waiting for a glaze load to finish (which seemed to be taking forever) I come out to check on it and it has shut off with an error.  After talking to the person at the kiln company we decide that the elements must be worn out.  So I order the elements to hopefully come early this week.  My husband will help me put them in.  Hopefully I can be back to glazing by midweek.

The biggest bummer is that some of  the pieces that were to go in the last few loads were going to Falling Rivers Gallery on Tuesday.  I will be one of the featured artists this month and I wanted my display to be of the new line but it will have to be the green mist instead since that was the only line that I had enough really nice pieces finished.  I will also be bringing in items that make great holiday gifts. In the photo you can see the items I will take to Falling Rivers, plus the pieces waiting to go in the kiln once it's its fixed

At the end of this week my Mom will be arriving.  She will be keeping me company at my fall shows.  But first we are going to the beach for a week.  Woo hoo.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

25th Wedding Anniversary

Twenty-five years ago today I married a wonderful man.  When we met I was in Cosmetology school.  Throughout the years we have been married I have been a hairdresser, assistant manager of a gift shop, administrative assist and now a potter.  He has supported my decisions at every turn.  I hope we have another happy 25 years.

For those of you that follow my blog may wonder what I have been doing lately.  Well, mostly just trying to stock up for my fall shows.  I did make a new set of salt and pepper shakers that turned out nice.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Mountain Nest Grand Opening

Last weekend on the way to our cabin I went past Black Mountain to drop of some more items at the Mountain Nest Gift shop.  They were getting ready for the Grand Opening which will be this weekend August 11-12.  The shop looks great with a bunch of great gift items.

This week I started the glazing for the  Queens Corner wine bar that will be opening soon.  One kiln load is cooling down and I will probably have 2 more to finish everything.  Hopefully everything turns out.



This week I have been hard at work throwing items and stocking up for fall. Next week I will also need to get some items glazed for a few gift shops here in Charlotte.  The Democratic National Convention will be here the first week in September and they are expecting more visitors in the shops.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Before and After



Yesterday when I loaded the kiln I remembered to take a photo before firing.  Today, I opened the lid and here is a photo of how the glaze changes in the firing.  Later when the kiln cools down I will photograph a few pieces for Etsy and few other of my favorite pieces. In this load there was another order for the Mountain View Gift shop in Black Mountain.  There are also test pieces for the local wine bar.  Once they pick which glaze they like, I will glaze those pieces, probably next week.




Today I made three footed candy dishes and a pitcher.  In the upper left photo, I have the three steps of how I make the feet.  On the right is a photo of one of the dishes that I put on Etsy this week.  On the left you can see a pitcher with a handbuilt spout and the three feet.

I have been looking at my calendar and feel like I am not working hard enough.  I have 7 weeks until I need to be ready for my first show. I am taking a week off at the beach with my mom just before the start of the show season, plus we are going to go to the cabin at the end of October, so I won't have the 3 full weeks to restock before the November shows.

This summer is different than in the past because I am trying to add items to Etsy, plus fill a number of orders.






Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Using bolts for texture



Today I got a chance to use some of the ideas I got at the Joy Tanner workshop on Sunday.  I have felt that my pots need more texture and I have been working on that lately.  Joy used a bolt on one of her bowls, so I decided to grab some bolts and screws from our tool box. All except the pitcher have texture with different bolts or screws.

I really liked how the pitcher turned out. Can't wait until it's glazed.

I did mash up a vase that was hideous. Joy made carving look easy.  Not so.

The rest of the day I made egg separators.  Tomorrow I will glaze.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Joy Tanner workshop

Sunday I attended our guilds free summer workshop.  Our presenter this year was Joy Tanner.  I have admired her pottery for years by stalking her pottery blog.  In the photo to the left you can see Joy and the ewer I just had to have.

I was especially interested in her information about her residency at the EnergyXchange.

To see more about the workshop check out our guilds website which I am the administrator.


Tomorrow I will be back in the studio stocking up for fall shows and I plan on trying a few of the techniques learned from Joy.  I will also be glazing some more items in the Sunrise line, which I am bringing back by popular demand.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Purple Glaze

Boy has it been warm in the studio this week.  I have been working on a large order for a wine bar that will be opening in September.  They will be serving the appetizers with my plates and bowls.  I am so excited.

Today I started out early glazing some pieces for Ruby's gift in NoDa and for Etsy.  I also wanted to test out the purple glaze I mixed up.  I like to use egg separators and heart dishes to try out different combinations. I did go a little overboard and put some on a few other pieces.  Hopefully they will look like I envisioned.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Vases and a teapot

Lately I have had a number of surprise orders from new gift shops so I had cleaned out my existing inventory and need more, especially smaller (under $35) items.  So I have been in the studio making brie bakers, berry bowls, yarn bowls, earring holders, egg separators, french butter dishes, bowls, pedestals, cupcake holders (for Mountain view gift shop), etc.  Today I decided that I really needed to feed my creative soul and made a few decorative items.  I focused on simple vase forms with texture and a teapot.  I took my time and even had to redo the lid, but in the end I was happy with how it turned out.  I would have made more items but had an appointment at 1 that ended my day in the studio.  Now it is hot out there. 

The Earth and Fire Festival in Kings Mountain will be ending on July 27th, so if you haven't been by to see all the beautiful pottery, there is still time.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Christmas in July Clearance Sale

Yesterday was a busy day outside the studio.  First I drove to Albemarle and dropped off some more inventory for the Falling Rivers Gallery. I also entered a pot in the summer art explosion that is a juried event going on for the next month.  Next I went back to Charlotte and dropped off my carpet shampooer for repair,  picked up clay, then dropped off pots at a new shop.  FABO is a coffee shop/gift shop.  The owner found my shop on Etsy an asked to carry my work.  Its a great little place in Myers Park. 

Last I dropped off two packages at the post office.  Sales from Etsy have been picking up since February when I really put some effort into it.  This month is the Christmas in July event and I am adding new clearance items often.  Today I added this vase/utensil holder.  All the items in the clearance section are one of a kind and will never be made again.  Shop early for Christmas and get great pottery for great prices.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

New Gallery order

Unloaded the kiln last Thursday night and here is the order for Ocean Annies in Duck.  I was able to fit all the pieces plus the 6 mugs for Mountain Nest in Black Mtn.  This finishes up my current work load.  My plan is to start stocking up for the Fall show Season which starts in October.  During the summer I will throw as many pots as I can, filling up my bisque shelves, then in September I will glaze like crazy.  This plan my not start this week until the temperatures go back down.  Today it was over 104F and I do not have air conditioning in my studio.

During the next month I plan on adding some pieces that were left over from the spring shows to the Etsy site for sell. Other potters have told me that it is best to have over 100 but I haven't been able to manage it yet.  I am over 80 right now.

Something that I will be working on this summer is a better display.  I would like to get some Pro Panels but would like to buy them used.  I have a few notices out on the web but if anyone has a set they are selling, please email me.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Earth and Fire Festival - Kings Mountain

Last night I unloaded the kiln.  The pieces shown here are my favorite out of this load.  The pitcher features the puffy feet I learned at the Allison McGowan workshop.  I am not sure what the use for the piece on the left is for, perhaps to hold mail.

I reloaded the kiln last night and tomorrow morning I will get these pieces and all the others out and ready for the Earth and Fire Festival.  The reception is Saturday June 23rd from 7-9.  The show runs until July 27th.  I will be unable to attend the reception do to my being at the Art in the Park in Asheville until 6 and then tearing down the display, I won't make it back to Kings Mountain in time.  Last year I had a great time visiting with all the visitors and other potters.


On Tuesday I unloaded the load of pieces for the Mountain Nest Gift Shop in Black Mountain.  I was disappointed to find that five out of the seven mugs I glazed had too much glaze and it ran on to the shelf.   I re-made the mugs and will hopefully have them finished next week.

Next week I hope to glaze the pieces for Ocean Annies in Duck, NC.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Oh Nooooo

Last week in two days, I threw more pots than I usually make in 2 weeks.  I was trying to crank out the order for Ocean Annies in Duck, NC.  I only had two days open before the glazing started for the Earth and Fire Festivl in Kings Mountain and the order for the Mountain Nest gift shop in Black Mountain.  I wanted the pieces to be drying while I am glazing the other pieces so that next week I can glaze the order and get them shipped out.

In my hurry to get items bisqued for the Kings Mountain show I rushed the drying on a teapot.  It rained so much last week that things weren't drying quick enough.  So I placed about 6 items out in the sun Thursday to finish drying.  All the other pieces were fine, but the teapot was apparently not completely dry.  I am bummed because I really wanted a teapot in that exhibition.

Today I glaze the items for Mountain Nest.  This morning I already put on the wax resist, which keeps the glaze from sticking to the bottom of the pots.  I have also mixed some of the twilight glaze, which I will be using tomorrow.  Look for photos later this week.

Last week I won the Top Treasury Team Challenge for the week.  So this week everyone makes a treasury featuring my Dragonfly Pie Plate.  It is fun to see all the creative themes and items used in the treasuries.  I will have a hard time choosing which one I like best.  Check out the treasuries here.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Getting ready for Art in the Park - Asheville

This week I have been doing a last push making pieces for three things coming up on the 23rd.  First is the Art in the Park in Asheville (only need a few more pieces for this), Earth and Fire Festival in Kings Mountain (need gallery style items for a full 8ft. display), and the wholesale order for the Mountain Nest Gallery in Black Mountain.  I also tried to make a few more yarn bowls for Ruby's Gift and Etsy.  Someone told me to dry them upside down to keep them from warping.  I am not sure that will help but willing to give it a try. 

Tomorrow I will make brie bakers, slip trail beading and load the first of two bisque loads this week. They will include the tall pieces I made a few weeks ago.  I hope to have at least 2 pieces for upcoming competitions I would like to enter.  By the end of the week I hope to glaze at least one load to have a head start for next week.


I plan on adding numerous new items to my Etsy shop at the beginning of July.

After this I do not have any shows until October, so I will start stocking up for the fall show season.  That is when I am usually at my busiest, plus my mom is coming to help out with my shows and we will be going to the beach and mountains on the weeks between shows, so I need to have everything ready to go.


Monday, June 4, 2012

New Gallery will carry my pottery

This weekend I had a booth at the Black Mountain Arts and Crafts Festival.  The weather was cool with gusts of wind.  One potter lost half their pots in a large gust that lifted the tent causing one side of crates stacked to fall over.  Huge losses.  I was eating lunch while my husband watched the booth.  He called me frantic to get back and help hold the tent down.  By the time I got back the wind had died down.  It kept scaring us all day.

I was excited to get an order from a shop in Black Mountain.  Mountain Nest will be opening at the end of June and will have some of my Dragonfly line, shown on the center rack above.

While driving from our cabin in Bat Cave to the show on Sunday we saw a bunch of turkey's.  This is the only photo I got and I wasn't fast enough to get the turkey on this side of the fence.  She had 4 babies with her and they flew away when we stopped.  She just kept walking towards the treeline.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Vases and a plate

Today I unloaded the kiln and here are a few of the pieces.  The vase on the left was thrown a while ago but I just didn't know how to glaze it.  I like how the carving shows up well with the green sprayed on.  The vase on the right I used the spiral stamp I made after seeing it at the Potters Conference.  I stamped the pattern on four sides  The plate features the technique learned at the Claymatters Winter Workshop, with the grooving around the rim. 

I will finish sanding the bottoms, inventory, price and pack up for the 15th Annual Black Mountain Arts and Crafts festival coming up this weekend.  This is a new show for me so I hope it is busy.  We will stay at our cabin in Bat Cave.  I have started looking into shows near there so that we can enjoy the cabin while not having to pay for a hotel.  To see what else we have been doing while at the cabin, check out out cabin blog.

Be sure to "like" the New Day Pottery Facebook page to stay informed about all that is going on in the Studio

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Large Pottery pieces

Today I made three tall pots.  These are probably the largest pots I have ever done.  The coffee pot's spout is a little weird.  My favorite is the pitcher on the right.  It has the crosshatch pattern around the neck.  I need these for the Earth and Fire Festival in King's Mountain at the end of June-July.

This week I will throw pots until Friday then load the bisque with any that are dry.  Next week I will glaze for the Black Mountain Arts & Crafts Show.  This will be the first time at this show.  I am hoping for a good turnout.

This week I have added a number of pieces to my Online Shop  A number of items were purchased for Mothers Day and I restocked plus added some new items.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Getting ready for Claymatters Festival

Well, recovered from the weekend at Sanford.  The weather was bi-polar.  Very hot on Saturday and chilly and windy on Sunday. We realized late on Saturday that my setup was not going to work.  I had mixed all my items but it didn't have any pop.  So I put like colors together and that helped.  Really it should have a grey panels behind but I am not sure that I want to make the investment. 

I only needed a few more pieces for the Claymatters Festival coming this Saturday, so I only glazed one full load.  I wasn't in the mood to haul pots upstairs to photograph, so here is a snapshot of the whole batch.  Tomorrow I will sand bottoms, price and pack.

I am looking forward to the Claymatters Festival.  It is my favorite show to do since it is the guilds show and there are so many talented potters.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Just out of the kiln

The last of the glaze loads finished up this week.  There were a number of pieces I really like.  Here are a few of the pieces that are different from my usual. 

To the left is the punch bowl set with the puffy feet.





The jar to the left was inspired by a piece in the new 500 RAKU book.  I like the look and will probably make more like this.

The piece below was hand built.  I like the shape, but boy is sure takes me a long time to make handbuilt items.

More photos are on the Facebook page.

 I am packed up and ready to leave tomorrow for the Sanford Pottery Festival.  I will set up my booth Friday night.  It will probably take awhile, since I have new product and I would like to make the display more gallery like.  I bought some pedestals awhile back to have levels on the table

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Sanford Pottery Festival

I came back from the mountains to find a nice surprise. I had three sales from Etsy over the weekend.  Mothers Day is in just a few weeks, so I imagine that they might be gifts for that special mom in their life.

Tomorrow I will be unloading the last glaze load before the Sanford Pottery Festival.  After photographing any great pots that might come out of the last load, I will sand the bottoms, price, inventory and pack everything up.  My hope is that I can finish it all tomorrow so that I can start throwing again on Tuesday.

Today I finished my Spring Newsletter.  Check it out here.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

My Studio


This is the mess I call my studio.  Lately I feel like it never ends. Pick pieces to glaze, wax resist, wait to dry, mix glaze, dip, pour, spray one color, spray another, load kiln, repeat.  I just finished loading the kiln and wax resisting for tomorrows batch.  I should be done by the end of the week with the pieces for the Sanford Pottery Festival.  Then I need to get back to throwing pieces next week.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Dragonfly glaze load

This weekend I unloaded the kiln and here are a few items from that glaze load.  The sugar and creamer set was inspired by the example shown at the Potters Conference by Jake Johnson.  Remember, you can see more photos on the New Day Pottery Facebook page

Yesterday I threw a number of items that are really needed and I will continue for a few more days.  Then I will do a few more glaze loads to get ready for the Sanford Pottery Festival on May 5th & 6th.  I also have the Claymatters Pottery Festival the following Saturday, so I need to get stocked up. 

I am glazing a little early for these shows so that I can get some good photos.  Once I have the last load done, I will put up the graduated background and take shots of the best pieces.  The photos I have been taking lately are just samples of my work but I am not worrying about the lighting so much.  The background I have been using works well for Etsy, but not so much for applying for future shows.

Friday I was featured on the Top Treasury Team's Blog.  See here for info you may not know about me.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Yesterday I glazed and Today we see the results

Yesterday I glazed and today we see the results.  These are the vases and pitchers that came out.  The sunrise vase was glazed clear back in December and finally fit into a good spot in the kiln.  I am fazing out the sunrise line.  Right now it can be purchased on Etsy, in my showroom, or at a few gift shops.  It is all part of my plan to make my Art show booths look more professional.  The three other items will be part of the new line. 

Tomorrow I will be glazing the multi-dragonfly design.  I will be working on Thursday at Ruby's Gift when they cool down, but should have some photos by Friday.

Well my firing disaster from the last post seemed to be an over reaction.  I glazed these mugs and they turned out fine.  I probably should have added a little more green but otherwise the glaze stuck.  Yipee.  I sprayed the glazed on in thin layers, letting it dry in the sun in between.

Yesterday my shop was picked as the Treasury shop of the week on Etsy's Advertising and Promotion Teams Blog.  Check out the winning treasury.  This means that my shop is featured in other members treasuries this week.  More exposure is great.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Disaster

Can you see it?  Can you guess what happened in this bisque load? Hint:  The pots are grey instead of pink.  I fired the bisque to cone 5 instead of 05.  In the past 4 years of firing in my own kiln this has never happenend to me.  I am not sure what will happen if I glaze these pieces so I will try a few tomorrow along with good pieces.  There were two weeks worth of work and I am just sick about it.  The punch bowl set was in there along with mugs (which as stated before, not my favorite to do), plus the top rectangular sushi tray I have had for a few years waiting until I had an idea how to glaze the top.  Well guess I better work extra hard this week to catch up.

Has anyone noticed my new header on the site?  Since I have been changing my glazing, I thought that I needed to revamp my logo.  What do you think?

Thursday, April 5, 2012

New Glaze Load


Today I unloaded the kiln and here are a few of my favorites.  The plate (left) was the technique learned from Bill Van Gilder.  The brie bakers I have been making for a few years but I started doing double rims on some of them for variation.

I love making candy dishes so they are always changing.  The dish below has a double rim plus the new hollow feet I have been working on.  This is a miniture of the punch bowl I made this week.
If you have been following my work the last few years you will notice that this is a new glaze.  It's actually lighter in person.  The photos make it look very dark.  It actually has a very light mist of blue/grey.  Next week I will glaze the light green on white.

Today I also worked on a few new items.(below)  Yesterday I looked thru a Raku picture book for shape ideas and made some sketches. These are some of my favorites.