Preston Flowers Display

There is a new shop that is carrying my pottery.  Preston Flowers is located in Cary, NC.  The photo to the left shows how some of the pieces have been displayed in the shop.  They have done a great job presenting my work.  I love the flower arrangements.

Seeing this display reminded me of my wish to make my own set of Dragonfly dinnerware.  I need to make more effort to do this.  Perhaps in a few weeks when I get the wholesale order out of the way.

This morning I threw vases and pitchers.  Later tonight I will have to finish with handles. I was unable to do as many as I wanted because my hand was getting sore from doing so many tall pieces.  Usually I try to do a mix of big and small items each day to save my wrists, but tomorrow I have to work at Ruby's Gift and I won't be able to finish(trim) pieces tomorrow.  Vases & Pitchers can usually be finished later in the day after they dry a little bit. So, tonight I will be back in the studio working.

Garlic Keepers, Chip & Dips and Batter Bowls

Here are a few of the pieces I have worked on this week.  It took so long for the Chip & Dips and Garlic Keepers to dry from yesterday that I only had time today to put them all together before I had to leave to take my son to physical therapy for his shoulder injury.  I didn't get a chance to throw anything.  I hope the Chip & Dip's turn out ok.  Sometimes they warp in the kiln.  I haven't yet figured out what causes this.

Jar by Lib Moss

Last night I went to the Claymatters Guild Holiday Party. This year I am the President of the guild and I had to keep the meeting and gift giving moving along. I am very self concious when I am in front of a group of people but everyone is in the group is very gracious, probably because most have been on the board at one time or another.  I had a great time though and came home with this fun piece made by Lib Moss.  One of my goals this year is to not be so rigid with my work and this piece is the sort of thing I need to try.

This morning I put handles on my batter bowls from yesterday and threw some chip & dips and garlic keepers.  I will probably finish & assemble these tomorrow morning.

I need to take a trip to the supply house soon.  I find that I do not have enough bats to keep me busy more than a few hours.  This was fine in the Fall when I was throwing in the morning and glazing in the afternoon, but in slower months I throw for weeks or months between glaze loads.  There are some other items needed to do more handbuilding, which I hope to do more of once I finish the order for the Seaworthy Gallery that I am working on now.

Back from a throwing vacation

I'm back.  I took a throwing vacation for about a month and was supposed to start back on Monday, but it was snowing and in the 20's and 30's all week.  Today when it reached 40 degrees at 11:30 I decided that it was time to brave the cold.  With the space heater on high and hot water in my bucket, I started on the wholesale order that is due by March.  It will probably only take a few weeks, but I wanted to get it finished so that I can start experimenting.  In February I will be going to the Claymatters Guild Winter Workshop featuring Sandi Pierantozzi & Neil Patterson.  I am very excited to see their work and hope that it will help me do more altering in my pieces.

Tonight is Carolina Claymatters Holiday party.  I will be going early to help set up.  It's always a great time visiting with other potters and the food is great(potters seem to be such great cooks).  We do a gift exchange and it's great coming home with another potter's work.  The guild also gives out door prizes.  In the past I have gotten ribs, hole punches, misc tools and books. 

What a mess!!!

Today I decided that it was time to clean up the studio. From the end of September through mid December I worked pretty much constantly with throwing, glazing, packing, going to shows, etc.  When I finished in December I didn't want to even think about making anything for a while.  Well, I took a few weeks off including going on a Carribean cruise and now I am ready to get back to work.  As you can see, my studio became a catch-all.  You can see a tv that needs to go to the dump, and a golf cart.  Plus all the packing paper that was discarted at various times.

Hopefully you can see the improvement in the second photo.  I swept and mopped and threw away lots of junk.  I will be back in the studio in a few days after the Bunko party on Thursday and putting away my Christmas Decorations after that.  I have some orders to fill, plus I need to make some pieces to refill my show inventory.  I would like to do some experimenting with hand building as well.

Friday night is the Mint Hill Arts "Fire and Fiber" opening reception from 7-9.  I have 8 pieces in the show.  It will last thru January.

Ruby's Gift

Today I worked at Ruby's Gift in NoDa.  Each artist works in the shop about once a month.  This is the first time I have had an oppurtunity to help out, since the last few months have been so busy.  The shop carries local artists in a variety of mediums.  The photo shows my display cabinet today, but I will rotate items and next month I will bring in something new.  Most of the colors in there now are very vibrant, but once I get back to work in the studio, I will bring in some Dragonfly and Twighlight pieces as well.

This will be my last post this year, so I will say Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year.

Thanks for your support

I saw this on another potter's blog today and it says all that I would like to.  I want to thank all those that have purchased handmade items from independent artists this year.  We appreciate it more that we can say.  My heart goes into all that I make and nothing makes me happier than when someone else likes something that I have made.

NC Pottery Fair

A number of things going on this week.  Tomorrow night is the opening reception at Mint Hill Arts for the December Juried Competition.  I won't be able to attend because I will be in Raleigh for the NC Pottery  Fair. This is my last show of the year and I will be taking a break after its done.  In January I will start a wholesale order from a gallery on the coast as well as start experimenting with some new items.

All I did this week was one glaze load which had mostly small gift items and a number of speical orders.  This bowl was a piece that I made for fun and I liked how it turned out. 

Mint Hill Arts Juried Competition Entry

Today I am taking it easy and not throwing or glazing.  I took a photo of this pot, which will be my entry in the Mint Hill Arts Juried Competition.  Earlier this year I made a piece very similar for the June Competition and it stuck to the kiln.  I loved it so much that I tried again and was glad that it made it out of the kiln.  I need to think of a name for the piece.  Perhaps Elegant Lady (I thought that it sort of looks like a lady with a hat and large earrings.)  Tomorrow I will take this piece over there and on December 10th the awards will be presented at the monthly reception. If you love art of all kinds, this is a great exhibition to see. It runs thru December. To bad I have to miss the reception.  I will be in Raleigh at the North Carolina Pottery Fair.

Later today I will unload a glaze load.  Can't wait to see some of the pieces.  Most will be going with me to the Appalacian Potters Market on Saturday.