Teapot time

It was all about teapots today.  The weather the last few days has been glorious so I have had long days in the studio.

Last week I got an invitation to a teapot show in Florida next month.  They mentioned the pedestal teapots specifically so today I made 3 different pedestal teapots.  The one on the left was a new idea.  I thought it turned out pretty well.  I will pick the best one for the show.

I also got a pretty exiting phone call this afternoon.  My hummingbird teapot won 2nd place at the Best of Nature show at Falling Rivers Gallery.  This was quite a surprise since this show does not have a 3D division so I was going against all types of art.  The show runs for the next month with the reception on April 11th.

My favorite thing to make is teapots so it's always fun to have a reason to make them and today really was the best kind of day.

Last week was the first pottery class at Ciel.  It was alot of fun introducing everyone to making mugs with slabs.  I posted photos on my Facebook page.  If you are interested in taking a class, check out the previous post for details.

Pottery Classes and new work.

As I mentioned a while back, I will be teaching 4 handbuilding classes at Ciel Gallery Thursdays in March.

The first class "Mugs" has filled up but there is still time to sign up for "Shakers and Trays", "Vases" or "Teapots".  

We should have a fun time making our own creations since I will not be having everyone make exactly the same shapes.  Just teaching my techniques.

This week it is very cold here, so no work will be done in the studio.  Hopefully it will be better next week.

Last week I did three glaze loads.  These two vases are going to be entered into a couple different juried shows happening in the next month.  I usually paint the flowers yellow but this time I did them in red and I really liked how they turned out.

The bowls below were a custom order for an Etsy customer, there were a few orders in this batch and they all turned out great.

My dinnerware set was also included in last weeks batch.  I was wanting them finished for the Spades party we had at our house on Saturday.  It was so nice to finally get a set to match my new decor in my kitchen.

Busy January

Well, I finished the 31 day challenge.  It was a very productive month considering I did not have much that was pressing and it was cold.  I managed to make a different item each day.  Of course in most items there were multiples.   I finished a wholesale order and started my own dinnerware set.  Then there were a number of Custom orders from Etsy.

There are a number of gallery shows I would like to enter into that have deadlines coming up so I have also been making some "art pieces".

Next week I plan on glazing a few loads.  The first will include my dinnerware set since I want to use them for a party on the 14th.  Then I need to finish the orders and the "art pieces"  I was hoping to have my new kiln hooked up but the electrician has not gotten back to me.  So I will have to split into 2-3 loads.

Last weekend I went to the Susan Feagin workshop.  I was hoping to learn a new surface technique that would make my pieces more interesting.  I feel that the class was very informative.  We learned how to make and use silk screen techniques and using slips and underglazes.  My silk screen was made in 15 minutes and is the hummingbird you see on these pieces.  They have not been fired yet so I am not sure exactly what the colors will look like  but it should be a little brighter.

I am very excited to try these techniques in my studio, but my husband told me to slow down and see how these look when finished.  I also have to decide if I need to use white clay or if this would translate on the brown clay.  My problem is that my wholesale line uses the brown clay and the white clay would not be able to be used in a studio with brown clay.

31 Day challenge - Day 15 - Butter Dishes

Today was day 15 on my 31 day challenge and I decided to make a new design.  I had been thinking about this idea of making a three sided and flared pedestal vase with the garden theme on all three sides.   This is one of the pieces I am considering for a art show in a few months.

The weather is slowly getting warmer but every day starts at around 30 so it just doesn't seem any warmer to me.  This just makes me not very excited about being out there in my unheated garage (except a small space heater)  For the next week it's supposed to be in the 50's (by the end of the day) and on Sunday I will probably glaze.  I don't like my hands to be cold when I'm glazing.

I have also made in the last few days:  butter dishes, platters and a wavy dish.  See these on my Facebook page and all the other pieces for the challenge.

A few days ago I made butter dishes and I took some photos throughout the day.

First I cut out the pieces, textured and dried a bit.  Next I bevel the edges, slip and put together.  Then the handles are added.  The dishes are matched up with a matching tray.

31 Day Challenge - day 11 - making mugs

I am now on day 11 of the 31 day challenge.  This has been a bit of a challenge with the weather.  It's been a bit chilly here.  Today I worked on these mugs and thought I would share some photos of the process.  

If you would like to make your own mugs, I will be teaching a few classes in March at Ciel Gallery in Charlotte.  If you would like information check out the class page HERE

I have been working on an order for a gallery but starting this week I will be making some new designs for some upcoming shows.   Be sure to check out the Facebook Page for daily updates on what's happening during the challenge.

I feel like there should be more to say but all I've been doing is making pottery and reading.  I read a book every 1-2 days lately.  I get my books on my Kindle via the library online.  I couldn't afford to read if I had to pay for every book I read.  At least I don't have to drive 10ish miles to the library like I used to.

31 Day Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 on the 31 day Challenge and all is going well.  Today I made a new item, sugar and creamer set.  I wanted to try an idea for a slab built set.  I like the basic idea but I need to widen and shorten the sugar jar   With the knob it's taller than the creamer and my husband pointed out the a spoon won't fit after it shrinks. (oops... unless you pour the sugar?)  See the following photos as I made the set.  See Facebook for daily updates.

The last few days I have been making items for an order including: platters and sponge holders.  The order is finished being made but I will be working on other items to fill the kiln.  I have an idea for a new vase that I am excited to try and I need egg separators for the local gift shops.

I will be teaching 4 classes at Ciel Gallery in March.  The first class will be a starter class making mugs.  The next three classes will make salt and pepper shakers, vases and teapots.  Check out the details HERE

My husband finally got the kiln electronics put back together after the move into it's new location.  Now I just need to call the electrician to get it hooked up.

31 different items in 31 days challenge - day 1

Today starts my 31 different items in 31 days challenge.   Ciel gallery put out a challenge for members to paint a different painting every day.  Since I don't paint and I can make 31 items in 2 days, I decided to make 31 different items in January.  Today I decided to make a wine bucket. This is a new item.   I am posting photos of my process.

First I smooth my slab and cut out my shape using a newspaper template.  Next using stamps I made, I texturize my slabs.

Then I let the fan dry the slab out a bit so that it can stand up without flopping.  I score and slip the overlay, press the pieces together and put the bottom on the bucket.

That was all I planned but then I thought it needed more so I added a dragonfly at the top, curved the top back and added cutouts for handles,

This is a new item and I can't wait to see it completely finished.

 Check back often to how the challenge is going.  I will post the daily item to my Facebook page.

I had taken most of December away from the studio to recharge and so I was glad to not have any new wholesale orders come in during that time, but funny thing is that today I started back to work and I come back inside to check my mail and there is a new order for a gift shop in New Hampshire.  This is great because it gives me I reason to go out in a cold studio every morning.

Also I have a few custom orders from Etsy that came in during December to work on as well.

A recap for the month of December:

My mom came to visit.  We went to Charleston for a few days, went to the festival of lights and a Holiday dinner Cruise.  Then we came back to Charlotte for a few days, then headed to our cabin near Bat Cave, NC for Christmas.  Watched the Hunger Games movie and now I have started reading the whole series just so that I can know the end of the story and not have to wait for the last movie.  My husband, my mom and I all got the flu for about a week.  Luckily my kids did not get sick.  I had a New Years Eve party with 20 of my friends.  We played a card game called Nerts.  Today I back at work and ready for 2015.

Rearranged studio and holiday plans

This weekend I re-arranged my studio to make room for my new (used) kiln.  I had gotten it a few months ago and was too busy to mess with it.  Finally on Sunday my husband and two sons were all home at the same time and moved the kiln to it's new location.

I wish that I had taken a before photo so that you could see the difference, but I believe that the studio is actually more spacious and more efficient.

My plan was to take the month of December off to rejuvenate but I just had to try out my new space today.  I will probably work this week stocking up on wholesale items.

My mom comes to visit for 3 weeks next Tuesday and I will be doing Christmas things with her while she is here.  We are visiting Charleston, SC for a few days, taking a holiday dinner cruise and checking out the Festival of Lights.  We are also going to check out the Charlotte Motor Speedway light show.

The last few weeks I have been busy adding new items to my online shop.  There is now a large selection of pottery available for purchase.  I ship to the continental USA.

There are berry bowls, brie baker and cracker trays, butter dishes, gravy boats, vases, bowls, platters, sponge holders, salt and pepper shakers and many other fun handmade gifts.

Help me make room for new art next year.

Ciel Sidewalk sale and other news

You are invited:  Ciel Galleries Holiday Sidewalk Sale - Saturday November 29th and December 6th.  I will be bringing in the items shown on the right and they will be marked down 50%. Of course inside Ciel many pieces of my new work will be available. 

There will also be ornaments from many of the artists and the proceeds will be going to loaves and fishes.  Please join us for cider and cookies.  

Art makes a great gift for the Holidays.

I notice that I am only blogging about once a month now.  I guess since I opened myself up to wholesale orders I have been so busy that after everything else I just haven't had time.

Just yesterday I shipped out an order for The Annapolis Pottery.  It was quite a large order going to two stores in Annapolis Maryland. 

Check out my Gift shop and galleries page for a full list of where you can find my pottery.

I just did my last glaze load of the year today.  I needed one more piece for a gallery and just filled the kiln with pieces that were made previously and never needed but many are quite nice so look for those pieces to show up in my online shop this week.  

The gravy boat and platter shown above were listed today.  They are a few of the extras made for wholesale orders that were not needed.

In more personal news,  we finally had some time to get away, so we went to St. Marteen.  The photo above is the view from our condo looking out across the bay towards St. Phillipsburg.  We were on the Dutch side.  I preferred the shopping and on the French side.  We were told the food was better on the French side but we got lucky on both sides and had great food all week.

The view to the left was from an area just steps above our condo where there was an old fort with the cannons still there.  Around the other side there was a beautiful beach with great snorkeling.

We had a good time but I was ready to go home at the end.  I am not a laying about the beach person, so got a little bored.