Plates in the oven

Finished decorating a load of plates. Am refining these graphics and liking them more on each subsequent plate. And, gee, the more I make, the better they're looking. Funny how that works. 

Get Mugged on Your Anniversary!

That's what Una and Starr did on their 17th wedding anniversary, celebrated in grand style with the purchase of two anniversary mugs. They were so very nice, and deserve many years more of wedded bliss. They were visitors during last Saturday's very busy day. It was so much fun!

Hope you two are drinking your morning coffee from my mugs for years to come!

Way too dear

This isn't really my style, but it just sort of made itself. A tiny teapot that is begging for me to make some wee cups and saucers... They'll have to wait until I'm done with the mega-plate order! 

Sign of the times

Yep, "Good Kitty" is relegated to the position of sign-holder. People have been a little cautious stepping through the entry to the studio gallery... So we post a "welcome message" on Good Kitty when the studio is open and stick him outside by the door. He doesn't mind. Much.

Thank God for Gleco Trap!

OK, I usually would not do product endorsement, but I am truly thankful for this little contraption... When I got to the studio yesterday, the toilet and shower were doing this characteristic chug-a-lug sound. (Yes, I know I am lucky to have a shower in the studio bathroom.) 

Being the incredible handy-woman (not!), I have deduced that means it's time to change the Gleco Trap. Further clever investigation (like looking under the sink) verified my theory.

One quick-change later, we were back to normal (no chug-a-lugging), except that in the process of making the change... my plumbing connection had come undone and I hadn't even noticed! When I went to use the faucet sink, water spewed EVERYWHERE! Not the fault of my wonderful Gleco Trap. Definitely the fault of the potter!

Oh well, got it all cleaned up and managed to trim some of the plates on my long to-do list. Will have to reduce my big goals for today and stick to finishing the trimming, doing some deco on yesterday's work, and cleaning up the rest of the studio!

How much is that doggie in the window?

Many of my studio visitors this weekend wanted to know more about Mae, my 2-year-old standard poodle, than my pots. Unfortunately, she's not a potting-poodle, more of a slacker. She greets those who interest her but, otherwise, lays around (if she's had a good long walk earlier in the day).

Have a great week, everybody!

Show at the Studio Gallery

We got the new logo on the door just in time for this weekend's show. Thank you to Matt at Full Circle Graphics! The logo was created by the awesome Deedra Cobb at Paper St Design and Matt did the studio signage for us. 

Saturday was a busy selling day, and I was torn between wanting to visit with lots of nice folks and wanting to get more done for a new plate commission. Perhaps I'll get better at multi-tasking? 

Thanks to everyone who came by and visited. And a great big thanks for those who took new pieces home!

Going in circles!

The work I'm enjoying most right now is making functional ware with these squiggly circle graphics. Hope buyers like them too, because I'm stacking up quite a collection!

Art and happenings at the studio gallery

The "mouse bowls" are going like hot cakes! These little dipping bowls were thrown off the hump, have a variety of glazes and feature my little "mouse" sprig. The sprig mold was made by Alysia Samura, my Hawaiian potter buddy. Thanks Alysia!

This weekend at the studio gallery:

I am so pleased to present this talented artist – my sister, Sharon Casey – who is installing her small art quilts in the gallery this weekend. She also may bring in a line of cards featuring prints of her popular landscape quilts. 

Yesterday Sharon took some time out and serenaded us on the patio of the gallery. The window of my neighbor's shop is in the background. It's Deer Run Art and Artifacts. A wonderful shop!

Linda Arbuckle rules!

I've been feeling grateful for the wonderful teachers and mentors I've had. Because I work alone in my own studio, I get so much out of workshops when I can soak up new info and share ideas.

It's been several years since I took Linda Arbuckle's majolica workshop at Mendocino Art Center in California, and I'm continuing to use what I learned.

Linda is a great teacher and artist, creating an environment where everyone feels supported and encouraged. 

My goal with the workshop was to learn the technical aspects of majolica and apply them to a more contemporary look I was working toward in my own studio.

The pics above are of Linda and my fellow students. Here are a few bowls made in my

studio a few months after the workshop. Though originally done for a local show, my hubster adopted them immediately and they haven't left the house, becoming our favorite popcorn bowls for movie-watching.

Passing on the Blogger Award

It's time for me to pass on the Blogger Award! It was bestowed on me by potter blogger extraordinare Gary Rith at Potters Blog.

Now it's time to share the honors.... And the winner is...

Cynthia at Colorado Art Studio!

Cynthia was the first potter blogger who welcomed me to the blogging clay art community. I've noticed her comments on other blogger sites, and she is always warm and openly shares her knowledge. 

In fact, she's now blogging about her glaze test results, giving detailed accounts, glaze recipes, ingredient costs and photos. It's like a mini-workshop on glaze testing... and she's done all the work for us!

I AM A WINNER!!!!

I can't believe how excited I am! An awesome blogger and potter has bestowed an award to yours truly and it is ridiculously exciting!

Isn't if funny how awards are so thrilling... but seems like the "Wow!" only last for about half a second? Darn. Then, I'll be needing another fix... I think that's one of the reasons I like the process of opening the kiln and seeing if there is a new prize in there!

Thank you Gary Rith! Check out Gary's "Potter's Blog" and you'll feel like you've won a prize too! His recent post on a student's piggy bank with buttocks is a "must-see"! 

Baking in Bakersfield

Before I left Bakersfield (where it is hot, hot, hot right now), I finished throwing, assembling and stamping these two-part vases. They'll be nice and toasty and ready for the kiln when we get back next week.

In the meantime, I'm back in Cambria now – where it's a cool 74 degrees. Started the day with a long walk along the coast and ended it by prepping a bisque-load and putting out some new ware on the gallery shelves for this weekend's visitors. A great day!

The Streets of Bakersfield

I've been absent from posting for awhile since we returned to Bakersfield for the first week of July... It's hot here! As in 100+ and climbing.

We're headed back to the Cambria in California's central coast today, where I left a kiln load cooling a week ago. How's that for patience?!!! Imagine waiting a whole week to open the kiln!

Here are some shots of the studio in Bakersfield. It's very small, compared to the Cambria studio, but there are parts of it I just love...

Like the big double doors and windows... and my big work table...

my brushes (with a few "face cups" made while I was on a weird cup portrait phase)...

my slab roller...

and my mega-extruder I got at NCECA a couple of years ago (It was the display model for the exhibitor show... Great deal!)