clay mouse studio

New blog for Patricia Griffin!

2009-09-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have a new blog address. Please visit me at my new place and see what's new in the studio!

PatriciaGriffinStudio.com

Thanks so much!

New photography underway

2009-09-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

I dropped off some pieces at my photographer's studio a couple of days ago in order to have professional shots of my new work. I'm so excited to see what he does. This is the "before" shot of several of my mugs... Stay tuned for the "after" shot coming soon!

Urning a living- pots by Matthew Kennedy

2009-09-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

Pots by Matthew Kennedy

I got an email today from clay artist Matthew Kennedy asking me to check out his work.

Wow! Impressed with his pots, his process, his output, his marketing. This guy has got it going on!

He's got two sites. One is urnnews.com, where he and other artists market their keepsake urns. He uses another site - TooTallsPottery (named after his beloved Saint Bernard) - to market bonsai pots, and you can also read more about his studio there.

Matthew looks like he's having success as a full-time potter. Bravo!

Little carved pots

2009-09-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

As I look around my studio gallery, it becomes pretty clear that I enjoy making my mark on the surface of pots. Carving. Etching. Altering.

Here are a couple of little carved pots sitting on top of a case. The restaurant below my studio has an American flag hanging under the window... It's reflecting back up through my window and the red stripes appear in this picture.

One of the things I love about my studio is all the windows... though it got a tad warm in there during the recent heat wave!

Thanks Roberta and Emily!

2009-08-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

What a fun day in the studio!

It's the last big summer weekend in Cambria and we had lots of happy visitors in town. I had a great day with sales and interesting customers. Among them was a mother and daughter pair, Roberta and Emily Feit. They had similar tastes and each purchased a piece from my yellow/black etched series.

The battery on my camera was dead and we got this from Emily's cell phone. Emily was so nice to email it to me.

How cool is that!

Small bowls and vases

2009-08-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

Itching to get back to the studio... Here's the current pursuit calling my name... Small bowls and vases with etchings from the "Endangered and Indigenous" series focusing on threatened plants of California's central coast.

Bowling for customers

2009-08-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

I had a spree of bowls for the new series. Very pleased with the latest batch. Moved from yellows and blacks to softer tones with golds and ivories, and chocolate brown for the etched lines... Got these out last week and haven't been back to the studio since then. Waaaaaaa. Am in a new cycle of work with my "paycheck" career and it's intense right now. I'll be back to the studio soon... I hope!

Oh baby!

2009-08-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

What's in a name?... Lots of warm wishes! These make great gifts for proud parents of newborns. Seems like I've done a (baby) rash of them lately!

And now for something entirely different...

2009-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Focus. Focus. Focus. That's been my mantra lately. But, well, truth be told, consistency is not my strong suit. Awhile back Illustration Friday posted the word "Impossibility" as the theme word for their weekly challenge. At the time, I was dealing with a shoe-versus-feet challenge of my own. The result of that is the tile piece pictured here. It got to this stage about a month ago and has yet to be grouted, finished off... Yea, I know, one foot in front of the other.

Thank you, pottery lovers!

2009-07-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

Piece from "Indigenous and Endangered" series featuring plants from California's central coast.

One of the coolest things about having an open studio/gallery is getting to visit with people who stop in to shop or just look around. I've met so many interesting people in the last year.

In hopes of maintaining the connection, I've been inviting folks to visit my blog and offering a few incentives. So, if you're new here to the blog, I hope you'll drop me a line. And please stop back in to see what's new in the studio!

Thank you again for your appreciation of craft hand-made in America and your support of this California artist in particular!

Tea Party

2009-07-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Tea party for wee ones. The little tea pot is only about 5 inches tall and the cups are itsy.

Gotta love her

2009-07-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

OK, I kind of vowed to myself that I wouldn't make you all look at pictures of kids and dogs and such. But jeez. You gotta make an exception for THIS dog. A truly exceptional being.

She's kind, funny, intelligent and just about begs to help old ladies across the street.

Plus she's fluffy and cuddly, and laughs at my jokes.

Adding new work to gallery space

2009-07-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Line-etched pieces from the "Endangered" Series... Am adding some of the first pieces from the new series to the gallery space at the studio. Hope to get feedback from visitors and customers as I further develop this line. I'll be holding back my favorite pieces from each firing and do a show at the end of the summer, with part of the proceeds going toward a non-profit here dedicated to preserving open space and native plants.

In the meantime, we're getting ready for a busy Fourth of July weekend! Big doings at the park in Cambria and activities up and down the coast to attract tourists and keep the locals happy.

Be safe and sane everybody!

I like it!

2009-06-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, I open the kiln and have to admit that reality is far from the perfect fantasy I had envisioned. However, I'm really liking this new work. I see things I want to do differently and ways the series can evolve as I continue refining but, for the most part, I'm pretty darn pleased. It's a refreshing feeling and I'm enjoying it.... while it lasts!

Here are pictures of a few of the mugs.

Flora and fauna- getting blue

2009-06-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at the bisque before more deco to add the black in some of the incised areas. These puppies are sure labor-intensive, but the work is flowing nicely. The "indigenous and endangered" theme is a great conversation starter when studio visitors ask what I'm working on now.

More flora and fauna

2009-06-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody!

Pics from latest firing... As things progress with this series, I'm working with dark/light... "reversing" the line out of the dark color blocks and filling in the etched line with black in the light color blocks.

All of the pieces in this series feature "indigenous and endangered" plants of the central coast of California.

I love the etching/drawing on pots and am working on a new batch now. Should bisque today.

My goal is to do a bunch of these and continue to refine, holding the work for a future show. In the meantime, I have a tile commission to do and need to restock the shelves at the studio gallery.

Fun! Am looking forward to all of it!

New series underway

2009-06-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

Got the first pieces out of the kiln of my new series and am really happy with some of them. In this series, I'm using underglazes and featuring etched line drawings of the endangered plants native to the central coast area where I live.

The inspiration for this series came from the annual Wildflower Show held here in April. The show featured a collection of wildflowers and plants that are indigenous and endangered.

This new work has given me an opportunity to learn more about the plants in this area, as well as an appreciation for those working to preserve the natural beauty of California's central coast.

On the work itself, I'm interested in the contrast between the line drawings and the graphic panels of black/white on the same piece. I'll be exploring that in the studio on the work as it develops. More to come!

Searching for Studs and Mounting Big Blue

2009-06-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

That headline sounds much more provocative than reality!

I FINALLY have my "Big Blue" extruder up in the "new" studio. It's only been a year, but I'm finally getting it moved in! We had to search for the studs and found a good spot by the back door.

Thanks for the help Mike! (He took a bowl in trade. What a guy!)

New series - ready to fire!

2009-05-23T21:06:00.001-07:00

I'm pleased with progress on the new wildflower/plant series. These are ready for bisque fire and some will have black underglaze added to the etched areas before the final glaze firing.

I'm focusing on the "indigenous and endangered" plants featured in a recent wildflower show in Cambria. One of the most interesting is the Monterey Pine. Our pine forests are endangered here because of pitch canker, a disease caused by a fungus that has infected some 18 counties in California. Experts in environmental issues and pest management are studying the problem and taking steps to stop the spread of disease.

My hope is to complete enough of these pieces to compose a show this summer. In the meantime, I need to create new ware to stock the gallery. Tourism season is starting and last weekend was really busy. Seems like people are feeling a little more comfortable in spending money.

New series- soon to get WILD!

2009-05-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Since returning home, I've been working on a new series that incorporates color, pattern, contrast and line drawing/etching. Here is a photo of the first round of finished bottle forms and bowls.

Coming up... Into the WILD!

Two weekends ago, the annual Wildflower Show was held -- providing lots of inspiration, and leading me to think about ways to incorporate those images into this series. I'm especially interested in the many "indigenous and endangered" species that were showcased at the event. I took lots of photos and have been using them for reference for drawings on my pots. Photos to come as things progress.

Snowing in Santa Fe

2009-04-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

We head home tomorrow to sunny California, so today we have snow in Santa Fe! It's been coming down all day. We're not used to snow and it's been wildly exciting. I know, all you snow bunnies think we're just plain silly.

We are here as part of a home exchange and it's been really fun to live in the mountains outside of Santa Fe for a week. The owner of the house created handmade tile and installed it inside and out. There are totems, mosaic benches, tiled canals to the garden pond...

Here are a few more shots I took outside before the snow started falling...

Tweet sweet in Santa Fe

2009-04-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

We're on a home exchange in the mountains near Santa Fe, NM, and the home is adorned inside and out with the host's handiwork. It's quite amazing. She did her own kitchen, bath, entryways... and then moved out to the landscaping with handmade ceramic tile on benches, gates, arches, entry sign. There are totems and masks and figures everywhere.

A glance through the trees reveals my favorite touch – a few colorful ceramic birds sitting prettily on the branches. It's been such fun!

Coming clean about sponge-holders

2009-04-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

These little fellows are sponge-holders. Yep, before you get all snarky, you should give it a try! You all need a sponge-holder (or two) in your kitchen!

I saw my first sponge-holder at a craft show in Hawaii and thought it was pretty stupid. But, I've been converted! I received one as a gift while back, and we love it.

These are fun to make and a great way to warm up (and also try out glaze combos). I like having affordable, small items for shoppers desiring hand-made functional pieces. I try out different deco, sprigs and glaze combos.

Now, instead of putting your clean, wet sponge back down on your kitchen counter, you can plunk it onto the sponge-holder where it dries and is ready for your next clean-up.

My Creative Lifestyle

2009-03-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

I was glancing through back issues of Clay Times and came across an interview Lana Wilson did in the July 2008 issue with Annie Chrietzberg . Annie talks about her own "Ceramic Lifestyle," making no apologies for her diverse life in clay - as an artist, teacher, writer and part-time employee at a tea shop. All of it combined to make her life in clay possible while still putting food on the table.

That's my story as well. I wear several hats and have felt at times like a quick-change artist, going from my professional life in marketing and PR/design to dancing around my studio covered with clay dust. In between the two worlds, I get to walk my dog along beautiful coastal trails twice a day if I'm lucky.

And I am lucky. I am blessed (so far!) with a great deal of energy and love all aspects of my life. It hasn't always been this good, but it sure is particularly awesome now.

So, I'll not whine this afternoon when I need to "suit up" and drive the 3 hours for client meetings over in the valley. I'll have the marketing career "hat" on through Thursday morning but will be back in the studio by Thursday afternoon. This dual-career path gives me the freedom to create whatever I want in the studio and I'm not tied into what sells well. Although I do really enjoy it when someone honors me with a purchase!

ALSO - a big shout-out to all of those who gave me camera recommendations from my earlier post. Very helpful! Thank you! Thank you!

Request for camera recommendation?

2009-03-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

Request to fellow potter-bloggers.... I'm needing to buy a new digital camera. My goals are to purchase a camera that will work well for product photos. I'm just starting to delve into that. I've got one of those photo cubes and lighting, but haven't actually set it up yet.

I'm not expecting to get professional results, just want them good enough to post online. I know I'll have to learn more about lighting, etc.

My Canon has finally bit the dust.

Any recommendations?

Commission completed!

2009-03-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Before departing for our big Brazil trip, I unloaded a kiln-load of pots for the Blue Dolphin Inn in Cambria. I hurriedly called the interior decorator who commissioned me (thanks Lisa Marlow!) and let her know they were ready. She basically said I could cool my jets, and that she would pick them up upon my return.

Lisa came by a couple of days ago, loved the pots and actually helped me pack them up for her delivery to the Blue Dolphin Inn. She's awesome to work with and has asked for more work for her gallery shop in Paso Robles, CA. Thank you Lisa Marlow!

So, each of these babies will be adorned with a silk plant and sit on a table in a guest suite at the Blue Dolphin.

I took a few snaps of the pots before Lisa arrived.

Why I've been absent from blog-world

2009-03-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

The view from our window on our Brazilian island... Seems like light-years away... Will be back to my studio soon!

New display is smashing success

2009-03-01T05:27:00.000-08:00

While moving things around in my gallery, I managed to smash two glass shelves in my tall display. Yes, haste does make waste. But it also led to a new way of looking at my space -- and I like it better!

The two glass shelves on the left side of the display cabinet came smashing to the floor of the display. Since I'm leaving town, I didn't have time to get replacements and needed to fill the space.

Ta-da! My sister's quilt art now graces the back wall and I hung one of her pieces on thread from the top of the display. Her small pieces on the back wall are ready for framing or finishing. It's interesting how these "unfinished" pieces have created interest. I sold three similar pieces when they were just stacked on a shelf, so these should go quickly... But then I'll have to think if some other way to fill this space!

The surviving pieces from the dinnerware display are now on a side table. I like the way it looks on the table, as if ready for use.

Much better! A smashing success!

Progress and commissions!

2009-02-27T06:43:00.000-08:00

Photos: "Animal jar" for friend's birthday; plates and bowls with new clear - NO CRAZING!

So much good news to share! I've been going bananas (in a good way) with studio work and life. Here's the news:

1. Just completed a commission to do vases for all the cottage rooms at the Blue Dolphin. I've never been much good at doing multiples of the same thing. But this was fun, challenging and I am excited to have my work there. I'll post pics before they are delivered in March.

2. I sold an older piece to a friend who wanted to treat a special buddy for a significant birthday. She knew her friend had admired this piece and I actually sold it out of my display at home. It's such a great stroke for me since I really liked making these "animal sculpture jars" but it didn't seem like there was much of an audience/market for them. Maybe I'll start working on a new variation...

3. And, FINALLY got my crazing problem solved with the clear glaze! This had been a long-standing problem and pretty much halted some of my work. I called Laguna and worked with their glaze expert guy to get a low-expansion clear. They sent me a test batch to mix up and it worked so well. I bit the bullet and special ordered a big batch of dry. So worth it not to struggle with this any more.

LAST - We are going to Brazil on Saturday! We were invited to stay with a friend and thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opp... Then we went to buy our plane fare. Ouch. That's a lot of pots! But we're going!

My first customers return!

2009-02-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

My very first customers in the Cambria studio-gallery returned this weekend. John and Halle have visited several times and it's always so nice to talk with them! (I have John's dollar framed on my gallery wall, along with my business license.)

They are so interested in everything - not only art and craft, but the people and places around them. We always have these great conversations and I learn something new every time I talk with them.

One of the gifts of being a potter is meeting the wonderful people who will be using the things I make.

Thank you to all my customers!

Making room for the slab roller

2009-02-06T04:43:00.000-08:00

My slab roller has been transported from my old studio, and is now sitting pretty at the Cambria digs. Soon, we'll move in the second wheel and I'll be able to whip around the place going crazy with projects (when I'm not bumping into things). The creativity will be amazing. :)

New pots

2009-02-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

Above photos are the results of the recent firing... The first round of glazing on the new mugs are a little too shiny for my tastes. I'm going to try some matte combos for the next round. The second photo is a large platter that came out much better than I was expecting. (And that's an unusual turn of events!) Last shot includes a cake stand and some soap dishes with a shell motif, along with fabric/quilt art from my sister. Her portrait piece is cool!

Mugs, marks, mice and making platters!

2009-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

More mugs for the "100-Mug Challenge" went into the bisque kiln last night.

I've also been busy with mouse-making and mark-making. Here is a photo showing recent scraffito work on a trio of vases.

The platters will come out of the bisque today, along with the first round of mugs in the "100-Mug Challenge." I'm excited about glazing these.

Never a dull moment in the studio these days! (Put on some NPR or great toonage and the time flies by!)

In a couple of days, we go back to Bakersfield and I'll pull more goodies out of the old studio - including my slab-roller. More fun ahead!

Good weekend for sales!

2009-01-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

Note to me: Martin Luther King weekend is a great time to be in my studio-gallery! On Saturday, I sold more than the rest of January combined (so far anyway). Such fun!

Gone are most of the noodle bowls and my mug inventory is looking pretty bleak. (Thank goodness for the "100-Mug Challenge" as I'm going to need to restock and am well on the way!)

Sunday wasn't nearly as good, but thanks to Robert and Dennis, this pitcher has a new home. It's lovely when someone comes in who appreciates hand-made pieces. While it's wonderful to sell pottery, it's even better when a dialogue is shared and you know that the person is leaving with something they really love.

Thank you Robert and Dennis!

Scrafitto

2009-01-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with scrafitto over the last few weeks... These will go into the bisque with some of the new mugs.

After the bisque firing and before

glazing, I'll have to go back to these with black underglaze along the joined areas that I waxed before deciding to do the scrafitto... (I waxed them right after doing altering and additions to reduce the chance of drying too fast and cracking along the joined areas.)

Sometimes I don't think these things through very well! My motto seems to be "Act and THEN re-act!"

To see a master at scraffito and drawing on pots, check out Jeff Martin's work at his blog or his ETSY store. He is an amazing artist and thinker. I love his work and the way he can convey a thought or a feeling.

Not mugs

2009-01-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

Yea, I know... It looks like I'm already deviating from the "100-Mug Challenge." But, not really. I did these earlier and they'll be popped in the bisque with the mugs in the next firing. A little hand-building to take a break from the wheel last week.

After all, variety is the spice of life, right?

Studio clean-up!

2009-01-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty good about keeping the studio clean and did a number on it yesterday. Because its open to the public, part of the reason is pur

e ego. But, the other reason is that I really enjoy the space so much more when it's clean and organized

. My thoughts are disorganized enough on their own!

It's my hubster's birthday today, so I'm taking the day off from the studio to spend it with him! And, here's the kind of sweetie he is: We're going to the Home Depot store an hour away to get counter-tops for some old funky office counters/cupboards I've installed on the porch at the studio. I need them for storage. Maybe we'll even get the counter-tops put on today. We're also building a make-shift "roof" to keep the rain off of the storage area.

It feels like MY birthday!

New Style of Mugs

2009-01-12T07:36:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a new style of mugs. They're formed on the wheel and then stamped/altered. I love the variety within the series as I can approach each piece with some new little element. (Keeps me excited! Yes, I know, I'm pretty easily thrilled.)

It's been interesting to see how the form and details have become more refined as I've gone from the first one to the 30th... Perhaps I'll try for 100 mugs like the series documented in another pottery blog... Check out the "100-Mugs in 100 Days" challenge at Fine Mess Pottery,

And then there's this busy potter who started off the year with another "One-Hundred Mug Challenge"! I've only got 70 more to go... My challenge is staying on course and doing 100 SIMILAR mugs. The "new" always hooks me and I'm off and running on a new tangent.

Anybody else doing the "100 mugs in 100 days" scenario?

Noodle bowl for Aaron

2009-01-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

My friends Rose and Donnell from Bakersfield visited the studio recently and purchased a noodle bowl for their son, Aaron. He was a fellow artist with my son at the Bakersfield School of Art when they were just kids.

It's great to sell a piece -- but even better when it's going to be used by a family friend who is also an awesome artist. Rose does pastel paintings and ceramic functional work, in addition to being a therapist specializing in using art in her practice.

Thanks Rose and Donnell!

The noodle bowl form, pictured at left, was one I "borrowed" after seeing it in Clay Times (I think)... It was a winning idea in a competition the magazine presented for new functional ware. Great idea so I played with variations of it. I no longer have the artist's name or source.

Glazed bowls

2009-01-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

The little dipping bowls are out of the kiln and I gotta say I really like the results. Here's a peek at some of them on the shelves. They stack up in little sets.

Perfect for sauces, kids' veggie bowls, condiments – or ice cream bowls if you're a masochist!

Bowls, bowls, bowls

2008-12-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

Last week I started a new making cycle of small dipping bowls. These were thrown off the hump. I'll make a bunch of these and sell them in stacking sets of four to six bowls.

Am actually traveling now... Hope to be back home on Christmas Eve!

Mighty mice

2008-12-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

A collection of singing mice made a fun Christmas gift for a recent customer who purchased them for her daughter, a member of the high school choir. Maybe they'll become a big hit with the high school girls and everyone will need their own! Why not??? You never know!

The girl who has everything can then get the "singing mouse" covered jar to hold

her what-nots.

Tile Play

2008-12-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

I've been making garden tiles to display at the entrance of the studio gallery. They're fun to make as a warm up in the studio and are small enough for tourists to pick up and take home as a reminder of their visit to the central coast.

King for a day

2008-12-12T06:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a little vase, the perfect gift for making that special someone feel like royalty!

New work

2008-12-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

New work now available in the studio gallery!

I've been doing some small vases and like the way these turned out. I'm finding that shoppers are interested in the larger pieces, but are much more apt to reach for a small vase these days to actually purchase. Easier on the budget, easier to take home and give as holiday gifts.

Off to the studio this morning to finish glazing some small dipping bowls. Also need to make a sign to go out on the sidewalk in front of my place.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hospitality Night and Abundance

2008-12-09T04:41:00.000-08:00

Hospitality Night in Cambria was fun!

My first year, so I didn't know what to expect.

All the shopkeepers offered goodies and the townspeople flooded the streets until about 9 that evening. Much of the shopping in Cambria is done by tourists on the weekend, but this was on a Thursday night and residents came out to see what was new.

I was semi-prepared, in that clay was not plastered all over the floor, tables, etc. Well, it was on the work-tables, but we just threw some red tablecloths over them and called it good!

My sister, Sharon Casey, was visiting and brought along some of her small art guilts for display and sale. I sold one the next day, so that was nice!

Here's one of her pieces, and me with plates full of cookies for visitors! (New work in the background put out earlier that day... That's why I'm still in my work clothes and baseball cap. Had big plans to go home and get cleaned up... Never happened!)

Free peace

2008-12-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

I put these "peace" rocks out for the taking last week... Free.

My sister and I made them one day while sitting around before the election, talking about the state of the world and hoping for change.

When people came in to the studio/gallery and were interested in my pieces and the process, I offered them some peace to take home. They loved it.

We started out with 30 or so... All of the rocks are gone now.

Time to make some more peace.

Slowly slowly...

2008-11-28T04:05:00.000-08:00

Just finished this snail mug for a friend of mine whose life motto is "slowly, slowly," meaning things often take their own sweet time, including our own growth and development. So, just relax and let things unfold. This motto could also apply to how long it took me to finish this mug!

Good things come to those who wait, right?... Erh, wait, perhaps you live by "Early bird gets the worm"???

Take a hammer to your dreams?

2008-11-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

In the process of moving the studio, this old piece resurfaced... I just couldn't toss her in the "junk heap" so she's now stuck in a corner of my new place.

Called "Dream On," the sculpture is of a woman's head up on two pillows. At one point, she had a propellor on her head but that broke off a couple of years ago...

Maybe I'll put her in the yard at the house somewhere. I just couldn't take the hammer to her.

What do you this is the best process to follow with early work? Smash it? Save it? Give it away?

Glaze planning

2008-11-17T05:22:00.000-08:00

I labeled this post "glaze planning," but the truth is I have been very lazy with keeping up a glaze journal and documenting. That works out just fine when I'm doing the tried and true – but not too good when trying to develop new work.

It's been serendipity when things worked out well, and plain ol' bad luck when they didn't! Not a very productive way to run a studio practice.

So, I'm committed to changing that. I have been starting out with rough ideas/sketches. Then, taking digital photos as I proceed so that I have an image to tie the notes back to... It gives me a better reference point, especially since my cycle of making, glazing and firing has been interrupted so much lately.

I'm using a new cycle of cups to try out some underglaze/glaze combos. I'll be firing tomorrow. The most promising of these will be used on larger and more complex pieces coming up. And with my notes and photos, I should be able to figure out what I did!

Studio time!

2008-11-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Finally got some time to get into the studio, unpack some more boxes, move things around and settle back into a semblance of routine. I made more space for hand-building and will bring in my slab roller, which is still at the other studio for a bit.

Moving right along

2008-11-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

We're moving the house and studio a pick-up load at a time. You uncover a lot of treasures (and some awful stuff too) when you start dismantling the place you've lived for almost 20 years... The biggest surprise: I had no idea I had acquired so much bountiful goodness in the way of art supplies! I'm rich in art supplies!

We've been making the trip and back every week,

leaving enough time to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. Check out these pics, taken during a visit last year. (It's really not this green here yet, but will be soon!)

How hospitable will I be by Dec. 4?

2008-10-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

At the start of every holiday season, Cambria merchants host a big pre-Christmas evening of fun and frivolity for townspeople and visitors. The shops are open for biz and it's a kick-off for what everyone hopes will be a busy holiday season.

Fellow potter blogger Linda Starr asked when that was going to be held. I was so unprepared, still in "moving" mode, that I had to look it up online! That's BAD (and not in the good way).

The big event is the night of Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5:30 to 9.

The studio gallery will be open and we'll be serving up some hot cider and cookies. Maybe I'll event entice Santa to stop by for a visit!

Moving in!

2008-10-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

The remodeling is done and we're moving in! Yahoo!

Over the past nine months, we've been nurturing this renovation along... and now it's here! It's move-in time!

This is the "unveiling" of the neglected (not renovated) side of the house. Before the start of the project, we moved all of our stuff to this side and then tried to "seal" it with plastic wrap... It's as if a fine sprinkling of clay dust is over EVERYTHING!

We know our remodel is done because they've taken the porta-potty away! It has become a landmark in our neighborhood!

Will these be ready for holiday shoppers?

2008-10-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

I was writing to another potter who asked about my crazing problem. I had to confess that I don't have a solution on the crazing yet – and I had a very long response/rationale about the delay in problem-solving. She suggested I share it with you all...

It's more a logistical/time dilemma than a pottery problem right now. I probably should have addressed the crazing right away, but instead I set the whole boondoggle aside for later and went on to make some other work. I figured I'd use other glazes in a new cycle so that I had some successful pots to put out. (There's a big holiday shopping event in November in the downtown area of Cambria where my studio gallery is now located. I have a fantasy of being ready.)

But, before I got back to the crazed ware (or any glazing any other ware for that matter), I had a month-long work assignment and no time for pots. I am fortunate to have retained four great marketing clients in Bakersfield and still enjoy working with them -- so off I went, from the coast of Cambria to Bakersfield, leaving my pottery work behind.

Right after I finished my work project, we went to North Carolina for a week to visit potter friends.

The same day we returned, we started moving. We are going to be leasing out our house in Bakersfield to other friends (who are losing theirs in the midst of all the economic badness). The house is pretty large, with a "mother-in-law" quarters that we'll stay in when we're in town for my work or visiting family and friends who live here.

My husband's family has lived in this house for three generations and there are discoveries in the recesses of every closet. In just five days, we've made a gazillion trips to the Salvation Army with our pick-up full of stuff, stuff, stuff.

This process requires MANY boxes. As it turns out, I have a knack for finding good (clean) boxes. A little dumpster diving has been called for... The back-alley of our northeast shopping center is like a treasure-trove!

We head back over to the coast tomorrow, and we'll be moving into our remodeled house there. It's been a year-long project and WE'RE EXCITED. We've had the house for many years, but it's been rented out to others. We're really eager to move in and make it our home.

In the meantime... I have pots in Cambria awaiting glazing. I have pots in Bakersfield awaiting bisque firing. I also brought a box of the crazed ware back here to Bakersfield, thinking that I'd pop them in the kiln here and see if refiring would solve the problem. But, in the midst of the chaos, I dropped a xxx@@@!!! kiln plug and it smashed to smitherings. I didn't have an extra here so I ordered a replacement. But, in my blurred state, had it shipped to Cambria!

So... I figured that was some higher power telling me to just chill. The pots will have to wait until my world stops spinning for a bit which, according to my TYPE-A get-it-all-done mindset, should be in approximately two weeks. Ha!!

If I time it just right, I just may be able to finish the bulk of the packing, get the moving done, get the pots glazed and fired, and be ready for holiday shoppers! What do you think?

Time and space

2008-10-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

We're back home in California after a week of art and beauty in North Carolina. We've been to shows and galleries, hiking in the mountains on trails through forests exploding in green, orange and red as the seasons change.

It's interesting that, amid all the color and beauty, it is Rob Pulleyn's installation at RiverSculpture near Asheville that I am recalling this morning.

It's a feeling of time, space, desolation. Alone in an arid, dusty landscape.

A day after visiting the RiverSculpture exhibit, we saw the same artist's work at the Blue Spiral in Asheville. I felt the work in the same way. A sadness, but I still walked toward it like a moth to a flame... Kind of like testing a sore muscle to see if it still hurts.

It's interesting to me that this one has left its mark... Why this artist? Why does this dusty, lonely work stay with me?

Sadly, I think it speaks of "home" to me. I've lived in the San Joaquin Valley of California for more than two decades. A dusty, flat, often ugly place. But it has its beauty too.

Soon, we'll be making the Cambria coast our (mostly) full-time home. I still have marketing clients in the valley and will be returning several times a month. But home will be the coast. Where it's always beautiful. Green. There are mountains and trees, hiking trails and, of course, always, the ocean.

But before we make the move, there will be all the "keeping vs not-keeping" as we go through our old home, the house that has been in my husband's family for three generations. It's happening quickly since we've leased the home to friends who will be moving in within the next three weeks.

Now, we're making decisions on what to take with us and what to leave behind.

My studio is already there. Well, most of it anyway. More to follow... including the rest of me.

Below: Rob Pulleyn's sculpture at RiverWalk and his piece at the Blue Spiral, both in Asheville, NC.

Nick Joerling fan

2008-10-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

Yep, I am. Got to visit with Nick during the Spruce Pine Potters Market. Phyliss Ward and I took a workshop with Nick and Lana Wilson maybe 8 years ago at Arrowmont. What a fun time we had!

"Mug" shots with some Spruce Pine Potters!

2008-10-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

We made it to North Carolina in time to catch the Spruce Pine Potters Market. What a thrill! Got to meet bloggers Joy Tanner and Michael Kline and see their wonderful pots. They were nice to pose for a few "mug" shots.

We'll have a few mementos to take back to California with us. Yahoo! We'll be aggravating the other airplane passengers as we try to get our fragile carry-ons safely back home.

Thanks Joy! Thanks Michael!

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

2008-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Chicken Little"

Every morning my hubster watches the business news and, as you all know, it's full of doom and gloom. I know we can't stick our collective heads in the sand, but there is something to be said for not getting caught up in the whole story of financial woe and having it ruin a perfectly good day.

All we can do is stay in the "now" and do the next indicated thing... Seems like throwing a pot is good idea. I've been away from the studio on a work assignment for a month. We're headed back to Cambria (California central coast) today and I'm looking forward to getting back to the studio!

Studio here I come!

2008-09-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to have neglected my blogging for awhile, but my "other" work has taken center stage.

I'll be back in the studio in early October, and then we travel from California to North Carolina for a visit to the Spruce Pine Potters Market and the Southern Highland Craft Guild Show in Asheville.

I hope to see some of the North Carolina bloggers during my visit. Excited!

Etching and mark-making

2008-09-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

I enjoy almost all parts of working in clay, but etching and making marks are among my favorite things to do. With a great big window of time, a quiet dog at my feet, my ipod playing an interesting podcast of "All American Life" or "Radio Lab"... Well, it's darn near perfect.

I was going to add Diet Pepsi to the scene of "darn near perfect" above, but I'VE KICKED THE HABIT. Day 4, but who's counting?

This teacup has some crazing and I'm hopeful my next batch

won't suffer the same fate.

Happy Birthday Mae!

2008-09-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my studio pup turned 2.

It's hard to take a photo of an almost all-black dog! She's a wonderful, brilliant standard poodle with a white stripe down her chest like she's wearing a tux. (It's considered a flaw by the breeders. Hah!)

She's not a pot, but she keeps the potter sane!

Sign of things to come...

2008-09-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

I'm finally going to put a little sign up outside the studio-gallery, so that people can see it from the parking lot below. Here are the pieces. I'll post the finished sign when it's hung.

I've resisted "marketing" to the stream of tourists who march past here. I'm tucked away, above a cafe and in back of a couple of gift shops. To tell you the absolute truth, I still get nervous when people come in the studio. On a weekend afternoon, I'll get three or four people an hour (or sometimes little groups of people who are shopping together).

Most often, they're just browsing and not buying. They flow in from the shops next door. (The shop owners actually send them back to me! I have great neighbors). It's really the only way to find me right now.

Etching and underglaze

2008-09-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the start on a series of decorated mugs. I did some bowls like this inspired by wildflowers that grow on the hills and bluffs near my studio in Cambria. A few bowl-buyers asked for mugs with the same theme... So mugs it is!

Mugs

2008-09-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

I've only had a couple of hours in the studio the last couple of days and been trying to replenish my mug inventory. Here is the latest batch that will be etched and decorated tomorrow.

Thanks everyone who weighed in on the crazing problem. Your input was really helpful. I'm going to re-fire soon and then take the next indicated step.

Going craze-y

2008-08-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last kiln load cracked me up. Literally. Crazing was everywhere on the pots with clear glaze.

I have two possible reasons:

1. Switched from Aardvark's Bee-Mix to Laguna's B-Mix... Would that make THIS difference?

2. Unloaded a hot kiln... But I really didn't think it would matter THAT much. Jeez...

I've been sitting with this for a couple of days, reluctant to glaze anymore with the same clay/glaze and have the same problem repeat itself. Kind of paralyzing.

Then I read about it happening to someone else who unloaded a hot kiln. Like in her situation, the pots looked great then and even later that evening. In my case, I even put them out in the gallery space. Then, the next time I took a look at them - OUCH!

So, my plan now is to re-fire, wait a very long time before unloading and see what happens.

If that doesn't work, I might actually do more test tiles. Imagine that.

I've been tagged!

2008-08-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

I really will get back to posting new work soon... But, in the meantime, I've officially been "tagged" by both Kimberly from Monaco Designs and Terri from Photography by Terri Harper.

I don't know if it's legit to do this kind of two-for-one thing, but in the hope of killing two birds with one stone (bad analogy, sorry ladies!), here goes...

Here are the rules of the dreaded "tagging" thing:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog. (this is what you're now reading.)

3. Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).

4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them. (This is only a game.)

5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six Random Things About Me:

1. I wear socks to bed (well, not ALL the time).

2. I like waking up really early (like 3 or 4-ish) and getting lots of work done while everybody is sleeping. Makes me feel very productive.

3. I used to team rope with my brother as a teenager. He was the "header" and I was the "heeler." I wasn't very good and almost always missed. Quite a disappointment, I was.

4. I just had my ears re-pierced. I stopped wearing earrings when we had a macaw parrot and the holes grew in... Now no more parrot so the earrings are back!

5. Mae, our very large standard poodle, sleeps with my hubby and me every night.

6. I'm rather addicted to Diet Pepsi and I'm trying to shake the habit.

That seems fairly random...

OK, now I'm supposed to tag six more people. I gather this should be people who won't absolutely hate me for doing this to them. (However, you have to admit this is one way to get to know folks better.)

Here goes... Sorry guys:

1. Craig Edwards of Wood Fired Pottery

2. Cynthia Guajardo of Colorado Art Studio

3. Gay Judson of Sister Creek Pottery

4. Ron Philbeck of Potter's Journal

5. Ben Stark of Starks Pots

6. Judy Shreve of Mountain House Studios

The Fulwood Measure

2008-08-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

After a couple of years working with something kind of like this that I jerry-rigged together, I bit the bullet and ordered one from potter John Fulwood.

It's really pretty. High-quality and constructed of hardwood. I took it for a spin and now it has the first of many clay splotches on it.

Though I tried first to order through John's website, I ended up giving him a call. He was in the middle of teaching a class, I think, but was super nice and happy to talk about his product.

He said he built his first one years ago for his own use and was encouraged to patent and market it. I'm glad he finally did!

I have lots of plates and bowls that are "almost" the same size. This will help me get a little closer to the mark.

Check it out here.

Back to work

2008-08-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

After a long bout with back/neck/shoulder pain, I'm slowly getting back into the studio, and would appreciate any suggestions for not screwing myself up again. (This is a picture of one of my brother's horses. Amazing. Just hurts looking at him, doesn't it?)

I switched to a high sit/stand stool for throwing earlier this year and it really helped. I stand and/or perch on the stool. Recently changed out to softer clay and really don't know why I didn't do that sooner...

I think my problem seems to happen when I'm trimming and torqued over sideways to see what I'm doing... I've put a mirror in front of me but, unless it's me being undisciplined (which very well could be) I don't "see" how it gives me the view I'm needing as I trim.

Any suggestions for the mirror set-up or other ideas?

Famous Maker Challenges -- Thanks so much to everyone for "playing" along with this. It was fun and kept me blogging occasionally while I was recuperating!

Lana Wilson was the answer to the last challenge and Judy Shreve came in first! Thanks everyone for playing along!

Famous Maker Challenge #7: Last but not least!

2008-08-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is the last of the "Famous Maker Challenges" so give it your best shot!

This is a wall-hanging I got in San Diego when NCECA was held there a couple of years back.

Y'all probably don't need hints, but here goes anyway because I can't help myself:

1. California girl

2. Column in Clay Times

3. Stamp. Stamp. Stamp.

Answer to Challenge #6 was Jane Peiser.

I thought it would stump you guys, but you're way too good! I purchased that little cup on a tour of clay studios with my pottery pals Alysia Samaru and Phyliss Ward. We had a blast and I always think of those fun days when I see this cup.

Famous Maker Challenge #6

2008-08-19T04:08:00.000-07:00

Here's one more for the Famous Maker Challenge...

Some hints:

1. Another North Carolina potter

2. Female

3. Think "colored porcelain"

Anybody?

Winner of our last challenge:

Congrats to Cynthia of Colorado Art Studio, who guessed David Gary Wright. He taught a workshop at Sierra Nevada College at Lake Tahoe many moons ago. It was such a great experience.

Back update:

I'm back in the studio! Another acupuncture session yesterday. Really helps. I'm examining how I do everything and making changes to prevent problems in the future.

Famous Maker Challenge #5

2008-08-15T06:14:00.001-07:00

Let's make this tough!

Some hints:

1. Male

2. Three-time recipient of New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship

3. He's in "The Spirit of Clay," by Robert Piepenburg.

(In all fairness to the artist, this cup was a sample demo piece done during a workshop many moons ago... He let me HAVE IT because it had a glaze run on the handle. To me, it's damn near perfect!)

Famous Maker Challenge #4

2008-08-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Two little tea bowls from a potter whose life in clay became a great book. His lovely partner does beautiful work as well, but I don't have one of her pieces... yet! (It's on my wish list.) Here's one more hint: His clay body and glazes have his name on them and are sold commercially! Who is this great ceramic artist/potter?

Famous Potter Challenge #3: Can you guess the maker?

2008-08-10T05:02:00.000-07:00

Who made this great mug?

Send me your answer to Famous Potter Challenge #3.

Congrats to Ron, another famous potter, who won yesterday's challenge with his speedy answer. Of course, the answer to yesterday's Famous Potter Challenge #2 was the delightful Jenny Mendes.

I got to meet Jenny while visiting Penland a couple of years ago. She was working in the studio there and she paused to chat with my me and my pottery pals. Brought back this little bowl and it reminds me of the fun time we had. I love it.

Famous Potter Challenge #2: Can you guess the maker?

2008-08-09T04:51:00.000-07:00

This one is way too obvious, so no hints this time... Let's see who gets it first!

Send me your answer to Famous Potter Challenge #2 and you could be today's big winner!

Congrats to blogger cinderelish who won yesterday's Famous Potter Challenge!

Back report:

How do you spell relief? ACUPUNCTURIST. I'm on the mend. I'm extremely grateful for the healing powers of the acupuncturist I visited yesterday. That stuff really works!

Famous Potter Challenge: Can you guess the maker?

2008-08-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

While I'm giving my still-tender back a break from the studio, I won't be posting new work of mine for a few days. So... I'm launching the "Famous Potter Challenge," with treasures from my little collection.

Check it out and see if you can identify the maker...

FAMOUS POTTER CHALLENGE #1

Among my treasures is a set of canisters made by this incredible potter/artist... Can you guess? (Hint: I should disqualify my North Carolina pottery pals from this one.)

Soft clay is my friend

2008-08-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I just don't think of the obvious... My back has been giving me fits and I just figured out that working with softer clay could be part of the solution.

Well, I didn't actually "figure" it out. It was revealed to me as I was reading an article in Ceramics Monthly about Mark Shapiro called "Soft Clay, Hard Work" and decided that working with softer clay could be a good idea. Duh.

I'm sure I used to know this but had become accustomed to stiffer clay in more recent years. Funny, what we get used to. Now I'm looking around and re-examining the way I do other things in life. Old dog. New tricks.

ON ANOTHER TOPIC - MY BLOG LIST... It's missing... I changed to a custom domain "claymousestudio.com" and my blog list seems to have gone missing... I hope to have it resolved soon.

Freshly thrown and carved

2008-08-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

Before my back starting acting up last week, I did a bunch of thrown, carved little jars/containers. They are all different and I think will appeal to tourist shoppers looking for something small to take back home with them. These and their companions will be bisqued and glazed next week, I think... Just gotta get my back "back" to normal first. Ouch.

Tile Play

2008-08-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

With an achy back this weekend, I stayed away from the wheel and did a little work with art tiles. I really enjoy times when the pressure to produce is "off" and I can just play with images. Here are some pics of tile work before bisque. Some are carved relief and I'll go back later and put some underglaze washes or oxides on them. The castle bird and spider already have the underglaze and just need to be bisque-fired. Then I'll layer with other images or glaze. Not sure yet.

Still going around in circles

2008-08-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

These mugs are part of a "double-majolica" series with black put down first, covered by the white majolica base glaze, followed by black circle design and scratched through. This gives it that mottled, broken look where the black under-layer is breaking through the white majolica base. I like that.

Darn mice

2008-08-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

How did these mice get here!!?... They are singing their little hearts out, keeping me entertained in between throwing and decorating functional ware. They don't know that they'll soon be stuck in the oven!

It's a lovely day in the neighborhood

2008-08-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

I can't be at the studio+gallery this weekend so my neighbors at Seaside Cottage are minding the store. My place is nested right behind theirs along a little patio/walkway. They've offered to keep my doors open and handle any sales. How is that for being neighborly!

Thank you Mark and Andrea for being so cool. And I don't care if you sell a darn thing. It's just so wonderful to have such great neighbors!

If you're ever in Cambria, CA, a visit to Seaside Cottage is a must! I'm continually amazed at the way they put things together to create this eclectic mix of old/new that feels contemporary and homey at the same time.

Plates in the oven

2008-07-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-30T07:01:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-07-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-10T17:43:00.001-07:00

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!!!!

2008-07-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

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!)

New work

2008-06-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Finally, some new pieces!

We're remodeling our home in Cambria and spent much of the week deciding on all the finishes -- selecting carpet, cabinet pulls, lighting, paint -- really a dazzling array of choices. We're having a blast and working through our likes/dislikes to arrive at things we both love.

These will be bisque-fired and then clear-glazed for a final firing. This design is popular and I enjoy doing it when I can just get "zen" with the process, listen to some NPR and relax. I was totally DONE at the end of this session!

Friendly visitors!

2008-06-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Joan visited this weekend. We had a blast. She checked out the studio, including the most recent addition in the gallery.

Here is Joanie with Bad Cat. And, of course, the most important part of the visit -- a great meal at (coincidentally) The Black Cat in Cambria.

Boxes with topses

2008-06-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Threw these boxes with lids on Saturday. They're very soft here. When they're stiff leather-hard will cut off the lids and trim both top and bottom for a perfect fit. That's the theory, anyway!

Sisterly love

2008-06-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

How 'bout this new apron my sis made for me? Thankfully, she made a couple so I can alternate when one is in the wash... I'm glad she wasn't around to see how clay-muddy this puppy was at the end of the workday! (The Good Kitty piece with me is one of several variations on the cat theme... Will send photos of another in progress soon!)