snowhill pottery & tileworks

it's all about the cardboard...

2012-01-28T18:38:00.000-05:00

for the last few weeks, our lives have revolved around boxes...you know how it is when you're moving: did you find more boxes? how many boxes do we have? what day does the grocery store unpack the most bananas? it goes on and on, and it can get a little stressful...

on the other hand, when you're an almost-six year old, a couple of cardboard boxes + a roll of blue tape = days of entertainment. for judson, a box isn't "the right size to pack the coffeemaker"--a box could be the kitchen, or the porch, or the perfect storage closet to add on to his cardboard house... i love watching and helping him build his cardboard houses, he's so intent and focused on what he's doing. he draws windows, doors, mailboxes, peepholes, sunroofs, you name it--i'm the "cutter"...sometimes we make dutch doors, sometimes they open to the side, and sometimes they open up or down, but he always has a plan in mind. it's so much fun to watch his mind fast at work.

we've only got a couple more days left until our big move, and as i was packing the studio today, i had to laugh. i picked up a box, and instantly thought that it was the perfect size and shape for a chimney.

sometimes it's good to think like a 6 year old...happy weekend everyone!

kicking it up a notch...

2012-01-15T19:12:00.000-05:00

so far it's been a busy january around here, and the next couple of weeks are going to be crazy. we're hard at work packing for our move to seagrove at the end of the month, and i'm trying to keep working in the studio right up to the end. moving was so much easier when i was in my 20's, and everything i owned (almost everything, anyway) fit into the hatchback of my ford escort... not so anymore!

we're so excited about this move--i'll post more about it soon, but for now here's a few pics: new work in the studio (i'm finally getting to work on the dinnerware i've been thinking about for months!), sammie the studio dog in her winter best, and my little munchkin. we're having such a mild winter here this year, it's been wonderful to get in some outside time with my little guy...

i'll be working in the studio in hillsborough through the end of the month--if you get the chance, stop by to see me!

new work in the studio...

sammie in her winter sweater...

bring it on!!

2012-01-03T16:38:00.002-05:00

wow, 2012! i guess i'm like alot of other folks out there, the beginning of the year makes me want to make some changes, clean out the cobwebs, and jump in with both feet...

i've been playing around with the blog layout some, i'm excited about the possibilities...more to come soon. in the studio, i've finally been able to start working on my new dinnerware line, and i can't wait to see where this takes me!

i'm loving this new year, and all the possibilities it offers...bring it on!!

new plates in the works...

fresh batch of tiles...

sammie the studio pup...

happy holidays!

2011-12-27T15:22:00.002-05:00

what a wonderful christmas it was! i took some much needed time off to do mommy-things, and enjoyed every single minute of the holidays...

happy new year everybody!

new mug designs...

2011-12-16T14:41:00.003-05:00

ahhhhh.....

2011-12-04T22:27:00.003-05:00

last glaze firing of the year...check.
last big order packed up & ready to deliver...check.
snuggling up with the puppy and a stack of holiday recipes for baking...
check, check!!

i'm ready for some down time & some mommy-time...i'm excited to start working on lots of new things in january. the photo is a sneak peak of some dinnerware i'm working on...more to come soon, i can't wait!

hello december...

2011-11-30T13:52:00.006-05:00

i know we're all in the midst of that end of the year rush, but i just wanted to share this song. it's one of my all-time favorites...

i've been getting into the studio at ridiculously early times lately...the sun was coming up this morning as i headed out, and the sunrise was absolutely gorgeous...made me take a deep breath...

happy december everybody...

my favorite time of the year...

2011-11-14T21:10:00.003-05:00

just a few pics of some new tiles and of the beautiful fall we're having here. i don't think i can remember the leaves being this gorgeous in a long time...the weather was wonderful this weekend, and it was nice to get out of the studio and do a little hiking...

tis the season.....

2011-11-09T10:42:00.002-05:00

if you're wondering where i've been for the past few weeks, or where you can find me for the next few weeks, here it is:

things in the studio have gotten crazy in the past couple of months, and i feel really fortunate to have all the work i've had. i've taken a break from shows, and focused on wholesale and special orders. i know i'll keep some of my shows next year, but it sure feels good to plant my feet firmly in the studio for a while and just work, without packing up and traveling around for shows.

our october last friday was a blast--it was halloween weekend, and judson wore his costume and helped me out. we had such a great time--(no, that's not me in the photo, it's a woman who has quilts on display in the gallery--great costume she made!)

hope everyone has a great week...i'd better get back to glazing!!

on the road and in the studio...

2011-10-23T20:30:00.003-04:00

i went out to rocky mount this weekend to teach a tile workshop at the imperial centre, and i had a wonderful time. my students were all so enthusiastic and excited about making tiles--we needed another day to squeeze it all in! i got to spend a bit of time with my wonderful friends, jennifer and catherine, who both work there, and overall just had a great weekend. if you're even in rocky mount, the imperial centre is worth the visit--it's an amazing, gorgeous place...

things are also starting to hop in the studio...i've been shipping off quite a few orders--even one to australia... this week is the last friday studio stroll in hillsborough, and i'll also have a few pieces in the new exhibit that opens friday in the arts council's gallery.

tomorrow...a much needed day off, then back at it on tuesday--have a wonderful week everyone...

some of my students hard at work--check out the awesome clay studio!

i had to sneak into the painting studio...this room is amazing, this is only half of it...it makes me want to paint!

door to the painting studio...

how gorgeous is this door in the painting studio?!

bits and pieces and my new staff...

2011-10-09T17:38:00.008-04:00

well, blogger says i haven't blogged since july, but that can't be possible...isn't it still august? it seems like i look up and a week, two weeks, have disappeared, but at other times i can't push through the week fast enough. i told my friend meredith once that this time of the year reminds me of that moment at the top of the highest peak of a roller coaster. that still, silent moment just before you go flying down to the bottom...

things in the studio have gotten crazy busy, and i'm enjoying doing alot of wholesaling...enjoying everything except the shipping--i can seriously procrastinate packing an order, i hate it! luckily, i've hired a shipping expert...

the other thing i struggle with is the paperwork aspect of running the studio, and i've been trying to make extra efforts to keep myself organized. unfortunately, this usually ends up as just a list of things i want to do--one day i actually had "make a list of.." as an item on one of my lists--crazy, i know. so, i've decided to hand over all of the paperwork to my new accounting division...

yes, this time of year makes me a little punchy--coffee, work, work, wine...repeat as needed...but i am really excited about the work i'm making. and, no matter how punchy i get, no matter how many 10 or 12-hour days i work, there is absolutely no other work i'd rather do in this world...i love it. here's to the last big push to the end of the year!

this week in the studio...

2011-07-28T21:28:00.003-04:00

it felt great to get back to some tile-making and firing last week. i fired my first load of tiles since i got the kiln hooked up, and i'm really happy with the results. i'll have a great selection for this friday's artwalk, which will be from 6-9 all along churton street in downtown hillsborough, in conjunction with last friday. the arts council gallery also has a great exhibit opening in our building, so if you're in the area, come on out!

my latest project...

2011-07-13T17:18:00.004-04:00

i really love having my studio in hillsborough--it's a beautiful historic downtown, filled with galleries, restaurants, and gorgeous buildings. my studio is located between the fire department and weaver street market, a wonderful local co-op grocery. over the past few months, i've had the opportunity to work with the folks there to create a line of reuseable travel mugs, and i've had a blast working on the project. the mugs hit the stores today, so i thought i post a few pics of the process of making them...

i've made two different types of mugs: one has the weaver street logo, and the other type has slip-trailed designs...they are all so different--i love all of the color combinations.

the mugs are available in the carrboro, southern village, and hillsborough markets--check out weaver street's page on facebook to see the feature they did on them.

pretties for the weekend....

2011-06-08T15:50:00.006-04:00

i'm in the final push to get work out of the kiln for the larkspur party this weekend. i'll have lots of new tiles, new jewelry, and hopefully some new garden markers (they are in the kiln right now, so hopefully they will all turn out!) i've been working on a new series of handpainted tiles, so i'll have lots of new animals and florals that i'm really excited about...

if you've never been to the larkspur show and are in the triangle area, it's definitely worth the trip to raleigh. the gardens are gorgeous, the work is all wonderful, and there's usually a good amount of homemade goodies for everyone! here are the details, hope to see you there!

larkspur party
6401 litchford road, raleigh
saturday, june 11, 10-6
sunday, june 12, 10-4
for directions and a complete list of artists:
www.larkspurparty.com

come out and buy some art!!

this week in hillsborough...

2011-04-28T08:19:00.003-04:00

i can't believe it's the end of april already--tomorrow night is the first full-blown last friday in downtown hillsborough. along with the artwalk gallery stroll, which i'll be a part of, there will be vendors set up on the courthouse grounds. there will be food, crafts, and live music.

it's all from 6-9 tomorrow night--stop by if you're in the area...it's sure to be a great time!

in the studio, i'll have lots of new jewelry, some new tile designs, and a good selection of spirit houses.

hope to see you soon!

heading out...

2011-04-15T15:13:00.003-04:00

i'll be heading to seagrove tomorrow to whynot pottery for the second annual "mud & suds" spring kiln opening there. it looks like it will be an indoor event, with the rain that's headed our way, so if you're in the area, be sure to stop by. i'll have a great selection of jewelry and tiles, and there will be lots of other great work there as well. check out meredith's blog for more info...

i've been working on lots of new things in the studio lately--i've got a load of bisque that needs to be glazed and fired, and i started working on some large architectural pieces--i love making these.

stop and see us if you're in the seagrove area this weekend...it will be a fun time!!

daily commute...

2011-04-03T14:30:00.003-04:00

just a quick post for a gorgeous sunday. so much going on, i've been so busy keeping my head down, i just realized that it's april...that i have three events scheduled in april...that i have a ton of bisque that needs to be fired and finished...that i have a million things going on in my head...

i thought i'd share a photo from my drive out to the studio today...one of the things i love about working in hillsborough is my daily commute through the country. on an average day, i'll see deer, wild turkeys, groundhogs...it's a beautiful 15 minute ride. just out of the frame of this photo is the blue heron that took off right in front of me as i was snapping this picture.

have a beautiful sunday....

artwalk this friday!!!

2011-03-20T18:42:00.005-04:00

it's been an absolutely gorgeous weekend, the weather has been perfect. i got alot done in the studio, and i'm getting ready for this friday's artwalk in downtown hillsborough. here's an article about it from the herald-sun today.

come visit me, stroll the downtown, and see lots of art...friday, 6-9pm...

day of 100 earrings......

2011-03-16T22:48:00.003-04:00

i've been so focused on building my tile inventory in the new studio, i realized today that i've let my earring stash dwindle to almost nothing. so, i spend the day making around 100 or so earrings, i lost count...i love the way they all look lined up together on the boards.

show season is starting up soon, i'll have to update all of my event information soon. next friday night is artwalk in downtown hillsborough from 6-9, so if you're in the area, be sure to pop in and say hello.

in other news, i spent a wonderful weekend with my little sweetheart, who turned 5 on friday. there really is something special about moms and sons--judson is the absolute greatest joy of my life, he amazes me every day with the little things he says and does. it's been a tough couple of years for him with the divorce--i'm thankful that he is surrounded by so many people who love him, and i feel like everyone in his life is working to make sure he feels loved, safe, and happy. he is such an amazing little guy, and i'm so lucky to be his mommy....

new tiles...

2011-03-10T22:42:00.004-05:00

here are a couple of pics of some new tiles i've been working on this week. i'm doing a series of 6" animal tiles, and so far i'm loving them... i've been experimenting with some dark red clay, and i'm anxious to see how they turn out. i think i'll like the dark lines from the resist, but i'm not sure i'll like the darker glazes.

a bigger bunny...

a fat little hen...

piggy!!

and i'm also working on some new florals...

more barnyard animals to come, as well as cat, dog, and some insects. any suggestions?

new work...

2011-03-04T18:09:00.003-05:00

just a quick post to show some new tiles i've been working on. these will be available in my etsy shop shortly (except for the bunnies...i don't know if i can let go of those just yet!)

happy friday!

things about me, pictures...and some other stuff

2011-02-24T19:23:00.006-05:00

well, my goal was to post again within a week, and it looks like i will just make it. i've been thinking about the second half of the things about me post, but i'll get to that in a minute. the big news is....i got my business license, and i will be open officially as of friday night! hillsborough has last friday art walks, and i've signed up--the first one is tomorrow night, so if you're in the area stop by...6-9pm at 220 south churton street.

i finished up my tilemaking class at pullen arts center this week--what a fantastic group of students!! we had a blast, and i think they all enjoyed themselves...

here's a shot of the new studio...it's going to be such a nice space to work in, filled with beautiful light.

okay, here's goes: the other 3 things about me that you may or may not know:

5: i am extremely claustraphobic...i can't stand to be in a room with no windows, in a restaurant i like to sit by a window, and don't even get me started on elevators! i love to be outside, in wide open spaces, or in a room with lots of windows and no doors...strange, i know...

6: in a former life, i was production manager/graphic designer for the triangle business journal in raleigh. it was a million years ago, back when we actually printed ads out, and pasted them up onto a master copy for the printer, then drove the originals over to be printed! i think the graphics background is what ultimately led me to tiles--there's definitely a graphic element to tilemaking, but i love the tactile quality sooo much more than staring at a computer screen all day!

7: my absolute favorite thing to do with my little one is to cook--he gets so serious about it, and the more complicated the recipe, the better! we've made cakes, cookies, hummus, and lots more, but his favorite by far is homemade bread. i don't know if it's because he loves the bread, or just loves being able to get out the kitchen aid! it's really fun to cook with him, and i love it--i loved cooking with my mom when i was a kid, and i know he'll have good memories of it... here's a pic of him hard at work...he said that the headband is so he'll look like a chef! (yes, that's a jen mecca bowl!! :)

okay, now the last part of the stylish blogger, to nominate other sites. this one is tough because so many of the sites i love have already been nominated. so instead of risking re-awarding someone, i'm going to give the award to a couple of my favorite tile artist blogs:

http://linda-ellett.blogspot.com
if you haven't seen any of linda's work, you will absolutely be blown away--i wish i could crawl into her head and spend a few days there soaking up what she knows about tilemaking and glazing.

http://elukkapaja.blogspot.com
i stumbled across this blog while browsing around etsy, and i just love her work. she's from finland, and makes these wonderfully tiny houses, doggies, and "my land" tiny little patchwork tiles. great stuff!

http://www.heatherknightceramics.com
i picked heather knight, who's in asheville, because her tiles (and all of her work) are stunning. she had a great blog until someone hacked into it and messed it all up. i hope she'll start another one soon...great work!

so...those are my picks for blogs you should check out...there's so much great work out there, it always amazes me that we all start with the same material, and end up with such incredibly diverse pieces.

hope to see you at the new shop sometime soon!

a beautiful day...and a nice surprise...

2011-02-18T09:20:00.001-05:00

what an absolutely gorgeous day...it's days like today that can almost make you forget what it's like to live in nc in august. (well, almost!) things are moving along with the move to hillsborough, and i will hopefully have some photos to post very soon...

i got a wonderful surprise yesterday...my friend and amazing potter, jen mecca, nominated me for the stylish blogger award. kind of funny, and a little embarrassing, since my blog is still really in the beginning stages, but i'm thrilled she thought of me. and, hopefully this will give me the motivation to blog more regularly... so, anyway, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award being by providing a link to their site.
2. Share 7 things about yourself that other bloggers might not know.
3. Give the Award to 15 newly discovered or interesting blogs.
4. Notify each of those blogger to present the Award.

okay, the hard part...7 things about me that you probably wouldn't know...i've really enjoyed reading everyone else's answers, but this is hard!!! here goes:

1: i was born in honolulu...my dad was in the navy, and i lived there for the first year and a half of my life. i haven't been back yet, but i'd definitely love to get there one of these days...

2: when i'm tired, stressed out, or sick, my number one comfort food is french fries. i've been that way since i was a little girl--i can remember my mom letting me have french fries with a ton of ketchup whenever i was sick. and no undercooked fries for me, either--i like them crunchy, not burnt, but well done.

3: i have absolutely no musical talent...i mean NONE...but, i've always wanted to learn to play the fiddle. i'm talking in a kick-butt, dixie chicks sort of way...

4: i hoard paint swatches--i could spend hours in front of the swatches at lowes or home depot, looking at colors. i have stacks and stacks of them at home--i don't know what it is, but i love holding all those colors, and looking at the subtle differences between them. i guess it's the same with glazes--my favorite part of working with clay is seeing how the glazes come out and interact with each other.

okay, i think i'm going to split this into two posts, that's a lot of sharing for one post...i'll work on the other 3 things in my head today. hopefully i'll get some pics of the new space to post later on...happy friday!!!

new year, new logo, big news...

2011-02-10T19:22:00.004-05:00

happy 2011 everyone! i'm so excited about my new logo--it was designed by my awesome and talented friend, kathy. she and i worked together a million years ago, and we reconnected at a show over the summer. i asked her if she'd be interested in doing a logo on trade, and lucky for me, she said yes! i am amazed and thrilled with the result--thanks kathy!! check out her website, she makes some beautiful jewelry.

i made a tough decision for 2011--like many of you out there, i've been torn over studio options: to keep working at home and renovate/rewire/rebuild, or to find a reasonably-priced, well-located spot to rent studio/retail space. after looking at alot of spaces in durham, chapel hill, and hillsborough, we found the perfect spot in historic downtown hillsborough! if all goes well, i should be open by next weekend, and i absolutely cannot wait! the building is old, and my space has the original hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. i'm across the hall from the hillsborough arts council--they hold monthly gallery openings in the building, and sponser a downtown gallery walk on last fridays. i'll have a sales area in the front part of the studio, and i'm working like crazy to have lots of jewelry and tiles to fill it! if you're in the area, stop by and say hello--220 south churton street, between the fire department and weaver street market...

getting the cobwebs out...

2010-10-29T18:13:00.004-04:00

i've been in a bit of a creative slump lately, but i feel like i'm coming out of it. we took a nice long hike along the eno river yesterday, and it really made me want to get my brain healthy and my body in better shape. i love this time of year, with the crunch of leaves, all of the colors and textures against that sooo blue sky. how can you not get inspired??!

i was invited to participate in a show just outside chapel hill at fearrington village in a few weeks, so i'm gearing up for that...more details soon. i listed some new pieces in my etsy shop, and i'm also starting to plan for the winter...a complete redesign of my tile line, a much overdue project, and i can't wait to get started!

here are a few pictures i snapped on our hike yesterday...i can't wait to go back!!!
happy fall everyone......

new tiles....

2010-09-15T22:08:00.003-04:00

just a quick post...these are a couple of the tiles i listed in my etsy shop today. i'm starting to have the itch to do some more installation work...hmmmm. lots of ideas brewing in my head...lots more to blog about...

longer post coming soon......

just about the coolest thing ever...

2010-09-03T23:25:00.000-04:00

i got kind of obsessed with cicadas this summer--we probably had hundreds of them in the yard, and they really are amazing little creatures.

sitting out on the deck at night now, there are fewer and fewer of them and more crickets...it won't be long until the cicadas are gone until next summer. last night, i was able to coax one onto my hand, and we stared at each other for a few minutes.

we were lucky enough to watch two of them hatch out of their shells earlier this summer--it was incredible!

okay, what just happened????

2010-08-31T21:46:00.004-04:00

as the labor day weekend fast approaches, i, like everyone else, am looking up and wondering where the summer went. i mean, wasn't it just june, with the rest of the summer stretching out in front of us, and september just a distant fleeting thought?

the highlight of my summer was being a mom. judson and i cooked together, went on playdates, went to parks, museums, and worked in the studio together. we made houses out of cardboard boxes, caught fireflies, and grew a (struggling) small garden. he got to spend the summer watching hummingbirds, baby catbirds, turtles, chipmunks, bunnies, and so many other critters that come to visit us. he is such an amazing little guy, and i cannot believe how quickly the summer got away from us.

i have also spent some time working with clay...although not blogging about it... i did the lazy daze show in cary last weekend, and had a wonderful time. the weather was gorgeous, and lots of folks came out. i'm really enjoying teaching classes at claymakers here in durham, with the new session starting next week. and i've got several more shows coming up in the last few months of the year. stay tuned for more about those soon......

happy labor day everyone!

festival for the eno...

2010-07-04T19:21:00.005-04:00

so far, it's been a wonderful weekend at the eno...the weather's been absolutely amazing. my booth is right in front of one of the stages, and the music has been great all weekend...i was able to visit with some dear friends, and sales have been good...couldn't ask for more. i'll post some more pics later, but i just had to share this one...this little guy hung out with me for the better part of the afternoon. couldn't believe he let me get so close!

have a safe and happy fourth everyone!!

2010-07-01T22:55:00.003-04:00

just a quick post...here's a piece i listed in my etsy shop earlier today...i'm loving this new amber glaze, it really plays well against all of the blues and greens i have. i had a wonderful week with my sweet judson, and i'm almost ready for the eno festival this weekend. i hope the cool weather holds out...it will make all the difference being outside for three days. if you're in the durham area this weekend, stop by and say hi!

hands in the dirt...

2010-06-22T22:15:00.003-04:00

i spent some time working on the garden this morning, and most of the evening working on pieces for the festival for the eno. i added some of my new bobby pins to my etsy shop--i just love them, they are so fun! here are a few photos i took in the garden...this evening, there were so many fireflies in the backyard, i couldn't even count them all...great first day of summer!

new camera and the wild kingdom...

2010-06-19T00:08:00.005-04:00

well, i'm still here...finally got my new camera, and i'm loving it!! it's amazing how quickly the technology changes--this camera has a super-macro setting that, so far, looks like it's going to work really well for jewelry. these earrings are the before (2nd image--embarrasing!) and after (first image) shots...it's coming along. i still want to work on the images some more.

i'm gearing up for the festival for the eno, which will be here in durham the weekend of july 4th. i'll have lots of new earring and necklace styles for the show, and hopefully some new glaze combos as well.

in non-pottery news, we had a wonderful week with judson--he spent quite a bit of time either in the studio with me making "projects" or in the kitchen with me being my "chef assistant". we had a blast...and even better, the wildlife came out in full force to see him. there's a catbird sitting on an egg right outside his bedroom window, and during the week we got visits from a box turtle, rabbits, chipmunks, and lots of birds and squirrels...our very own wild kingdom!! hopefully next week, the cosmos and sunflowers should be blooming, and we may have a baby bird... it's good to be a little boy in the summertime...

awesome show alert....

2010-06-03T23:50:00.003-04:00

well, i'm trying to squeeeeze in one more quick firing tonight for the larkspur party this weekend. i'll have a great selection of porcelain jewelry, as well as a good group of my new spirit house sculptures. i would love to post some images of them, but my camera seems to be...broken. really broken. so, i'll guess you'll all have to come out and see everything in person...

well, i'm off to start the kiln...i'll end with a couple of photos...the first one is an image of part of the gardens during last year's larkspur (i swiped the pic from the larkspur website--i don't think francis and holly will mind...) the other image is of the postcard for the larkspur party, with a listing of the participating artists. (yes, i swiped that one, too, from jen mecca's blog--i don't think she'll mind either...)

anyway, come out and see me this weekend...it's going to be a great time!

new pieces sprouting up...

2010-05-11T22:59:00.002-04:00

here are a couple of the pieces i unloaded today...i'm really happy with the way they came out. these three are now in my etsy shop, waiting for their forever homes! i have some more of them that will be going to Claymakers for the show "Folded, Printed, Fitted, Pinched". i'm excited to be participating in this show along with Susan Feagin, Shawn Ireland, Barbara McKenzie, Amy Sanders, and Liz Slot Summerfield...it's going to be a great show.

new work and around the garden...

2010-04-26T17:21:00.006-04:00

i had a wonderfully productive day in the studio yesterday--here are a few of the pieces i made. i haven't made any of my spirit houses in forever, and i had a great time working on them. i'll probably make a few more of them, as well as some garden sculptures for the upcoming larkspur party in june.

it was such a beautiful day, i just had to take a break to photograph some of the pretties in the garden. i didn't notice the bug hanging out on the iris until i opened it on the computer--love it!

happy monday everyone!

playing a little catch up...

2010-04-23T00:00:00.005-04:00

well, the kiln opening sale in seagrove last weekend was a blast...great sales, great friends, and absolutely beautiful weather. now that the dust has settled somewhat, i'm spending some time this week regrouping and getting organized. i taught my first class at claymakers tonight--what a wonderful group of people! i'm really looking forward to seeing what we accomplish over the next six weeks...

here's a couple of pics from the weekend...i swiped the photo of judson from meredith's blog--it was just too cute not to post. he had a blast helping and running around talking to everyone..."i'm a pretty tough salesman, mommy". it was alot of fun to have him there with me.

here's one of the pieces i listed in my etsy shop tonight...it's been a while since i've listed any bracelets, and i really liked the way this one came out.

spring kiln opening and new pieces...

2010-04-08T23:53:00.003-04:00

the seagrove spring kiln opening is next weekend, april 17 and 18. i'm excited to be a guest artist at whynot pottery, hosted by my good friends and talented potters mark and meredith heywood. the hours will be saturday 9-5 and sunday 10-4. i'll be bringing some tiles and a great selection of jewelry, so be sure to come out and say hi.

i listed this piece in my etsy store tonight.......

happy birthday...and a peacock with an identity crisis...

2010-03-12T19:49:00.004-05:00

we had an absolutely wonderful day out with judson yesterday for his birthday. we went to the nature science center in greensboro. if you've never been there, it's definately worth the trip--i was really impressed, and it was totally worth the $8 admission. in addition to all of the cool exhibits inside, they also have a large zoo area outside, with a petting farm area, and really beautiful trails and enclosures. it was a perfect day...

i just had to include the peacock photo--it was the funniest thing...he was all puffed up, prancing around, trying to impress these two guinea ladies...can you imagine?...i'd love to see a "guineacock"!

in the ceramics world, i'm gearing up for a busy spring/summer. i'll be one of the guest artists at whynot pottery for the spring kiln opening (april 18-19), i'm participating in a group show at claymakers in durham (more on that soon), and i'll be exhibiting at the festival for the eno (july 4-6). i have a few other things in the works too, but more on those later--it feels good to be getting back into the swing of things...now, i just need to get everything made........................

new jewelry pieces...

2010-02-24T22:24:00.002-05:00

i was so excited to unload the kiln the other morning, i forgot to snap a couple of pics of the results of the glaze firing. all-in-all, i was really pleased. these two were in the firing--i listed them in my etsy shop tonight. i'm still playing around with light and backgrounds, trying to get better images for the site. they're coming along, little by little.

i love watching the birds at the feeder in the backyard--there've been more birds than i can count out there this winter, but today i saw a bird i've never seen before. it was HUGE, and had beautiful markings--i couldn't get a good picture of it, but looked online and i think it was a northern flicker. anyone know anything about these guys? he was gorgeous!

going retro...

2010-02-18T15:23:00.003-05:00

found a couple of 1960 sears catalogs, and i'm absolutely in love with all the drawings in them! i was thumbing through them, thinking of the possibilities of how to use the imagery, when the last image caught my eye. i don't know if you can read the text, but apparantely in 1960 you could mail order 3 different types of monkey...or even a full-grown mexican burro! it says the burro "ships uncrated"--i can just picture someone leading a burro off a truck full of washing machines, women's dresses, and furniture...how cool would that be?!!!

glaze-hands...yea!

2010-02-17T23:30:00.004-05:00

i spent a while tonight glazing some pieces to test fire a glaze load in the new kiln--just a few pieces to see how the kiln fires. a couple of new designs, i can't wait to see how they come out. i'm resisting the urge to go out to the studio and load them tonight, since it's almost midnight...and cold cold cold..... c'mon spring!

new pieces...and pieces of bread...

2010-02-13T20:29:00.004-05:00

here's a couple of pieces i listed in my etsy shop today. the snow was beautiful, had a million birds at the feeder, and actually saw a fox walking through the snow around midnight last night. a good day to bake bread...braided herb loaf today...yum!

sanding...sanding...sanding...and a recipe...

2010-02-11T18:17:00.002-05:00

so, tonight i'm working on sanding many, many tiny little jewelry pieces that i'll bisque fire tomorrow. i have quite a stash i've been working on while i was waiting to get my kiln, and more ideas for them than i can hold in my head...i can't wait to get them glazed and finished.

now, for the pie recipe....it's so easy, you won't even believe it.

Berry Pie
--pie crust (you can use a regular pie crust--for the blueberry one, i made a graham cracker crust & it was really good with the blueberries)
--8oz sour cream
--3/4 cup of sugar
--3T flour
--1/8t salt
--3 cups berries (i've used anywhere between 2-3 cups, depending on what i have on-hand, and it's come out fine)
-mix sour cream, sugar, flour, salt in a bowl, then fold in berries. spoon into crust, and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (cover edge of crust with foil, then remove for the last 20 mins)

so easy, and so good.....tomorrow i'm baking bread...a braided herb loaf...mmm.

spring fever, pie, and fashion sense...

2010-02-10T18:28:00.004-05:00

okay, i've seen some snow, now i've got serious spring fever. i think the seed companies know to ship catalogs at that exact moment we are at our weakest, drooling over every page of beautiful tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and flowers...it's just not fair! well, this year i'm trying not to get carried away, starting small with just a few plants...and some chickens, yea! baby chicks will be here mid-march...now to come up with a super-cool coop that will keep them safe and out of hawks-reach.

so until it's actually spring, i'm making pie...this is my latest favorite, sour cream berry pie. super easy and yummy--i've made it with blackberries, and this time it's blueberries--i love the color!

i should have some more tile and jewelry pieces to list in my etsy store soon--i test-fired my new test kiln today--yea--so i'm hoping to glaze fire later this week.

and last but not least, i had to put up this picture of judson. this is how he went out on saturday...everywhere we went...cars lunchbox full of toys, bicycle helment, and "clothes jeans". i love it...to be a kid again....

perfect afternoon...

2010-01-30T16:38:00.012-05:00

is it just me, or is today the absolutely perfect day for a pot of homemade soup and a loaf (or two) of fresh-baked bread?... mmm--too bad there's not a "smell-this" button on the keyboard, the house smells great. i'm finally getting over my phobia of making bread, and i'm sooo enjoying it...there's something very clay-like about kneading a big pile of dough...very satisfying.

here's one of the pieces i listed on etsy today...i've gotten several more ready today that i'll be listing tomorrow, as well as some great little earrings.

my exploding brain...

2010-01-28T20:11:00.006-05:00

well, i've always been a chronic list-maker...if i can't write something down on a list somewhere, there's no chance i'll remember it. (if i could just clear out all of the useless information still in my brain: high school locker combination, dora the explorer theme song--i mean, that's space i could use for something!) anyway, tonight i've been trying to consolidate my lists, and get organized for the year...galleries to contact, shows to apply for, application dates/fees/show dates. i have to admit i'm a little rusty on the whole thing, after being out of business for almost a year, and it's hard to know where to begin...i think it's time for another glass of wine.................

a little candy on a rainy day...

2010-01-22T18:11:00.003-05:00

years ago, i did a summer residency at the moravian pottey & tileworks in doylestown, pa. my friend and fellow resident, ximena, would tease me about the "little candies" i made. i love that description of these pieces. soon they will become jewelry, and will be off to my etsy shop, or to galleries, but for right now, i think i'll pour them into a big bowl and just stare at them for awhile...happy weekend everyone...

closet metal head...

2010-01-21T23:37:00.006-05:00

it's funny how the process of moving and unpacking makes you look at things differently. as i've been unpacking and organizing this last week, i realized that i have alot of antique/vintage metal...i mean a LOT. antique ceiling tins, finials, old metal lunch boxes, old metal picnic baskets, an old 50's metal kitchen cart, an old metal cabinet from a train depot, old metal step stools, it just goes on and on. i love having these things around me, i love the texture, color and variation, the age they show...

a new year, a deep breath, and a fresh start...

2010-01-17T16:21:00.004-05:00

well, with a deep breath and a list of hopes and wishes for 2010, i'm jumping back in. back into business, back into blogging, and back into life. for me, 2009 was the most difficult year of my life, and i'm glad 2010 is finally here. after a much too long absence from clay, i'm ready to get back into the swing of things...just as soon as i get all these boxes unpacked......