Studio Entrance in Spring

I can show you a photo… but I wish I could somehow fill your sense of smell with the sweet scent of  lilacs that permeate my studio entrance.  The weather this spring must be perfect for lilacs here in Massachusetts, because everywhere I see lilac bushes they have abundant blooms!

I have made some signs for my entrance, finally.  One for the gate, so that you know it’s the studio, and not to come knocking at the house entrance.  The other is just a welcome sign at the door.  I made these just before the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail a couple of weeks ago.  I thought people might like the welcome sign, so made an extra which sold on the trail,  (also had an order for one).  Yesterday I made one for the order…  and some extra just in case,  maybe I’ll put them up on etsy!

Then of course… my studio entrance is not complete without my studio dogs! 

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Berry Baskets and Berry Bowls

The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is two weeks away!  One of the items (a customer favorite) that I have been making are berry bowls and baskets.  Here are some drying on my work table, and a couple of finished ones. 

Berry Season is almost upon us!

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Teaching my Apprentice about Kiln Repair

Today my apprentice Gemma Farrell got her first look inside of the control panel of my L&L Kiln. I really feel it’s important that my apprentices know every aspect of the pottery business, plus walk away from the two years with great pots.  Gemma already has the great pots, (which I will show off in the next post.)  She just needs the biz end of it… the part they don’t teach you in art school.

 

It was definitely time to change the element wires and the thermocouples.  How did I know this you might ask…  well the first sign is that the element wires are starting to grey and flatten in areas… but still work.  The most notable reason to change them now, is that the kiln is taking longer and longer to fire… a sure sign it’s going to break down soon.  The other reason to really, really change them now is that I do not have a big show coming up this month. It seems that kilns tend to break down in the middle of a firing, right before an important show or the holiday season!   My next big show is the pottery trail at the end of April… and I better have the kiln heathly for all the firings coming up!

Whew, take a look at that old thermocouple compared to what it looks like new… won’t be long before that’s a goner.  It’s been over a hundred firings… when that time comes along I know it’s time to take a look at them!

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Berry Baskets

I took some photos today of my newer berry bowls.  I was getting bored with the bowl part of it… needed to have a little more fun, so now they are berry baskets.

Here are some variations of photos from natural light with props to a grey/black background.  My new props are old finds from our barn.  Kinda going with the industrial/antique look, or cottage/chic… or as I like to call it, (when my feminine pots are juxtaposed with the old finds), industrial/fem.

This photo below is so different from the natural light and props… still nice, not as warm… but feels quiet and calming to me.

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Olive Tray with Handles

You may have seen my asparagus trays in the past… I love those trays.  It’s a fun form to make and really serves its function well.  I wanted to make something for olives, so over the summer I kinda just shrunk the asparagus tray down.  The size and scale really work well, and they are as cute as can be.

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Mugs and the Seconds Sale

Fresh mugs out of the kiln! 

Seems like people always come to the Seconds Sale looking for mugs.  I try to fit in few firings before the Annual Pottery Seconds Sale… it’s not that I am making seconds, but the more firings, the more seconds!   Goody for those of you who live local… a couple of these mugs will be there!  Sale starts tonight at 6:00!

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Attaching Handles to Teapots

Last week I posted my baby teapots (two pounds).  This week I made momma teapots (four pounds).  Some people only want two cups, some need to have four to five cups.  I just like making teapots… doesn’t matter what size!  Actually the only issue I have is with the larger ones… pulling the handle off the pot… it gets rather tiring after you’ve done a few of them.

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The Apple Baker

 I just started making apple bakers recently for an event we have here in Western Massachusetts called Cider Days.  I’ve been having some fun with them, and this is what I came up with for my finished product. 

But my question is this, do you think they can serve more than one purpose?  I think you could roast garlic in it.  My friend Mary thinks you can bake a pear in it.  So I gave her one of my seconds today to do a little research and developement with it.  We like to call it R&D.  Friends like R&D!

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Getting Carried Away

Ok so last week I got a little carried away making salt cellars.  I made 40… that means 40 bottoms, 45 tops… always make extra tops.  So that is 85 pieces in one day.  I figured they’re small, so no problem… but it’s the following days that I wish I didn’t make that many!  The next couple of days was spent trimming all of them, and throwing a little knob on each top.  Whew, next time I’m on a roll and really in the groove of throwing I’m going to think twice about making that many at once!

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Who do I market to?

For the past couple of years I have narrowed down my market to direct sales, with some wholesale.  I’m not striving to be represented by galleries.  Yet for years I thought it was what I was supposed to do, (a little left-over from going to Alfred U).  Basically what I want is for people to use my pottery and find some joy in using it.

So in light of this realization, that I mostly sell directly to customers, I have thought a great deal these past few months about the photo’s of my work, and how they appear to pottery buyers.   I have decided to change my photos from the black/grey background (which galleries love to see) to a more light airy, “this might look good in my house” look! 

 Here are a couple of shots. More to come as I update website and etsy shop.

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