Jemerick Art Pottery Blog

Results of 2012 Winter Recess

2012-02-10T21:27:00.000-08:00

A closeup of some of Steve's new work:

Of course, none of the pieces shown in the last couple of entries have been fired yet... ... more later....

Tree Peony

2012-02-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

Cherie's last special pot before focusing on production with ACC Baltimore only 2 weeks away.

Vanda

2012-01-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

The second orchid for this year... Vanda

2012 Fair Schedule

2012-01-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

We are beginning to hear the juried results from some of the big fairs. I always try to post our inclusion on the 'Events' page of our website. This year is looking like it will be a traveling one. We have been fortunate enough to be accepted into the Des Moines Arts Festival in Iowa, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, CO and the infamous Ann Arbor Street Fair, the original in Michigan. Those three will put us on the road for the summer.... We have never done three in a row like that so preparation will be paramount.
We are also waiting to see if the Metropolitan Museum of Art will reorder. Thank heaven we have some time before summer. Gotta use it well!
I've been working on a Phalenopsis orchid for this year's special pot.

Into the New

2011-12-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's to you all.... may 2012 be better than ever!!
Here is a look at some of Steve's improvisational pieces.... just for fun... maybe worth developing....

Merry Holidays!!!

2011-12-26T19:54:00.000-08:00

The more the merrier!!

We hope you all are enjoying the holidays with family and friends. Here are some pics of our last kiln load for 2011. You'll notice some small experimental pieces in there that Steve is working on. We are embarking on our annual clay playtime. I'll post some closeups for New Year's.

Two views of the last kiln load for 2011 and two orders nicely finished.

Kiln Firing 12/3/11

2011-12-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Here are the results of our last kiln.
Glazing was near perfect!!

A couple of gorgeous gingers

New Pink Lady Slipper!!

It's a girl thing

2011-11-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

And what, you ask, has Cherie been doing while Steve has been slaving away on the MET order??
Ah.... working on these:

How did I do this before??

The tale of two firings

2011-11-21T21:29:00.000-08:00

As the weather turns colder here in the Northeast, we focus on getting some holiday orders completed first for the galleries and then for the rest of us. I even posted what's in stock on our website tonight and will be adding to that as we continue firing this and next week.

These are the two vases with the daffodils on them that we made those press molds for earlier.

On deadline

2011-11-21T21:12:00.000-08:00

After many hours of work, we are quickly approaching completion of our order for the MET. Steve has made all of these from start to finish.

Bisqued

Glazed

Fired

Umbrella Stand of Birch Trees

2011-11-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

We are in full production right now. The studio is packed with work in different stages. Here is an umbrella stand I'm working on:

Every Picture Tells a Story

2011-11-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

Sculpting the flowers in bas relief

We took an order for larger daffodil vases than we usually make. It is designed to have a daffodil motif around the neck using the press mold we made a while ago to make the flowers. They were outsized on the new pieces so here we show how we made two new press molds specifically for the larger vases. Of course then we will have them for other pieces. The largest flowers would look really great on an umbrella stand. Here's a peek at the process.

and placing them on a thick slab of clay

Sides of the mold will be clay slabs

Flowers are cleaned up and without undercuts.

Boxes made to contain plaster

Volume of water and plaster are figured.

Weighing the pottery plaster

Slacking in the plaster slowly

After slacking plaster in, it is allowed to sit.

Drilling begins at 3 minutes.

Plaster is setting up.

Checking consistency and thickness

Thickening up

Ready to pour

Release any air bubbles by jiggling the table.

After plaster is hardened, cutting away the clay mold.

Pulling off the original

Drying the mold.

Kiln Firing 10/24/11

2011-10-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

This firing was devoted to gallery orders. The glazing was beautiful... lots of trees and Classics.

Our next firing, coming up soon, will replenish some of the Classics stock we usually have on hand. With the holidays almost upon us, I'm hoping to add a web page that will show the pieces we have on hand so our last minute shoppers can pick and choose rather than order.

Back to work

2011-10-10T18:40:00.000-07:00

After a deep sigh from losing my dad, I return to work amazed that we still have a business and orders to fill. Our apologies for our absence have been graciously met with condolences from so many people. Thank you.

Here are some photos of our last firing. We were able to send an order to the MET a little late and are now playing catch up with our other fall orders. I have to pinch myself to realize that everything is alright and life goes on.......

However, I will no longer make the California Poppies as that was dedicated to my dad.
cherie

A Couple of Kiln Loads

2011-09-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Despite ourselves, we have managed to get a couple of nice kiln loads out. Take a look:

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

2011-09-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well! what an unusual month we have had!! Our studio has been operating at half strength because of family matters and weather issues. Tropical Storm Irene hit our area hard. We count ourselves amongst the very fortunate to have only had no power, water or cable for a week. Others nearby are suffering a lot. Please note that we have cancelled out of two of our September shows, Long's Park and Clothesline.
Here are some photos of our participation in the annual Saugerties Artists Tour. We did have a good response; about 100 people came to mill around and even to purchase some nice pots! The photos though only show the setup because Steve had to handle it alone this year.

Good Job, Steve!

Finish Line

2011-08-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

We finished our order from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on time despite ourselves!! Amazing. It was picked up by FEDEX yesterday.
Now we will be focusing on our upcoming studio tour as part of the Saugerties Artists Tour August 13-14 from 10 am-5pm

Firing 7/22/11

2011-07-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Mostly the MET order

Adding to the heat wave, I think we became one with the fire yesterday! The kiln turned out perfectly.

101 Smalls for the Museum's store and 110 minis for their catalog

and a special order for a lamp ready Xtra large 101

We also make lamp bases on commission. Usually the customer picks a piece from our website and we agree on its suitability and specific size and color. We do charge an extra 15% to make a piece 'lamp ready' by making the top opening so a metal cap can be placed on it, opening the bottom so the hardware can be attached and a small hole through the side for the cord to come through.

Closeup of the lamp base

Saugerties Farmer's Market

2011-07-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

As members of the Saugerties Artists Tour, we volunteered to man a booth at the Saugerties Farmers' Market today from 10 am-2 pm. It turned out that it was Children's Day at the market featuring special entertainment for kids during the unbelievably hot weather.

She is a one woman puppet show..very clever!!

Cajun music on a day like they have in SW Louisiana!

Tapping to the music!

Did you know? Hoola Hoops are back in style!

It's Still the Same Old Story

2011-07-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Continuing on our order from the Metropolitan Museum of Art......

Let it be said though that we are grateful for this opportunity to continue....

Getting silli all the time

2011-07-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Seems like we are dreaming of 101s and 110s ....... They're everywhere. They're everywhere!

From the shower first thing in the am.

to the breakfast table

in the car

to the office

in the garden

for dinner

buy the sink

having fun

what's this??

in our dreams.......

Berkshire Arts Festival in Great Barrington, MA

2011-07-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

On the way to Great Barrington, MA:

The weather did not cooperate for this show. Still, we enjoyed seeing some wonderful work!

First up, fellow Saugertesians, Alex (and Barbara) Kveton:

More of Alex's work can be viewed at www.alexkveton.com

He's also on Facebook if you want to keep track of him.

On either side of us were jewelers:

Lisa's work can be seen on www.twosonjewelry.com and on FB as 'Two Son Jewelry'


You can see Merrie's work at www.merrilymade.com


www.highbeams.com

Inside the ski lodge were 'High beams' lamps made by Trenny Robb & Bob Michaud

on FB at High Beams Lighting

and these folks with their beautiful glass

Steve and I loved their newest designs which are like abstract paintings. Check out their work at www.galiglass.com

Finally.... Heartwood Schoolhouse of the Berkshires demonstrated their eco conscious training program.

Take a look:

More information can be gathered at their website www.heartwoodschool.com or you can call them at 413.623.6677

and that was the Berkshires until next year

Roycroft Summer Festival 2011

2011-06-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Held in the parking lot at the Parkdale Elementary School in East Aurora while the Power Plant is being restored on the Roycroft Campus, this show was well attended on Sunday. Saturday we had some rain that kept the crowds at bay; however, we had the loyalists to save the day. Thank you.
The quality of the Roycroft Artisans is awesome and they are generous enough to share the fun with some others as well.

First, two of my favorite Roycrofters:

Mary Mateljan Philpott makes beautiful, ethereal tiles and vases.
Her website is http://www.verdanttileco.com/

You can see her work on FB as Verdant Tile Co.

Then there is Laura Wilder is a painter and printmaker working very much
in the Arts & Crafts Style.


Laura's website is www.laurawilder.com

Her FB page is Laura Wilder Artwork

Next to us at the show and always popular are Lynne & Richie Bittner with Wildflower Graphics. You can catch them at www.wildflowergraphics.com as well as FaceBook.

"Blessed is a man who has found his work." Ebert Hubbard

2011-06-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

Now back in the studio, we are juggling working on the MET orders and getting ready for the art fairs we have scheduled.
Coming up fast is our journey to East Aurora, NY where the Roycroft Summer Festival is held annually the last weekend in June. This year that'll be 25th & 26th from 10am-5pm at the Parkdale School instead of on the Roycroft Campus because of reconstruction of the Power House.
If you are unfamiliar with the Arts & Crafts community of Roycroft, there's a lot to be said. I had best hand you over to the authorities here so you can explore the breadth of Roycroft. There are a couple of interesting websites starting with the official one http://www.roycroft.org/ which explains Ebert Hubbard's background, inspiration and the Roycroft tradition in furniture, copper and print. The Roycroft Campus itself which is an official National Historic Landmark has a good website at http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/ . On that website, you'll find the Copper Shop Gallery which features current artisans working in the style of the Arts & Crafts Movement (like us!)
And finally the association of loyalists that today represent the movement is http://www.roycrofter.com/ which produces the show we will be participating in.
Then be sure to check out http://www.roycroftinn.com/ which is just terrific.

Where or When?

2011-06-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

So where have they been?
Well, we went to Oregon in May for a wonderful trip. Flew to Portland, drove to the coast and ended up in Ashland to see my brother and sister in law.
Here are some inspirational highlights:
First, Portland, OR was breathtaking in its spring flowering glory. We stayed at a B & B in the Northeast section of the historical district named Irvington... all Arts & Crafts homes...unbelievable.

Portland also has a wonderful Classical Chinese Garden, Lan Su (Never the Same Twice), which features very cool tile garden floors and a wonderful Tea House.

Of course, with the Hoyt Arboretum, the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Skyline Drive with a view of the mountains, nearby Columbia River Gorge..... Portland has so much to offer.

Monkey Fir Tree at Hoyt Arboretum

We then drove to the northwest coast and starting exploring some of the 51% of Oregon that is preserved. It was difficult to pick only two photos for the Oregon Coast but you get the idea from these:

Cape Falcon

Cape Lookout!

(I'm biting my tongue not to show you the tide pools at Yachats and all the birds and seals.)

Before leaving, we dipped down into California for a look at the majestic Redwoods.
Next entry we'll be working again, I promise!!

The First of May

2011-05-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Many times galleries want their first order to be in the store for the Mother's day sales. Accordingly we try our best to complete and send them in time. Now that the holiday is over, there is a gap. We have just finished firing two kilns and are ready for a little break. After all, it is spring.

First let's see what we have:

We did receive a new smaller order for the Metropolitan Museum's Store. You can see the 101 Smalls coming out now.

Another view showing a Trillium and one of Steve's newer pieces

Second kiln which we unloaded today

These newer pieces of Steve were shown freshly made on the April 18th entry.

Latest Work

2011-04-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

This kiln had a lot of Prairie pieces mixed in with more of the usual work.

Small with the Dark Green glaze usually reserved for Petals

Group of small Prairie in our Teco Green Glaze

Smaller group in our Yellow Glaze

closeup of a new shape

another new shape

The single shots are of larger pieces. I'm thinking of adding a linked page connected to our website's Prairie page with these photos, sizes and prices. The idea would be to post "in stock" pieces and remove them when they sell. It could be a way to enhance the website a bit and make the time frame more convenient. People wanting a quick gift then wouldn't be put off by our making pots to order. Any feedback on this?

Steve's new work

2011-04-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

A few surprises from Steve:

The Willow on the left is Cherie's.

Cutting away and indentations

An Early Spring Inspirational Walk

2011-04-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Steve & I abandoned our studio this morning and took a walk in the woods. It rained over an inch the day before yesterday and the wildflowers are coming up all over.

one inch of rain in the mountains means a lot!

Trout lily

Dutchman's Breeches

Wake Robin Trillium

Back to Back Firings

2011-04-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

We are working on our wholesale orders right now. Here's a look at the two firings we've completed.

Packing the first orders.

Second Firing came out today.

some glaze tests there on the back shelf

Next, more packing....

Small Florals

2011-04-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

I've had a request for a small Trillium. I'll do two to get one.

Leaves first

Then flowers

Dark or white flowers?

Prairie Results

2011-03-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here are the results of the last kiln including some the Prairie pieces shown in the last post here.

The first look inside

The complete picture

Prairie

2011-03-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

Way back when, Steve attended a workshop at the Kohler factories in Sheboygan, WI. The Kohler family has supported the Arts in major ways. One way is their beautiful gallery, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and another is their commitment to providing an interactive exchange of ideas and techniques between the factory workers and artists, The Clay from Molds Workshops. Studying under the example and direction of Richard Notkin and Jack Earl, Steve gained the technical ability to make his own plaster molds and nurtured his creative ability to use a mass production technique as a means rather than an end.
Our web page Showroom in the 'Prairie' style shows the results. Here's how:

Assembling the handles

Almost done...

Did you say that casting cuts down the work time?

Lady Slipper

2011-03-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

We are in the studio, making orders. Here are some photos of my work on a Lady Slipper:

Incubation

2011 NCECA Conference

2011-03-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

The 45th Annual NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) conference will be held at the Tampa Convention Center March 30-April 2.
This is THE big national event for Ceramic Educators at all levels. Many potters like to attend these conferences as well because of the caliber of the programs and presenters not to mention the attendees. The Tampa Bay area will be bustling with related activities including many concurrent gallery shows.
Steve and I are fortunate enough to be included in a show called 'Contemporary Traditions of Art Pottery' at The Craftsman House in St. Petersburg, a wonderful bungalow transformed into a gallery and cafe with adjoining ceramic studios. The owners Jeff & Stephanie Schorr(a potter herself) have put an incredible amount of effort in their venture. The result is that their gallery/cafe has received several notable awards and is a vibrant part of the community. If you are in or go to the Tampa Bay Area, don't miss their place. If you are there between March 12- April 10, check this show out.

Return from Baltimore 2011

2011-03-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

Check out www.kazistudio.com

We made in back home though not up the driveway until today. Seems there was a snow/ice storm followed by rain which we were unaware of while we were away. Made a note not to rely on the Weather Channel instead of our neighbors!!
Here are some great photos of friends and neighbors alike along with their websites so you can check them out. The show had 700 artists of the same caliber so if you missed it, you can enjoy these very fine examples.

This is the work of our good friend Marilyn Endres & Eucled Moore...just incredible!

Mary Pratt, former master potter at Ephraim Faience

Check out www.prattclaystudio.com

Right down the aisle from us.. Mikio & Cheryl from CA

Check out www.nichibeipotters.com

Across from us, dear Deborah & David's Teabag Lampshades

Check out www.beelinestudio.net

Gorgeous lidded crystaline jars by Debra Steidel

Check out www.debrasteidel.com

and our good friend from Manhattan, John with his boxes...

Check out www.johnrussellboxes.com

Final Firing for Baltimore

2011-02-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of the pots in the final firing for the ACC Baltimore Show.
Better yet, come see us in Booth # 1908 at the Baltimore Convention Center Thursday, Feb. 24 from 10 am. to 6 pm., Friday, Feb. 25 from 10 am. to 9 pm., Saturday, Feb. 26 from 10am. to 6 pm. and Sunday, Feb. 27 from 10am. to 5 pm.

These two photos are of the winter scenes I was working on.

Pond Lily

Four kilns with Detail

2011-02-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

We have fired four kilns sequentially now and are firing the last load tonight as I speak.
There have been some lovely surprises and a few disappointments for sure.
We'll let you be the judge here.

1st Firing

2nd Firing

Third Firing

Fourth Firing

Elm Trees in Yellow

New Geometric

Landscape

Larger Cattail Motif in Light Green

Descending Leaves

Maple Seed/Tree Design

Crunch Time

2011-02-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

With a week left before we leave for the American Craft Council's show in Baltimore, we are facing a mountain of glazing.....


Waxing the bottoms to protect them from absorbing the glaze.

All of the pots in these photos have been bisqued only.


Measuring the winter.... we worked hard!

By the way, if any of you wish to receive an invite to the Baltimore show, just email us your snail mail address and we'll send a postcard out tomorrow! The dates are February 24-27 at the Baltimore Convention Center on Pratt St. We will be in space # 1908.

Pond Lily

2011-01-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

Every year I try to do a couple of detailed new botanicals. This year I worked on the Pond Lily, a small yellow flower often growing with Lotuses or water lilies but not nearly as famous.

Special Technique that took years to perfect!

Pond Lily finishes up January........

Full Production in Zero degree weather

2011-01-22T19:18:00.000-08:00

Whew! It is really cold here. All the more reason that we were grateful to have a kiln firing! Here are some peeks at our winter efforts...

The last landscape pot this winter.

A couple of large 'Petal' Vases

A large bottle by Steve

Two larger than life pieces!

Granny waxing

Steve glazing

end result!

The kiln is throwing tantrums. Steve is having to monitor it too much because of the wide discrepancy between the top and bottom. Despite those problems, we only lost two pieces. The rest were fine.

Winter Workshop

2011-01-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

Lots of news from our studio too... We have fired a couple of kiln loads to finish up the Spring Metropolitan Museum of Art order and start on a few others. The Stickley exhibition is now moving from the Newark Museum of Art here in New Jersey to the Dallas Museum of Art and we've received an order from them for their museum shop. Yes! That order and getting ready for our display and sale in Baltimore at the American Crafts Council show in February has us pretty busy.

Winter changes the work environment. The cool breezes and artificial heat are hard on controlling the moisture of the clay as we work on it. Everything has to be well wrapped in plastic as it waits for our attention or it dries up. In fact, it has to be monitored more even while we are working on it.

Here are some snapshots of what's happening now:

Minis for the MET

Love those Classics!

I completed a couple more of the winter tree scenes I wanted to do and am now focusing on making a couple of fanciful landscapes. I love to do these as they are a throw back to very early work when I just doodled on my pots. I haven't made these for a couple of years and look forward to using some of our new glaze combinations on them.

Steve has been working on some larger pieces for Baltimore. As you can tell, trimming the bottoms is always a bit tricky.

Let it Snow!

2011-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

There he goes.........

and there she goes!!

Finally! after so many so-so winters, we have something to dig our snowshoes into!

Winter Reverie

2011-01-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday including a great beginning for the New Year... 2011!! OMG!
Here in the Mid Hudson Valley we are focusing on the winter's stark contrasts and search for quiet beauty. We celebrated the ringing in of the new with a walk along the nearby cliff. Here are a few pics including one of a new pot hopefully reflecting that stark beauty......

Above is our winter garden... so soft... like a whisper.

I always get hooked on photographing natural rhythmn.. like this one of the snow on our deck.. basic elements...must be the teacher in me.

then the walk......

Some call it Alligator Rock; others say whale.. both add their little ones.

back in the studio.. attempting to reflect the awesome!

Best Wishes to you all.....

2010-12-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping on your nose  
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe  
Help to make the season bright.  
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow,  
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa's on his way;  
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh.  
And every mother's child is going to spy,  
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
  
And so I'm offering this simple phrase,  
To kids from one to ninety-two,  
Although its been said many times, many ways,
A very Merry Christmas to you  

Last two kilns of 2010

2010-12-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

As we start into December, we head into our R & R time laced with holiday trappings, of course. From now until the ACC Baltimore show in mid February, we get to make pretty much what we want. Yea!
Here are some parting shots:

Unloaded kiln

Pine cone Umbrella Stand

Gorgeous White Pines

First look into the second kiln

Kiln unloaded

138P... what a beauty!

Pining Away Thanksgiving.....

2010-11-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

We have a great order for several of the pine cone pieces we make and have been busy making them.
The first group of photos show Steve's application of pine cones onto an umbrella stand he is making for a customer. The second group of photos shows my work on a special order for my 'White Pines' piece.

I forgot to photograph the throwing which was done in several pieces but here is the umbrella stand ready to decorate followed by some photos of Steve adding the detail.

With the backup... on plaster bats first to facilitate the drying of the bottoms.

then the 'White Pines'


Finished and under cover!

BTW if any of you are in the Catskills or Adirondacks, you may be able to find a copy of the Winter 2010 issue of 'Kaatskill Life'. It is a beautiful magazine highlighting areas and people of interest here in Eastern New York. They do have a website www.kaatslife.com but the most current issue isn't up yet. Besides which you may not be able to access the interior anyway. Keep your eye out for the magazine in local bookstores throughout the region. There is an incredible article in this issue on Steve and I titled 'Claymates' !!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

It's Deja Vu all over again!

2010-11-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

400 minis! wow! FED EX picked them up today......they are on their way. We feel like we should be able to go home now, our job finished but of course, there are a few more orders to complete before the holiday rush is over. Here are some snapshots:

Seems FED EX had to rent an Xtra Truck to hold them!! Ha!

Buy Buy!

MAG Fine Craft Show

2010-11-08T20:40:00.000-08:00

We did get that final firing in before leaving last Thursday.

glazed and ready to load

Complete!

We set up in a beautiful spot in the Atrium of the Memorial Art Gallery of Rochester (fondly called MAG)on Friday for the preview that night.
The show itself was both Saturday and Sunday. While sales were poor, it would be difficult to understand the reason. Steve and I and all other craftspeople could write a couple of books on possible reasons one show is successful and the next is not. It seemed to be location, location, location but it is hard to tell for sure. Our display looked great!

We did enjoy ourselves. After working so hard in the studio, it was delightful to stay with volunteer hosts in Rochester. The Salesins were absolutely great. They had enough room to accommodate both Steve and I and another couple for the duration of the show. What hospitality!

Rudy & Gene Salesin

The Gallery also offered all the artists a free dinner on Saturday at another host's house as well as a Chili dinner in the Gallery before the opening preview on Friday and a wrap up Brunch on Sunday before the last day of the show.
All in all we were disappointed that the sales didn't equal the hospitality. We were, however, able to convince the Gallery's store to try some of our work in their shop. Our presence there should help acquaint gallery supporters with our work. We are hoping that we will be able to return to their Clothesline Festival in September of 2011. That show was fabulous!

Turning the corner on the MET order

2010-11-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

minis glazed above; dried below

minis dried waiting to be bisqued

1st firing

ready to fire

glazed and ready to load again

2nd firing

loaded ready to fire

Drying on top of cooling kiln

lid opened

large pieces of the third firing

3rd firing

4th firing

October was a busy month filled with firings of all the pots we've been making madly. Looks like we now have over 300 of the 400 minis for the MET order plus a few nice things to take to the show in Rochester this coming weekend.

It's all in the Game

2010-10-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

We so often find that just when we are at peak production we'll get hit with a big slowdown.

That's what happen this last week with both kilns demanding repair. New elements, new relays, new thermocouples... the works, everything but the switches had to be replaced. Our kilns work hard though so it is understandable; it's also understandable that we don't like to take unnecessary chances and fix them asap.
After the fix, we fired during the day so we could be sure it was working well. It is difficult to make important decisions about the firing when you are half asleep which is the case when we fire overnight.
Of course, we couldn't use the studio while it was firing so we lost a half day but it was worth it to be sure the kilns were working properly. Though these kilns have a digital programmer, Steve checks the kilns 3-4 times during the firing. Problems that can arise like uneven temperatures top to bottom are then controlled manually as well as possible.

loading the glaze kiln

Continuing to glaze

Success!

Again with a little bit of feeling!

Virtual Studio Tour

2010-10-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

loading the bisque

301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310....

Steve's ready for Halloween....

Throwing off the Hump

2010-09-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

This term is used to describe the technique of centering a large amount of clay on the wheel before partitioning it into smaller sections one at a time to make numerous small pieces. Steve learned this technique at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts under Mutsuo Yanaginara in 1973. It saves some time and space in being able to continue throwing piece after piece without stopping, placing another ball of wedged clay on the wheel and centering that piece. Still each section has to be individually centered, thrown and removed from the larger mass. The trickiest part is compressing the bottom of the pot when it is not against the wheel head and cutting the piece off of the main 'hump' of clay. Steve uses this technique for throwing all the minis.

All in a day's work

2010-09-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

plain & fancy

noodles!

Working on Snow Drops

drying the glaze in the sun!

last night's kiln

more of the same

the first 13 of 400 minis for the MET :-(

Stone Crop Garden Break

2010-09-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

We have been terribly busy in the studio and had to have a break to keep our sanity. We chose to go to one of the Garden Conservancy's 'Open Days' last weekend in Cold Spring, NY. Twelve acres at 1,100 ft. elevation with Tudor buildings from the original estate, Stone Crop Gardens is in the Hudson Highlands about an hour south of us. It is an educational facility where botanists train so there were lots of names and numbers but also a lot of beauty. See?

beautiful color!

beautiful patterns

whee!

water lilies

Magnolia. Umbrella type.

Me and my shadow

M&T Bank's Clothesline Festival in Rochester, NY

2010-09-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Steve and I have never been to Rochester, NY before and were delightfully surprised at the strong presence of cultural interest this small city has to offer. I wish we had taken more photos of the city
but time did not allow for it. The show we went to was the Clothesline Festival sponsored by the M&T Bank. It was a benefit for the Memorial Art Gallery. Originally part of the University of Rochester, the Memorial Art Gallery is a vibrant part of the community with over 300 volunteers, outreach creativity programs, a beautiful gallery store and two art shows. 16,000 people showed up on Saturday to see over 400 exhibitors.

We received one of the eleven Awards of Merit. Yea!

Our corner space

Who is talking to whom?

WOW.. a 6 box show!

2010-09-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

Steve and I have returned from the Long's Park Art Craft Festival in Lancaster, PA over Labor Day Weekend exhausted but thrilled. We had not even expected to be juried into the show after not making it in '08 and '09 but as they say 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' Our reception was nothing short of fantastic! Here are some photos:

we're leaving home... bye bye

setting up

putting the pots out

finally ready!


the lake behind us

our aisle

you can see the tents across the lake
There were 200 wonderful exhibitors

going home

It was a very successful show for us and for the Long's Park Foundation which uses the gate proceeds to fund free entertainment all summer at the Amphitheatre in the park.

We were grateful to be a part of it.

Getting ready for Long's Park Show Sept.3-6

2010-09-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Anxious to have a good variety of work for the Long's Park show in Lancaster, PA this weekend, we have been burning the midnight oil. We made and fired two kilns worth of pots over the last month. Here's some photos:

After the Stockbridge show, we repacked & stacked the boxes downstairs in our studio in preparation for the next show.

Unloading the first kiln load of pots

first kiln load


Second kiln load ready to fire

Second kiln load fired

stock of Classics for the show


unloaded and ready to pack		Catch us at the Long's Park Art & Craft Festival in Lancaster, PA Sept. 3-6 in space #290

Lotus vs. Water Lillies

2010-08-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

white lotus

Many people confuse water lilies with lotuses but they are definitely different. Basically, Lotuses lift themselves above the water and have round leaves while water lilies float on the water and have heart shaped leaves. The lotuses also have those wonderful seed pods. When I first started putting these flowers on my pots, I two confused them so there are some pieces out there that could stump a botanist. At the beginning of my efforts I sculpted water lilies and called them lotuses. I confess! I added to the confusion! My only saving grace is that I now know and promise to make those flower petals softer, the leaves round and the pods visible.

Here are a few photos of the water lily that we saw at the Fountain Pond Park on our way home from the Stockbridge, MA Arts & Crafts show last weekend.

with arrowroot and cattails


Water lilies

Saturday & Sunday at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens

2010-08-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Next!

Birch Forest

This Saturday and Sunday, August 21 & 22, we will be showing our work in the Berkshire Botanical Gardens in Stockbridge, MA. Show hours are 10 am- 5pm on Saturday and 10 am-4pm on Sunday. It should be a beautiful setting for 90 artists. Come and join us for a lovely weekend in the Berkshires!

Willow Trees

Elm Trees

Dogwood

Laurel

Bleeding Hearts

Sunday at the Saugerties Artists Tour

2010-08-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today started out slowly and then it rained. So all in all we had about half the number of visitors as we did yesterday. They didn't really get to enjoy the outdoor setting but we tried to make it up to them by demonstrating and answering questions indoors. Here's how our studio looked dressed up:

Clockwise from the entrance

full circle


going home

Thank you every one for a successful open studio tour!

Saturday of the Saugerties Artists Tour 2010

2010-08-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

Awfully dry this year!

We used our fair countertops in the studio.

After 2 weeks of grooming the garden and 2 days cleaning the studio, we opened our doors to the public this am. at 10.


Spic 'n Span inside


Used pedestals from a White Pine Steve cut outside.


Looking good

Studio Work

2010-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

Our annual studio open house in conjunction with the Saugerties Artists Tour is coming up quickly. We have been madly running around mowing, weeding and watering the garden & yard in anticipation of this weekend's event. If you've never been to our studio, this is a good time to come. We'll have a lot of work displayed outside in the garden as well as in the studio and hopefully have a chance to actually make some pots while you watch.
Simultaneously we have continued to make pots. Cherie worked on an order for a Brugmansia today.

dividing the pot into sections


sketching the design on the pot

applying the coils

Finished!


another view

while Steve trimmed minis.

No box show

2010-07-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

We have returned home from Ann Arbor! the weather was absolutely horrific. In addition to two tornado warnings and one tornado sighting, there were severe thunderstorms and a lot of rain. In the many years that we have exhibited there, we have never, never had such bad conditions. It is very difficult to purchase art work when you are constantly checking your iphone or blackberry for weather updates. Out of the four days only Wednesday and Saturday were shopable.

Take a look:

Before the rain

and during...

Only with a little help from our friends, the Biglers, did we survive!

Get Ready, Set, Go... to Ann Arbor!

2010-07-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

We have been glazing and firing trying to get ready for Ann Arbor. A2 as they fondly call themselves is an amazing place. They have allowed artists from all over the country to absolutely take over their small city for a week in July for 51 years. What good sports! Of course when it all began it was only one small art show. Now that art show calls itself Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the original because there are so many other shows that have established themselves adjacent to it. As a result you really have a major exhibition of all sorts of artwork including entertainment. I posted some setup photos last year at this time which you can still pull up from the archives. I'll try to do some this year again but here we are getting ready:

see you there! We'll be in space #301 in the original Art Fair on the grass diag by the Chemistry Building! come see!
July 21-14, 2010
W-F 10am-9pm and Saturday 10am-6pm

We're having a heat wave.....

2010-07-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

a tropical heat wave.......

Here are a few photos of what we are up to:

Return from a successful show

2010-07-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

We have returned from the Des Moines show where we were very well received much to our surprise and delight. In our book, it was a four box show. That means we came back with four empty boxes!!!! (That's good.)
Here are the Cliff Notes:
The schedule was grueling; the weather unbearably hot. As we told many customers, we forgot what Iowa summers were like....super hot and humid.
When we arrived to setup on Friday, there was another artist set up in our space. (That was a first but she was able to relocate in her correct space.)
The Des Moines Register honored us with a short article in the Saturday edition which helped immensely. It focused on our Iowa connections: Steve's being raised in Winterset, Iowa not far from Des Moines, both of us attending Coe College in Cedar Rapids and our first studio being in Lone Tree close to Iowa City.
The funny thing was that so many people from Winterset came to greet Steve at the show.
It was so sweet! and then we had our fair share of college acquaintances show up as well. What a riot!
After the show, we drove up to Marshalltown, Iowa to stay a day with our friends Dennis and Liz. Steve grew up with Dennis. The next day we drove over to Iowa City and got to visit Russell, our woodworker friend, eat a dinner made by Doreen and stay over at Barb and Jane's. All were our friends when we had our studio there in 1975-83. Lots of socializing for two country potters like us.
We thoroughly enjoyed it all.

I didn't, however, take photos.... nor did we post an entry on this blog or Facebook. If I regret taking any photos it would be of the Big Sky of the Mid West. Once past Cleveland, the trees were reduced to a tenth of the image out of our windshield. Ah! we could breathe again........ beautiful.

and then when we returned home to the Catskills today, it was Ah! what lovely woods, streams and mountains!

We feel so grateful to live in such a beautiful and bountiful country. Happy fourth of July to you all!

Two more kilnloads

2010-06-22T23:28:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days have been spent firing and packing. We fired two more kilns, packed the MET order into the first boxes (we double box), packed and sent more gallery orders and packed for the Des Moines Arts Festival this coming weekend. Whew! I'm looking forward to sitting in the car for a while!
This was a beauty!

By the way, if you are anywhere close to Des Moines, Iowa, we will be in space #LN15C on Locust close to 13th. The 2010 Des Moines Arts Festival in located on Locust & Grand between 16th and 10th St. around the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The show hours are June 25 Friday from 4pm to 10 pm, June 26 Saturday from 10am to 10pm and June 27 Sunday from 10am to 6pm. We'd love to see you there!

Firing 6/19

2010-06-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

We are firing, glazing and firing steadily right now to finish up some more orders and get ready for a couple of retail shows.

Above is one of the bisque firings. We did two before starting to glaze this time. Below both of us are glazing and waxing pots.

Here's last night's firing and more to fire tonight....

Orders sent

2010-06-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

This first photo is a group of pots sent to Sroka Design in Bethesda, MD. Skip Sroka is a designer rather than a gallery owner.

The second photo is an order is for The Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle, Maine which is where Haystack School of Crafts is located. Steve attended Haystack in the summer of 1973 (ouch!) and I went in 1974 (ouch ouch!)

The pots to the left are a few that the Douglas Albert Gallery in State College, PA had to wait for us to finish and send. Doug has a very interesting gallery in McAllister Alley...
you'd spend a lot of time looking through it.

and finally, here are a few individual orders we've recently sent out.

306 and counting!

2010-06-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

After a week of glazing and firing, we now have a total of 306 little #110 minis completed. They have not been inspected and approved for shipment yet but here they are filling our living room! We still have another 30 or so as backups to replace any that don't meet our standards. The order for the Metropolitan Museum of Art catalog is for 300.

Now we'll turn our attention to other orders and our upcoming fair in Des Moines, Iowa June 25-27.

Firing, Firing, Firing

2010-06-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Now for the results of all our work. Steve has been glazing, glazing & glazing then firing, firing & firing.
I've been helping on those and continuing to make our Baltimore orders. With the fair season just about to begin, we are anxious to make some more pieces for retail as well. Our schedule right now is full and most likely will remain that way until August.

Here's How

2010-05-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

While Cherie finished decorating the last of the #110 minis for the Metropolitan Museum of Art catalog order, Steve started the glazing.

I find it interesting to see the favorite tools of an artist. They are an integral part of the 'How'.
Here are some of ours:

Hand tools

Machine tools

Hot Pressure...

2010-05-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

When the temperature is in the nineties, the only cool place to go is the studio. Steve threw the last (64) of the #110 minis for the Metropolitan Museum of Art catalog a couple of days ago. (That was a long day!) Now we are decorating them and beginning to look over our shoulders to the other orders we put aside. At the beginning of the year, we really didn't know how we would fare this year. It has been such a crazy time economically. So I scheduled a lot of shows to go to and now, finally a few galleries here and there are picking up the phone and contacting us. It is all good news but the pressure is on! the order for the Met catalog is due in July. We hope to start glazing and firing soon to make way for other pots.

trimming the bottoms:

decorating:

We weren't the only ones who found the studio the coolest place to be.... this is olive....

continuing to continue

2010-05-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

we are now at 175 bisqued minis toward the Metropolitan Museum of Art's order of 300. There are another o.. 20 or so more drying. We'll do some more today. With a large order like this, we intersperse other orders to keep the ball rolling. Once we finish making the May/June orders, we'll start on making some more pots for the various retail shows coming up fast at the end of June.

Tree Peony

2010-05-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

The Tree Peony is blooming now. Here's a photo of the bowl Cherie made of it.