Winter Workshop

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!

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

and there she goes!!

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

Winter Reverie

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.....

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

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.....

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!

 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!