Appetizer trays completed!

Pulled these little ladies out of the kiln yesterday! I did not quite make my goal of 2 per day until the week before xmas, but do have a few to sell this weekend for the Nutcracker performances at the Franklin Park Arts Center!

Appetizer trays

These are the funky appetizer trays drying!!! Love em!

I unloaded the kiln today and had some happy surprises. I am very pleased with the dinner set I made and was happy to see a few other nice results. I was slightly dismayed with my new glazes and will have to keep experimenting with them. I am so excited about the funky appetizer trays that Mark Hewitt demonstated in his teaching video on ceramic arts daily online. I have made several already and I know what everyone is going to be getting as christmas gifts. I can easily make 2 in about 20 minutes! If you have taken any of my classes, you know I like quick and easy projects "for busy moms"! We are leaving Thursday for Yorktown and Jamestown for our Thanksgiving journey to the Wash's. We are so thankful to be spending our holiday with good friends. Happy Thanksgiving everyone...Enjoy!

butter dishes etc.

Just made a couple of these...Interesting concept. I kept getting the tray too big. We shall see if shrinkage makes it more reasonable. It looks really big.

Classic American Butter Dish
by Keith Phillips

Throwing both parts of a butter dish at the same time may sound impossible but Keith Phillips found a way. In his step-by-step how-to project, he shows how the efficiency of the process delighted him almost as much as the finished piece. Which part will delight you?

Dinner set for a friend

I have just finished throwing a wonderful (if I do say so myself) Dinner set for a friend in Charlotte, NC who is fighting Breast Cancer. I have made a large lidded casserole and 4 bowls and I am going to send them to my friend Lisa who is on the "meal ministry" at our church. She is going to serve the meal they make in the set. I hate that I cannot be there to help this family during this tough time, but, hopefully she will know that we are thinking of her and praying for her!

Art Trot and a Plethora of Potters

I have been working madly getting my Home Sweet Home pieces ready for the Plethora of Potters exhibit at the Red Rooster Gallery in McCormick, SC... I am very happy with the way they turned out. I had originally thought I might not glaze them and leave them with just the wash, but I tested one and really liked the finished glazed product. I am going to have a tea set there as well, but that will be it as far as functional work. I thought it would be a good idea to exhibit something a little different than the rest of the "pack". We are enjoying beautiful Fall weather and the colors of the trees are absolutely amazing. I made a trip to Mannassas Clay this week and they are mixing up 2 new glazes for me to try out. I toured their studio, gallery and glaze kitchen and was most impressed. They have a wonderful space and of course, much like the North Carolina ceramic arts community, were so helpful and open to sharing ideas and recipes, etc. I am still sticking with my earth tones, I found a nice celedon and a very nice earthy brownish/oatmeal color glaze as well. I am excited to get started on my next few projects!

Chris Cooley Charity

I saw this wonderful article on the NFL Sunday show this morning. This football player is a potter and is donating his work to support his charity. Wonderful! WWW.cooleycharity.com

Charityworks Green House

I have been busy immersing myself into GLASS! I worked this weekend at the Capital Home Show and learned a ton about the products SGO offers. I was able to meet a few clients and some contractors that SGO works with.

I am really excited about the Charity Works Green House (Oct. 10th - Oct 30th). SGO provided the kitchen countertop and backsplash...I am anxious to see it and see if the exposure brings in any new business. There is a great article about the house in Washington Spaces magazine. http://www.washingtonspaces.com/

Now, my plan of action is to work my new part time position, run errands, grocery shop etc., get home before the girls get off the bus, help with homework, and then make a piece or two of pottery before dinner and bedtime festivities begin! If it sounds busy, well, it is! But I am positive it can be accomplished! I find I am more productive, when I have more going on...we shall see.

In the studio, I have been making a set of square plates with a wonderful swirl design stamped into the clay. I am starting on bowls to go with the set. I STILL have not sat down at the wheel...I think I may be procrastinating. It has been so long, I am going to have to get back in throwing shape! http:www.charityworksgreenhouse.com/explore_index.htm

WORKING!

I have not had a spare minute to post, but I am finally sitting down and relaxing! I have been working! The studio is up and fully running and I have taken on a part time gig! I am busy making my work and working as a studio coordinator for a wonderful decorative glass company in Sterling, Va. The coordinator position kind of fell in my lap per craig's list and I am really enjoying it! It feels great to be busy and the owner is very nice...I hope it is a good fit! I helped her set up her booth at the Capital Home Show this weekend at the Design Expo in Chantilly - drop in and see the display or check it out online SGO Decorative Glass of Loudoun and Western Fairfax - There are some wonderful products!

I have been busy hand building and have not found the time to sit down at the wheel...Next week it is a must! I am hoping to have a holiday home show or take part in one that I have heard about here in Leesburg! I have to really get cranking though to have enough inventory for the holidays and to send down to the little gallery in South Carolina where I have been selling my work! But right now, I am sitting back with my feet propped up, enjoying the cool weather and free time! Cheers!

Getting the studio set up

I am so excited. The girls started school today and I already have the studio unpacked. The kiln is set up, but I have to wait until Thursday for the vent system to go in. I am ALMOST there! I will try to post some picures of my progress!!!

Gardens of Delight

I just returned from a wonderful little nursery called Gardens of Delight http://www.gardensofdelight.info/

It is a family owned business which is run now by the daughter. The Mother started the business in the 70's and now lives in Blowing Rock, NC. She restores and manages the gardens of some large estates and businesses in the Boone area. The plant selections were really interesting...not your run of the mill Hollies, Daylillies, and Monkey Grass you see in all the large "super store" nurseries. They had a wonderful selection of Shade plants and bushes which are wonderful for Woodland shade gardens. The prices are pretty standard (no super deals) but fair and for the selection...I will pay it! They have 2 sweet dogs that "man" the front gate and nice garden shed of gifts and ceramic pots. There is a BBQ place next door...could be trouble! It is a beautiful drive to get to this location, located in the beautiful area of Waterford and Paeonian Springs, Virginia! Just lovely!

Glenfiddich Farm Cookery and Pottery

Had a great time last night...the farm is a converted barn and the food was wonderful! Great people, great food, great wine, great time! I am excited to go back out today and meet Richard Busch. This is an interesting article about him:

http://www.womenhomebusiness.com/success/glenfiddich.htm

Glenfiddich Farm Cookery and Pottery

I am so excited! I just registered for a cooking class at Glenfiddich farm Cookery! I spoke to the owner and she squeezed me in tomorrow evening for the 6:30pm to 10pm class. Joel and the girls are going on an Indian Princess Weekend and I am foot loose and fancy free. Olwen Woodier and her husband Richard Busch own Glenfiddich farm Cookery and Pottery- www.glenfarmcookery.com and www.glenfarmpottery.com. She teaches the cooking classes and her husband has a pottery and gallery. I just had a wonderful conversation with Olwen (she has a great British accent) and I am going to go back on Saturday to meet her husband and tour his pottery studio. We spoke about the summer kids pottery camps she offers and the Round Hill Arts Center.

I really am most excited about the class! The meal we will be cooking and learning about is: ASIAN FLAVORS – Ginger hoisin chicken & peppers in lettuce cups; Thai basil poached salmon fillet; Cilantro rice over shredded greens w/ mango dressing and peanuts; Caramelized fresh pineapple w/lime sauce.

I was browsing through a wine country brochure and found the info about taking a cooking class and stumbled upon the pottery information....could be fate!

We are here!

We have been in NOVA for about 2 months...we are settling in nicely! I absolutely love the little town of Leesburg and the surrounding countryside is beautiful! I feel so fortunate to have landed in such a wonderful community and neighborhood. I am working on getting the studio set up and have met with the Loudoun Fine Arts Academy about teaching in the fall. I am very hopeful! They connected me with an electrician who pulled up on his Harley...I almost forgot about the Kiln and wanted to go for a ride! But I stayed on point and he is going to set up my Kiln and Venting system and improve the lighting in the "cave". I have a LARGE unfinished room in the otherwise finished basement that is going to be the studio. It already has 2 walls of built in shelving. Apparently the previous owner was a master gardener and flower arranger...that space was where she worked and kept her tools.

While on the gardening topic...I am having so much fun watching all the beautiful perrenials pop up and every day is a great surprise...I am slightly worried about Maintenance if you know what I mean...I think this garden and yard could be a full time job in and of itself!

I get teased about being a lady of leisure....my Arse! I am working my tail off! It is fun, I have to admit! Ok....off to garden. I will post when the studio is up and running. Meanwhile, I am getting lots of inspiration from nature and filling up notebooks with ideas!!!

Finally moving

We are going folks! We are moving on April 4th! We have found a lovely home in Leesburg, Virginia! More to follow....

love this song!

Soup on Sunday!

http://www.hpccr.org/latest-news.cfm?hpid=38

check this out!