Warming up

Still warming up in the studio...

Waiting to be in the 'groove', throwing pots in a new setting has always felt odd to me. Getting started again in the studio after a firing cycle is always hard enough to get in the groove. So moving everything and setting it up differently adds a whole other challenge to it. You'd think it wouldn't be a problem. Yes I can sit down and throw a board of pots. But do they flow? Are they good? Not usually. Sometimes it takes me a while to get all warmed up at the wheel. Through self critique, my eye has become quite sharp to what is a good batch and what is not. Most people probably wouldn't see the difference. But it is those subtle differences that really makes a pot stand out...and the challenge of getting it that keeps potters potting.

It's feeling more comfortable day by day up there as I get used to this new space and routine. The windows and afternoon lighting sure do help.

Energy XChange

I'm still learning all that goes on here at the Energy XChange, where my new studio is. It's a bit of a tourist attraction here at this old dump. There's everything from landfills to potters and glass blowers, to solar energy, and greenhouses and fish to explore. But until I take you on that tour, the hottest thing on my mind is the new wood kiln that is about to be finished.

We hauled and stacked 165 pallets last Friday in the blazing heat to the kiln site, to prepare for the first firing. Yes, this kiln is designed to burn pallets that are dropped off in MOUNDS at the landfill. It'll certainly be interesting....keep posted.

New studio

Things are underway at the new studio. I'm already making pots. I started out with a warm-up with some bowls and now am onto making plates and mugs. We're about to run the first test firing of the new wood kiln so we need a few more pots to make before that.

It looks like we've been there for a while already....

You're welcome to come visit at the new studio!
We're open from Mon-Sat 10-4 pm

www.energyxchange.org

Reflections

When I was packing up my studio, I tore down all of these postcards I had scattered on my studio walls. Going through them again brought back memories of old shows I was in the past few years, cards of other potters, and endless inspirations from pots to nature pictures. I'm not sure if I'll hang these up again in the new studio, but they still will remain in my collection. It's fun picking up a postcard here and there from a potter or a show, and keeping them to browse upon. It's interesting what memories they hold of people, places and things.

Watershed Invitational

I'm sorting through my pots to pick out a nice selection to send up to Watershed for the Invitational Pottery Sale on July 10. It is a yearly sale in conjunction with the Salad Days event at the Watershed for the Ceramic Arts in Maine. Since I will be doing a residency there in August, they extended me the invitation to participate in this year's show!

I held out some of the best pots from the last wood and soda firing for this sale. If you are in the area, don't miss browsing the collection of pots from all over the country and going to the Salad Days picnic! The show is July 10, 2010, 10- 3 pm at Watershed, in Newcastle, ME

click here for directions!

Summer

A crazy wind storm swept through here last night, leaving this rainbow and if you look really close, a waxing gibbous moon up in the right corner. Luckily the storm passed through fast and I was able to take a walk with the dog up Bad Creek.

Amidst all of my packing, moving and re-settling, I seek my balance in noticing the beauty and serenity that is all around me. It was a pretty nice day for the summer solstice.

Fitting it in

Just for some perspective, there's always time for hiking up to my favorite sunset spot, near Roan Mountain. The view was perfect tonight! Well worth the hike and a twilight walk back to the car. I love summer sunsets up there; you always need a hat and a layer or two to keep warm! In June!

Settling in

If you don't hear from me for a while it's because my life is getting rearranged. Right now I'm busy moving and setting up my new studio with Will, and in a month I am moving to a new home as well. Here's a shot of my throwing spot, complete with a great view! The rest of our space is not quite in order yet. After moving the wheel and ware racks, now we are down to sorting through the rubble of 3 years of studio piles of old buckets of clay and glazes. I'll be back in full motion throwing pots soon, so I hope you continue to keep in touch with me and my 'journeys' in clay.

Fresh Flowers and Pots

Vase by Will Baker

We're waiting here for you to come visit for the studio tour! We've got lots of great pots. Today you can also stop in to the local farmers markets when you swing through either Burnsville, Bakersville, or Spruce Pine, each of them with their own local farmers. Today's bounty included fresh garlic scapes that seemed so perfect arranged in Will's flower vase above.

Hope to see you!

Studio Tour

I've got the showroom all cleaned up and have lots of great pots for sale this weekend for the Toe River Arts Studio Tour. Come on by! Will Baker is also here showing his wood and soda fired functional pots. This will be the last time I show here since I'm moving my studio to the Energy Xchange.

The self guided tour is across Mitchell and Yancey Counties in western North Carolina. You can visit over 200 artists studios and galleries in the area for a variety pack of styles and flavors of handmade art.

June 11-13

Friday 12-4
Saturday and Sunday 10-6

Visit toeriverarts.org for a map of this self guided tour

Kiln unloading

Another successful wood firing! Lots of new pots to examine and enjoy! You can easily see more unloading pictures at this link.

Wood Firing

The stage is set for the next wood firing; we're loading tomorrow and will start it right up and fire through Friday!