Mudfire Gallery Holiday Sale

I was invited to be in a Holiday Sale at Mudfire Gallery. If you are unfamiliar with Mudfire, you need to find out about this interesting studio and gallery in Atlanta, GA. The owners, potters themselves, always put on excellent pottery exhibits, including an annual one of which I was included in a few years back, known as Asheville in Atlanta. It is nice to be invited back in the rounds for this years show.

Be sure not to miss this great collection of pottery just in time for Christmas.

The exhibit is November 26- December 23, 2010.
www.mudfire.com

Pottery Festival

It's almost time for the Western North Carolina Pottery Festival. I'm headed back there for my second year in the show. This outdoor show of pottery in all shapes and styles is held in the quaint little town of Dillsboro, NC. Don't miss it! The show is complete with clay olympics, demonstrations, and special guest potter Steven Hill from Illinois.

The show is Saturday November 6, 2010
10-4 pm
Dillsboro, NC

www.wncpotteryfestival.com

Sales

I'm back from the Southern Highland Craft Guild's Fair all weekend, and I have to admit, sales were a little down from previous years. The retail sales side of being a potter can be challenging. I often would much rather be in the studio making new work than participating in craft fairs, but it is really nice to meet the people who are interested in my work. I made some small changes to my booth display and I thought it looked really sharp this year. The extra lighting really highlighted the wood firing effects on the pots. I also set up some orders for some new galleries, this time with two of the five guild shops, one at Arrowcraft, in Gatlinburg, TN, and for the spring I will be sending new work to the Parkway Craft Center, along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock, NC.

Now it's time to prepare for the rest of the seasonal shows I have lined up for the year. Don't forget I have a lot of nice pots for sale in my online shop, www.joytanner.etsy.com, and I will be keeping it open through the holiday season.

Southern Highland Craft Fair

It's show time again! Tomorrow I head down to set up my booth for the Southern Highland Craft Fair. Come see me and my new work in booth #113 in downtown Asheville, NC at the Civic Center. The show is this Thursday through Sunday, October 21-24, 2010. Hours are 10-6 Thurs-Sat and 10-5 on Sunday.

For more info, visit www.craftguild.org

Hope to see you there!

More pots!

Here are more details from pots from the last firing. Some of these are still lingering around waiting for the next show, and some are already in the hands of others! I like how this oval serving dish turned out, sporting some new handles and details all around! I will have to explore this one further....

The dinner and lunch plates were a success, with nice flashing marks!

These favorite ridge bowls all had great firing marks on them.

And of course, a flock of assorted mugs in various colors and styles.

Colors

October can't help but being my favorite time of year. Between catching up from a pottery making and firing cycle, also comes hiking and exploring the beautiful mountains around me. This year the fall color has been quite exceptional and a bit earlier than last year. Above is a shot from Unaka Mountain Overlook in eastern Tennesee. Below is a shot on top of Mount Mitchell, looking down into the North Carolina valleys of reds, oranges and yellows. I love the earthy autumn colors, a perfect palette for a wood and soda fired potter.

Catching Up

Lots has happened since I've talked to you last. We unloaded the kiln, which was a good firing. Then it was preparing for the potters market last weekend, which turned out to be a great show this year. Now I'm catching up on all of the other things that get pushed aside when I'm making a cycle of pots and firing the kiln. I'm in between shows, the next one is this next weekend, October 21-24 in Asheville, NC at the Civic Center, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.

unloading the wood kiln

pitchers from the firing

new notched vases from the firing

a scene from my booth at the Potters Market

Featured Artist

I'm the featured artist today over at the Spruce Pine Potters Market website. You can check it out here.

With 30 potters in this weekend's show, there has been plenty to blog about over at that website. Be sure to read the other posts about the other potters in the show as well.

I'm patiently waiting for the kiln to cool and then it's time for unloading, sorting pots and preparing them for the show this weekend!

www.sprucepinepottersmarket.com

Firing

We're shutting down the kiln now, it was a good firing. After some changes to the bagwall, the heat made it up to the top and we ended with hot cones down all around. Now for the two days of cool down time, which also means rest for the weary!

Firing Time!

I got the glazing done, kiln is loaded and we're firing the wood kiln today! The kiln is around 1182 F right now. We're waiting for it to warm up around the kiln, but today's a chilly day up here in the mountains. I'll post some more pictures later when it's really heated up.

Strictly Functional Pottery National

The opening reception for Strictly Functional Pottery National is tonight at 6 pm at the Market House Craft Center in East Petersburg, PA. I sent this wood fired cup along to the show. Don't miss the online viewing of the show, this one's always a great one!