Happy Mother's Day!!

A Mother's Day Poem to my Beautiful Mother:

Dear Mom,

I will love you forever;

And forever you will be

The most wonderful mother,

You mean everything to me.

I thought of buying you flowers

In the usual way,

But I knew you would prefer

A FOREVER bouquet!!

I love you, Happy Mother's Day! xoxoxoxo 

Come Brainstorm with Me!

1-on-1 Artist Business Brainstorms

Artist Business Brainstorm Sessions are one-on-one brainstorming opportunities for artist entrepreneurs to meet with professionals in the business field who offer their time to brainstorm and assist with arts business support. It is a partnership between the River Arts District Business Association and the Asheville Area Arts Council. The sessions are free, or by donation to the Arts Council.

On Friday, April 19, join Lori Theriault (that's me!), potter at Crazy Green Studios & The Village Potters, for "Social Media for Marketing: the Facebook Edition". Here's a little more about the session:

Social Media for Marketing: the Facebook Edition. Using Facebook to market your business can be highly effective and easier than you think. Learn more about creating a Page, networking and cross-promotion, growing an audience, and furthering your brand. The focus will be on Facebook, but may also touch on other social media outlets and how to organize and manage them together.

Sign up for your 30-minute session HERE.

More info about the Business Brainstorm Sessions: One-on-one brainstorm sessions will be held between 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on specific Fridays at the Asheville Area Arts Council (346 Depot Street, Asheville, NC 28801) in Pink Dog Creative in the River Arts District. Inclement Weather: if Asheville City school is cancelled, the brainstorm sessions for that day are cancelled.  Please check your email the morning of your session for any updates.

The sessions are free or by donation. Any donations will be given to the Asheville Area Arts Council. If you sign up for a session and skip it without 48 hours notice, you will not be permitted to sign up for future sessions.

DATE: 4/19/2013 (Fri.)

TIME:  9:00am - 11:00am (sign up for a 30-minute session)

LOCATION: Asheville Area Arts Council

teach to learn

Teaching, and giving demos, are great ways to explore and re-visit forms that may not get much attention when in the flurry of filling orders.

I used to make sake sets on a regular basis and just might start again, AND they are great for demonstrating the fun of throwing off the mound.

Taking a New Look

... at glazes I've been working with for years. They've been great for wax resist designs, but what about just the glazes? I had explored it several years ago when I made service ware for Roots Cafe. Their food was always delicious, fresh, local, seasonal - everything you want from a local cafe, and it looked spectacular in my bowls. The Cafe had to close as a growing pain of Roots Foods, which I understand and support, but oh how I still miss that Breakfast Salad! I lost some images a few hard drive crashes ago, so I won't torment you with pictures of mouth-watering foods from that time that are no longer available. Here are some quick shots of those glaze combinations, slightly updated in recipe and on a new clay out of the last kiln:

yes, homemade tastes better on handmade. :)

In the course of the last year or so of testing and adjusting my glazes with clay bodies and the new kiln, it's been a joy to rediscover the depths of the glazes I've been looking at for several years. I think it's finding that great fit of glaze and clay body that has me revisiting looks that worked so well in the past, if for no other reason than to see that they look even better now! So a new round of testing, with some motives for what I'll do with this line, but more on that another time. 

I still love my trees and they're looking great on the new clay, but I'm also enjoying thinking about new forms and anticipating each firing with glee. yes, glee. 

Winter Gallery Hours and Activities

We are finally feeling like winter here in the weather, and while things may feel like they're slowing down to accommodate a seasonal hibernation, it's actually time to get busy in studio!

The Village Potters Gallery is moving into winter hours: Monday - Saturday, 10am-4pm through March. If you're in the area, I hope you'll come by and say hello! I'm in the gallery two Wednesdays a month, and you'll find me back in the studio most other days.

Meanwhile, I'm in studio most days, shaking off the more leisurely holiday pace and working on stocking up for clients and preparing new work for galleries and the new year. I'm so grateful to have a busy list to start with, and I'm looking forward to developing new works for existing and new clients this year. Hopefully I'll do better at sharing glimpses of that here!

In addition to the 'making' aspect of the work, there's always work to be done in the business/administrative end as well. We had a stellar first year as The Village Potters, and we're looking ahead to another great year of growth individually for each of us as well as for the Collective that is The Village Potters. Crazy Green Studios continues its growth, and I continue to be grateful beyond words for the opportunities that have come to me in joining The Village Potters. New lines, updated wholesale offerings, and new associations all abound in the year ahead and it's an honor and pleasure to do it with this group!

Finally, I'll leave you with a link to a very thoughtfully written blog, on a subject that comes up often and in many forms for anyone who is an artisan of handmade products or services. I'm not sharing it as a 'rant', but more to say thank you to all who have supported my work and who support the idea and importance of handmade. You can read the blog HERE.

Happy New Year!

Cool Craft Market: December 14-16

Join me in downtown Asheville December 14-16 for some holiday fun and great handmade gifts at Handmade in America!

Cool Craft Market: Holiday Edition and VIP Preview Party December 14-16, 2012 VIP Preview Party Friday, Dec 14, 5pm-8pm $10 + one item for Homeward Bound of Asheville. See below for items to bring. Market Saturday, 10am -5pm, free Sunday, 11-4pm, free Location: HandMade in America Office HandMade in America is located at 125 S. Lexington, Suite 101 Asheville, NC 28801. HandMade in America's front doors are located on Hilliard Avenue between S. Lexington Ave. and Church Street.(Paid parking located across from front doors. Free parking available as you can find arounf block) This December, HandMade in America is excited to  host its first annual Cool Craft Market: Holiday Edition. This Market will feature 25 vendors from around Western North Carolina, selling both functional and decorative items including clothing, accessories, pottery, natural products, kitchenware, and ornaments. The Cool Craft Market will be a fantastic place to find one of a kind gifts ranging from $5-$300, just in time for the holidays! On Friday, December 14th from 5-8:00pm HandMade in America is having a VIP Preview Party, with item donations to benefit Homeward Bound of Asheville, a group with a mission to end chronic homelessness in the city. Guests of the party will have their first choice on market items as well as free food and drink to celebrate the holiday season. Come enjoy local craft and local music by The Willows. Local wine and food will be served. Tickets will cost $10 and HandMade asks that everyone bring one item from the Homeward Bound of Asheville necessity's list. (See below) This Party is sponsored by Element Advertising, WNC Magazine, Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro, SignARama, Asheville Brewing Company and Homeward Bound. Items to Bring *Homeward Bound items are not required on Saturday and Sunday but we will still accept donations throughout the weekend. For A HOPE Ground Coffee Toilet Paper Disposable Razors Sugar For Pathways to Permanent Housing Cleaning Supplies – Trash bags, paper towels, all-purpose cleaners Toilet brush, Broom, Mop, Dust pan Plates, Bowls, Cups, Silverware Pots and Pans Coffee Pots Dishrags/Dish Towels Toasters Microwaves Shower Curtains, Liner, and Rings Pillows Blankets/Comforters Sheets (full and queen) Participating Artists Ryan-Ashley Anderson Linda Azar Anja Bartels Elynn  Bernstein Amy Brandenburg Julie Fawn Boisseau Melanie Carreira Chad Alice Hagen Linda LaBelle Jude Lally Cara  May Sandra McCartney Mary  Mikkelsen & Henry Pope Dyann Myers Christopher Perryman Susan Seidman Michon Sentner Matthew Smith Cara Steinbuchel Lori Theriault Barbara Updike Anita Walling Doc Welty Sheree White Sorrells Daniele Wickel

Liebster Blog Award

Liebster Blog award

Thank you New Day Pottery for nominating me for the Liebster blog award.  

The Liebster Blog award is given to bloggers who have less then 200 followers. "Liebster" is the German word for "favorite".  Here's how it works:

Each blogger should post 11 facts random facts about themselves.

-Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award on to.

-Choose 11 bloggers (less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them to your post.

-Go to their page and tell them about the award.

-No tag backs!

Random facts about me.

1. I am originally from Vermont

2. Random past job: I drove an ice cream truck.

3. I worked in theatre for over 10 years.

4. I was in a Freddie Mercury video while in London.

5. I collect vintage cookbooks.

6. I have six very cool studio-mates.

7. I just got a smart phone, and luckily my 14 year-old goddaughter is teaching me how to use it.

8. Random past job: talent agent.

9. One dog, one cat, lots of 'mo-hair' clothing.

10. My mom and stepdad are in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and they look very sharp when in uniform.

11. Oddly, I love to travel almost as much as I love to nest.

New Day Pottery's Questions for me:

1. Where did you grow up.

 Central Vermont, then moved to Georgia during high school.

2. What is your favorite place to visit?

Someplace I've never been.

3. How many pottery mugs do you own that are not made by you?
hmmm...not sure I've ever counted. At least 40, probably more.

4.What is your favorite book?
Hopefully the one I'm reading.

5. How many art shows do you participate in every year?
Not as many over the past several years as I've been trying to 'nest' my studio, but still 4-6 locally/regionally.

6.What is your favorite pizza?
Thin crust, no cheese, spicy sauce, black olive, caramelized onion, baby bella mushrooms, roasted garlic. Sometimes a little julienned prosciutto too.

7. What kind of music do you listen to most?
Depends on what I'm doing - in the studio I may listen to 'All Songs Considered' when I want to hear new or off beat music, but then I'll also loop Springsteen albums on the ipod for 'comfort and joy'. One of my studio mates loves to blast Tom Waits, and another likes broadway soundtracks. It's all good.

8. Beach or Mountains?

Mountains.

9.Favorite TV show?
It used to be CBS Sunday Morning when I had a tv. 

10. Last movie you saw?
Looking for Sugarman -  HIGHLY recommend it.

11.Favorite child hood memory?
Riding the bus from Tampa to Atlanta with my bestie after a week at soccer camp, probably driving everyone else on the bus crazy with our constant laughter.

My nominations:

Whistle Creek
Jen-A-Fusion
big fat art cloth

Christine Hartman Art

Bruce Starr's Paintings

Bark Photography

Eleanor Pigman

TPB/readyhezzie

It's Just a Painting

Blue Fire Studio

Oy Clay Pottery

Crazy Green Studios' questions for you.

1. Where did you travel last?

2. When did you know you wanted to do what you're doing now?

3. Who was your favorite teacher?

4. What's in your fridge?

5. Who was your first 'hero'?

6. Who was your first 'crush'?

7. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

8. Favorite board game?

9. Who would play you in a movie about your life?

10. Words to live by?

11. What advice do you have for the next generation?