2014: Create

That's my word for the new year. I used to do this every year, but I think it's been more internal over the past years, as there always seemed to be too many things to keep up with to focus on just one word. Without dwelling on the 'looking back', which has its place and benefits that I know are often lauded at the end of the year, I choose to stay looking forward. Although I will say that the past year was one that really felt like it had movement, and I'm grateful for every moment, and for every person with whom I had the privilege to share any moment. All so good.

Onward, and for 2014 I choose Create. When I think about all my intentions for the new year, I see this word in many facets. It's not just an idea to make more work, although that's definitely on the list. I can create more work, but I will also create better work. I will create deeper relationships. I will create new opportunities. I will create a great balance in work and life. I will create good new habits. See what I mean? I invite any and all to pick a word and join me. Once you do, you'll be amazed at how you start to see things in terms of that word, and what kind of domino-effect it can have on your thinking.

"Create" print by Kelly Rae Roberts. I found it in a gallery downtown the day I picked my word. I actually saw it in many forms that day, and finally chose this piece to celebrate my intentions.

Lovely enameled flowers my friend Anne gave me because she thought they'd go nicely with my 'create' sign. Looking at them in different arrangements is already giving me ideas to create new designs.

"cheer" banner by Holly deSaillan. I love these so much - she also made me a studio banner in clay, and this picture doesn't do justice to the collage layers of each piece. I love it so much, I'm having her make me one for my word, and while it's unlike anything I make, it's already been an inspiration. And to create cheer is a good goal any day!

'nuff said.

Fall and Holiday Shows

The crisp chill of fall with a few hints of winter are in the air, and I've been in a flurry in the studio getting ready for a series of seasonal shows. Come see me at one or more of the following events, and not only can you satisfy your need to support American-made artist entrepreneurs, you'll also find some darn nice pottery!

Saturday-Sunday, November 2-3, 2013:

A most gorgeous time of year to drive through scenic views in Weaverville and Barnardsville, and see beautifully hand crafted works in stunning home studios. I'm thrilled to return as a Guest Artist at the lovely home studio of textile artist Susan Webb Lee. We're at ##26 and #27 on the map.

Sunday, December 1, 2013:

Join me and my favorite Booth-Partner-In-Craft, Holly de Saillan (of holly de saillan clay & mosaic) as we deck out our table with holiday spirit and piles of our lovely clay creations!

Friday - Sunday, December 13-15, 2013:

An intimate indoor holiday market in downtown Asheville that will feature 44 vendors with fabulous handmade craft, food, and natural products. Not-So-Secret-Discount: show me your ticket stub to any of the Christmas Jam events, and you'll get 10% off your purchase!

Saturday, December 14, 2013:

  Of course you can always find my work in the Gallery at The Village Potters, but you might also like to know about our Holiday Sale on Saturday, December 14! 

Monday, December 16, 2013:

Lori takes a day off!! 

The Big Gumbo Trade

Rabbit Bowl

A few months back, in the heat of the summer, a lovely gentleman from Louisiana and his daughter visited us at The Village Potters. The gent, Emile, had a mission: he wanted a ceramic bowl to feed the rabbits that lived inside his chicken pen. He had been "all over, lookin' for a good rabbit bowl"! His daughter was sure we would have beautiful work, but that he wouldn't want to pay our prices. So I asked him how much he wanted to pay, and he said, without hesitation: $3.

Pictured above is one of my bakers, and he liked it a lot, in spite of the fact that it had superfluous decoration (my coneflowers) inside the bowl. In our conversations, we also learned that it was his birthday that day, so I offered him the baker for his rabbits as a gift. He kept asking me how much it would cost in the gallery, but I didn't see any point telling him as it was definitely more than $3 (it's a funny thing, isn't it ... I'd rather give it away than take less than what I deem it to be worth!).

He said he wished he had something he could give me in return, and talk got around to the wonderful gumbo that he makes with those chickens, and how you just can't get good Andouille outside of Louisiana, or good file, so I told him he could send me some gumbo! He has family who live in the area, so I said the next time he or any of them come near, he could send up some gumbo. After he left, several of my studio mates commented that I was not likely to see any gumbo.

Flash forward: I arrive at the studio today, to this lovely delivery of his Chicken/Andouille with File Gumbo:

I was so sorry that I wasn't there to greet his daughter and send my thanks back personally, and unfortunately, she left before anyone could get any contact information from her or for Emile. So if anyone knows Emile Kugler in Louisiana, please send him my sincere thanks from Asheville, along with a message that he was indeed correct: this is the most delicious gumbo I have ever had, and I feel like I came out way on top in this trade!

Gumbo Bowl

Sunday, July 7: The Big Crafty!

Where I'll be this Sunday:

Sunday, July 7 from 12-6pm

And the only thing more fun than returning to The Big Crafty is doing it with with a good friend! I'm very pleased to be sharing a booth with the excessively talented and lovely Holly de Saillan of Holly de Saillan Clay & Mosaic. Come and see us, along with over 100 other fabulous indie artists and craftspeeps.

conversation plates by holly de saillan

The Big Crafty happens this Sunday, July 7 from 12-6pm, downtown Asheville, at the Asheville Art Museum. Admission is free and in addition to a celebration of all things handmade, you'll find local food, beer, and some toe-tappin' tunes. 

new/more work in the 'smokey shino' glaze coming soon!

I'm loading the kiln today for some kiln-fresh goodies to show on Sunday - come by and see what's new!

smokey shino

smokey shino

A look at the new Shino application on some sake sets and bottles (above) and other new service/dinner ware (below). I moved recently, and because of a busy studio schedule I was lamenting not being able to just stay at the house and get settled. Be careful what you wish for - significant plumbing needed doing, so I've been at the house most of the week and will be most of today. Not able to really settle in until the plumbing is done, and definitely not able to tend that busy studio schedule! So I'll just look at the pretty pots and make longer lists of what's to come...

'starry night' and 'dancing brush'

River Arts District Studio Stroll This Weekend!

As the Kiln Cools...

Some new things that came out of the studio in the last month:

returning to an old favorite: personal sake sets

visualizing sumptuous dishes in my sumptuous dishes

little soldiers

It seems to be in the air, as many if not all of my studio mates at The Village Potters are also exploring new forms and designs. These pots are all cooling in a glaze kiln today, and tomorrow I'll get to see how they look!

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!