homemade tastes better on handmade IS crazy green studios!

If you've been following either or both my blogs, you know I am sometimes challenged to keep up good content. Anyone who runs their own business knows the time challenges, and in a nod to not trying to do it all, or at least not all at once, I'm combining my two blogs into one, so if you've been following me here, just head next door and get the same great, sporadic posts and perhaps even more often! And thanks to all who HAVE been following along!

Happy International Women's Day!

I'm wearing red in the Gallery today - our small business did not close to Strike, but we support those who did, and we are all grateful to those who are bringing business to our Village that is owned and operated by six fabulous women and one incredible man who has earned honorary womanhood for today. 

It's also very appropriate that International Women's Day falls in March, which is also my mom's birthday, and if you have my Monthly Planner, you know it's also the month I brag on her and feature her Chicken & Onions recipe, which is one of my all-time favorite dishes of food, ever.

My mom is my first and still favorite role model in life, and I think I must be living my life well as I think about the many, many incredible women that I count as the closest of friends, mentors, clients, collaborators, co-conspirators, and the truest examples of love and of what is good in this world. Much love to you all.

Valentines Local Love

From the 'Homemade Tastes Better on Handmade' Monthly Planner, February:

Once again it blows my mind that time can pass so quickly between posts! It's fitting that the last time I posted here, it was to wish a Happy Mother's Day, as now I'm in Florida helping my mom for an extended bit of time. It's also fitting that here we come to February 14, which in addition to that very well marketed 'love' holiday is also the anniversary of my mom's US Citizenship. Much love to be celebrated all around.

In my Monthly Planner (available at my website!), I advocate showing some local love for your romantic plans, be they for yourself, with a loved one, or a group of beloved family/framily/friends. That is still my suggestion, and if I may be even more self-indulgent, I encourage you to shower some local love (or mail order love, if you're not in Asheville!) on those very dear friends, colleagues, and clients who have allowed me, either by their good graces, steadfast business, or pure generosity, to be here with my folks as they need me. These are but a drop in the bucket of love and support that I have received. I am grateful for it all, grateful for all to come, and humbled by the community that surrounds me. 

The Village Potters - my studio tribe, the very reason I am able to be here. While my fabulous assistants are helping me keep some work in production (if I learn of any shows they're involved in, you'll hear me shout about it!), I am not there to keep new inventory going into the gallery. That being said, I would be deeply grateful to go home to empty shelves, and would love to see the love shared with those incredible artists who are giving me so much support. Shop online, or visit our galleries Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm.

Cúrate Bar de Tapas  is probably booked solid for Tuesday, but any time you go it'll be one of the best gustatory experiences you'll ever have. And don't forget to pick up a cutie-patootie lucky three-legged pig toothpick holder to remind you of your experience!

Chocolate & Milk, at The French Broad Chocolate Lounge is quite simply, one of the happiest places on earth. The truffles, the ice cream, the liquid elixirs, the hand crafted chocolate bars, the marshmallows, the nibs, and ... wait for it ... the MUGS! And as soon as I can get back and fire a kiln, the ice cream bowls!

Tandem Restaurant, in Carrboro, NC. A bit of a drive from Asheville, but SO worth it, and when you tell them so after you've enjoyed one of Chef Younes' exquisite meals, I hope you'll mention how lovely the food looks on my handmade, as well!

Sensibilities Day Spa in two locations in Asheville. No better way to treat the one you love most (yourself included!), and their attention to detail starts the moment you walk in the door and extends throughout your visit, including the lovely and refreshing cup of tea you may enjoy before or after your treatments!

Biltmore Village Inn in Asheville. Romantic is what they do, and they do it well. And you can commemorate your experience with a lovely mug!

Budy Finch Catering is based in Flat Rock, NC, but they'll come to you and boy will you be happy they did! The love they put into every morsel shines even more on my handmade!

Show some local love this week! xo

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all who are or have a mother, but most of all to my wonderful, beautiful, loving, hard working, funny, supportive, heroic, talented, creative, and stunningly gorgeous mom! 

My own love for a life creative got its start in my mom's kitchen, and watching her craft her businesses as a designer, dress maker, sales person, and entrepreneur. I couldn't have had a better role model!

We'll celebrate in person later this month when she and Don come for a visit to Asheville (my best birthday gift!), but I never want to miss a chance to celebrate her every and any day - I love you Mom!!

And a special shout out to my sister, Becky, who has been a stellar mother to her three boys, and now gets to enjoy a special first Mother's Day as Grandma! 

A Circle of Gratitude

Happy New Year! 

I am once again surprised that with all my regular posts and online sorts of chatting, I managed to neglect my faithful little blog at the end of the year. I don't know if this makes any sense, but I always feel a sense of sitting with a good friend when I come to write here. It's ready to listen, and the way I write and pause and read, it often gives me feedback in those second thoughts and revisions. So when I get too busy to get here to post, I feel a little like I've neglected a good friend. But like a truly good friend, there is no judgment, just a welcome page ready to listen again.

the Gratitude Jar, with last year's Mandala puzzle

Last year at this time, I started a 'Happiness Jar', based on a re-post by my friend Jen of a post by Elizabeth Gilbert (yay social media!). I took a nice, big jar and designated it for the purpose, and prepared a smaller covered jar with lots of small slips of paper and a pen, ready to record any thing, place, person, or event that caused me happiness during the year. I renamed my jar the 'Gratitude Jar', as that was my word/theme for 2015 (plus, everything that makes me happy makes me grateful!). Last year, my meditative tool in setting all these intentions was the Great Happy Ass Adult Coloring Book (if you don't have one, get one!), and after completing a page titled "Squeeze the Day!" I attached it to my Gratitude Jar for further inspiration. In grabbing this picture for today's blog, I am reminded that when my Atlanta framily was visiting over the 2014 holiday, we started a large puzzle of a lovely mandala, and I worked on it well into the new year. Several milestone breakthroughs, in fact, are noted in my Gratitude Jar.

A nice, big pile of Grateful!

On New Year's Eve afternoon of this past year, I first took a moment to be grateful that I had a very full jar to empty. With a nice cup of coffee and a few sugar plums, I emptied the jar and started reading back through my year. I had already been thinking about how I might want to commemorate this years worth of Gratitude, and while I was reading I was imagining mosaic collages and mini-origami projects. As I was pondering this, I picked up a slip that said "got to see Karen Crane!", which is a happy moment in itself as she, like my blog, is a good friend I don't see as often as I'd like, but when I do it's immediately comfortable and free of any guilt for our mutual absence. But I digress - another happy memory that came to me in thinking of Karen, an artist and Art Therapist among many other dazzling talents, was that of another visit she made when we made Mandalas. Nothing fancy, rather quickly done and that was that, but mine still hangs in my studio and I often doodle in a similar way when I need a momentary meditation. I immediately saw how I could capture the spirit of my year of Gratitude while enjoying a full meditation on each entry as I recorded them into a Gratitude Mandala. It also gave me the opportunity to sharpen some of my colored pencils, so I felt incredibly efficient as well as indulgent in spending a couple of hours writing in a growing circle.

My 2015 Gratitude Mandala

It was a wonderful meditation, and I happily had more entries than I had room on one page! There were many repeats throughout the year, like time in my studio, my wonderful studio mates, my furballs at home, and a host of other delights, surprises, and wonders. 

I see that my last post was just before I made my annual pilgrimage to Sandbridge Beach, so here are a few images of other events of the last quarter that also made the Gratitude Jar. I know I'm not listing everything, and perhaps that's another reason to be grateful! Here are a few:

Ploughman's Lunch by Budy Finch Catering, on my pots!

Most recently, and several slips into the Gratitude Jar worthy, I had my pots gracing the cover of Plough to Pantry magazine. I was also among some other very talented potters profiled in a lovely article inside (page 36, because I know you were wondering!). It was a wonderful experience from start to finish, with an incredible team of thoughtful and caring editors, writers, photographers, and gracious clients, too! Spreading the message about how handmade ceramics is the perfect partner to homemade/chef-made dishes is an ongoing quest of mine, and one that will see me expanding production in the new year to design and develop forms to attract partnership with others who believe the same. 

A giant bucket of Gratitude

The Village Potters wrapped up the year with another fabulous Holiday Market with our neighbors at Riverview Station, and it saw the opening of our new Independent Study & Mentoring Program studio. New kilns are still being built, expansions being completed, and more new artists are bringing great energy and passion in clay to the studio with us daily! And for me, every day in the studio with these incredible artists and people brings multitudes of gratitude.

Me in the Sandbridge kitchen, with one of many glorious salads
in the foreground. Picture by Laurie McCarriar.

What is happily becoming an annual pilgrimage of sorts: my three weeks at Sandbridge. Sandbridge is a series of three, consecutive, week-long retreats for hammered dulcimer players, and I get to cook for them! Outside of a few marketing duties that seep in and compete for my attention, pretty much all I need worry about for three weeks at the beach is planning menus, shopping the local farmstands, fish and other markets, and creating meals for 24-29 people each day. And this year, I even snuck in several secret lessons on the hammered dulcimer for my grand debut of 'Twinkle Twinkle'. Recording contract is certainly soon to follow... My working vacation always feels more like vacation than work, but I'm extremely fortunate (and grateful!) that most of what I get to do daily, be it in the studio or the kitchen, is such a joy to me that the hardest days in either are better than most days doing anything else. 

A benefit to mostly overcast mornings at the beach:
incredible reflections of sunrise in the clouds.

I have already started making entries into this years Gratitude Jar, and as I set my intentions for the new year ahead, I am excited, eager, and more than anything, grateful. 

Pig Out at Cúrate!

Anyone who knows me knows about the little piggies, and how much I love them. You also know how much I love the client who sells them, Cúrate!

They have featured the piggies, and me, on their current blog in a lovely and detailed chronicle of the pig-making process, which you can get to by clicking on their name above or the images below, reprinted with their permission. 

A pig holding toothpicks for tapas dinner at Cúrate.
Photo courtesy of Instagram.

Lori Theriault with Cúrate pig toothpick holders.

Lori throws the pig bodies on her pottery wheel.

Pig bodies, air-drying.

Pig legs and ears are attached by hand.

Pigs drying before their first kiln firing.

Lori saves space in the kiln by firing pigs inside mugs.

Lori's assistant Tamsen, aka 'Exec. VP of Porcine Affairs', applies
iron oxide to the pigs. 

Pigs loaded in for the second firing, the "sauna after the mud bath".

The finished product! Each pig is unique.

Pigs are boxed up, ready to travel to Cúrate and beyond!

It's Big Crafty Time!

I don't get out to do shows much anymore. I love getting to chat leisurely with folks about my work and watch them find pieces they love - not something I get to do when I'm not in the gallery. It's fun, but it's exhausting, and happily my own gallery keeps me busy filling inventory, plus I have an eclectic mix of clients that grace me with many opportunities to design and make new work. 

That being said, The Big Crafty is a really, really fun show. Plus, it's here in my town, and a lot of other artist friends who I don't get to see much are likely to be in the show or attending the show, so it's a win all around. I get to see friends, plus spend the day chatting with folks about my work. 

Conversation Plate by Holly de Saillan

This year will be a bit different in two ways: my usual cohort and table partner, Holly deSaillan (clay & mosaics by Holly de Saillan), will be at The Big Crafty, but she's filling her own entire space this year, and I can't WAIT to see her new work! I'm still happy filling half a space, so I was thrilled when Angelique Tassistro (Fly Coop Studios) agreed to apply with me and share the space. And even better, we're right next to Holly!

Olive Dishes by Angelique Tassitro 

The other difference this year is that I'm taking the opportunity to try some new designs out on my work that I bring to the show. To keep myself from going too crazy, I limited myself to drinking vessels - in fact that's all I'll have at this show: mugs, tea bowls, tumblers and cups. I'll have a few of my current designs, but I'll also have a larger grouping of sgraffito and relief-carved pieces in new designs. Some will enjoy their fun at The Big Crafty and happily retire, but some will find their way into other facets of my work.

New work, new glaze, new firing fun!

I hope you'll come by and check it out - you'll only find it at The Big Crafty, or you'll have to wait and see if/how it shows up again!

The Big Crafty is on Sunday, July 12 from 12-6pm in downtown Asheville at the Asheville Art Museum. Vendors will be outside and inside, and you'll find me and Angelique inside, on the lower level, at space #48.

200 Mug Challenge!!

We're making 200 mugs to celebrate the first firings of the Kazegama Kiln, and if we can get 200 donations at the mug level on our Kickstarter, we'll pretty much be able to build this kiln!

And, 200 mugs will find happy homes - if you'd like to be one of them, please check out our Kickstarter. The firings will be in early Fall, so this is a great way to make some early holiday purchases that will be very special and treasured gifts!

Kazegama Kickstarter

We're in our fourth year at The Village Potters, and each year, our galleries, working studios and Teaching Center have continued to grow. Our galleries now include three showrooms, and our working studios hold the full time studios of six Resident potters and two studio assistants. Our student body is up to about 35, with many of the students are looking for ways to continue to study with us as they expand their skills and even prepare for a professional career themselves. 

To that end, we're growing to meet the needs of more visitors, new accounts and new students. We'll be expanding into another 2000 sq ft at the end of the year, and we're in the process of launching a new Independent Study & Mentoring Program. This invitational program will allow 1-2 year study for students wishing to sharpen their skills for their own pleasure or to develop a portfolio for professional use. Regular mini-workshops, mentorship, critiques and even exhibit opportunities will be available for participants. If you happen to be an interested artist, you can get more information by emailing 'info' at 'thevillagepotters.com' and asking for an Application to the IS/M Program.

And that's not all! We're also expanding our fire power by making plans to build a 'wood-influenced' Kazegama Kiln. This small kiln will allow us to fire in reduction with gas, and then add wood ash and even soda ash into the environment to create wood-fire effects while allowing us to fire within city codes. By building the kiln on a trailer, we also have the ability to protect it from any rising tides, as we're in the flood plain, and we will also be able to travel with the kiln to conduct workshops at other locations. 

The Kazegama Kiln

Because we have been so fortunate to have so much support from our community of friends, family and collectors, we are asking for help in building this segment of The Village Potters. We have established a Kickstarter Campaign for the Kazegama kiln, and with your support, we will be able to have our first community firings by the end of the summer, and have it fully functioning for the first class of participants in the Independent Study and Mentorship Program! 

And your donation will garner you any number of lovely rewards from each of The Village Potters. Some are available in the classic glazes you already know and love, and some are planned for the new kiln. And each and every donation comes with our deep and sincere appreciation. "It Takes a Village" is a fond refrain often heard around the studio, and we've done so much with our Village, we thank you for what has been and we thank you for what is to come!

Check out our Kickstarter Campaign, and Thank You!

Riverview Station Holiday Market

The Village Potters will be taking part in the First Annual Riverview Station Holiday Market, and we hope you'll come kick off the holiday season with us! Our Feature Gallery will feature wonderful holiday gift ideas, and we'll have our festive best out for you, along with some light refreshments and holiday cheer. And Santa himself will be there too! Join us at The Village Potters and wander throughout Riverview Station on Friday, December 5, from 4-8PM!

What a Summer, and What a Fall!

I was amazed to see my last post here was in June, and more amazed to think about all that's happened since then:

Glaze testing continues on the Potters Mark glazes. I may have mentioned it's a slow process. I may never match the glazes, but I'm getting close to getting ... something.

recent tests for Potters Mark Red

I feel grateful every day that I am working at what I love to do, and even more so that I get to do it in a studio with people I love and respect. Studio traffic has been steady and Gallery sales continue to grow as we prepare to celebrate our third anniversary at The Village Potters, I am happily working hard just to keep up with inventory demands. It gets even better when I look through the work I make for my clients, who are all inspirations as business leaders and as people. If you're in my area, you should check them all out:

These little piggies are on their way to Cúrate!

New design for Biltmore Village Inn! (photo by Camilla Photography)

Asheville Bee Charmers, where you'll find an incredible honey tasting bar,
along with some of my mugs, honey pots, and even these sweet necklaces.

Can't wait to see the new boutique at the new
French Broad Chocolate Lounge location!

Have a nice cup of tea after your mass-aaaah-ge
at Sensibilities Day Spa!

And add to that, The Village Potters have been named Finalists for Martha Stewart's American Made Awards in the Crafts Category. It's an exceptional opportunity, and we are humbled to be considered and thrilled to be among so many fine Makers. Did you know you can vote six times a day? 

You know I believe "homemade tastes better on handmade", and I've been fortunate to have some good experiences on the 'homemade' side a bit more lately. I cook regularly at the studio, to a ridiculously receptive crowd, which only makes me want to do it more (hmmm... I see their plan!). And I was honored to cook a love-filled special meal for a good friend, and with a good friend. It got even better as we got to pick from the absolute cream of the crops and design the entire meal around what was fresh from the Farmer's Market. Watch the homemade tastes better food blog for recipes from that.

And now I'm off on another culinary adventure: I'll be cooking for private groups of eclectic folks gathering to study the hammered dulcimer, and I'll be doing it for three weeks at Virginia Beach. A reasonable question would be 'why am I leaving the studio for three weeks?!' In the final analysis, I tried out two statements: "I got to cook for folks for three weeks at Virginia Beach" and "I passed on a chance to cook for folks for three weeks at Virginia Beach". Adventure wins. And this wasn't a bad motivation either:

Sunrise at Va. Beach (photo by Laurie McCarriar)

And when I get back to Asheville and back in the studio, I get to dive into crazy production to make pots for the holiday season and refill inventories. It will no doubt be highly stressful, extremely exhausting, and at times a tad bit frustrating, but I still wake up every day and think "I get to do this!"

Continuing a Legacy

I have been given an incredible honor - Marty & Eileen Black, who have recently retired The Potter's Mark studio and gallery, have given me their process and glazes/recipes for their signature line of pottery, in the hopes that I will be able to continue the legacy they've built over the past 30+ years.

I am indeed honored and very excited about what possibilities lie ahead with this opportunity. Currently, I'm in the process of testing two of the most popular glazes, their signature 'Red', and the 'Spirit' glaze. The first tests of using these glazes on my clay body in a different kiln were very encouraging, but I won't begin regular production in any of these glazes until I have consistent results in several firings. After I nail down these two glazes, I'll test through others. While I may not carry items in every glaze, my plan is to be able to fill replacement orders for long time collectors in any glaze they have. I will only produce bodies of work in 2-3 glazes for show and sale in The Village Potters' gallery and in other regional galleries, all under the name "The Potter's Mark Line". 

The overall list of items that will be offered will be less than what Marty and Eileen originally carried, as  they, working together full time, were able to carry over 50 items, many available for wholesale as well as retail. I will have to pare down that list as I will be working solo. I'll also be carrying on my own work - if you check out my website 'Portfolio' link, you'll see that I've added a section for The Potter's Mark. As I continue the tests and achieve consistent results, I'll begin posting samples of the glazes that will be available. But testing is imperative, and cannot be rushed! If you'd like to keep up with my progress, I invite you to join The Potter's Mark mailing list for monthly updates and opportunities to win very special, very one-of-a-kind test pieces during this process. You'll also get first dibs on placing orders once that time comes!

 
The standing bowl, above, is The Potter's Mark signature Red Glaze. On the right, first test firing in my kiln. Encouraged to get red at all, but still some work to do!

For those who have been collecting The Potter's Mark wares, I will be carrying the most popular forms, and while I will make every effort to stay true to the spirit of Marty & Eileen's forms, they will be different as different hands are making them. I would never attempt to copy their style - indeed, one of the reasons I have been given this great honor and opportunity is because our styles, while different on the surface and in our decoration, have much in common when you look at the base forms. I believe that when current collectors see the range of forms available, that they may not have or may not have considered, with Potter's Mark glazes, they will be very pleased to add them to the collection.

Stay tuned for more!

Happy Mother's Day!

Just a few thoughts on Mother's Day, about my own gorgeous mom, my lovely sister who is a super-mom, and so many other women in my life who exemplify what it is to be a mother, whether they have children or not. I count many as dear and vital friends, I've adopted many of them, and I admire them all (and if we know each other and you're wondering if I'm talking about you, I am!). But my own mom is the one who gave me my first and lasting definition of 'mother', and I have found myself 'mothering' in many times/parts of my life, and if I do it right, it's because of what I learned from her. 

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I Love You!


“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” 
― Washington Irving

“No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star.” - Edwin Hubbell Chapin

Allegria & Don, my 'rents

“Behind all your stories is always your mother's story. Because hers is where yours begin.” 
― Mitch Albom

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them." - Victor Hugo

Generational moms: my sister Becky & Mom

“In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.” 
― N.K. Jemisin

More generational love - me ... a few years ago ...
with a picture of my mom's mom, Hannah.

“If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.” 
― Robert Brault

Pop Up Spring Cleaning Sale

I'm cleaning the studio and making room for new production, this is true. It's also true that winter is a bit slower, and I've got some piles of pots that are just lovely, but they really aren't a part of my regular inventory for one reason or another. Some were glaze tests, and progressions of firings as I work through glaze tests. Some were demo pots for various occasions, some were duplicates made when filling commissions. Some were just for fun - trying something new but not intending to continue, and some just haven't found their forever home yet and are of a style I might not continue. All lovely pots, looking for a new home so I'll have room for all the pots on my current production list, as well as the ideas swimming around in my head.

Seems the same is true for my studio-mate Judi, so we're having a little pop-up sale in the new Feature Gallery at The Village Potters. Our sale begins Friday, March 7 and runs through Saturday, March 22 or when we run out of pots, which ever comes first. Pots, both functional and decorative, are priced to help motivate their transition to good homes.

Come and get 'em. All sales final, and no wholesale purchases on sale items.

The Village Potters is located at 191 Lyman Street (Riverview Station), #180, Asheville, NC, 28801. Winter hours are Monday - Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Hope to see you there!

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.