New Year, New Look, New Adventures Ahead!

I think newness inspires more newness. Since taking the big steps to join The Village Potters, there's been a lot of "new" - new studio, new studio mates, new gallery, new teaching center, new classes, new students ... lots of new, and all good!

And now we enter a New Year. Part of me thinks I don't get caught up in all the hoopla around the New Year.  I do set intentions, but I don't make resolutions (there's a difference - check back a few posts for more on that), and yet I can't help feeling that the flipping of our calendar year is a perfect time for asserting a true commitment to one's intentions. I guess that could be a resolution, then again it's also something I might do when the calendar flips over a new month or week.


In the spirit of embracing all the new that has happened and that lies ahead, here's a short list of what's 'new', both recently and ahead in this new year, and a little peek into what makes me such a grateful girl this New Year:

A new website! This has been in the works for months, and over the past two months it's finally come together with the help of the Artist Geek, Laurie McCarriar. I've been futzing with what to do with a new design for most of the past year, and it seemed to all fall together when I realized that 'homemade tastes better on handmade' was exactly what I was trying to say. It feels so good to once again have a site up that is representative of what I'm doing, where I am, and what's ahead. It's still growing, so check it out and stay tuned! I also joined Artist Geek's "Art Dates" program, and I'm already benefitting from getting some better organization to my online endeavors. Everyone should have an Artist Geek!

New classes at The Village Potters! To say I'm grateful and excited to be in a studio that gives me space to work and teach is a slight understatement. Jo (pictured above) started her classes last month, and this week another class opens with new students and happily one returning student from my previous teaching studio. I love having other people sharing their 'new' with me too! Check out the schedule if you've been meaning to find your sanity outlet (it's cheaper than therapy!).

New look on the blog! You may have already noticed that, but since I was making a list and all... the new look was inspired by the new website, and that's inspiring the new business cards that will soon be printed (also designed by the aforementioned Artist Geek).

And a new cut and slightly new look for me too!



Other upcoming new adventures include:


• moving the kiln into place at The Village Potters, which will inaugurate my firing in the same place where I throw for the first time in ... well a long time!


•  attending the first Master's Series workshop at The Village Potters: Nan Jacobsohn will be demonstrating her Bas Relief techniques, and I've been thinking about my trees in that technique since I found out she was coming. Her demonstration workshop is January 27-28, in case you'd like to join me.


•  building a body of work to submit for membership in the Southern Highland Craft Guild. This will involve a lot of other 'news', like testing glazes in the new kiln, deciding which line of work to highlight, developing some new forms to be included ... very exciting!


So that's most of my news. I'm sure there are more, and more to come. Thanks for following along this far, and check back for more soon!

ongoing & upcoming fun at The Village

Every day, more and more things fall into place at The Village Potters, and you can really feel all the good energy from activities in the Gallery, to busy bee potters in studios, to classes that have started in The Teaching Center.

One of my classes includes Jo, who is returning to clay after a very long absence (I always say, the clay will wait for you!). And she's not just coming back after a long absence - when she arrived to class, she brought with her memories of having learned on an old, box-frame kick wheel (she's now on an electric), and having only ever worked on cylindrical forms that were finished on the wheel (I started her throwing off the mound).

But in spite of all that, she's making the transition back to clay smoothly and we're having a great time! It is one of the benefits of our classes running on an open enrollment - Jo was able to start when she was ready, after the Thanksgiving holiday, and because I have three other classes on the schedule, the class she has to miss next week will be easily made up with no loss in her momentum. Have I mentioned how much I love this Teaching Center?

In other Village news, we're having a Studio Holiday Sale this Sunday that's a real blow-out-end-of-year-extravaganza! All our Gallery work will be 20% off, plus I'll have other 'end of run' items specially priced in my studio area. I'll also be running a special promotion for my classes, whether you register then or buy a gift certificate. There are incredible gift options across the board, plus Johnny Harwood & friends jazzing up some holiday tunes and sweet refreshments to stoke your four-hour-shop-local-blitz!

Holiday Home Show!

Just a little reminder about the upcoming Holiday Home Show that I'll be doing with two other fabulous artists: jewelry designer Stephanie Onel and painter Susan Finer. Our gracious and generous host for the afternoon is Kristin Fellows, and our work will look even more beautiful in her lovely home!

We hope you can join us for an afternoon to celebrate the season, as well as the end of "Buy Local Week" - you'll find some great gift ideas whether you're shopping for others or for yourself (just as important!).

The deets:

When: Sunday, December 4 from 12:00 - 4:00pm

Where: Home of Kristin Fellows, 177 Lakeshore Drive, Asheville, NC 28804

Parking: please park on Shorewood as the drive is quite steep!

What: beautiful hand crafted pottery, stunningly designed jewelry, and sensory satisfying abstract paintings! Plus light refreshments and a whole lotta holiday cheer.

November Fun & Frolic!

Already a week into November, yet the real fun only begins later this week! In a nutshell (well, as much of a nutshell as my rambling allows..):

10-Week Adult Clay Classes at The Village Potters

I've started taking student registrations for my beginner and beginning classes. My classes will be available on an open enrollment, meaning that although there are start/end times to each session, new students may start my classes at any time when space is available, and their 10 weeks will begin on the date they start. For class descriptions and fee/registration information, check out the website!


Studio Stroll at The Village Potters!
Saturday-Sunday, November 12-13, 10am-6pm
If you've been by to visit the new studios, gallery and teaching center, you should come by again this weekend and see how much has changed! More of us have moved in, we're putting in a special area for our featured artists and adding new works from Village Potters to the Gallery, and the Teaching Center is getting ready to be in full swing! We'll be open later on Friday night to welcome preview guests, and we'll have demo's in front over the weekend. As well, you'll be able to decorate your own holiday ornament and enter to win some fabulous door prizes that we'll be giving away the following weekend (see below).

The Village Potters Grand Opening Celebration!
Saturday, November 19, 6-8pm

In a way, it feels like I've been celebrating every day since I moved into this fabulous new space with these incredible people, so it only makes sense that we needed to make a special event to share it with family and friends. We'll have live music, incredible edibles that include a chocolate fountain and nacho bar, fire dancing and the drawing for our door prizes: a beautiful piece of hand made pottery by each of the Village Potters. If you can't make it for Stroll weekend (or even if you do!), I hope you can make it to this great celebration!

And I know it's sneaking into December, but it's less than 30 days away and as much a part of my November madness as anything:

Holiday Home Show!

Sunday, December 4, from 12-4pm

Did you know that November 25-December 4 is National Buy Local Week? More like a week plus a day or two, but I'm not quibbling, as pretty much every day is Buy Local for me so I'm always glad to see a broader acknowledgement!
I'm thrilled to once again join talented jewelry designer Stephanie Onel in an intimate, warm setting to showcase our work. We'll be at the beautiful home of Kristin Fellows in north Asheville for a festive afternoon of a little nosh, a little bevvie, a lot of laughs and some pretty darn good jewelry and pottery! I'll have some specially packaged gifts that are perfect for teachers, office or host-giving among my offerings. Check our Facebook event page for details, or email me if you need directions.

Into The Village!

This falls into the category of 'everything I'd wished for, but way more than I'd hoped for'. If there's anyone who didn't hear about it, I have now officially moved into The Village Potters to become one of the Resident Artists as well as an instructor in their (our!) Teaching Center. Yay!!

Honestly, I've been so lax in blogging lately, and the last year has been so very, very ... well it's just too much to try and whittle down into a paragraph, so why not let's just pick up our story with Lori happily and excitedly accepting the offer to join The Village. The first phase of moving was a delight; with the help of some good friends with a parade of hand trucks and dollies, we moved my 'mini' studio set up that was in another part of the building over to the other side, down the dark elevator and into the new space. There's more studio to re-discover from my storage unit, much of which will be used in the Teaching Center, but that waits till after my next firing. I'll fire off-site once again, as it will be a month or two before we get the kiln installed here, and then I'll be all in one place and with a most excellent group of artists and mentors!

my new studio space, before phase one of the move-in

Phase One - ready to work, with some favorite studio juju in place

I am beyond pleased and excited to be joining my fellow Village Potters Judi Harwood, Cat Jarosz, Melanie Mitchell Robertson, and Sarah Wells Rolland. I'm already cherishing the friendships that are developing, and I can tell you right now, the artistic relationships will have a tremendous impact on my work in the very best way (ie, they're gonna kick my butt). Case in point: among my first tasks is to start building a portfolio for application to the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.

The Gallery at The Village Potters

Right now, the Gallery is open (Mon-Sat, 10-6), and if you're in the area you can stop by and see the work of all five resident Village Potters, as well as that of other regional artists. I'll be in the gallery on Wednesdays, so come by and say hi if you can! We're going to take the next month or so to get everyone moved in, and to begin our first session at the Teaching Center. I'll be teaching classes for beginner and beginning potters, much like I did in my old studio. The classes will run in 10-week sessions - check out more details at the website.

And now a very special word about how one gets to a place like this. I've had tremendous support in all shapes and forms since I've embarked on this pottery kind of life, even as I've been out here 'on my own', and I hope I've always properly expressed my gratitude. When this opportunity came along, I knew I'd need help in making it happen. It's a lot easier to say that than actually do the asking, but ask I did, and I am humbled and honored by the support that has come in all forms, from encouraging words to monetary investments that are indeed making the difference in my joining The Village. So a very big thank you to my "Village", which stretches over years and across many regions. Those of you who have made that investment will start seeing updates here (why, here's one now!). The new website is under development, and that will include a special place of thanks to all who have made this possible. Anyone curious about that whole thing, here's the link to the original letter that went out. It's going to be pretty crazy over the next month or two as we all get settled in, but I hope to keep updates here much more frequently.

And if you're in the area, please come by and check out the new studios, gallery and teaching center. Give me a heads up and I'll give you the tour! And please come celebrate with us as we host our Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, November 19 from 6-8pm. We'll be open our regular hours that day, but at 6 we'll put on the party music, bring out some nosh, and word is there may even be some fire dancing! I hope you can come join the festivities at The Village!

and we begin again...

Today was the first day back in the studio since the last firing almost a week ago. In addition to the sorting of the kiln, packing orders to ship and making gallery and retail deliveries, I "allowed" myself the week to get caught up on things on the home 'do' list. My, how the week just flies by when you think you have all this 'extra' time that you're not in the studio!

new work on display at Grovewood Gallery

new sushi plates (also at Grovewood)

all these lovely oil bottles now at The Tree & Vine

the new 'olive tree' dipping bowls, also at Tree & Vine

votive holders with candle cups, for Sensibilities Day Spa (downtown)

So today was all about dealing with the state of the studio, which I left only partially cleaned after glazing and packing my pots for travel out to Marshall for the firing. My very kind studio mate, who's not even working in the studio right now, couldn't help but clean up a portion when she was there during my absence. That was extra motivation to get it all cleaned up!

Being the clever girl that I am, I tackled the kiln room that does not have a/c first, and got the floor washed and organized the shelves and glazes to go back in place. Happily, the studio itself has a/c, so cleaning the floor, shelves, bats and tools was not terribly unpleasant. It actually gets me very motivated to get back on the wheel - kind of like getting my 'mis-en-place' before cooking a meal.

I left my camera at home, but once I get into production I'll include a shot of the momentarily clean studio along with the ambitious 'do' list I've started for the next 4-6 weeks of production.

For now, as I ponder going back to the studio tonight to begin the clay prep, I pause to ponder coconut milk ice cream with fresh, local peaches and fig-infused balsamic vinegar. Oh and maybe some basil ... and then maybe I'll ponder the tumbleweeds of dog hair that keep wafting by me. But first ...

deep thoughts from the firing...

Actually more of a musing. As I look forward to opening the kiln tomorrow, I think back to the waning moments of last night's firing.

Having pushed into reduction a little early and slowing down my early pace, it was a bit later than I had hoped as I waited for the last cone to drop. Maybe it was being in the warmer clime all day, maybe it was the pace of the week leading up the firing finally catching up to me, but all sorts of strange things float through one's mind at these times.

I do believe, that at some point while waiting for cone 10 to just move-already-is-that-too-much-to-ask on the bottom shelf, I may have solved the debt crisis and perhaps come up with at least three solutions for various world conflicts. But just as those lucid moments of a really interesting dream seem to fade away as I open my eyes in the morning, so too did these profound discoveries when I finally pulled the peep and saw enough of a bend in that last cone. What was it I was just thinking? Who cares, the cone is bent! That may not remove the debt crisis, but it sure removed the final obstacle between me and a cool pale ale at home.

So those big secrets are still locked in the far corners of my mind, but I do believe there will be many fine discoveries when I open the kiln tomorrow.