Summer Dinner

The studio has been operating at full tilt these days preparing for my first all pottery service dinner. I have been making plates, platters, pitchers and bowls. All of which I am planning to get fired in the next two weeks. It has been a long time since I produced at this volume, but after my wrists recovered there lost muscle, I have been rolling along just fine. It is really better than fine, it feels good. Right now I am truely thankful for my neighbors new pool which is keeping my kids busy and then tired.

small potted plants

I thought I was really tired of gardening, but I am really happy to have a little manageable garden for my counter top. As usual the best made plans were actually derailed by the inventory of the local garden store. This was to be a Christmas display, kind of a mini spruce forest in snowy white cups. The store had a run on all the little spruce trees so I had to go tropical. The nice thing is these little plants are really inexpensive.

I have been making lots of these little pots for arranging on a these trays I have been making. I am going to throw the saucers as well. These are meant to be Christmas presents, I hope I get it done.

I am challenging myself to have a one week turn around. These were bisque fired yesterday. Glaze pictures soon!

Making Trays

I have been playing with some antique wall paper rolls that I picked up at flea market. At the suggestion of my friend Jessie I started making trays and I am having a great time. These are the first out of the kiln and I am really pleased at home they turned out. My tea pots are looking great on them as well.

This is a tray with a feather print that I painted some designs over. Here is another treatment of the feather.

I took a few to the DIY Trunk show last weekend and the response was really positive. I can't wait to make another round and improve on the designed.

I think this one found a new home. I will be putting a lot of this stuff out at my Esty site. I have not add to that site in quite a while.

I am still loving my tea pots and cups, even though I didn't sell any last weekend. I think I will be throwing a tea party soon.

Tea Pots

I decided to make tea pots this month. I didn't realize until I started the tea pots that I had not actually made a tea pot since college. I can even really explain why. I went through lots of experimental phases in my post college work and did lots of work that required combining multiple thrown forms. Never a tea pot. So strange.

I unloaded the kiln today wondering what would turn out. I was nervous. It turned out so well. I am in love with these pots and little matching cups. I don't know why I haven't been making them all along. Today I could see making tea pots with cups and trays and saucers and little necessities that all tea pots need and deserve. I was surprised at this reaction in myself.

I sense a new direction!

Collecting Pottery

I wish I could say I have purchased other peoples work, but it feels so good to start filling up shelves with work I have completed. I made so little work over the summer I was ashamed to mention to anyone I was a potter. Now with the shelves filling up, I feel that proof exists. I am a potter see....look.....right there.....lots of pots!

Greenware small dishes.

Handle-less mugs. Don't those handles just get in the way sometimes?

Due to more poor inventory skills and lack of organization, I recently discovered I have lots of sets of bowls. I just keep putting them in boxes and forgetting about them. Look at my full shelves. More proof I am working. (note to self to analyze why I need poof, who am I proving what to, why am I proving)

This photos is called "Bowl-o-rama". I am so excited to have my camera back. I want to just publish tons photos.

After the bash.......

I don't have any photo's to share but the launch party for 24 below was quite the good time. Much food was prepared by young chefs in training directed by Chef Efrain. I busied myself for the evening passing trays of food and remembering those attendees who could not eat shrimp. It is very nice to be amongst very nice strangers that at the end of the evening feel like friends. Surprisingly the BYOB part of the evening encourage bottle sharing with new friends and talents were found when that special someone could use the wine opener (Where's that girl that can open the bottle?"). Art was everywhere and the DJ kept things moving. The youth circus troop made a performance and helped remind everyone that proceeds were going to great places. I found great satisfaction in encouraging people to eat a little past their comfort zone. I will be looking forward to the next event!

Enjoying Art Outside

This is a painting of some of the funky squash I grew in the garden this year. When my house became over run with veggies covering the counters I couldn't resist painting a few. The squash are are totally edible but I haven't been able to bring myself to eat them.

The paintings are resting in my barely weeded perennial bed. I don't use chemicals so I either weed constantly or except what pops up. I am going to start painting the "Creeping Charley" it's a vine like weed that would love to take over everything.

This bowl and platter are nestled in part of my lawn. Can you find the grass? It is losing the battle in this part of the yard. The "Creeping Charley" is not with out it's charms, it has the best purple flowers in the spring.

I really like this bowl, as you might have noticed since it was in my last posting. Here it is hanging out with my nasturtium, weeds, and grass. I like the idea of stoneware hanging out the plants.

Melissa