WHOOOT! Did anyone hear the cry of joy coming from Leesburg? It was me - I admit! I have been experimenting with this Growler and truly had no idea how to approach the topper. These two bad boys were my first experiments. I pulled them out of the kiln today and one worked and the other did not. The great news is now I have it figured out for upcoming  pieces.  I know this sounds so silly, but it is exactly why I am having so much fun in the studio these days...experimenting, playing, HAVING FUN! I will have these guys and few others at the 2013 Western Loudoun Studio Tour!!!

Is it the end of May already? Wow where has the time gone...well I know I have been busy in the studio getting ready for the Western Loudoun Artist Studio Tour. It is a few weeks away  on June 22 & 23rd. I never feel ready, but I have a lot of new work to show off this year. I have been hunkered down, working on several new techniques and really pushing myself with glazing. I have had some really nice results (and a few oops) but it has been a year of exploration and I am super happy and excited about the direction my work is going.  I am going to make this short and sweet - I have to get back to the studio - but I hope to see you in June. I am thrilled to be the guest artist of Jill Evans-Kavaldjian at her amazing studio Art at Garden Corner. Come up to see us!

Happy New Year! I have been taking my time getting started back to work this year. I have been using the down time in January to:

·       -Recover from the busy holiday season

·       -Help my husband recuperate from surgery

·       -Take time to have a good old fashioned cold  and baby myself completely, and

·       -takes notes, write down ideas and sketch

It has been a nice luxury, minus the coughs and fever.

I am excited to get back into the studio and put some of these ideas into action. I just loaded a kiln full of test tiles and experiments. I am as excited as I was when I fired my first pot 10 years ago!

I promised myself to sit down today and write for the blog  – something I had no time for October – December.  Right before I sat down, I read a Facebook Post from an old instructor of mine from Charlotte North Carolina. Ron Philbeck posted to the effect, he would love to make bakeware that folks use at home everyday, casseroles, mugs, bakers etc.  He commented on the “repetitive “ nature of such work and how some would find this boring or monotonous.  His parting comment, was that it would not have to be that way.

It got me thinking about the work that I have been doing and what I want to do in 2013.  I do enjoy greatly making work that is used in everyday life.  Pieces that  not only invite use, but demand it!  Everyday bake ware, crocks, mugs, chicken roasters, platters and such that folks will use in their daily kitchen routines. I find great joy in making these useful, functional pieces. Pieces that become part of family traditions, celebrations and nightly meals. 

I think I will always make such pieces because of my own love of cooking and my ongoing goal of having all handmade ceramic work in my kitchen.  I have to admit though, that come September - December of any given year….I have been known to say, “If I make another Chicken/Veggie Roaster, I may slit my wrists!”  I admit that I do tire after just so many. 

That being said, I agree with Ron’s comments. It does not have to get monotonous.  I find that this time of the  new year, I am so excited for the possibilities, the new ideas, the new glaze combinations and new forms to make.

My plan is to keep with some of my basic forms, but explore new shapes, handles, surface treatments, and glaze combinations.  I love this art form so much because literally the possibilities are endless.   I do want to explore some more decorative treatments and sculpture this year, but it all can be applied the basic functional forms that I love to make as well. 

So off I go back to the studio, to explore, create, learn and express myself in new and exciting ways for 2013!

Hope to see you around to discover how it all turns out!

LOL...my page got hijacked by my 12 year old daughter

Sorry guys...I am not forever young, and I am not so much into grunge clothing these days!!! My 12 year old is blogging and somehow posted some of her posts on my page!

Dispatches from the Potomac!

Great post from my new buddy Ed Felker!

Super Bowl Challenge 2012

Happy New Year! Just wanted to touch base and let you know about a fun project that my ArtSquare hand building class is taking part in. It is called The Super Bowl Challenge


The SBC 2012 was created by metalsmith Wendy Edsall-Kerwin. She makes amazing metal artwork: bowls, jewelry, wall pieces and more! Her work is beautiful and we used one of her bowls as our "inspiration" piece in our Tuesday morning class. The challenge was two part: 1. make a bowl for the SBC and 2. translating Wendy's inspiration piece into clay. I will keep you posted with photos of the finished products! Lots of fun and experimentation!

You can find more information about Wendy Edsall-Kerwin at
http://www.hammerstrokeandfire.com/

and more information about ArtSquare Ceramics Classes at:
http://www.loudounacademy.org/ceramics_new.html

Work Play Work

WORK WORK WORK! Getting ready for the Catoctin Holiday Art Tour and trying to replenish my inventory from a couple of great Fall Sales this season. I am so thankful for such wonderful supporters of my work and mostly I am thankful that I have the "privilege" to work at what I love! Ok...short but sweet, I must get back to the wheel! Pictures to follow!