Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Thank you all for the support over the past year: buying my pottery and giving me wonderful compliments to keep me going. I couldn't do it without you.

Welcome 2011!

Inspiration

The master at work circa 1968. Great inspiration on a cold winter morning with a cup of coffee.

Art Studios Open House #2

Lewis & Nancy Spaulding, Mary Sly, Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso and myself will be in our studios today 10 - 4.
Come on by for a taste of hot cider and the warmth of the wood stove.  
Ho, Ho, Ho!


   The Spauldings - 1713 Cattle Point Rd.
 Mary Sly  -  459 Sunrise Ridge Rd.
Paula West – 160 MacGinitie Rd. 
Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso – 1296 Wold Rd.

Art Studios Open House

Art Studios Open House 

  Saturday December 11 & Sunday December 18

Lewis & Nancy Spaulding, Mary Sly, Paula West and Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso have decided that this year, to celebrate the Holiday Season, they will be opening their art studios to visitors on two Saturdays in December. Guests and visitors can drop by between the hours of 10:00am -  4:00pm to see the studios, check out the new art works and maybe find a gift or two for the folks on their Christmas shopping lists.  The Art Studios Open House dates are December 11th & 18th.  The Spauldings are located at 1713 Cattle Point Rd. (378-5594); Mary Sly  -  459 Sunrise Ridge Rd. 378-7110; Paula West – 160 MacGinitie Rd. (378-2391; Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso – 1296 Wold Rd. (378-6725)

Nancy Spaudling

Mary Sly

Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso

Paula West

Hoping to see some of our friends to share in some island holiday cheer!

Have you taken the handmade pledge?

Studio Open, New Pots on ETSY

The studio is OPEN today, 10-4.

I will be glazing today to load and fire another kiln tomorrow. 

New pots for sale on ETSY and more uploaded today. Stay tuned.

Sugar and Creamer Sets

                                

Some new sugar & creamer sets. These are small, about 3 inches high, the creamer is good for one or two cups of coffee or tea. 

Photographing today to update my ETSY shop. Waiting for the bisque firing to cool with another glaze firing this weekend,.

Details

I have been having fun with wax resist and black slip and sgraffito. These are some details from pots for the upcoming Island Artisans Holiday Marketplace this Friday and Sat, 10-5 in Friday Harbor.

It is located at the Elementary School. Lots of great handmade local goods. 

Tealights

Working on tealights. This porcelain is beautifully translucent. It is Grolleg 6 from Clay Arts Center in Tacoma. It is a challenge to carve them thin enough without breaking or punching through. Now they need to survive the kiln. 

Trials and Trimmings

Those pots that don't work out are a good lesson in letting go and being critical. Sometimes it is so hard to give up on a piece when it takes so much work. But a high standard of craftsmanship is important. Quality over quantity. One good bowl is worth more than six marginal ones. Integrity for your work will pay off in the long run.

Studio Dog

 My faithful studio companion Toby. He is an American Water Spaniel, six months old and provides plenty of distraction.

  

New Pots on Etsy

I am slowly listing new pots to my Etsy shop. There are less visitors to the studio and showroom these days so I have more time to manage my online shop. I will be listing a couple of pieces every couple of days.

 Trying to stay focused and ramp up production for the holidays. Can't seem to make enough mugs and cups. I like this shot with the late afternoon light.

Featured Plate

I am thrilled. My plate is featured today on aplateaday.blogspot.com.  

Thank you aplateaday.

Successful Firing

A few favorite pieces from the last firing. The kiln seems to be working great after replacing a relay. A nice even temperature top and bottom and beautiful glaze melt. I am much relieved.  

I will be posting some things up on my etsy shop soon. I may not get to it until this weekend. This is a crazy week with sick kids and an overnight school trip, of which I am a chaperone. It is all part of the balancing act of being a potter and    a mom. I am thankful for all of it.

Website Under Construction

My website is in for a change and is temporarily down. It will be back soon.

Thanks for your patience.

Artstock, A Fall Festival of Art

The 4th annual Artstock - "a fall festival of art", celebrating the diverse artistic culture of the area, is coming to San Juan Island on October 2 and 3.. Two days of open art studios and art gallery events will take place to delight your senses and feed your soul.

Hope to see you! The studios are open 10-4:30.

Mug Shot

I have been out of mugs and finally have a few for Artstock this weekend. They turned out beautiful. Nice glaze melt.

I discovered a relay needs replacing on my kiln so the top shelf of this firing did not reach temp. I am firing another short load regardless as I need more pots for the weekend and I won't receive another relay until next week. 

Local Press

Nice to get some local press. Our online update did a nice feature on me. Thanks Ian and Peggy Sue.

Check it out:
 Artstock spotlight: Paula West Pottery

Putting My Ducks In A Row

                            I have been really having fun these with these altered pitchers. They reminded me of little ducks waddling across the board. I am in a real productive cycle, making work for Artstock and beyond to the holidays. It is always invigorating to have a lot of forms in the works, in different stages. 

                            

San Juan Island Farmers Market

I will be at the San Juan Island Farmers Market this weekend Sept 18, 10-1. There will be Fair Cups that I made for the San Juan County Fair and a few odds and ends. I am busy getting ready for Artstock 2010 here on San Juan Island, October 2 & 3. Click Here to visit the website and find out more info.

Quiet days now that school has begun and the boys and I adjust to our new routine. Time to catch up and restock the showroom as well as make new work for the holidays. 

Most Recent Firing

Big Cup

                             

Tiny pitchers

Serving Bowl: Celebrating Summer

Best of Show

 I was surprised and honored. My plate won Best of Show.  

“From Mud to Magic” 2010 is a countywide non-profit juried ceramic art show sponsored by the We Can Make A Difference Foundation. Juried by Fred Olsen, an internationally known ceramic artist and author of “The Kiln Book”.   “Considered works should encompass traditional craftsmanship with innovative design providing strength to its overall from, function and/or merit.”  Pottery Northwest of Seattle  accepted an invitation to join the show, adding a professional and regional component to the show.

From Mud to Magic

I have three pieces in Mud to Magic this year. The show opens this Sunday, August 8th at the San Juan Community Theater, reception at 5:30. Come on by and check it out if you are on San Juan Island.

Fred Olsen will give a talk at 2:30      "How to Earn a Living While Still Being True to One's Art".

Perfect timing for me as I have been thinking about that lately, that it is difficult to find a balance or to find time to work on those creative ideas. 

Set Up and Ready to Go

A great weekend at the Summer Arts Fair. Old and new customers, sunny weather and great to be out of the studio for the weekend. Now back to the studio with the San Juan County Fair ahead mid August.

Summer Arts Fair

I will be at the Summer Arts Fair in downtown Friday Harbor this weekend.
Here is a preview:

    

Drying in the Sun

Pots drying in the sun soon to be glazed.
I am getting ready for the Summer Arts Fair this weekend in downtown Friday Harbor. A glaze firing is almost to temp and another on will follow as soon as this is cool enough to unload. I don't have as many pots as I would like for the show. It has been busy in the studio, which is good, but it leaves me slim for the fair. The good thing is pots have been selling.

Farmers Market

It was a wonderful day at the San Juan Island Farmers Market last weekend. I had a great backdrop to my table. The market brings out many local folks as well as visitors to the island. A great social event as well as a way to support local farmers and artisans.

The Studio is Open

The studio is open most days with summer under way and lots of visitors to the island. Come on in and say hello if you are visiting San Juan Island.  I have had some wonderful visitors from all over the country as San Juan Island is a vacation destination. I enjoy showing people around the studio and educating them on the process of pottery making.

Off to the San Juan Island Farmers Market today.

Back in the Studio

Back in the studio after studio tour to begin another series of pots. Pitchers, teapots, dipping bowls, and of course mugs. I can't make enough of those. This teapot is the first in a while. I'm not sure about the length of the spout. I threw this form as a demo during the tour and plan on making more to vary spout length.

Studio Tour and Puppies

Our studio tour was a huge success. Great turnout and sales and even sunshine one day. This island community is so supportive. It does all begins at home. Thank you all for coming out!

Introducing our new addition to the family. He is a sweet American Water Spaniel Puppy, 8 weeks old. I know he will be a good studio dog to welcome visitors.

New Photos

Photographing new pots today. I am very happy with the results of my last firing. lots of bright color with the whimsical black and white.

Artists' Studio Tour on San Juan Island

Busy day

Rainy studio day. Lit a fire this morning to take the chill off. What happened to spring!

Waxing pots in preparation for glazing. Detailing mug handles attached yesterday. Trimming wasabi bowls. All in a days work.

I will be at the Farmers Market tomorrow 10-1. See you there.

Kiln Opening

Good firing. Glaze melted beautifully. Love that black and white.