Technical difficulties resolved… and now retroactively catching up!

After an INCREDIBLE morning bike ride, it was back to the studio to continue
production for the holidays. After a few days of drying (or a few hours if you’re
a mask) it was into the electric kiln for another bisque firing. Luckily, I had some
extra time which allowed for a few hours of preheating before the kiln kicks into
full firing mode. So it will give the “ever-so-slightly-so-damp” masks a chance to dry!

Layer One: Two new masks, ornaments and a lot of tiles “protecting” the masks
from drying too quickly by the electric elements.

Layer Two: Two more masks, more ornaments and more “protective” tiles!

Layer Three: Bowls, mugs, votives, and a few more ornaments here  & there…

Layer Four: Bowls, tumblers, wall pocket vases and some tripods!

Tripods you say?!… what are they going to be for you may ask?
Well, my plan is to bisque them, dip the tips in kiln wash and then “perch” my ornaments
onto them in the soda kiln. Hopefully, they will give me some good exposure in the kiln
on all sides of the ornaments without needing to wad each of them individually. At least
that’s my plan… we’ll see…

So I’ve been working on a “new” item for the holidays…
somewhat “traditional” wheelthrown, soda-fired Christmas ornaments made out of clay!
I’ve been working on a batch of twenty… and I’m not sure if I’ll have time to make more
OR if this batch is even going to work?! It’s still very much a “work in progress.”
So at this point, it’s looking like these 20 may be considered a “limited edition.”

So I still need to decorate them more, add the tops to hang them by… and figure out
how they’re even going to be placed in the kiln for firing?! Still a lot of work… and still
VERY much a work in progress! But I’m excited… and hoping to have them ready
in time for my next soda kiln… which is firing off two weeks from today!

Today I packed up and sent off over fifty new pieces to Louisville, Kentucky!
One of the galleries that sells my work was looking for more… and luckily for me,
one of their people were visiting Chicago and they offered to come and pick up my work!
So I didn’t even need to ship anything?! Could it be any easier?

Gallery Janjobe is located in the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center in
Lousiville, Kentucky. They’re mission is “Offering Art With Attitude”… and I’m pleased
to have my work on display there. I’ve been part of their gallery now for four years…
and looking to continue for many years to come! I love giving them “art with my attitude”!
So if you’re ever in Louisville, be sure to stop by!

Gallery Janjobe
1860 Mellwood Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40206
(502) 899-9293  *  www.galleryjanjobe.com

After a beautiful (yet windy) afternoon of riding…
I went back to the studio this evening for some more fun… and more stamping!
Including another batch of mugs, this time made with B-Clay for the back of the kiln!

And there’s never enough bowls, right?
But don’t ask my Mom, she already thinks I have FAR too many bowls in inventory!

Plus, after a lot of stamping… I also cleaned my studio. Long overdue.
Okay, let’s not get crazy. There’s still a LOT to do. But I did make some good headway.
And, prepared another great surprise for my class this coming Tuesday night.
It’s going to be a big night of demos catching up from last week’s impromptu night
with Amy Higgason. So it’s going to be a night of plates, ovals and lidded jars!
And a special surprise “treat”…

So I’ve finally scheduled my next soda kiln firing for Wednesday, November 10th.
Now I’m trying to make all of the work I’ll need to fill it. And to be ready for
my Holiday Home Show which is now just four weeks away! So tonight I stamped,
and stamped, and stamped… larger bowls and smaller cups to become votives.
Looks like tomorrow I might have a LOT of trimming to do?!

Another productive day at the studio.
Had to do something with all those cylinders, huh?!
So I turned them into mugs over the course of this afternoon.

Cylinders stamped. Next step… trimming of the bottoms.

Handles pulled. Setting up a bit waiting to be attached…

Handles attached. Now they look like actual mugs!!!

Slip accents painted. Mugs finished… now drying for an upcoming bisque kiln!

Another night at the studio…
and another batch of wall pocket vases ready to be stamped & finished!

After a couple weekends of playing in the beautiful Fall colors…
and riding a few miles here & there… then spending time in the storage room…
I had a sudden bit of panic attack when I came to the realization that Summer
is definitely over, Fall is officially here and the holidays are right around the corner!
In fact, “My Home For The Holidays” Home Show is just five weeks away!

So, after an “enjoyable”  morning at the DMV – I went straight to the studio
to try and get back into full-on production mode! Of course, you have to clean the
place first. Then you need to do a little chatting. Maybe a little lunch.
And some more cleaning. Before you can actually get down to throwing pots!

After spending a lot of time in the storage room determining what inventory
to make… I was still a little overwhelmed by what needs to be done… especially
with just five weeks to get it all done. So what did I do?…

Mugs of course… or at least the starting cylinders for a new batch of mugs!

So while all the photos make it look like all I did was play in the woods…
keep in mind that Amy’s pottery sale was three days – Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Friday was good… Saturday was spectacular… and Sunday was slower.
So we like to focus on Saturday!!!

It was Amy’s biggest one day sale EVER!!! She did incredible. So much fun!!!
Lots of great people stopping by to admire her work, start their “Amy Collection”
and hang out around the campfire getting to know everyone. Saturday was a lot of fun
for everyone. We were all exhausted by the end of the day… but oddly exhilarated
that her inventory was so depleted!!!

So once we were all set up Friday morning, we were ready for the customers!
There were 26 stops on the art tour… Amy was tour stop #14. Also joining Amy,
was her special guest artist Katlyn Koester. Amy met Katlyn several years ago
when she was working at a local Northwoods art center. Katlyn was s student then,
and she has now graduated from colege with her BFA in ceramics. She’s a “youngster”
starting out on her journey… and Amy has been her “mentor” for a few years!

Soon the customers were arriving and taking time to enjoy & appreciate Amy’s beautiful work.
The day was a bit chilly, and a little rainy here & there, but the customers continued to come!
So we were ready… three potters ready to greet the public. Enjoying the fall weather,
bundled up and trying to keep warm… and dry as the drizzle kept coming in & out.

The pots were priced. The campfire was going… good for keeping warm while we enjoyed
the fall colors just off Amy’s driveway. And amy was keeping her tea warm by the fire
in one of MY mugs!!! A little cross-marketing & support between artists never hurts!

But more importantly… the s’mores were ready to be toasted as well…
yes, that was my contribution; I was in charge of the s’mores! That’s the least I could do!
And yes… we had to “try them out” for quality control and all… We were actually offering
up “gourmet s’mores” – traditional Hershey’s, Ande’s Mints or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!
Perfect for the kids… and the kids at heart! Some “into it” more than others…

The actual tour was great. We met a lot of great people who stopped by Amy’s studio.
Many of them were quite impressed by Amy’s work, and Katlyn’s too. I was quite excited
to see a couple of my friends stop by as well. My “very first” art fair friends ever came up
for the weekend… and they live in Peoria, Illinois! Luckily, they have family in Stevens Point,
Wisconsin… so they decided to come up a bit further and “share the love.” Very fun.
They are always so energetic & supportive. Also, one of my Lillstreet students came by with
her husband Pat. They have a cabin up in the Northwoods and were more then ready to
visit and “start” their very own Amy Higgason Collection!!! Pam was so excited to see the
intricate patterns, carvings & colors of Amy’s work. As a relative “newbie” in her wheel
throwing journey, Pam understands the work that goes into it… and was quite impressed!
In fact… after a long time admiring Amy’s work, it was Pam’s husband who declared that
“Amy’s work is more feathery, and mine is more foot-printy.”

On Sunday, the tour slowed down a bit and the customers trickled in a little slower.
While I took the opportunity to go for a bike ride, Amy took the opportunity to do some
demonstrating of her process – making some nice textured plates.

By the end of the weekend, were were all pretty well exhausted…
and at the end of the day on Sunday, it was time for Amy & Katlyn to ring the “closing bell.”

Sadly, Amy has decided to make this her last year of participating in the “official”
Northwoods Art Tour. She has been instrumental in the implementation & graphic design
of the tour. Unfortunately, her volunteer efforts were taking up too much of her time & energy –
so she has decided to bow out of next year’s tour. And possibly establish her own
“Pottery Event” for next Fall with some of her local art friends… and who knows?…
there’s a chance I may get to join her in the festivities next year?!

So Amy will not be leaving the Northwoods, she will not be quitting the pottery biz…
but she will be making more incredible pots and trying to find new ways to get it out there
to her “adoring public.” If you happen to see her Pigeon Road Pottery sign out on the road
be sure to stop by!