Well, the original plan for today was to get up and go hiking, then drive home.
But the possibility of seeing more pottery and chatting with some of the artists won out.

So we drove back up to our very first stop – Bob Briscoe’s studio. We got out and looked
around… not at all surprised by how few pots were left. It was a much slower morning
so we actually got to talk to some of the artists. Including a very nice discussion with
Bob Briscoe & Suze Lindsay. They make such great pots, and have been successful potters
for a long time, so it was great for Amy & I to spend some “quality time” with them.

We then head off to “squeeze in” a quick hike at the Interstate State Park along the river.
The weather was beautiful and it felt great to play outside for a change! But then, all too soon,
it was time to say goodbye to Amy, hop in our cars and each of us drive back to our respective
homes. Sadly, my drive is a LOT longer than hers. So I just got home a little while ago…
but knew I had to do a quick update.

But like I’ve said already… I HAVE A LOT OF PHOTOS FROM THIS WEEKEND!!!
So I am hoping to dig through them all, do a little editing, and then do some more
in-depth posts that regale our pottery adventures for the whole weekend. Stop back soon…
and relive our entire weekend playing in this weekend’s Pottery Mecca!!!

Okay, so the pottery tour started today at 10:00am… but I was still in Chicago yesterday.
Not wanting to miss any of “the good pots,” I hopped in my car at 2:00am and drove
straight through to the Minneapolis area to meet up with my friend Amy at Bob Briscoe’s
studio. We did some shopping, and lot of admiring, a bit of socializing…  and more shopping!
I’ve taken a LOT of photos and will try to get them posted in the next couple days!

My final tally today…
Matthew Metz: 1 – Suze Lindsay: 1 – Jo Severson: 4 – Ellen Shankin: 1 – Dolores Fortuna: 1
So I’m exhausted… and the funds are exhausted too!!!

But Amy did really well too…
Matthew Metz: 1 – Donna Polseno: 1 – Jenny Mendes: 1 – Shoko Teruyama: 1
Laurie Shaman: 2 – Bill Grossman: 1 -   She’s claiming that one is a gift… ha.

And still more studios to go to tomorrow… and maybe a return visit or two…

Mark your calendars… and plan a road trip for three weeks from today!
The 19th Annual St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour – May 6th, 7th & 8th
Just north of the Twin Cities along the St. Croix River by beautiful Taylors Falls.

Minnesota is know for some rich pottery culture. A lot of great potters live
and work in the Minneapolis area. And this is the perfect opportunity to visit
them in their studios, see their work, meet the artists – as well as their talented
friends who also come to their studios. There are seven incredible studios on the tour.
Each studio artist opens their location, and invites a few of their “Talented Friends”
to show their ceramic works as well. So it’s a pottery extravaganza with all of the
“big names” you’ve seen in all the galleries & Ceramics Monthly.

I am planning on going up again this year with my potter & friend Amy Higgason.
We’ve got a full schedule planned with a lot of pottery admiration, discovery &
shopping to do. With 46 talented artists on the tour, there is more than a lot to see –
and something for everyone’s taste. I can’t wait to see everything… but from looking
at the “list” on the poster, here are my personal Top Ten… in no particular order…

Okay, so maybe there is a particular order… Matt Metz (above) is my favorite.
And I already have quite the collection of his work… mugs, tumblers, jars, etc.
Can’t wait to see what’s new this year?! And now the rest… in no particular order!!

Ryan Greenheck & Suze Lindsay

Ellen Shankin & Delores Fortuna

Bob Briscoe & Donna Polseno

Steven Hill & Simon Hill

Silvie Granatelli

And the list doesn’t end there… there’s great work everywhere! And I know that Amy
will have a slightly different Top Ten… with Jenny Mendes at the top of that list!

Because not only are there the “official” stops on the tour, but there are also several
“rogue potters” in the area who also hang their shingle out by the roads. So if you want
even more pots… make sure you see some of the “undiscovered” talent in the area.

For complete tour details & map… check out the website: www.minnesotapotters.com

I’ve finally finished the last of my summer art fair applications!
They go off in the mail tomorrow… whew!.. and now my fingers are crossed!

It amazes me every season how difficult it is… every fair wants something different,
in a different format, some slides, some online, some ZAPP, blah, blah, blah…
This check, that check… and the dreaded SASE : self-addressed stamped envelope!
All that work, only now to wait for a decision on whether they want you or not.

Yesterday my family got together for the last of our Christmas celebrations,
this time with my Aunt Marilyn & cousin Kim who missed the first gathering.
Some more gifts. Some more food. Some more stories.
And one very special gift from my adorable five-year old niece Taylor!

She’s apparently been saving “supplies” in a drawer for awhile now, much to the
chagrin of her somewhat neat-nikish father Scott! But she finally made her vision
come true. With a beautiful art fair booth for me!!! Complete with snow-covered roof,
falling snowflakes, a Christmas tree and curled ribbon garlands.. that she had saved
from her Christmas presents! Adorable.

As 2010 comes to an end, it’s time to start planning for the New Year!
Which also means a new art fair schedule – and the preceding application process.
Which I hate. But I digress…

In an effort to be “ready” to tackle the art fair application process early on “next year”
I just had some pieces photographed by Guy Nicol for my applications. It’s been awhile
since I’ve had a new batch of new photos. My style has evolved a bit with some new
“bulging stamps.” Plus, I kinda started to feel really bad submitting “the same old” photos
year after year! So here’s a few new shots to whet your whistle!

After spending an entire “Mud & Metal” day with Sarah yesterday at my place…
selling, chatting, schmoozing, replenishing, drinking grape soda and just plain hanging out…
we also celebrated Christmas with a little gift exchange. Merry Christmas to me!!!

I was excited when I opened my present from Sarah to find a new addition to my
“Chapman-wear Collection”! Another beautiful necklace made just for me! With a beautiful
orange stone that she had picked out just for me. And in typical Sarah Chapman style,
this one is also double-sided so I can wear it either way – silver or bronze!

I hope she liked her gift as much as I like mine?! A pair of stamped & soda-fired mugs
plus a special ornament I purchased during the One-Of-A-Kind Show. The ornament was
made by Brad & Sundie Ruppert of “Vintage Sculpture”. They make these really great
sculptures out of recycled materials – especially bottle caps! And after a little searching,
I found the perfect ornament to celebrate Christmas and our mutual “love & admiration”
for grape soda! And now we have matching ornaments too! Follow the connection?

A couple years ago, I purchased another wonderful piece of art from Brad & Sundie Ruppert.
It’s a wonderful piece made of wood, letter blocks, wire and bottle caps! And a wonderful
motto to live by. I love it… and it makes me smile every day! I was so excited to find them
again this year at One-Of-A-Kind… and to add a little more art to my Christmas tree…
and Sarah’s tree too! Merry Christmas to the both of us!

After a wonderful day yesterday at the “Mud & Metal” Holiday Home Show…
I’d like to send out a very special thank you to everyone who came to my home yesterday!
I hope everyone had fun and scored some great holiday gifts.

The first couple hours were a little bit crazy with so many people pushing & shoving to get
the good stuff, the best bargains and first crack at the “Tired Of Shlepping Sale.” I hope
no one got hurt – and I’m sorry if I didn’t get a chance to chat with everyone! It was all
a little overwhelming… and exciting at the same time! As the day continued, things settled
down a bit and we had a great flow of people coming through all day.

Sarah and I both sold well and we would like to thank everyone who took time out
of their day to come see us. We hope everyone checked a few names off their holiday list.

Thank you for supporting local artists and shopping handmade this season.

I love my customers. I love when they are inspired by my pottery.
There’s nothing better than seeing someone walking around touching, loving, caressing…
Feeling comfortable in my home. Enjoying the holiday festivities & décor.

But earlier today, I overheard one of my customers talking to her friend…
“Being here just makes my heart feel happy.”

Which in return made my heart feel happy too. Thank you.

Well, I’ve been working all day trying to get everything back together for tomorrow’s
Holiday Home Show. It always surprises me how much time it takes to pull it all together.
The last home show was just weeks ago, and who knew that I would need to do so much work
getting ready to do it again? I guess that happens when you “live” in a pottery store!
Which is what my condo has felt like for the past month!

So everything is back together… and ready to go for tomorrow’s big sale!
Pottery in every room, bargains on the porch, snacks in the kitchen – great gifts for everyone!

Mud & Metal : A Holiday Collaboration
Saturday, December 11th from 10:00am-6:00pm
With metalsmith Sarah C. Chapman and knitter-crocheter Nancy Jana Kent.

If you need my home address to make it to the sale tomorrow, shoot me a quick e-mail
or call my cell phone for directions & details – (773) 307-8664.

So my place is all set, decked out and replenished for tomorrow’s show! I’ve made room
for Sarah & Nancy to display their pieces as well – including their own “shlepping” discounts!
I’ve even re-purposed some calla lilies & kangaroo paw for fresh floral color in the kitchen!

Okay… so I did “take a break” from setting up today to run up to Stirling Hall in Lake Forest
to see my friend Katie Biderbost who runs the art center up there. Tonight was the kick-off
night for their weekend holiday sale. Lots of fine pottery, paintings & jewelry! Sadly…
no discounted “Tired Of Shlepping Sale.” So here’s my suggestion… come to my place FIRST
and then go up to Stirling Hall, say hello to Katie when you get there and buy more art!