And another year comes to a close

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Originals in what turned out to be pretty awful weather, especially the last few days.  I look forward to being there again next year, perhaps for the full show.

In fact, thanks are due to everyone who encourages good craftsmanship by purchasing art, crafts, goods and services from the makers.  You're helping to keep skills alive!

The local CBC television station did a piece recently called "Made in Ottawa" featuring myself, a glass artist and a jeweller which you can view here:

http://fw.to/ipYHzJX

Even though they spelled my name incorrectly and prompted me to talk about getting out my aggressions by slapping clay around.....I hope you enjoy it!

Originals show

I'm at the Originals show again for the last six days, December 17-22.  Details below:

Sanaa--my annual open house Dec. 14th

Every year I schlep most of my pots into the house, invite some artist friends over to display their works, bake some Christmas cookies and open up my home to neighbours, friends and customers--a great way to get in the mood for the holidays and do some Christmas shopping too!

This week I'll be sorting through my pots and discounting the ones that aren't quite up to snuff.  There should be quite a good selection of these slightly flawed but still functional pots.

Fisher Park Community Centre Christmas Craft Sale

Looking forward to this popular community event tomorrow...literally a stone's throw from home!

Handmade Here in Westboro this Saturday

click on image to enlarge

Looking forward to this show in Kim's lovely home.  Each year this show expands a little bit.  Five of us have been exhibiting together for several years, and this year there are five new artists.  Jewellers, painters, potters, glassblowers, felters--each making beautiful, unique creations right here in Ottawa.  It will be a festive day with hot cider & treats to enjoy while customers discover the handmade treasures and visit with the artists.

Ottawa Guild of Potters Holiday Sale

It's that time of year again!  Over 40 potters will be displaying their work for sale in the bright, spacious foyer of the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans.  This year the Guild is celebrating 40 years of existence and a small gallery show at the Centre will feature works from some of those initial potters.  I think I first joined 29 years ago when I moved to Ottawa and have benefited from the Guild in many ways over the years.

It's a great place to find unique gifts--functional and/or decorative.  I'll have lots of my popular gift items--egg separators, French butter pots, mugs, goblets, brie bakers, egg cups, yarn bowls, etc.  And a good selection of large serving dishes and decorative platters.  And Christmas ornaments for your tree!

fireGifts pottery and glass sale Oct. 25-27

I'll be joining 30 other clay and glass artists this week-end at this west end pottery sale.  In addition to oval bakers (like the one pictured on the postcard) I'll have platters, vases and lots of practical dishes that you can use every day in your kitchen and dining room.  All of my work is dishwasher and microwave safe.  Details at www.fireGifts.ca

Country Harvest Pottery Sale Thanksgiving week-end

It's that time of the year again.  Tomorrow I'll be setting up my display, along with about 20 other fabulous potters in the Marlin Orchards greenhouses.  This is a lovely location on a hillside overlooking the St. Lawrence River in Summerstown, ON., about an hour and a half drive from Ottawa.  The sale runs Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 til 5 each day.  Details on their website www.marlinorchards.com

In addition to all the pottery for sale and demonstrations taking place, you can shop for fresh apples, apple cider, apple butter, spring bulbs, pumpkins, mums and lots of other autumnal pleasures.  This show is always fun to do.

Getting ready for fall sales

This time of year the studio starts to fill up with pottery.  Like craftspeople and retailers everywhere I'm preparing for pre-Christmas sales, which usually account for about half my income....No pressure!  Soon it will be a challenge to find safe places to store all the pots in process, and those ready for sale.  I'm beginning to look around my relatively small studio space with a more critical eye, thinking I really should get rid of a few things that I'm not using.  In the meantime, thought I'd post a few studio shots of the past week or two's production.

Back to Bancroft

Today we're heading back to the cabin, in time for the Bancroft Art and Craft Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday.  I think this will be my fourth year there.  Once again I'll have lots of seconds for sale--imperfect pots, perfect for cottage living!  And a good selection of my "firsts" too.

You can find me at Millenium Park on the main drag through town, Hwy. 62 north.  Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 10-4.  In addition to the 30+ artists/artisans, there is live music and an impressive quilt show in an adjacent building.  If memory serves, they usually have a draw for some of the quilted items, including a bed quilt.  I've been learning some new quilting techniques in the winter months and have a renewed appreciation for this art.  The Bancroft quilters are truly a talented bunch!

Bancroft's Rockhound Gemboree is held the same week-end--apparently it's Canada's largest gem and mineral show.  I believe they are set up in the town's community centre.  I hear that tours are available to some of the local mine sites.

Haliburton Arts & Crafts Festival

This will be my first year at the Haliburton Art & Craft Festival.  Sounds like a lovely location in the midst of one of Ontario's most popular tourist areas.  There will be lots to see and do, in addition to the approx. 150 artisans/artists.

It looks like about a one hour drive from our cabin, so the rest of the family can choose to come & go (they are absolutely essential for setting up & tearing down!)

Looking forward to meeting folks in Haliburton in a couple of weeks.

Funeral urns

Audrey & Brendan recently ordered a couple of urns.  It was lovely to meet them and know that they are planning ahead!  Hopefully their family members will be as pleased with these urns as they seem to be.

Flo Glassblowing is having a party and you're invited!

click on image to enlarge

This looks like fun.  Many of the ladies from the Handmade Here show (usually at Kim's house in Westboro) will be exhibiting and selling their work.  I plan to set up my canopy outside with my wares--and this time I'll bring an extra piece of plastic in case it looks like rain, cuz as I discovered last week-end, it leaks like a sieve!

If you have never seen how glass is blown, stop by for a demonstration.  Flo offers all kinds of classes and group experiences throughout the year, so check them out if you have more than a passing interest.  More info about their studio can be found on their website www.floglassblowing.ca

Visit the New Art Festival June 15 & 16

I'm looking forward to being part of the New Art Festival, held in the lovely, spacious Central Park in the Glebe neighbourhood of Ottawa.  It's been growing over the past 20 plus years and has become quite an incredible showcase of (mostly) local art.  I finally visited for the first time a few years ago and was really impressed with the variety, and quantity, of work and really enjoyed the atmosphere of this outdoor festival.

It's being held Saturday & Sunday, June 15 & 16, rain or shine, free admission.  More details on the website www.newartfestival.ca   You can find me at 7a Patterson on the map!

Ottawa Guild of Potters Exhibition & Sale April 11-14

This year the Ottawa Guild of Potters is celebrating 40 years!  I think I first joined 29 years ago and have been a member off & on ever since.  Hope you can join us for special celebrations at the opening vernissage on Thursday, April 11 at 6 p.m.--or stop in anytime throughout the week-end.  Potters will be demonstrating handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques throughout the sale!

New pots for Spring

I've been working on some new forms for my spring shows.  The lasagna baker is a variation on the oval bakers I've been making for a few years.  They make lovely serving dishes or you can bake right in them.  The main thing to remember with pottery is to put a room temperature pot into a warm, NOT hot, oven.

For some reason I haven't made vases for awhile....but this year I've made a few slab vases (flat-sided) and some thrown (round) ones.  They all look great with flowers in them!  (See the display photo below.)

Lasagna Baker

Vases

My display at the Westend Pottery Sale

The Westend Pottery Sale March 23 & 24

Next week-end is the third edition of the Westend Pottery Sale.  This year there are twenty-one potters displaying an amazing array of work.  The event is held in the lovely hall of the Churchill Seniors Centre in Westboro neighbourhood.  On Saturday the Westboro Beach Community Association will be offering a light lunch, desserts, coffee and tea in a small cafe on site.  On Sunday the cafe will offer baked goods, coffee and tea.  This is a delightful sale that showcases some of the best new clay creations in the region.  

For more info check out the website www.westendpotterysale.com 

Check out the Snow Goose!

Almost thirty years ago when I moved to Ottawa, one of the first places I sold my work was The Snow Goose.  Back then it was in a heritage building on Elgin St., around the corner from its current location on Sparks Street.  I'm very pleased that they have carried my work over the years when I'm in Ottawa.  You can find a selection of my pottery in their store once again.  If you haven't been, it's well worth a visit.  They have amazing art and craft work from northern Canadian communities, including Inuit sculpture, North West Coast wood carvings and jewellery.  They carry diverse work from other Canadian artists & artisans as well.  And I hear they will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year!