Thanks for a great 2015!

2015 was a busy year, trying out a few new shows, adding some new pieces to collections, experimenting with new techniques.  Overall it's been a very good year, thanks to loyal customers and new collectors!  It's been wonderful to meet so many of you at the many, varied shows I attended.  I value your business, your suggestions and your feedback about my pottery that you've been using.  It's very gratifying to know that so many folks appreciate the qualities of handmade pottery.  Makes me anxious to get back in the studio to try out some of those new ideas.  First, though, is Christmas and a bit of a break.  Check back in January for a list of shows I'll be doing in 2016.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

ORIGINALS Christmas Craft Sale Dec.10-20

Getting ready for the last big sale of the year.  You can find me in booth #514 for the entire show with a huge selection of functional, colourful pottery.  (Monday, Dec. 14 the show is closed)

Fisher Park Christmas Craft Show and Sale

I've got a few too many of these items on my shelves, so thought I'd clear some of them out with some bargain baskets! This show is about as close to my house as you can get without being in it...I think this is my 6th year at this fun, well-attended event.

Ottawa Guild of Potters Holiday Sale Nov. 27-29

Nice to see support for local artisans!

It's been great to meet customers who are coming out to the shows, supporting local handcrafted items.  Someone said today, "it must be tiring" (maybe I looked tired.....) but my response is that it's great to meet people who are using my pots and to get feedback from them.  I get lots of solitary time in my studio.  I would never want to spend all my time in the studio, or all my time at shows; this usually feels like a satisfying mix.  Also there are often new ideas presented to me, that get the creative juices flowing.  In the new year when I'm back in my studio, I like to take the time to call up some of those ideas and try out some new directions.  

Nepean Christmas Craft Show all set up and ready for customers

Hintonburg Christmas Craft Fair

Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craft Sale

I think it's been about 20 years since I participated in this show, but I'll be back this year....this week!  In years past I had a booth in the lower level hall/rink on the ice surface.  This year I'll be upstairs in the warm carpeted environment.  I'll have new soap dispensers and oil/vinegar dispensers along.

Fall shows continue....

The first year at the Aberfoyle Potters Market (near Guelph) at the end of October was a respectable debut.  A couple of musicians entertained the customers throughout the week-end and when we were hungry, we enjoyed some amazing food from Terra et Silva.  The date/nut braided bread was particularly yummy!

Wouldn't you like to wake up to this view every day?  Thanks to everyone who came out to the Marlin Orchards pottery sale Thanksgiving week-end.  What a spectacular location overlooking the St. Lawrence River.  We're still enjoying the apples & honey I purchased there.

Pottery Sale at Marlin Orchards

Hard to believe this will be my 7th year at this lovely show in Summerstown, just east of Cornwall. Beautiful setting, beautiful pottery.  Pottery displays (over 20 potters from the region) are set up in the empty greenhouses, right beside this building (where you can get just-picked apples, pumpkins, mums, bulbs, etc. etc.)

Making, making, making.....

It's a busy month in the studio.  No shows this month, but I've been restocking the stores who carry my work and am busy filling my shelves with pots to take to fall shows, which begin Thanksgiving week-end.  Here are a few shots from the studio in the past couple of weeks.

mugs and butter pots drying

spray glazing berry bowls

finished pots ready to be unloaded from the kiln

End of Summer Shows for another year

What turned into a fine day at the Central Experimental Farm brought my summer show season to an end for this year.  It's been a good year, with only one day of steady rain and no disastrous direct hit storms, thankfully!   You never know with outdoor shows what mother nature will hand you...best to be ready for anything.  I'm already gearing up for fall shows which start Thanksgiving week-end.  For more on what I'm up to you can always check out my facebook page.  Like it and share it with friends!

Art on the Farm

Last summer show of the season!  Art on the Farm is a little gem of an outdoor show at the Arboretum.  I'll be there Saturday 10-4.

Art in Strathcona Park this Saturday

Art in Strathcona Park is organized every year by the Mental Illness Caregivers Association (MICA) here in Ottawa.  I'll be there Saturday from 10 til 4, along with over 100 other vendors of art and crafty things.

Bancroft Summer Show

I'll be at this show once again on the week-end.  Also in Bancroft at the same time--the popular Rockhound Gemboree.  Lots of activities to take in--something for everyone!

Haliburton Tent City

Thanks to everyone who came out to make the Haliburton show such a pleasure to participate in.  Even stormy weather on Saturday couldn't keep folks away.  I'm discovering there are lots of nice B&B's in the area and we ate at a great restaurant in town that's under new management.  A few pics from the show....

Haliburton Art & Craft Festival

The pots are packed, now it's time to pack my bags and some food.  When the guys get home from work, we'll load up the truck and head back to cottage country, this time for the Haliburton Art & Craft Festival. Beautiful location for a summer show, bordering on a river and a lake.

Muskoka Arts and Crafts Festival this week-end

One more glaze firing tonight before packing up and heading off to Bracebridge later in the week for the Muskoka Arts and Crafts Festival.  I've heard good things about this show and the setting looks lovely in the midst of cottage country.  Looking forward to it!

Oval Bakers

Making lots of pots before the summer shows start.  Assembled some oval bakers yesterday.  I throw a ring for the side walls, roll out a slab for the bottom.  Usually I set the oval walls on top of the slab bottom overnight, cover it, then assemble the next day.  Handles are pulled, attached, then a variety of textured stamps are used on the sides--some geometric, some spiral.  The next day I trim the bottom & sponge clean.  Here's part of the process.

Lotus flower vases complete

Remember those lotus flower vases?  Well, I bisque fired them, glazed them...

then waxed the glazed parts....

then spray glazed the rest of them....

and finally glaze fired them...

I'll bring at least one of them along to the New Art Festival.

Next up: The New Art Festival June 20-21

Looking forward to my third year at this festival in the Glebe.  This is a large show with some truly amazing and diverse artwork.  Check out facebook.com/newartfestival for sneak previews of some of the things you'll find.

This week-end I'm glazing some new large vases and platters that I'll bring along with me.  I'm in booth #135 on Clemow across from Patterson Creek.  Here's a map that may help http://thenewartfestival.ca/uploads/3/0/3/0/3030720/tnaf_2015_map_web.jpg

Potters Market May 30-31

I just fired up the kiln for the last overnight firing before packing up for this pottery extravaganza in Guelph this week-end.  It looks like this year's sale is even bigger, with potters coming from all over Ontario, and a few beyond.  I'm sure I'll come home with a few treasures myself!

The setting is the ruins of an old mill along the Speed River.  Apparently an episode of Murdoch Mysteries is currently being filmed there, so there may be a few period props around in addition to pottery.

Large vases in process

I just spent pretty much the whole day gardening on Victoria Day.  My little tomato bed needs a rest so I planted some daisy and aster seeds.  Hopefully I'll have some cut flowers to use from the garden for my summer craft shows.  I'll need alot to fill these guys....I made a couple of large vases last week (made in 3 pieces) and added some sprigs of lotus flowers.  The sprigs are a bit on the thick side for my liking and I'm still trying to figure out how they should be glazed.

Potters' Guild Exhibition

Here are a few shots of the exhibition at the spring Potters' Guild show.  Sorry, no photos of the juror, much respected potter/clay artist from North Bay, Keith Campbell.  

The seven pieces you see here are most of the prize winners. Click on photo to enlarge.

Each potter can submit up to 3 pieces or sets for jurying.  I was pleased to see that two of mine were included.  This set of 4 humble espresso cups made the cut, as did the greenish platter you can just see in the back on the left (see photo in previous post)

This tea set by Jen Drysdale won an award.  As Keith said, (I'm paraphrasing....) Jen makes pots for potters.  They represent a high level of skill that shines through in these wood fired gems.  Lovely.

New platters

Just out of the kiln--a couple of large, sumptuous platters with slip trail decoration

Ottawa Guild of Potters Sale at Landsdowne Park

The tulips are starting to bloom, and it looks like a great spring week-end ahead for the Ottawa Guild of Potters spring sale and exhibition, now in the recently renovated Horticulture building at Landsdowne Park.  I hear there will be Ikebana demonstrations during the sale too.

Spring Flowers for a Spring Show

Thanks to everyone who made it out to the Originals spring show. You had to compete with our first beautiful spring weather this year, so I'm especially grateful that you helped make it another good show.   It's always great to meet folks who are using my pottery.  I especially love hearing about the unexpected, creative ways you are using it!

Originals Spring show starts Thursday!

Tomorrow I'll be setting up my booth (#107) at the EY Centre for another Originals Spring show.  I'll have lots of vases for spring flowers, serving & baking dishes of all kinds, and of course lots and lots of mugs, butter pots and yarn bowls!  Details at www.originalsshow.ca 

Photos from Westend Pottery Sale

What a glorious week-end for the Westend Pottery Sale!  It's beginning to look & feel like spring.  Here are a few photos from this year's show, at the start of day two.