Summer in review (aka "Summer's over")

While I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked making pots this summer, I did sell alot of pots at craft fairs.  This year, the weather at these outdoor shows was stellar--helping to make it an enjoyable experience for artists and attendees alike.  Herbfest and the Bancroft sale were repeat performances for me and Strathcona Park was new.  A few images from each follow.

Herbfest in Almonte was a feast for all the senses.  Great food, nice music, fantastic variety of handcrafted goods  in  a relaxing environment (The Herb Garden and surrounding farm land) despite the crowds!

The Bancroft Art & Crafts guild puts on a smaller show the week-end of the Bancroft Gemboree, which brings thousands of folks to this mineral town in cottage country.  A two day event in Millenium Park.  The homemade baking on sale was a sweet bargain!

All these years in Ottawa, and I had to look up Strathcona Park on a map!  I'm usually on the bike path across the river when in this neighbourhood.  For a show in which vendors set up on a first come first serve basis, the flow of stalls alongside the meandering path works really well.  Kudos to the organizers who are raising funds for the Ottawa Mental Health Association.

Thanks to those of you who made it out to these sales.  I enjoyed being reacquainted with customers from years gone by, and making new acquaintances.

Midsummer Herbfest



NEW Camambert/Brie Bakers

 This Sunday, July 24 is the 16th Annual Ottawa Valley Midsummer Herbfest, a huge and popular festival "celebrating a healthy lifestyle".  Held on the grounds of the Herb Garden in Almonte (3840 Old Almonte Road) from 9:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m. rain or shine. 

There will be chef cook-offs, demos, herb garden tours, henna tattoos, tea sampling, music/dance, meet the author, outdoor market (100 vendors), face painting, presentations, cheese samplings and more!  Herbfest has a great new website with lots of details about this year's three participating chefs, schedule of events throughout the day, a map, etc.  Check it out at http://www.herbfest.ca/ or you can call them at 613-256-0228.

I'll be there once again with lots of pottery you can use in the kitchen or dining room--or in a special place where you can enjoy it all the time.  Sounds like the weather will be lovely for a day in the countryside.  Looking forward to meeting you there!

NEW! My pottery is now available at The Tea Party Cafe

Somehow, after all these years in Ottawa, I had not yet discovered The Tea Party Cafe, 119 York St. (near Dalhousie).  I met the owner at Artsfest last month and he invited me to sell in his cafe.  As the name suggests, there is lots and lots of  tea available--over 100 varieties!  They also carry some fair trade coffee, lots of teapots, tea and coffee paraphanalia, and now a range of my pottery too.  They have a comfie looking cafe with a relaxed atmosphere where they serve lunches and of course tea/coffee and desserts.  You can check out their website at http://www.theteapartycafe.com/

"Handmade Here" Saturday, June 18

Hope you can join the four of us for the debut of "Handmade Here" in Westboro.  Kim, the silver jeweller, will be hosting in her lovely home at 516 Brierwood from 10 - 4PM.  Gail will be showing her unique felted bags, and Lise's richly coloured paintings will grace the walls.  I'll be there with my pottery, including some of the new textured & decorated pots, a variety of small pots that would make great teacher gifts, and perhaps that perfect mug for dad's Father's Day coffee!  Hope to see you in Westboro!

ArtsPark at Parkdale Market this Saturday!

Isn't this a great poster?  This will be my first time at ArtsPark.  Sounds like a great line-up of crafters and musicians.  The newly opened & refurbished park and market are worth a visit, too.  Check out the new Field House, a joint venture selling the produce from 10 area farms.  We're enjoying the fresh eggs we picked up there last week.  Hope to see you on Saturday at the local market!

New Oval Bakers





I'm loving those geometric stamps and using several glazes together on each piece.  These bakers are about 15" L x 10" W x 3.5" D



Ottawa Guild of Potters Spring Exhibition & Sale at new location!



Potters in the lobby of the Shenkman Arts Centre




My display in the Richcraft Theatre

  

The Shenkman Arts Center is the new venue for the Ottawa Guild of Potters sales.  Thanks to all of you who made it out to Orleans to enjoy the grand and spacious facility at Shenkman.  All in all, it was a good sale, and volunteers will be busy in the coming months to tweak areas that could be improved for the fall sale.  The majority of potters were in the Richcraft Theatre (otherwise known as the Black Box Theatre, for obvious reasons) with the rest in the lobby, alongside the juried Exhbition. 



My platter that was included in the Exhibition.