A new year....a new beginning

Thanks to everyone who made it out to one of the pre-Christmas shows, and especially to those who were able to make it to the open house.  Crowded as it was at times, Janet, Peter and I really enjoyed meeting you in what, hopefully, was an inviting atmosphere.  For those of you who couldn't make it at that busy time of the year and asked if I would consider having an open house in the spring or fall.....yes, I'm definitely considering it.  I'll post upcoming shows, open houses, etc. on this blog as they come up.

For the time being, you can find my pots at the 3 stores listed in the sidebar--none, unfortunately in Ottawa.  However, you can always contact me to make arrangements to come to the studio at any time of the year.

I've started experimenting with some new forms and textures and will post photos when they're ready.  I find these first months of the year lend themselves to reflection--on many levels, personal and professional.  The great thing about working with clay is that the possibilities are only bound by your imagination and determination--not quite endless possibilities, but pretty close.

Open House & Sale this Saturday, Dec. 11

It's almost the end of the year--time to clear out the studio and celebrate the year that was.  Janet, Peter and I are looking forward to welcoming friends, families, customers to my home for our annual Open House.  Come and join us for some home baking while you browse our creations.

I pretty much sold out of the $10 and under items at the Potters' Guild sale, so I spent the next week making more!   The shelves are well stocked once again with votive candle holders, egg separators, egg cups, wee sauce bowls, etc.  (you can see images of these items in an earlier Nov. post)  And I have a good selection of my full range of functional items--mugs, goblets, French butter dishes, garlic pots, bowls of all sizes, teapots, etc. etc. as well as the new landscape platters.

As usual, I will have "seconds" for sale, mostly marked down at least 50%.  These are all functional pots that were not quite up to snuff, but are still deserving of a home. 

Hope to see you Saturday!  If you need the address or more info, please e-mail me.  I'm having trouble uploading the invitation but will keep trying.....

A few more Landscape Platters

Christmas Shows!!

It's been a busy couple of months getting ready for upcoming shows.  I'm really thankful for the mild fall weather as I've been doing much of my spray glazing outdoors.  It gets pretty nippy when your hands are in and out of water throughout the process.  I look forward to setting up an indoor spray booth in the winter and moving the process inside.

The next 3 week-ends I'll be at various shows in Ottawa.  The first is the Ottawa Guild of Potters fall sale, held at the Hellenic Community Centre Nov. 25-28.  For more info. go to their website http://www.ottawaguildofpotters.ca/  I've been part of the guild off & on for about 25 years now, and am always amazed by the variety of ways that potters personalize their work with clay.  There's always something inspirational.

The following week-end, on Sat. Dec. 4 I'll be at my son's school, Fisher Park/Summit at 250 Holland Ave. for their Christmas Craft Show and Sale.  There will be over 100 vendors there from 9:30 - 3:00 with a really wide variety of crafted items and yummy food.  Last year there was a long line up for some pretty spectacular looking home baking, so get there early if you want the best selection!  Free parking, no admission and they even have a BBQ and refreshments available.

Then on Sat. Dec. 11 I'll be hosting our annual Open House, a festive event with invited guests, artist Janet Bell and photographer Peter Farris-Manning.  The 3 of us have exhibited together for quite a few years now.  It's always great to see the new works they have created and I will have lots of pottery available.  I'll post an invitation at a later date with some images and more details.

In the meantime, I thought I'd post a few images of some of the new things I've been working on.  First are some landscape platters in a variety of sizes.

I've tried overlapping glazes on some of the larger serving bowls, getting gradations of colour, similar to the kind of effect a watercolour artist may achieve.  Here are a few:

I have quite a few $10 and under items too, for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, little hostess gifts.....

Egg cups are new this year.  The eggs are clay as well, made by a Quebec potter; fun, aren't they?

Thanksgiving Pottery Show at Marlin Orchards

Doesn't this look inviting?  Marlin Orchards is brimming with lots of varieties of fresh fall apples, as well as the colourful mums and pumpkins.  Their shop is full of lots of other goodies too, including Wellesley apple butter (great stuff!) and plenty of non-food items.

The pottery show is set up in these two adjoining greenhouses.  The light is fantastic in there and there's plenty of elbow room.  The greenhouse will be filled with customers tomorrow and throughout the week-end.  Check it out if you can--Sat., Sun. and Mon. from 10-5 each day.  Marlin Orchards is 7 km. east of Cornwall on Hwy. 2 overlooking the beautiful St. Lawrence River.

Nineteen potters have spread out their wares along the greenhouse tables.  This is my crowded display. 

Country Harvest Pottery Sale in Cornwall

If you're looking for a pleasant Thanksgiving week-end outing, you might want to consider the Country Harvest pottery sale held at Marlin Orchards in Cornwall.  This will be my second year attending, along with 18 other potters, many from Montreal & Ottawa as well as the Cornwall area.  The greenhouses are perfect for displaying pottery--spacious and bright.  There are also live demonstrations throughout the week-end and a silent auction for a local charity. 

Marlin Orchards is also a great place to buy pumpkins, fresh apples and apple cider, among other things.
It's all happening Sat., Sun. and Mon., Oct. 9, 10 & 11 from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. each day.  Look for the sign for Marlin Orchards on Highway #2, 7 kms east of Cornwall.  Contact no. is 613-931-2044.

Summer Craft Shows

Summer is in full swing and I will be taking part in a couple of the many art & craft shows in the area.  First on the agenda, this Sunday, July 25 is Herbfest, which is held annually at the beautiful Herb Gardens in Almonte.  Check out their website http://www.herbfest.ca/ for specifics about this year's event.  If you are a foodie or a gardener you will love this event; if you're not, there are plenty of other activities, vendors and relaxing outdoor spaces to enjoy.  I will have some planters and landscape platters there as well as the usual range of utilitarian pots.

The following week-end I'll be in Bancroft for the annual Art & Craft Show which is held in the city's Millenium Park on Sat. July 31 & Sun. Aug. 1.  The well-known Bancroft Gemboree is going on at the same time, so there is lots to see & do in this mineral rich area of Ontario.  Details about the Gemboree and the Art & Craft Show can be seen at http://www.bancroftdistrict.com/ and click on the Events Calendar.