Steve Schaeffer Dec 5-6 Toquerville Holiday Sale.

Steve Schaeffer will be here for our Holiday Sale. The next day he leaves for Italy to attend the prestigious Venice Biennial. It's an honor to have such high caliber artists exhibiting here in Toquerville. He was here last year and his work was well received. So come early and be sure to leave with some of his beautiful art.

Danny Crump at the Holiday Sale December 5-6

Young Danny is currently at the Missoula Clay Center http://www.theclaystudioofmissoula.org/ where he's their resident artist for a year. He lived with us for two summers, made work and helped me fire kilns. We're excited to have him here at this year's sale. Our kids consider him their older brother and we like it that way.

Holiday Sale December 5-6

Here are two more that just came out of Dan Anderson's "Mounds Anagama". This is his work and these two will be at the Toquerville Pottery Holiday Sale. He'll be giving a slide lecture at SUU and a day of demonstrations the 3rd and 4th of December, then down here for the sale.

Toquerville Pottery Holiday Sale is Coming.

This piece was made By Dan Anderson from Illinois. It and Dan will be here for our Holiday Sale.

This year Dan Anderson, my grad professor from Illinois, Jason Hess from NAU, Steve Schaeffer from Nau and Danny Crump will be here with their great work. We empty out the front two rooms of our house and fill it with great ceramic art. Come see and buy some of the best ceramics in the country here in little ol' Toquerville, December 5-6, 10 am to 5pm

Go to my website and sign up for our newsletter and I'll send you more information about the artsists.http://www.toquervilleclay.com/

Opening at the Plinth

This is our life and on this road trip with the kids, from Toquerville to Denver to Durango and back, I began to think about what this life is doing to/for our kids. It seems to me that it's a pretty extraordinary life. We take the kids to openings, we have art sales here at the house where they get to meet other great artists and patrons. Lori make gourmet meals almost every night and we make dinner around the table a priority. We introduce them to interesting and somewhat challenging music and they are all taking and engaged with music lessons.

This is our life, and to me it seems normal. But I suspect that it's not. While we don't have tons of money, we still provide our kids with as much experience as possible. As a result, we are starting to notice that the kids are engaged with their world and are eager to explore new things. From Denver we drove to Durango and spent the night with Lorna Meaden and after the visit with her, I was glad that we have relationships with extraordinary people living creative and interesting lives.

I love this picture of Brynn, striking a pose in front of the Plinth Gallery. There's the universe and then there's Brynn, smack in the middle. For our kids the extraordinary is pretty ordinary.

Plinth Gallery

Show Title, "I Want More and Then Some". October 2-30. Opening Friday, October 2, 6-9. I'll be at the opening, I hope my Denver friends can make it.

These came out of the kiln last night. I had to unload with gloves on so Mitch could take the photo's.

We're loading these and more in the car and driving half the show to Denver. We're looking forward to the trip.http://plinthgallery.com/

Thoughts from a Five Year Old

So little Ella and I are having lunch together today, left over beans, chicken and rice and she says to me "dad, I want to be buried by you." I didn't know what she meant so I asked her "buried?" "yea, when I die, I want to be buried by you". Talk about bringing my age and this temporal existence into focus unexpectedly. Her innocent and out of the blue statement brought me to tears. After a productive morning in the studio I didn't expect a dose of reality from my five year old. It was so cute and innocent that whatever I said would probably be inadequate. I asked, what if we were buried next to Jake (the dog) beneath the fig tree? She thought that would be nice. Then I said, "the roots of the tree can bind us together".

She then fed me the chicken from her plate because she only liked the beans and rice.

Zion National Park Tunnel Walk

When I was a kid, we'd drive up here from Palm Springs, California for vacation. At the time, you could stop in the tunnel to look out of the windows. These days, no stopping is allowed and they put curbs in to block the pull outs. For the 100th anniversery of Zion National Park, they closed the tunnel to traffic and allowed 300 people to walk through. I was one of the bus drivers that transported the walkers to the upper end of the tunnel. (the guy in the lower right is the owner of the recorded voice that you hear if you're taking the shuttle to one of the trail heads in the main canyon)

Above is a view from one of the turnout openings.

Exiting the lower end.

Exiting the lower end of the tunnel.

Another view from the turn out.

Carbondale Clay National Juried Exhibit

This canister was accepted into the Carbondale Clay National. I haven't entered a juried show in years. I wanted to mix it up with my peers. http://www.carbondaleclay.org/

Two Red Hares

The last time I used this red glaze it bubbled and blistered. I put off glazing these two for a long time as I was dreading a repeat of the last firing. So this time I thinned the glaze a bit and applied one extra coat so that it was thinner overall but more evenly covered. I kept the firing temp the same and at 1am I went to the studio, read the instructions on the glaze bottle and lowered the temp by a cone. I opened the kiln after several hours of anticipation and was pleased the buttery, lush surface that was achieved. If I didn't know better, I'd say the glaze looks like red leather.

The top Hare goes to Eric in Virginia, the bottom one is destined for the Plinth Gallery http://plinthgallery.com/ in Denver for a solo show this October. I'm very hopeful and encouraged. Ceramics can be such a heartbreaking mistress with all the variables that can go wrong during the long process to completion.

Navajo Lake(Great Mountain Biking)

Leaving my studio for vacation is difficult, but necessary, both for my kids and my mental health. My feeling about leaving for vacation reminds me of when I was a kid and my dad would throw a temper fit before we left for our vacation. I resented him for ruining it before we even left the driveway. Us kids would be in the car while my dad would check and double check the yard and house. We'd be on the road for an hour or two before he mellowed, cheered and got into the trip.

On the way home yesterday, little Ella was wining and complaining and I said, "if you don't stop, I'm going to chip a tooth from gritting my teeth like my dad did when I was kid", I was referencing the time when I sat behind him when we were in the 1970ish four door Toyota Corolla. He reached around to smack me and missed and chipped a tooth. Of course it was my fault, if hadn't been "grabassin'" he wouldn't have been forced to grit his teeth. Lori said "that sounds like a parenting problem to me". We all had a good laugh at the irony and my tooth is still in one piece.

I have a feeling that my daughter Brynn (holding the hare below) is just like me when I was her age, she drives me crazy with her incessant energy and pestering.

I have a solo show looming in October in Denver at the Plinth Gallery. That's about seven weeks away. With work, family and exercise, my studio time is limited. I have enough work for the show, but I also have enough ideas to fill the gallery with new work. The day we left for Navajo Lake, I was at work for 5 days driving the Zion Shuttle, then 4 days in the mountains on vacation, then home again for two more days in Zion and that ads up to 10 days without any productive studio time. This afternoon I spent a few hours glazing two hares, one for my friend in Virginia and one for the Plinth, still not enough time.
When I was in grad school, Dan Anderson(my professor). said to me when preparing for my thesis show that "it doesn't get any easier when you graduate." It's true, deadlines approach, I stress and end up getting the work made. It's just a little more complicated now that I'm juggling everything else too.

Feedback from Friends

I sure like it when I get feedback on where my work ends up. These tiles reside in Davis, CA. Thank you all for your support and thank you for your friendship. Here's what Veronica has to say....

Dear Russell,

I am not sure if you remember us, but we visited your home studio last May '08, when my mom and I purchased your lovely tiles! I couldn't wait to get home and find the perfect place for them. Unfortunately, I waited an entire year but I designed our front yard landscaping to include the tiles. I have attached a couple of photographs for you to check out. All of our family, friends and neighbors love the tiles and comment on their colors, patterns, and uniqueness. They remind me of Utah and your beautiful home and studio.

Budding Talent

Here is Eli, 12, practicing his violin. He started several years ago and it was a bumpy start. He complained and cried about going to lessons and practicing, so we let him quit for about 6 months until he got a little older. Today is his last day with Robin Keith, she's only qualified to teach the violin to book 4 of the Suzuki method (she is a cellist). We're onto a new teacher who is a violinist and plays for the local symphony.
It's interesting to listen to him play the movements of "Concerto in A Minor" by Vivaldi and remember when it wasn't long ago that he was struggling with "The Twinkles".

Part of the charm of our house gallery is that returning customers and friends get to see our kids grow in talent and stature. This is not your typical retail experience, but I dare say it's more rewarding. You get a local(back yard) hand made vessel and you know exactly where your hard earned money is going, ie. music lessons for the kids etc.

Canisters

We unloaded the kiln last Saturday and I finally had time to take pictures yesterday.

I made a series of canisters/jars for this last firing and for the first few I made the typical round flat rim. Then about 2/3rds through the series, I came up with the idea to cut the rim and and simplify the body.

The lid handle is made by throwing a long ribbed tube that I cut off the hump and fold over onto itself. The ribs then distort into an intersting shape.

These three were the most successful out of the series. I'm going to make more to see how I can exploit the more successful aspects of the these pieces.

Not All Bad.

This vase came from my last soda firing and I am very pleased. I've made a few of these in the past and finally found the right glaze to fit the form. I have always used orange slip and sigillata on the top section with the hope that the kiln will create the dynamic surface that is unique to soda firing, but the bottom section eluded me.

I love this metallic glaze. I've used several metallic glaze recipes in the past but this one seems to work the best for me. No running or blistering.

These vases take awhile to complete. I throw the bottom section separately, then push out from the inside and paddle in from the outside to create the irregular/organic shape. I add the legs and carve away until it looks right. I then throw the upper section and connect it. After it dries a bit I return to delineate the connection. There are four more in the studio that are bisqued, waiting to be fired.

Not all was perfect. All these tumblers will have to be thrown away. The glaze that I used successfully so many times in the past blistered badly. There were a few that worked out, but most of the kiln load will have to go to the pottery graveyard. Sometimes ceramics breaks my heart.

Summer Time Tumblers

I usually don't make tumblers, but I have started to really enjoy summer beverages, so I decided to make a few. Here I am mixing the glaze, it's an icy blue green color, perfect glaze for an icy, summer time beverage. Notice the wet shirt. I dunk my head in the kids pool and let the breeze from the swamp cooler keep my core cool.

I'm dipping the tumbler in the glaze, bringing the glaze to the rim and not letting it overflow into the interior. The tumbler is already lined with a shiny white glaze.

I'll be unloading the soda kiln full of tumblers tomorrow and posting them on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6382559 by Sunday. Hopefully it's a good firing, check it out to see.

New Pet

We have some neighbors that let their rabbits go free because they were tired of taking care of them. They're not too bright and are irresponsible people(all cute Easter bunnies grow up). So of course they found their way to our yard and garden. This one was pretty easy to catch, I just picked him up by the scruff. The other one is a bit more skittish and we caught him when he entered my studio and we were able to scare him into a makeshift trap. Lori made them a hutch and now we have two new pets.
Now that we have them housed and fed, the neighbor girls want to take ownership again. Their parents should have taken responsibility and built them the proper hutch instead of some on the ground, maggot infested cage. The maggots are why they let them go. Lazy!
The girls love them.

Summer Harvest

Basil from our garden. Thank you Lori for growing it. Tonights pesto. Also, the first tomato of the summer, bigger than my fist. Bagle, cream cheese and a home grown tomato is what I like.

Portland, Oregon Solo Exhibit

I'm having a solo show at the Beet Gallery in Portland Oregon. Some new work and slightly older work that still has a heart beat. I'm glad to be showing my work in the great city of Portland. Thank you Sandy for inviting me.http://beetgallery.com/exhibits.html

Figs For Sale

The young fig entrepreneurs setting up for business. They did pretty good today, $15. A German and a Brit among others enjoyed the fresh figs on their way to Zion. Four for a dollar.

St. George Farmer's Market

I'll be at the St George Farmer's Market tomorrow the 27Th of June selling mugs and jugs and maybe some figs if there are some ripe ones in the morning. I'm hoping to attend several times this summer with new work each time. Come by and see what's new.

Broken Hare

One of the hazards of working with ceramics. When a box gets smashed in shipment, fired clay will not survive. Set backs like this make me rethink my decision to use ceramics as an art making medium.

Chicken Wrangling

Wrangling the chickens from my studio and kilns.

Returning the escapee back to its new yard.

Our young chickens are finally doing their job, that is laying eggs consistently and giving Ella the opportunity for some chicken wrangling. I love that she can run around the yard barefooted chasing the chickens.

We like our chickens to roam and scratch and peck the bugs and grubs in the garden, but they spend more time exploring my studio and kilns while making chicken messes where ever they go. I decided my studio should remain a studio and not double as a barn, so we built a small yard for them outside of the original enclosure, under the sun.

1956 Camp Trailer

We purchased this camp trailer about 5 years ago to house Danny, our first (and last)Toquerville Clay resident artist. This spring we took it in to the mechanic to get it fixed up for the road, bearings repacked and tail lights fixed. We purchased some new rubber and now we're rollin'. Last weekend we camped at Red Cliffs Campground. The kids loved climbing on the rocks while the old man enjoyed a G and T with the bride.

The end of the month, you'll find us at Navajo Lake where supposedly exists the best mountain bike single track in the country. We shall see.

Soda Kiln Firing

Here is some of the process of loading and firing the soda kiln. The kiln that I fire the most is small, so that I can turn over the work fast and respond to glaze and firing applications. This was a good firing for the most part. Some glazes didn't do what I expected, but maybe if I wait awhile, I'll come around.
The picture of me stacking the door shows the scale of this particular kiln. I have a larger soda that takes two days to glaze and load, plus a reduction kiln.
The last picture is of me squirting in the baking soda that is dissolved in water. The soda solution interacts with the silica in the clay and turns it to glass. The soda also helps create flashing and flame patterns.

Teaching Again

After grad. school and before we moved here, we lived in Denver. I taught adjunct ceramics at three different colleges there. When we moved here I gave up my teaching aspirations, and for the last 8 years, I've been a studio artist and part time bus driver to varying degrees of financial success.

Then 8 months ago the economy crashed and I panicked.

I called Susan Harris that teaches at Southern Utah University in Cedar City to see if there were any teaching opportunities and, if there were, I'd like to teach 3D Design. There were two classes available and I took them both. My initial interest in teaching again was financial, but it didn't take long for me to remember how intellectually stimulating academics is.

These wire projects were rendered by my 3D Design students from last semester. I found them to be very intriguing and amusing.

Mold Made Hare

Here is the mold made hare sculpture. It took me about 10-15 hours to finish instead of 50-60. The mold that I produced from the broken piece wasn't perfect, there were undercuts which distorted the finished product. When I pulled the body sections from the mold, they required only minor repairs due to the imperfections in the mold. It's like putting together a puzzle. Also, I didn't make a mold of the ears, so they have to be created from a slab of clay.

I'm now drying this sculpture on a kiln shelf and when it's dry, I'll place the sculpture and the shelf in the kiln together.

I have two other hares almost completed. I'll make molds of these two sculptures also. Eventually, I'll have several molds and I'm hoping the parts will be interchangable.

Since the pieces are finished in less time, I'll be able to take some risks with the glazing and explore some new surfaces. I see some aesthetic doors opening.

Jammed Up

This bisque kiln has been sitting like this for four days now. My plan was to be in the middle of a glaze/soda fire today and have the tiles finished by now. The "broken hare" and the subsequent mold making adventure set me back a few days. Also, the show at the Beet Gallery in Portland Oregon is stressing me out a bit as I want the broken hare to be included in the show. I wish I could do more than one thing at a time. I have too many interests and sticks in the fire.

Broken Hare and a New Mold

After working on this piece for 50 or so hours, I loaded it in the kiln and broke the two front legs off. This was an important piece, I felt as though I made some technical, conceptual and aesthetic progress, so to break the piece before it was fired was truly heart breaking. After a few days mourning the loss, I decided to make a mold of the broken hare.

I cut it into pieces, then poured plaster around the parts. It took me two days to make the molds since my skills are limited. (Why didn't I pay closer attention during that mold making workshop?) Anyway, after the molds dried in the desert sun, I pressed clay into the negative created by the cut up pieces. I now have a new piece put together. It's not finished, it needs to be cleaned up, but I'm only 3 hours into it which previously would have taken me 15-20 hours had I started from a fresh bag of clay. I'm looking forward to making some molds of more pieces as I finish them. Maybe I can make 4-6 a month instead of one. I'll post pics of the piece in progress later.

Zion National Park Shuttle

When we first moved here from Denver, I got a job baking bread, driving school bus and finally Lori read a job announcment in the paper for shuttle drivers for Zion National Park. We filled out the ap. and sent it in. I interviewed and got the job. Eight years ago, I started as a full time driver and three season's ago I went part time. This summer, I drive two days a week as my focus is the ceramics studio. This has been a great job and the folks I work with and for are easy to get along with. The job is seasonal and part time, so I get plenty of time in the studio and make a few dollars to help pay the bills. Plus, I get to look at the beautiful landscape all day and hang out with passengers that are on vacation.

I met these two ladies several years ago while driving the shuttle and they return each year from Florida. I just happened to see them today waiting to catch the shuttle from the Lodge to the Temple of Siniwava. It's fun to meet and see folks that return each year.

Coming Soon, Opal Moon Cafe

This is a picture of the soon to be "Opal Moon Cafe", taken from our front yard. Soon, the first of July, you'll be able to come to Toquerville and get a hot beverage or a savory meal and walk across the street and see and buy the latest pottery, tile and sculpture made by me, here in little ol' Toquerville.

Also, Noel Logan has recently retired and is now a full time sculptor and jeweler. He'll be here too. So you can visit him and see and buy his latest work.

We're thrilled to no longer be the only thing in town. Thank you Sebastian for working so hard to get the "Opal Moon Cafe" up and running. I can't wait to walk across the street for my morning cup.

Upcoming Mother's Day Sale

We are filling our shelves with handmade pottery and jewelry in anticipation of our Mother's Day Sale on Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, 2009 from 11-4 both days. The sale will take place in Toquerville at our gallery and studio. There is a map on the right hand side of your screen for directions.

This year we have the work of myself, Danny Crump and Noel Logan. Danny Crump was our first artist in residence in Toquerville. He worked and lived in our 1950's camp trailer for two summers and sold his work out of our gallery. He has since gone on to undergraduate school in Logan, Utah at Utah State University where he just recently graduated with his B.F.A. He will have functional, wood fired pots.

Noel Logan is a sculptor who lives in Toquerville and owns Toquerville Bronze Works. He has a foundry in his backyard and has recently retired from archaeology to spend full time on his sculpture and jewelry. He sculpts his own wax molds and pours his own bronze and silver to make wonderful pieces of jewelry and unique sculpture.

I just returned from Phoenix where I participated in two sculptural shows and gave two presentations about my work. I have been busy trying to change gears and make functional pottery in my studio since I returned two weeks ago. I will have large jars and a new kiln load of functional ware on my shelves for the sale.

Lori will have homemade goodies to share throughout the two day sale so consider coming to Toquerville for the Mother's Day weekend and taking part in our handmade art sale. Local, original art...it doesn't get much better than that.

Don Reitz and Hide and Seek

Last year, at the Toquerville Clay Annual Holiday Sale, after all the artists arrived, our three kids were hyped up on all the activity and were playing hide and seek. I heard Brynn's muffled giggle and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I followed the laughter to a Don Reitz pot that I own(because of a fire brick trade we made years ago). She climbed in and stayed there till I lifted the lid. This is a valuable piece of pottery, so I hesitate to allow it to be a hiding spot, but it is darn cute and I like the idea of a Don Reitz pot being reinvented for another use.

Potters as Sculptors as Potters

This sculpture and pitcher were in the "Potters as Sculptors as Potters" show at NCECA. It's always an honor when my work is exhibited along side artists that I've admired for so long. I was also on a panel of the same name with 4 other artists; Donna Polseno, Doug Casebeer and Liz Quackenbush along with Jim Ibur as the moderator.

We each had 10 minutes to show slides of our work and tell about ourselves. I had a speech ready to go before we arrived on stage. Then the opening line, "I have two mistress' " entered my thoughts and so 5 minutes before I stood at the lecturn, I changed my presentation entirely. I don't remember what I said, but I feel pretty good about it. It was flattering and an honor to be on a panel with such distinguished artists.

Lorna Meaden and the economy

I was talking to Lorna the other day and I mentioned something like, "How dare we try to be potters in this recession, who do we think we are?" She said something that caught me off guard, "I think it's great, we've learned how to be resourceful out of necessity and now everyone else gets to learn how to live like us, within their means".

This is a picture of her work in my kiln from a year and a half ago when she came to our Holiday Sale. It was a pretty good firing.

Look her up, she makes fine dishes.

In the Works

Three sculptures in various stages of completion. I almost gave up on the left one, too complicated and time consuming. The middle one is dry and ready to bisque then glaze. The one on the right is still giving me fits. I'll attach the arms after I figure out some technical and aesthetic issues with the lower half.

Hand Made Tile

When we moved into this house 8 years ago, the updates were cheaply done. Originally, there were no bathrooms in this house so we're grateful for the indoor plumbing, but it could have been done better. Currently our shower is down stairs in what was once the pantry. The previous owner chose the cheapest solution and after 8 years, it has run its course. So we're removing the shower downstairs all together and replacing it with a sink and putting in a shower upstairs where it should have been from the beginning.

I made these tiles with the help of my bride and kids. It takes a lot longer than I expected and with sculpture exhibit dead lines looming, I'm finding it difficult to focus on finishing the job. We have all the tiles made, I just need to glaze and fire them. When the shower is finished, the tiles will be placed where the backer board is installed. I like the wiggly, uneven quality of the hand made.

We have a wonderful installer who is doing our remodel and happens to be our neighbor and friend as well. Nate Torgerson is the guy you want if you need anything done to your home. He has great ideas, works quickly and efficiently and is great to have around.

Hare-arss

Two pics of a piece I've been working on. If it survives the firing etc, it will be at a show in Phoeniz, AZ for this year's NCECA. My daughter Brynn(8) giggles at this sculpture everytime she comes into the studio.

Two Pitchers/Jugs

These two were set aside from the last soda firing. I'm sending them to Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana today. www.redlodgeclaycenter.com Lots of great work up there. Check out their website.

Thank you to all

The Holiday Sale was a success. I had low expectations in terms of sales with the economy such as it is, so 15% less than last year was OK by me. All the artists left fed, hydrated and with a little extra cash. Thank you to the artists for lending us their reputations and professionalism and everyone that has supported the sale over the years, especially now with discretionary income limited.

Normally, I've been able to relax for a few weeks after the sale, but I have shows lined up until next fall. This week, I need to ship a show to Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana http://www.redlodgeclaycenter.com/, then next month, two pieces (one sculpture one vessel) to a group show at Ball State in Indiana, then two group shows at NCECA in Tempe. Then on to solo shows in Portland, Oregon and Denver, Colorado.

All the work is already made in my head and waiting to be turned into reality.

The Daily Spectrum, Life Section

Great article about the Holiday Sale. It came out this morning. I'm always a little nervous when articles are written about me, but I'm in good hands with Mr. Passey. http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20081205/LIFESTYLE/812050307/1024/CUSTOMERSERVICE02

Our Holiday Sale December 6-7 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday

I've been receiving several compliments on my last email newsletter. If you're not on the list, it had pictures of the artists, their work and their artist statement. It occurred to me that if I look good, it's because of the professionalism and talent of the artists that are represented in the letter and at our sale. Scroll down to see a few images of their ceramic art and come to the sale to see and touch in person.
If you'd like to be on the list, email me at http://www.toquervilleclay@gmail.com/ I send four a year.

Joe Singewald

Joe is the only artist returning this year. Last year we invited him based on Danny Crump's (former resident artist here at Toquerville Pottery) recommendation and we're glad we did. He's great to have around and his work is just as fine as he is. We ended up with one of his woodfired serving plates and it's the one we reach for every time we BBQ. He just received his MFA from Utah State and is currently teaching at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
Toquerville Pottery Holiday Sale, December 6-7 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday

Steve Schaeffer

I was first introduced to Steve through his sculptural work at a gallery in Flagstaff. A year later we got to know each other at the Louisville, Kentucky NCECA. There I was introduced to his utilitarian ware at a different gallery. When he agreed to come and share his sophisticated and beautiful pottery I was thrilled. His work is also wood fired and as you can see from the pictures, the surfaces range from subtle ash and flame patterning to slightly crusty. I'm looking forward to including his work in my collection.

Brad Schwieger

I got an email from Brad today telling me that he just shipped his work. Eight boxes from Ohio. I'm thrilled and flattered that Brad is coming to join us for this event that has been growing each year. His work is informed by both historical and contemporary pottery and is rooted to utility, but it can also function as a sculptural or decorative object. I'm looking forward to getting to know Brad over the weekend and acquire his art.

Anna from Germany

Hi Russell,

I just wanted to take the time to let you know how much I enjoy the pottery I bought from you.
Bringing home something that was made by a person I actually met in the country I visited has always been the way for me to select a “souvenir”. (O.k., I do buy a t-shirt every now and then). I use the plate, mug and bowl daily. It’s beautiful work! I selfishly decided to keep 3 out of the 4 bicycle tiles I bought. I had initially intended to give them away for Christmas – I guess I have to think of something else to give to my family now. Hanging them up next to each other on the wall is very decorative.
Unfortunately, I can’t come over for your Christmas sale to get new ones but I’ll be back the next time I come over to see Delena and Jon.
Keep doing what you love to do and good luck with the Christmas sale.
Tell your wife and the kids Hi.
All the best
Anna
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17503119

Jason Hess

I'm glad to have Jason Hess coming to the Toquerville Clay Holiday Sale. He teaches at Northern Arizona University and is coming from Flagstaff, Arizona. Most of his work is wood fired or wood/soda fired. The surfaces he gets range from juicy and luscious to dry and crackly. He exploits the wood kiln and uses it as a tool to achieve beautiful and varied surfaces. I'm excited to acquire something of his to add to my pottery collection.

Pottery

Here's anothe example of what will be available at our Holiday Pottery Sale. I'm really energized right now. I'm waking up in the middle of the night with new glazing ideas. I'm taking some creative risks so that I'm anxious for each kiln opening. The honeymoon is on again. This mug can be yours by going to http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17371083

Holiday Sale 2008 , December 6-7

Here's a vase that's been waiting to be glazed for about 6 months. I couldn't decide what to do until the metalic glaze came along. I made the glaze for my future handmade bathroom tiles(I will post the bathroom images later). I am very pleased with the outcome and the slip on the upper portion turned a really nice red/orange. Buy it?http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17370290

Holiday Sale Pottery

Another plate for the Holiday Sale. My efforts in the studio ebb and flow. I am now in the flow of things and am really invigorated by the process and waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas and designs. For your purchasing pleasure, go to http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17369863