A few new designs for this summer. More things to come!
sneaking clay into luggage
I am incapable of traveling without bringing work with me. I've learned that if I don't, I go crazy. And while I'm not above sticking a big lump of clay into a checked bag (guarantees inspection, btw), the problem is that I blow through it in about two days and then am left again with nothing to do with my hands and brain. This is NO reflection on the place I'm going, the company, the sights, or the shoes: It's just a necessary thing that I feed the creative beast or it gets angry.
So as the thought of dragging bags over cobblestones with a healing back injury looms, I decided to come up with something lighter...
One of the MANY things on my wish-list of projects has been to do hand-painting on clay forms. In this case it needs to be small, so I thought I'd make a batch of little pendants and see what my brain comes up with. I have a few dozen ready to be fired this week and then packed with a small underglaze paint kit. (Think of the little paint kits you had as a kid).
My bag will probably still be inspected, but there will be more room for shoes on the return flight.
I'll post pictures of the work in progress.
10 years
I realized this month that exactly ten years ago I was taking my first clay class. Right about now I was two-thirds of the way through Wheel 1 making ugly cat food dishes and had already made the decision to do this as a job.
We wrote a business plan, I harassed the teacher I wanted for private lessons and then spent the next year and a half working an average of ten hours a day to build technique.
It's fitting that today I'm again deep in plans for the next phase of the pottery. And making better cat food dishes.
Spring Will Come
While I wait for a warm stretch of weather to finish up this kiln load (I do the dustiest part outside on nice-enough days), I'm making use of the time with some of the smaller things on my to-do list.
(I have now learned that a group of snails is called an "escargatoire." I have made an escargatoire. Also, I've noticed that snail shells spiral clockwise. Is this true everywhere?)
Gathering Forces
Plates!
It's hard to get a good picture of these while they're being made. You have to use your imagination for the final result: The swirly patterns will be true black and white (like the portfolio pictures), and the designs in the middle will be fun, bright colors. I'm testing out the usual suspects: Red, chartreuse, salmon, and every turquoise there is. I'm hoping later down the line to be able to custom tailor the colors to whatever you request. (Including, God forbid, yellow.:)
Anything new takes some testing and adjusting, so there's no saying exactly when I'll have a lot of these. But I'm breaking one of my rules of only doing a couple examples of anything new by making far too many for the first test. My rationale is that anything that doesn't work will make *really* good mosaic pieces... (of which I'm always running short).
The trays (below) are done and waiting for firing. I haven't thought about what comes next. I do want to build up a LOT of inventory in the next couple of months, because...
Behind the scenes I'm working on expanding the pottery. A lot. I'm *hoping* for a summer opening for that.
Happy New Year!
New year, new pots, more color! (Yes, that one in front did come with coffee and attached to my hand).
It's January! While you test out your new gym membership, I'll be spinning my wheel too... I've finished up last year's pots and have started to think about the next batch. My plan is to add some more kitchen-ish things: What do you think about plates? I have these really cool square ones that I made for myself a few years ago. They're uncomplicated construction so I'd be able to keep the price down, and they'd still be ESP-lovely. White and blue? I've also be poured a mold (I'm waiting for it to dry as I type) and picked up some new lace to make flat trays.
Winter is Coming!
I have gotten far too good at stacking a kiln! Beneath the shelf shown in the picture, there are three more *packed* shelves: Big curly bowls, many little plates, tons of cups… My inner stubborn child won't let me fire this until the top shelf is full, so I'll spend today and maybe tomorrow throwing some last minute things. (If you're the first to comment below (before Halloween) with something about the size of a mug with no attached parts, I will throw it for you!).
These are new! I've been having a great time trying out my summer stamp acquisition, all newly scrubbed, repaired, tung oiled and cured. You can see some of the purple fabric dye still leaching out after all of that. (It will burn off in the kiln). In the picture, I have some olive oil dishes, tiny ring plates, and some new clay/glass jewelry.
What's next?? Oh my friends… Good things are happening! I'll be making some announcements shortly, and along with those, I have been working with some of the Main Street shop owners in Stafford Springs for some specialty items. In the next few weeks we'll be opening a new general store co-op (CT Farm Table General Store. I can't wait!), and in a couple months I should have some practical ESP items in there for you. We were thinking of starting with some good baking dishes: Deep casserole, quiche… I'll also be working with Sabor 44 for some specialty olive oil dishes.
Winter is coming and it's going to be fabulous!
Request Time!
You *don't* want lizards attached to your fine stoneware? Well then! ;) What do you want?
Whenever I'm caught up with inventory and my always-long list, I like to go over things you've been asking about.
This month I am working on handle-less cups, and because you love it, I'm doing them in the marbled clay with shiny colors on the insides. I'll also be working these colors into more of your favorites: Bowls with holes & votives.
After that, you'll be seeing more stamped things. I've *just* finished cleaning, repairing and protecting the giant stash of antique stamps I found earlier this summer. I'll give them a few days to cure and then have at them.
One Small Cup...
One small cup for the Potter...
A few tiny charms for fun...
One giant kiln-load for You!
And Pie!
Winter is coming!
Momentum
Maintaining Rhythm
Whenever I'm asked what part of the clay process I enjoy most, my answer is always whatever I happen to be doing at that moment. It could be throwing, trimming, carving, or loading the kiln. (Ok, it's rarely glazing and NEVer cleaning the kiln shelves). Although there's an economical component to doing the same task for a period of time, the truth is that I find there is a momentum and rhythm that my brain latches on to. Eventually I'll complete a step and have to move on, but once I've started the next thing, it happens all over again.
What does this mean for you? It means I have four *packed* bins of mugs drying for the next firing: Big mugs, little mugs, and some tiny espresso mugs. Mugs with lace, mugs with Indian wood stamps. I'll probably run a fire and glaze on those before I start the next thing.
What's next? I keep getting requests for handle-less mugs. For a potter, this is a dream come true! The only thing holding it up is my brain waffling over the design and size. What I'd *like* to do is make them the same colors as the new marbled vases, with velvety charcoal interiors (similar to the recent pictures). The problem with that is that the extra time associated with that technique will keep the price similar to mugs with handles. I think I'll do a set of those and also think about what would look best on a second set without the marbling. Do you have a favorite mug glaze combination?
I also think I need some pie plates. (Believe it or not, now is the time I start thinking about fall. How awesome would a hot pie in a pottery dish be on a cool day?). I'll have to make some time this week to cast a form. Curly edges, right? No-brainer.
And... we're still working behind the scenes too. Keep the excitement & energy coming.
More Mugs??
You've found the new blog. :) Sleek & interactive!
And now… I have a question for you: What… would you like to see listed in the new online store? Besides mugs. I know you want mugs. I'm making more mugs.
Other than mugs, what would you like to have??
Beware Silence!
Artists, like the small children we are, are usually up to something when we're silent...
Artists, like the small children we are, are usually up to something when we're silent...
I have been very busy behind the scenes working on new clay things and new business developments. I have learned that spring through early summer is the best time to explore new ideas, after I've spent the post-holiday months filling my inventory in preparation for the summer markets.
What's new? Remember that fabulous small collection of black clay things? I'm expanding that. I've hunted down some fantastic Indian wood block stamps and am hand-building a new arsenal of mugs and small bowls. When I've had enough of that (and when my next clay shipment arrives), more of the marbled bowls with bright colors are in order.
On the business side of things, I have been actively working on expanding the pottery. !! The next obvious step for ESP is a brick-and-mortar permanent venue. As that develops, hopefully over the next few months, I will give you more details. For now, send some good "make it so" energy our way!
In the meantime, I can be found at the ever-successful Ellington Farmers Market on Saturday Mornings from 9 to Noon.