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Weekend Update

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The Carolina Pottery Festival blasted off in full force Saturday morning. There was a big line at the doors at 10 am and shortly after they were making their way up towards my booth. It was a really good day for most all the exhibitors. People came out to buy pots! I last heard that attendance reached over 2100, which is awesome for a one day show that lasts 6 hrs. I was very pleased with the day and my sales. It was awesome to see many regular customers at the show and to meet some new folks. I finally got to meet Jeff Martin, a potter from Boone, NC. We met through blogging and it was good to finally meet him in person. (I am enjoying my tumbler Jeff).
There is a wide range of work shown at the CPF, from high end raku, to kitchy fish wall hangings, pit fired pots, mid range oxidation fired functional ware, beautiful stoneware reduction ware, and about anything else you can think of. I am the only salt/soda glaze potter in whole herd of 90 exhibitors, so my works stands out, which is cool.

This morning I made sourdough, buckwheat pancakes for breakfast. I've been wanting to do this since I talked to Stan from Allegheny Treenware last weekend. They were tastey, I'll probably make a few more in the morning with the leftover batter.
I think tomorrow will be my last wet day for this cycle. I made 5 more of the slab oval vases today and got all my dishes slipped. Tommorrow I'll finish up the rest of the pots on the make list and start getting ready for my Holiday Sale. The postcards have been printed and will go out this week.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the CPF!

Show and New Technique

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I am all set up at the Festival. I'll be there bright and early tomorrow, so I hope that some of you will come out and enjoy all the pots.

Here is a new vase shape I am working on. It's a tall oval, about 14". I am making these on a bisque mold with a slab. This is something I have thought about for a while, making these with a slab, but I didn't know how to go about it. With some help, I've gotten it figured out. One of the things I was worried about with slabs was that I wouldn't have any throwing marks or gesture. I rely on that pretty heavily in my work. So what I have done with these vases is to scrape them and rough up the surface. I learned this from Peter Rose, a potter from Tennessee. Anyhow I am wanting to make 5 or 6 of these for my Holiday sale. I think this new technique will open up lots of possibilities for me.

I'll have some pics up from the show later in the weekend.

Carolina Pottery Festival

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I'll be setting up my booth for the Carolina Pottery Festival today. The show is tomorrow, Nov. 9th, from 10 am until 4 pm at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. There will be over 60 potters displaying their work. It's $2 to get in. Come out if you are in the area, it's a good time to do some Holiday shopping. I have plenty of nice pots.

My pal Doug Fitch just unloaded a nice kiln load of slipware. Visit his blog to see some of the work.

Still finishing up plates and bowls in the studio. I'll try and insert a photo here later today.

Thanks to everyone who sent a comment or note regarding Perry. We appreciate it.
Have a great Friday.

From Wednesday

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Here are a few pots I made yesterday before lunch. In the afternoon I finished some yunomis and cut feet on a few bowls, and handled some mugs. I'll get more made today and hopefully get these plates footed. I'll be ordering my postcards for my Holiday Sale today and hopefully they will go out next week.

Quick Note

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Thanks to everyone you expressed concern about my dog Perry. After I posted yesterday I phoned the vet, they were prepping Perry for surgery and after talking to the doc I agreed to go ahead with it. He phoned me back after lunch saying Perry came through okay. He operated on his pancreas, and it was not as serious as he expected. Hopefully Perry will start eating again. I'll go see him later today. Keep your fingers crossed.

I delivered a set of dinnerware last night to my friend Eleanor. She had registered with me for her wedding. She was so happy with her new dishes. It was great to see her excitement. It makes very happy to know she and her husband, Mark, will get many years of use from the pots.

I'm off to work. My Holiday Sale will be here before I know it! I can't believe this month is going so quickly. I think Thanksgiving is coming early this year. ?

Pics later today.

This and That

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No new images at the moment, so here is another shot of my booth from the weekend. (Sorry about the harsh lighting) Hanging out this morning having some tea and warming up. I'll go teach this evening at Clayworks and I will also be delivering a dinnerware order to a customer who had registered with me for her wedding. I saw her over the weekend and she is so excited to get her new dishes. I love knowing my work is going to a good home where it will be put to use.

I bought some buckwheat flour at the grocery yesterday and will be making some buckwheat pancakes this weekend. Stan and I talked a good bit about this. He makes sourdough, buckwheat pancakes. I'm gonna try that too, but first I have to make a sourdough starter, which is kind of a science experiment in itself. Stan told me that people who eat regular pancakes think that sourdough buckwheat pancakes are "rotten". Ha.

Perry isn't doing so great. I went by the vet to see him yesterday. He was so pitiful and out of it. The doc called later and said he felt like he'd have to operate again to see what was going on. Sarah and I discussed it last night and we feel it may be better just to have him put down. He's 13 and has been through a lot of medical problems over the years. He's had 6 surgeries so far and we can't bear to think of him having another. I don't want him to suffer. The most humane thing we can do right now is let him go. I'll be calling the vet shortly to discuss all this.

For now I'm heading out to the shop for some pot making. Plates, cups, soup bowls and maybe a few pitchers. I have some new ideas I'm working on but will save that for a post later.

Home from ACC

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I'm going to attempt a post this morning even though I feel like I could use another few hours to get my head on straight. It's been a long weekend at the American Craft Council show. We got in last night and pretty much crashed out on the sofa and vegged on tv for an hour before bed. Below is a shot of my booth I took on Friday morning before the show opened. I always like seeing my work away from home. I went around and looked at all my pots and picked them up and examined them and saw them in new ways. I felt happy with them and satisfied with my direction.

There wasn't much functional pottery in the show this year. Maybe 3 potters total. It was a nice show overall with plenty of good quality craft. I had wonderful neighbors and enjoyed getting to know them all better over the weekend. Across the aisle from me was Stan and Sue Jennings from Allegheny Treenware. We have some of there spoons in the kitchen and I sold their work in my shop for awhile. They were both lots of fun and I admired their down to earth and genuine personalities. Stan talked a lot about sorghum molasses and sourdough, buckwheat pancakes. He raises his own sorghum and buckwheat, among other things I'm sure. They are true West Virginians and it was a pleasure to get to know them.

Over all the show wasn't very profitable. The crowd was down from years past. I don't complain much though, I do my part to be there and engage folks and talk about my pots. I have lots of local support and get to see many friends come down the aisle. I will probably do it again next year because the contacts and exposure are good and I am meeting new people who will eventually make their way out to my pottery in Shelby. If you came out to ACC, thanks for your support and encouragement.

So today I'll unload the truck and take care of some odds and ends. I'll be at the Carolina Pottery Festival this Saturday. I still have some good pots so come out if you can.

I'll be making more pots this week and posting regularly so check back soon.

Just a Reminder

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I thought I'd better end on a pottery note (and not one on barbers) since I may not get to post in the next day or two.

So a reminder: I will be at the American Craft Council show tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Please come out if you are in the area. It's a great show...see the website. My booth is 1501.

Next Saturday I will be at the Carolina Pottery Festival here in Shelby.

Barbers

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I went to the barber shop this morning for a hair cut. Sarah has been cutting my hair for the past 7 years. There's not much to it...my hair or the cut. Basically it's a clipper cut on #2 and some clean up around the neck and ears. Last month I needed a quick cut and Sarah was gone, so I went to town and stopped at the barber shop, I'd never been in this shop before but there was only one barber and one guy in the chair, so I knew I wouldn't have to wait.

In the past I haven't really liked going to the barber shop. Barbers talk too much. And generally it's not about stuff I'm interested in, sports, the weather, politics, sports, automobiles, sports, whatever. So last month I'm in the chair and this guy starts talking, but it wasn't too bad, we talked about the county fair which just had came to town. He reminisced about the old days when Pagan Jones was there at the fair. She was a stripper. Yes, Cleveland County had a peep show at the fair years and years ago. (We also used to have a XXX drive in movie theater, I was about 10 when it closed down so it was no big deal to me). This barber also talked about the previous customer he just had, an man in his 70's, with a large mole on his head. He talked about how he would have that thing removed. Anyway it was a better experience than I'd had in the past.

So today I go back to this same shop expecting the guy to be there. Well he wasn't and I got in the chair of this other barber. He was an older guy and reminded me of Don Reitz. This guy hardly said a word after he asked how I wanted my cut. And he was really gentle, and efficient and wasted no movements. Economy. After my cut he rubbed my head really gently with his big hands and vacuumed the loose hair away. Then he lathered up my neck and shaved it with the straight razor (which no one has ever done). He was kinda like a masseur. Well I had worried thoughts about the whole thing, but I think it was just his style, he was old school for sure.

We only had a little converstion at the end about water shortage and how the world's population was growing and the demands from that.

So that's my barber shop story and how I like this barber who was there today. Maybe he works on Thursdays, maybe I'll go back next month and see.

Ready for ACC

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Yesterday I went to Charlotte and set up my booth for the American Craft Council Show this weekend. I took my camera but forgot to bring it home so I won't have any pictures today. Being in the city yesterday was a bit trying, dealing with certain people and then later coming home traffic was awful. I still feel grumpy and put out this morning. Part of it is exhaustion too, catching up with me from last weekend and non stop this week. The show opens tomorrow so the next three days will be long. It will be fun to see people and hopefully sell some pots. My booth number is 1501 so come by and see me if you are there (I promise I won't be grumpy)

My Labrador, Perry, has been at the vet for almost a week. He had surgery on Wednesday after he chewed up a towel sometime last week. The doc removed that from his intestine and found some other problems there, leakage, etc. So he's going to be recovering for a few more days. I'll go visit him later today. He's 13 and has always been bad to eat anything that doesn't move, towels, gloves, aluminum cans, paper. I think he's part goat.

Gotta get going, it's looking like a beautiful day out. It will probably help for me to get out in it.

Pots from the Past

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Loupey and I are hanging out on the couch this morning. There was a good frost outside and I turned the heat on in the house for a while to knock the chill off. Maybe winter is going to arrive soon. This cup was made by Mark Pharis of Wisconsin in the late 70's. According to Will, Mark was one of the first people doing light salt glazed work and influenced many potters who went on to work that way. That would include Michael Simon, Linda Christianson, Will and Douglass, Wayne Branum, just to name a few. I was drooling over this cup and Will gifted it to me. It is made from really sandy clay and has been used a lot judging from the tea stained interior. I'll be using it from here on out. Mark's work is nothing at all like this now. He now works in earthenware.
 I also picked up these two little gems from the collection. They are made by Ron Meyers who resides in Georgia. These were made in the 80's and I love how simple they are. Ron is probably my favorite potter. His pots are casually made with wonderful decoration that is not cute or kitchey. It's very process oriented with tool marks and all the handling exposed and celebrated. This one has a fish.
And here is a goat, which is probably my favorite of the animals that Ron paints.
I wanted to show the cutting of the feet on all three of these cups. I love the course clay and the direct cutting. These pots are not fussed over. They really carry a wonderful, comfortable, confident message about the maker and about process and use. They are about clay, unrefined, but not sloppy or careless. They are homey and fun and timeless.

Back from the Creek

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I had a great three days up at Rock Creek Pottery. It is such an amazing place and I am really grateful to have been a part of the last big pottery event before Will and Douglass move 1500 miles due west to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here is a shot of the road to their house up the mountain. This sale was called the "Keeper Sale". It was many of the pots that they had kept over the last 30 years. Most were theirs from Rock Creek, but there were some from their Wisconsin days as well as many pots by other influential potters and some historical pots. I wish I would have taken more photos. When I arrived on Friday the barn showroom was a mess, boxes and boxes and boxes of pots to be priced and sorted and set up for display. By 1 am we had it all finished and ready for the first customers on Saturday morning.
I brought home this 16" bowl that was fired shortly after they set up the pottery in the early 80's. It still has a bit of a Wisconsin feel to it, somber colors, minimal deco. Roped on the inside with an X slip trail. It's a big, heavy dish and Sarah and I will use it in our kitchen.
Here is a more recent pot made in 2007. Will didn't want to let this one go but as I heard him tell folks over and over "we can't take it all with us". My friend Dave out in Salt Lake City, Utah sent me some money to get him a nice pot. So this is the one Will and I chose. It's a beauty, oval jar with flat cap lid, and nice firing.
After a hard day of wrapping up hundreds of pots, the crew was ready for a good meal and fun evening. Thanks to Karen Newgard (here donning a blond wig) we were treated to barbecue ribs and chicken, baked beans, and a cilantro and orange cole slaw. Oh, man was it delicious! Karen is a great potter, but I think she has a future in the food business for sure. She's an entertainer as well. Must be that Louisiana blood in her veins. That's Shawn Ireland from the Penland area next to Karen. He's a great potter and a fun guy to hang around.

(If you look closely to the left behind Shawn's head, you'll see a huge Clive Bowen teapot up on the fridge.)

I've got more to share so check back later on. For now I need to get to work... I have a show myself this weekend.

One last bit

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Tomorrow I am heading out for a couple days to visit Rock Creek Pottery. I am going up to help out at what will be the last pottery event there. Will and Douglass are moving to New Mexico (bummer). So anyhow, it will lots of fun to see them and everyone else. In Douglass' words, "it should be a great last fling".

So here are the last pots for my cup order. (I'll probably make another board of back-ups). I got all my pots priced and boxed up for ACC next week. I also picked out a good selection to send to the Circle of Eight exhibition at Wooden Stone.

See ya when I get back!

More from the kiln

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Check out this surface. This pot was on the bagwall and got some nice action. It's even better in person.



I'll try and get a few more images up tomorrow. It's finally raining here so everything is hanging out in the kiln shed until tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have a little break in the rain and bring things in and get it all boxed up. I'm going out of town for a few days so I'd like to get this stuff wrapped up.

Unloaded

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Below are two overall images of the pots that I unloaded from the kiln today. I was pleased for the most part. I had some really nice surfaces and some that were a little blasted. I also had a handful of dry pots that will get refired next time in hopes of improvement. I am relieved now knowing that I am all set to pack up for the American Craft Council show. I'll be setting up a week from today.
This big dish was one of the last pots I made and it has the new yellow glaze I am trying out. I am really happy with it.
I'd like to have about 6 more of these teapots.
This oval dish is HUGE. I can't say for sure but it will at least hold 4 quarts maybe 6.
More to come....

Drawings

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Andrew asked me to post some drawings so here they are. I am mainly doing contour drawings using ink in a square format journal at the time. I've never been great with color but at some point I'd like to start adding some watercolor to some of these. For now these are just for me and for fun. I try to do one or two a day.



More on Mike Dodd's book

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Gay asked me to comment a little more on the Mike Dodd book so here goes. (That's one of Mike's yunomi on the left).
The book is really a loose history of Mike's life including his early years and how he came to pottrey. The book includes a collection of articles that he wrote over the last 25 years or so as well as articles written about Dodd and his pots. The pots in the book are remarkable, mostly color images of very good quality. Interspersed among all this is commentary by the author.
I loved reading about Dodd's start in pottery and was amazed to hear how many times he's moved his pottery. I have always worried about having to move all this stuff, Dodd often had no choice and each move came with new discoveries and growth I think. He is certainly a deep person with strong convictions and feelings about pots and about life. The book touches on his personal life and his becoming a vegan.
His pots are the kind I have always been drawn to. Strong, healthy forms with expressive decoration and beautiful, deep glazes made from local materials. I often want to make these kinds of pots, but I don't think it's my nature (that's another post). Anyhow this is a good read and something that is easy to come back to again and again because of the format.

Firing

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I finished up firing just a while ago. All went well as far as I can tell. I'll peep in tomorrow night after I get home from teaching.

Today I didn't make any pots. I tended to the kiln, drew some and read. I am reading An Autobiography of Sorts, by the potter Mike Dodd. And also, O'Keeffe: The Life of an American Legend. The O'Keefe book is pretty good. I have always loved her work (what I have seen) so it is interesting to read about her life. This author, Jeffery Hogrefe, seems to do a good job but is a bit overly focused on homosexuality, abuse, incest, anger, etc. It just seems a bit tabloid-y but I guess it helps paint a better picture of the subject.

I will try to post some drawings this week (Andrew asked me to). If I can figure out how to scan them.

More later...