Seasonal Sale!

Now you can purchase my creations directly from my website! To celebrate, I’m selling several of my in-stock garden items for discounted prices! This particular sale will last through the month of October 2014. If you’ve been considering a piece for your yard or garden, now is a good time to make that happen. My garden art can be outdoors year-round in all weather conditions and will provide a whimsical pop of color throughout all four seasons. Supplies are limited (as they say in the advertising world!) and the prices are low (with FREE shipping offers on most sale items). Go to the Purchase page of my website to get a full view of the sales items and clay pieces you can purchase today.

I have privately received positive feedback from many people about my blog and website. Thank you. Your input is important to me. Please continue to send me suggestions on how to improve and what you'd like to see me make. If you follow me on Facebook, please comment on, click the ‘like button’ and repost my website facebook messages to help spread my visibility. Posting comments directly on my Blog page and clicking the like (heart) button there is also helpful.

As always, thank you for your support!

Bowls are always useful. I'm making some new shapes and sizes of bowls in  my studio. These have the first layer of underglaze color and are ready for the first firing!

I hope to 'spread the love' with these little heart-shaped dishes. 

I received this hand-made journal from my artist-friend Pam Kessler. I met Pam when I lived in Hilton Head, SC. She was in town to sell her beautiful botanical watercolor paintings at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival this past weekend. I helped her set up her booth early Saturday morning.

Making Progress

This custom bowl for a friend is ready for delivery!

Glazed Ornaments.

New Ornaments in process.

I love knowing my work is getting put to good (and delicious) use!

Be The Change....

Despite change being a constant in my life, I still struggle with it. I’ve mentioned before, I’m most comfortable with routine -- knowing what is coming next and sticking to the plan. Silly me. Change is a regular occurrence in most people’s lives and learning to go with the flow instead of fighting it every step of the way is much healthier. I’m working on it! I can’t control the fact that change is going to happen. I can control my reaction to these changes. Seasons are going to change. Plans are going to change. People are going to change. Life is going to change. Instead of letting a specific change bring me down, I’m learning to embrace it and enjoy the journey along the way. 

I recently completed one sweater and have begun my next project. I am teaching a sweater class at The Knot House during the month of October. 

In my clay studio, I've been working on holiday ornaments. Here's a sneak peak at some of my new shapes. I will apply underglaze to highlight the words and certain features of each piece this week.

Snowmen.

Santa.

Ornament variety.

Cutting Edge

I currently use a method called hand-building to create my work. My early clay education was primarily based in using a potter's wheel and a method called throwing. I spent many years refining and mastering my throwing skills. I experimented with hand-building and used it in combination with my wheel-thrown work.  It really wasn't until I moved to Charlotte, NC and took an inspirational hand-building class at Clayworks studio that I began to explore and then exclusively choose the hand-building methods to develop my work. This is what keeps me coming back to clay as my medium -- the infinite possibilities of creativity and expression. Some day I may go back to the wheel or use both methods to create, but for now I'm really happy with my slab roller and my imagination.

My wheel is like the 'treadmill' of the studio right now. It does not get any use. In fact, it's still wrapped with plastic from when we moved to Maryland several years ago!

I've had my North Star slab roller for more than 10 years. It's currently the 'work horse' of the studio. I use it to roll out large slabs of clay to make my work.

There are many tools available for cutting the clay slab into the shapes I create. I am always on the lookout for a new and improved (cutting edge) gadget to slice the clay easily with a smooth edge. As you can see, I've tried out many tools!

The knife pictured above is my latest purchase. Sandi Pierantozzi used a similar one in the workshop I attended last week. The needle tool on the top right has been my cutting tool of choice after each experimentation with other devices. It is easy for me to hold and maneuver. The problem with the needle is it leaves a bit of a rough edge on the cut clay surface which requires extra clean-up. I'll give the new knife a whirl in the studio this week.

I just opened the kiln this morning. I'm happy with what I saw!

Action!

 This has been a week filled with activity inside and outside the studio.

Ribbon plates and bowls, yarn bowls and cake stands drying in the studio.

In the studio I began working on some custom orders.

Outside the studio I re-established my Twitter account and linked it to my website. It's one more way to follow my work on the internet.

I'll post some of the video we shot on my website in the near future.

Inside the studio I taped some video to be used in upcoming marketing efforts.

I've watched Sandi's hand-building videos online. It was a pleasure to meet her and see her work the clay in person!

Outside the studio I attended a one day workshop at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia conducted by Sandi Pierantozzi. The class was filled with non-stop technique demonstrations which tweaked my creative juices!

The CircleMatic kit created by Sandi, is filled with ready-made templates for creating all kinds of complimentary clay pieces.

Of course I managed to purchase some items for use inside the studio to help with some of the new skills I learned!

Stay Tuned!

Routine

Now that the vacation is over, the days are getting shorter and the weather is cooling, it is time to get back to a regular schedule in the studio. I like having a familiar routine and specific goals to fill my day. Fall always reminds me of the beginning of a school year and the fresh start and excitement associated with new supplies, teachers and schedules. It is a great time to re-commit to resolutions made back in January. I haven’t touched clay in weeks so I’m looking forward to my daily studio time this coming week! 

One last morning on Hilton Head. Just another day in paradise!

I did manage to get a little bit of work completed while I was away from the studio. New post cards and sales tags are printed.

Island Time

When we lived in Hilton Head, SC, Island time was a way of life I learned to embrace. I have been reminded of that during our visit here. My fast-paced, deadline-oriented attitude gave way to a “stop and smell the roses, things will eventually get done” perspective. I think a combination of both approaches to handling life is probably the healthiest lifestyle for me and my approach to my art. I need a deadline or roadmap to tackle my work. It’s too easy to fall in the trap of spinning my wheels (no pun intended), so planning is essential. But for the creativity to have room to blossom, I also need that laissez faire element to be present. It’s a balance, like everything in life. 

Hilton Head invites its visitors, natives and transplants to slow down and enjoy every moment.

While away from the studio, I've been working on a new sweater. Take note of the pine straw ground cover. It's one of unique things I love about Hilton Head!

Home Away From Home

I have been lucky to live in both the Carolinas in my lifetime. Both Charlotte, N.C. and Hilton Head Island, S.C. were once home. So any time I come back to visit the South, the familiarity is heartwarming and the friendships I made are quickly rekindled. My artistic muscle was stretched in both locations and has contributed to the clay pieces I make today. 

The beach holds many treasures. Here are some items I collected while taking a walk. I will use the driftwood as handles or bases for my work. 

Early morning run, swim, walk!

I am happy to participate in community projects including this Lend A Hand fundraiser. I picked the word "ENERGY"   and interpreted it in the artwork you see below. This 8 x 8 canvas will be available for auction to raise money for 'Blessings in a Backpack'.

The sun represents endless energy to me. The finished artwork along with all the other artist donations is available at The Muse in Frederick, Md.