kiln opening and other stuff...

well, thanks to everyone who came out to our kiln opening last weekend...it was so much fun to see old friends and make some new ones. The new space is perfect for openings-- have so much more open area for people to move around in, and space to put out snacks...we really enjoyed it. this week I'm getting ready for the acc charlotte show this weekend, and i'm going to be working on getting a couple of glaze loads ready and in the kiln. couple of weeks and then it will be time for the november craziness, with the celebration of seagrove potters, the carolina designer craftsmen show, and hopefully some crazy busy days in the shop! love this time of year!

ps--i'm including a photo of the inside of the shop--wouldn't you know, i forgot to take any pics during the whole kiln opening!! 

that perfect moment...

well, after a hectic day it's that perfect moment when the little one's in bed, the dog's at my feet, and i can finally relax a bit. i was able to swing by trader joe's on the way back from raleigh, so my beer tonight is a pumpkin beer i picked up there, called kinnebunkport pumpkin ale. i love pumpkin beers, and i wait all year for them to come out. this one is okay, a little on the cinnamon-ny side (but, hey, it was only $5.99)-- my absolute favorite is still post road pumpkin ale from brooklyn brewery--expensive, but oh, so good. 

anyway, judson and i had a great afternoon at the museum, although i couldn't show him my favorite sculpture because they moved her into storage temporarily. the museum is under major construction, and everything is a mess, but we still had a great time. judson said his favorite was this sculpture, the blue dancer, which, i have to admit is my second favorite of the collection. all in all, a busy but great day...i'm looking forward to getting into the studio tomorrow to work on finishing up some things for the kiln opening this weekend.  i'll close with a cute kid pic...happy pumpkins everyone!!

fa-la-la-la-la.....

christmas ornaments coming out of the kiln--so many, and i love the way the colors all look together. -- judson and i are going to the museum of art tomorrow to deliver them. i'm really looking forward to showing him the museum... took him to the monet show when he was tiny (he slept through the whole thing!), but now he's getting big enough that i think he'll really enjoy it.

i'm still working like a madman getting kilns loaded, unloaded, reloaded for the kiln opening and the acc charlotte show next week. here's a shot in the studio of just a few of the pots he's working on...so much still to do--

meanwhile in the studio...

in between building projects, it's been crazy busy in the studio, getting ready for our open studio next weekend, and several shows coming up soon. i'm getting ready to fire the salt kiln with some great pots in it.

don't ya love the smell of concrete in the morning...

well, the porch is done--yea! it was a big job, but it turned out really nice. the guy in the second picture is jerry, otherwise known as my new best friend. jerry's the concrete truck driver, and all he was supposed to do was drive out, pour the concrete, and leave. instead, he jumped down, grabbed the float, and helped float the whole porch...he was a huge help. people around here are great--throughout the whole house-building process I have been fortunate enough to work with people who are willing to lend an extra hand or give a little extra advice. judson pitched in, too, and had a great time playing with the trowell. next up, a cover for the porch and then on to the kiln pad..........

I'm tired

well, i spent several hours tonight online, sending out press releases and updating our community webpage. if you haven't checked it out yet, take a look: www.discoverseagrove.com  it's a really great overview of the seagrove area, and there's alot of great information there. now i'm off head to bed. tomorrow i will be mixing glazes, loading a kiln, and pouring a 10'x25' porch pad for our electric kilns (yea!)...hopefully all before we have to go get judson from daycare. should be interesting!!!!

100 BOTTLES OF ORNAMENTS IN THE KILN!!!!

There are 100 mini  bottles  in the kiln, give or take.  I was asked to make 100 of these mini bottles for the NC Museum of art in Raleigh. They are going to tie rafia around  the neck and use them as ornaments  on one of those crazy upside-down Christmas trees in the museum store.  When they  approached me about it I thought it was the coolest idea. I love pottery but have never thought of using it as a Christmas ornament!!  If it goes well they may carry them year round.  I should have them glazed and fired by the first of the week and they are picking them up on friday.  To give you some prespctive  they are between 3-4 inches tall.

--Blaine

fall open studio and sale...

Come see us if you can....

quick update....

well, haven't blogged in a while, so here's a quick bit of what been going on. I got the chance to attend the utilitarian conference at arrowmont, and came back with some really great ideas about marketing from a workshop given by ayumi horie. the next weekend, got to attend the dwight d. holland ceramics collection exhibition at east carolina university. our friend dwight has donated his entire ceramics collection to ecu--the great part is that it will be a teaching collection, and students will be able to actually borrow and touch the pieces they are interested in. so far, he's donated over 500 pieces, and the ecu show was pots from his private collection. I was lucky to have 2 pieces featured in the show, a peacock vase and a turtle platter. dwight plans to eventually donate over 2000-3000 pieces to the school. there were great pieces in the show from all over the world, from well-known potters, and not-so-well-known potters. i'm attaching a few pics of the show--the fourth one is a huge, beautiful lisa orr platter, and the last one i especially liked--I can't remember the potter's name...anyone out there know who it is????