the life of riley...

i couldn't resist posting this pic from last night--the sweet puppy riley, all tuckered out from a long weekend of greeting customers. what a life!!

celebration of seagrove potters...

haven't blogged about the celebration show yet, and i'm still not sure i can find the right words to describe what we experienced over the weekend. six years ago, when decided to open a shop and studio here, i looked at several different areas before settling in Seagrove. I wanted more than a place to live and work--wanted a community, a place where you can form lasting friendships and be near other folks who love clay as much as I do. if we ever questioned whether I made the right choice, the past weekend made it all crystal clear. It was amazing the way everyone from the community, both potters and non-potters, came together to produce an amazing weekend. i think it far exceeded any expectations any of us had, and in the midst of the planning and preparations, we all got to know our neighbors a bit better. i think we created the first seagrove traffic jam--customers told us that cars were lining the sides of hwy 705 in both directions! it was incredible--we had around 400 people there for the friday night gala, and i think around 5000 people came through on saturday and sunday. the shining star of the auction was the luck's bean pot that sid luck made especially for the event--it sold for $2100!! throughout the whole show, there was an excitement in the air--the positive energy in that building over the course of the weekend was so strong you could feel it, and i think the customers could feel it, too. 

so strange to feel so excited about the show, and so horrible at the same time. our friends chris and lisa lost their shop, studio, and sweet dog in a fire on saturday night. i can't imagine what they are going through right now--it just makes my heart hurt. they are two of my best friends--they're amazing people, and don't deserve to be going through this. i wish we could help them start rebuilding tomorrow. i know that our community will surround them with more help than they can handle, and that they'll feel support and love from all of us. i just wish i could do something more right now..... 

here are some pics from the weekend...one of the auction crowd on friday night, one of our friend cynthia, an avid pottery collector, helping watch fred's booth, one of our booth, and one of the famous bean pot. with the success of this first show, i can't wait to see what we will be able to accomplish next year......

some salt beautiful day...

we've had such amazing weather this last week--this first pic is one taken out across our field the other day. it's been so beautiful out...

the next photo is part of the dozens of salt & pepper sets I been working on this week--hopefully they will all be ready for the weekend. I am also working on a new batch of french butter dishes, vases, and apothecary jars that will hopefully be ready for the weekend and for next week at the cdc show. 

one week and counting down...

one more week to go to the celebration of seagrove potters....we're definitely getting down to the wire, and trying to get everything finished up. i've fired a couple of glaze loads so far this week, and hope to get two more out before the end of next week. I'm still working away down in the studio tonight, trimming and trying to get handles on the last few pieces. i'll try and get some photos up tomorrow.............g'night for now!

the smell of wax on a cold november night...

it's been a hectic week around our house, i'm trying to keep working while dealing with a bad cold... feeling better today, and finally got a good amount accomplished. my kiln is loaded and ready to go...nothing like that smell of the wax burning off as it heats up! i'll be firing this kiln, and hopefully two more before the celebration the weekend of nov. 22. i'm down in the studio tonight, throwing a ton of salt and pepper sets to top off the kiln. 

on a completely different subject......the other night, was woken up in the middle of the night by a big pack of coyotes out in the woods just behind the kiln shed! i wish i could've gotten a picture, but i wasn't about to go outside. it sounded eerie and exciting at the same time--enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! gotta love living way out here!!!!

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!!