The Full Table Fair, June 11-12, 2011

                                          Marcelina, modeling our summer attire for june 11-12,
                                          unseasonably cold, wet and drizzly.

                                          My husband Garry serving his woodfired pizza to hungry
                                               Susan and Casey.

                                          The gorgeous Oriental Poppies behind Garry's
                                            Piano Folly.

                                            Bob Kirk of Sassafras, Fused Glass Jewellery.

                                          Ann-Ida Becks Paintings and Cards.

                                                My set up.

                                           Vince Bowen's Porcelain and great display.

                                           Aiyanna of Eternal Bee Products, her candles and homemade
                                               lotions and creams.

                                           Jim Hong Louie and his Raku Turtle Shells.

                                            The Vendor line up.

My new sink

So, not long now till our sale on the 11th &12th of June,  Vince Bowen, Jim Hong Louie, and Marcelina Salazar, and myself.  4 potters all within 10 min. of each other.  Part of our schtick is to have some gourmet offerings to sell,  since I have a processing kitchen in the basement, which is right inside the real door we use off of our 'Courtyard'.  I needed another sink a hand wash basin,(that makes 4 in all) to serve from dishes so I made one to fit the space, surprise!  It works.  And I got 100% on the health inspection so that is a big GO.  I am working like a beaver because off course,  I'm not as far ahead as I would wish to be, sigh, like always.  We created a blogsite for the show, (since they are free), http://www.thefulltablefair.blogspot.com/,  just haven't had enough time to do much else on it, 

Red test back

So, I just got my test back from BSC labs  and it got a <0.01 rating for cadmium leaching, which effectively means zero for intents and purposes, <0.01 being the lowest they can test to.  So Retro Red, here we go!

red test cups

So these are some red cups using the red slip and clear glaze from MC6G I am having them tested for cadmium leaching.  I put a wash of the red slip on the bottom of the cups and under the glaze, for that is where they test.

Getting ready for the big sale

So, now here are some things that were supposed to be a light, bright fresh green but turned out a kind of blah brown,  just impatient, test, test test. my own fault.

So we (as in a few potter friends and I ) are going to have a sale at our house, in june, hopefully it can grow into a small studio tour.  It has been interesting to see what I have been developing with this in mind.  I know somewhat what other potters prepare for sales, but there can still be quite different ideas as to what you think folks might buy and what you like to make and how to reconcile the two.  I know I am production minded because of how I always developed pastries and breads for sale,  Always watching what sold what time of year and when interest waned and what to do next.  Shelve the recipe, bring out something else and re-introduced it later, when it will be new again.  Boy am I glad I am not doing that anymore, at least not all the time.  But its funny how the clay and pastry dough call for the same actions, Its almost like the same thing but pots don't rot, although I can make rotten pots.    

Newest work

So after a few too many months I am back to getting some photos up of new work.

I have been handbuilding almost everything but I am loving it a lot.

I have been thinking of doing this kind of stained slipwash covered by a clear glaze but in red, I am going to have to check out its stability.

The first stage

Here are 25 photos of what I have been working on for the last two years, I have 4 stores where I have things for sale on commision,  the Tom Thompson Art Gallery Gift Shop in Owen Sound,  Ann Wylie-Toal's Spirit Space in Flesherton.,The Cheese Gallery in Thornbury, and Kemble Mountain Roastery Coffee Shop in Port Elgin.  I have participated in craft sales and studio tours. I hope to have some more home studio sales through the year.  As soon as I figure out how to post the links, I will. 
  I have found the Clayart forum to be a wealth of assistance getting answers to questions, and reading answers from others questions I didn't know enough to ask.  Also the creative and diverse forces that participate are inspirational.
  There is still much work to be done, but you don't get better without doing.