A Plea for the Handmade Object

I turned to my journal the other day to get myself through what seems to be the annual January funk, when I realized that I was on my last page.  I must admit that I immediately went to Amazon to order a new one, but then stopped myself.  Instead I turned to Etsy, a site for handmade and vintage items where I have been selling my pottery.  I found numerous journals available in all shapes and sizes, lined and unlined, fabric and felted.  I chose one that was particularly pleasing and it was promptly mailed to me from an individual artisan right here in the United States.  Inside the cover there was a handwritten note to me, thanking me for my business from the very woman that made the journal.  To me, this whole transaction was very satisfying.  Although I would prefer to buy from a local artisan right here in northern New Mexico, I recognize that any shopping I do will be with three young children in tow.  As much as I would like to traipse through the narrow streets of Santa Fe or attend the regular Artist Markets looking for that something special, it's just not the place that I am in.  Since that is a limiting factor for me, I will turn to places like Etsy to support the individual artisan who is trying to make an honest living.  I will know who made them, have a personal interaction with them, and feel more satisfied in the end.  It will not be from some unknown factory with a logo stamped on it.


This year my stocking was full of such original items:  a high quality hand-cut leather belt made specifically for my waistline, and a wallet and business card holder made by a woman in Alaska.  I can only hope that my customers feel the same satisfaction that I feel when I use these items.  I sold a lot of pottery to locals here in Dixon during the studio tour and the holiday bazaar.  I have had many of them stop to tell me how much they are enjoying their purchases and I find that very gratifying.  I put a great deal of myself into my work, and it is nice to have that appreciated.

In this age of "one-click shopping," it is important to hold on to our personal interactions.  An artisan with an entrepreneurial spirit should be considered before turning to the anonymous factory.  Is this the part where I start waving the American flag and reminding you about our American values?  Not today, but I do encourage you to give it all some thought and support the rugged individual.

Happy New Year

The holidays are over.  I have returned from my travels.  I have cleaned out all of my pottery from the gallery now that the holiday bazaar is over.  Out with the old, in with the new....

The New Year is always a time for reflection.  How did last year go?  What will I do differently this year?  New goals are set, resolutions are made.  In my personal life, it always seems to be the same.  I always resolve to exercise more and I also recognize that I need to step out of my introverted shell a little more often--the side of me that my private studio nurtures so well.  This year I am also thinking about where I am going with my pottery.  I am determined to make a raku kiln this year.  I am fascinated by this firing and love the thought of experimenting with it.  I am also thinking about what new venue I will sell at and how to prepare for that. I don't have an answer for that one yet, but I am setting a goal of finding another venue.

So, I got back to work in the studio this weekend with all of these things in the back of my mind.  I was quickly reminded of how much physical work throwing is after taking quite a bit of time off.  With tired hands and forearms, I put the handles on my teacups and trimmed up my saucers today.  These are all part of a larger special order, my largest commission to date.  Not a bad way to start the new year.

Etsy Shop

I have been contemplating opening an Etsy shop for several months now.  It's a place I've gone to look at the work of other potters, and there are many out there.  I've gotten ideas for forms and new pieces that I want to make.  It's also a way to reach people who are looking for a special handmade item that you may just be selling.  So, I made the plunge.  It is a small investment to list a few items, so that is what I have done.  I have a lot to learn about this endeavor, but I'll give it a go.  If you are curious to check it out, you can find it here.  Feel free to give me some feedback.  I would love to hear your opinion.

Raku Workshop

My finished piece

I attended a raku workshop today that was given by my lovely friend, Miya Endo of Miya Pottery here in Dixon, NM.  Six of us braved the snow and cold temperatures to do this outside firing in a homemade kiln made out of a metal garbage can.  This was my second time doing a raku firing with Miya, both with spectacular results.  A raku kiln is the next accessory I plan on adding to my studio and I will build it myself, with a little help from my friends.

Glazed pieces before the firing

The glaze bubbles during the firing
process near the end

Metal cans lined with newspaper
awaiting the fired pieces

The finished pieces are placed in the metal cans
 and sealed for reduction

The finished pieces from the workshop

New Products

salt pig

I have two new items available for sale.  The first is a salt pig.  I have made them in various shapes, sizes, and colors.  It was fun experimenting with the shapes.  I'm not sure which I like best, so I guess my sales will tell me what is attractive to others.

match-strike dish

The other item is a match-strike dish.  I threw it on the wheel, then altered it into a rectangular shape.  While it was still on the wheel, I roughed up the outside texture so that a strike-anywhere match could be used on it.  It looks a lot better on top of my fireplace than an ugly cardboard box of matches.  

bud vase

All of my new products will be for sale at the Espresso Gallery in Embudo, NM from now through Christmas.  I will also be listing a few pieces on Etsy, including the bud vase to the left.  I will post more about that later this week.  My chip and dip platters will be at the gallery and I will also have several on hand at my own studio for those of you that contact me directly.  Thanks for checking in and please let me know what you think of the new items!

chip and dip platter

Holiday Bazaar

My pottery is currently for sale at the Espresso Gallery on Highway 68 in Embudo, NM next to the Embudo Post Office.  The gallery will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12-5 pm from now until Christmas Eve.  There are five other local artisans showing their work.  You can find jewelry, glasswork, creams, perfumes, honey, and other bee products there along with my pottery.  I have pottery in the kiln that will be unloaded tomorrow, so the chip and dip platters should be ready then.

My First Dixon Studio Art Tour

My first Dixon Studio Art Tour was quite a success.  I met a lot of wonderful people, had a great show of support from the community, and sold a lot of pottery.  The weather on Saturday started out with wind, then came the rain, then the ice, and finally the snow.  Still, there were the brave souls that ventured out.  We all commiserated over the small crowds, but it was the arrival of our locals that kept the spirits high.  Sunday was a cool, but sunny day.  And the people arrived.  It was a pleasure to share my work and interact with all of you.

I sold all of my chip and dip plates, pictured to the right.  I promised many that I would be making more soon, and that is just what I intend to do this afternoon.  My next firing will be full of them.  Anyone that would like to secure one of these plates, please send me an e-mail and I will be sure to have one set aside just for you in the glaze of your choosing.