Arise with clay
Teapots
Body, spout, handle, lid, feet… this all goes together to create the time-honored teapot. The fun begins when the design looks less traditional and more whimsical as the process proceeds. I find joy in assembling the parts to convey the idea of art nouveau meets Nordic patterns and yet still functions as a teapot.
Bowls and Cups
One of the most sold items is the bowl. …seems like people want bowls that speak to the need of the moment-large ones for ice cream, medium for oatmeal, super large for fruit displays, smaller ones for dips and trinkets. So many uses-storage, eating, mixing, gifting. And bowls on a table do not need to match-each has its own place.
Cups and mugs are so personal-you place your lips on the edge, you trust the handle to hold the extra weight of the liquid, you hope the beverage stays hot (or cold), you reveal the base to others across the table. And like bowls, mugs can stand alone… even better if they do so that individual mug can be used in a large setting and you can still find “your” special one without a nametag. Rare in our crowded world.
Pitchers and Vases
An odd paring you say but how often have you seen someone use a pitcher as a vase? They start from the same idea to hold liquid. The vase may not have a spout but it still sits proudly on the table, holding a precious cargo of color. The pitcher uses the spout to deliver some beverage/liquid to enhance your dining experience…hot fudge for your ice cream, syrup for your French toast, ice tea for a scorcher of a day, sangria for a much needed celebration. So group them together and store them side by side-so happy to have company.
Gnomes
The garden Gnomes started as an exercise in “dressing” a tall cylinder. I was watching a teacher throw a VERY tall cylinder and the shape just yelled “gnome”. I added a thrown head and delighted in the emergence of a personality. Each Gnome has a name and a short history. I have made nearly 20 and each one is different and so compelling. The two Gnomes in my own yard face each other across a small pond. There is a magic portal between them.
Yard Art
Remember that first hint of spring and the smells outdoors (if you don’t have allergies!) that draws you into the day even if the temperature is still saying winter? You look around the yard and wonder how many weeds you can pull or what bedding plants to put in this year and notice a spot that seems empty…not for plants but for much more. Consider a bird bath to invite the locals to bathe, or a totem to brighten up a dull wall or perhaps a fountain with sounds that draw you to sit and listen for fairy wings. Art in the yard is a respite from the norm, a welcome way to say “more is happening here”, a place of peace and rest. Look at several each day, drink lots of liquids and get plenty of rest-life is full of possibilities.
Lanterns
“May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
We are moths drawn to light: we love a warm fire in the winter, sun light dancing on water, a night light in the baby’s room, candles at dinner. The lanterns I make are just for such things-lighting the way to safely see in the dark. There is no better job than that.
Kitchen Crockery
The use of ceramic ware in the kitchen is significant to many cultures. Society has moved from handmade ware to commercial ware-it was a sign of progress and wealth. Now, as some shift from commercial ware to hand made ware it can be a big change. Edges are not perfect, glazes can be less brilliant, sets can be hard to come by but the satisfaction of using a handmade item removes hesitation and adds delight. Conversations can center around the pieces and stories may be shared of the find at a Farmers Market or local Craft Fair. Sometimes, we even know the artist.
Plates and Platters
Plating food with care, using decorated serving platters or offering snacks and nibbles on a beautiful tray is a way to say that presentation is part of the offering. Most of my flat serving surfaces start as slabs, usually with texture from homemade rollers and then glazed to invite you to look closer. I like the idea of organic vs. geometric in the patterns with sometimes hidden or obscure stamps that tie it all together.
