In Full Swing

A few weeks ago I packed up the car and drove across the mountains to participate in the Celebrate Montana Art: Artists' Showcase and Sale in Helena, MT. 

Photo Credit:  Sue LaRose

It was my first time to use our new show setup and our new display looks fabulous! (Adam built these shelves for us - this beautiful. entirely collapsible shelf, painstakingly pegged together with square red wood pegs, started out as a pile of logs.) 

Here are a few new ceramic pieces up close.  These pieces are all stoneware, Soda Fired to Cone 10 at The Clay Studio of Missoula. 

Pear Jar, 6"x 6" x 8", $145

Pear Jar, 6"x 6" x 8", $145

Magpie Jar, 4.5"x 4.5" x 6", $100

Magpie Jar, 4.5"x 4.5" x 6", $100

Mushroom Mug, $45 

Umble Handle-less Mug, $35 

Simple Fruit Bowl, 6.25" x 6.25" x 3", $60

Sunflower Bowl, Unavailable ($35) 

Small Nested Bowls, $50 for the set

Maple Samara Wall Tile, 5"x 5" x 1.25",  $100

Of course, while I have been busy in my workshop, Adam has also been sawing away in his space. 

Here is a prototype of a new product we will be bringing to this seasons holiday shows. 

We, as many in our community, have back yard chickens and thus the need for a wooden egg holder perfect for on the counter or in the fridge.

Please contact us if you would like any custom pieces (wooden or ceramic) for this holiday season. 

Studio Sneak Peak of my Upcoming Show

New Cone 10 Soda Fired Work

I have been busy in the studio - making mugs, bowls, jewelry, and a few sculptures.  

A friend snapped this picture of my while she was explaining how to use her camera.  She was kind enough to let me borrow her camera so that I could document my most recent pieces.  Here are a few of the many new finished mugs and bowls that now sit boxed up on my self at The Clay Studio of Missoula.   These pieces are all soda fired to cone 10 and the exterior surfaces are primarily left unglazed. The surfaces are decorated with layered flashing slips and carved designs.  The mugs hold approximately 12 ounces of liquid.  

Dandilion Mugs 

Germinating Bean Seed Handle-less Mug

Maple Leaves and Samaras Handle-less Mug

Mushroom Handle-less Mugs 

Roots Handle-less Mug

Small Stacking Bowls 

There are many more exciting images and event details to come!  Stay tuned with the happenings at Sticks and Stones Workshop!

Snap Shots of the Holiday MADE fair 2013!

Thank you for coming out and supporting local artists!

Wood and Ceramic Jewelry - In Progress

These small (1.25" x 1.25" and 2" x .75") tiles are a return to some of my favorite subject matter. 

The structures of algae, diatoms and plants. 

The designs are carved into Cone 10 Stoneware through a layer of Titanium Yellow Flashing Slip.
I can not wait to see how they turn out after being fired in a Soda Kiln.

Work in Progress - Large Mugs

Large Stoneware Mugs to be Soda Fired to Cone 10.
Images are etched/stamped into a Titanium Yellow Flashing Slip with White Slip Details added.

I have no idea how they will turn out - but I hope they will turn out beautifully.

MADE fair Booth!

How much stuff can you fit in a 4 x 6 space?

This much:

A Surface to be Touched

I run my hands over the satiny surfaces of the cups I am unwrapping.  They need to be touched.  The water etched images are lifting through the surface of the glaze.  Last night I brought back a box of still warm to the touch cups and I am just now taking a moment to soak them in.  They are beautiful. 

 The leather hard surface with shellac designs.                                       The final glazed result.

The surfaces are subtle and satiny.  The cups nestle into palms of my hands.
Soon I will box these up, and Sunday I will drive them downtown to MADE fair where they will passed from hand to hand and touched.

Tumblers in Progress

As my brush touches travels across the surface of the cold leather hard tumblers images of my summer loves appear. 

Puffy dandelions.

Lush green leaves. 

Peonies.

Poppies. 

Tall trees. 

Bunches of Beets. 

Little houses under big shady trees. 

As the plants and flowers grow along my garden and the neighborhood blossoms the images on the tumblers grow and change and reflect the changes of the season.

Images of Pottery

While the pop of our little mom-n-pop workshop operation has been busy in the wood shop, I have busy sorting, labeling, wrapping and carefully boxing up all of the bowl, cups, mugs and plates for the upcoming Holiday Made Fair.  

Here are a few pictures of the goodies that we will be selling this upcoming weekend:  

Tall Mugs

Soup mugs available with saucers or plates. 

Handle-less mugs (aka: a little more kid proof) and cups 

Red bowls, Black and Green bowls and white on white bowls in an array of sizes. 

And remember, if you come early on Sunday, there are Early Bird Specials to be had (complete list here)!  Ours is a free Tiny bowl with a minimum purchase of $25 for our first 10 customers.

Early Bird Special:  A free tiny bowl!  

Come find us:  We are located in the Chestnut room, see map here.