Blizzard of Activity

Potters in panic mode!

Well, I just returned from dropping of a small number of pots for a wonderful craft sale that we are lucky enough to be able to participate in at the Belskie Museum.

The four of us - Cynthia, Itsuko, Sandy and myself - are also members of Underground Potters, a group of potters formed while studying at The Art School at Old Church, in Demarest, NJ. We have been showing together every year since 2003. We have really grown together through the years, and it's a great pleasure to be in such a wonderful group.

So from November 13 thru December 11 our work will be for sale in the Belskie holiday craft show.

But wait, that's not all! The four of us are also members of the Potters Guild of NJ, and our Guild's semi-annual show in Mountainside, NJ takes place this weekend. I think that Cynthia, Itsuko and myself will be there, but I'm not sure Sandy can make this one.

And yet another wonderful show! Sandy is at the Leonia Library, with her brother Ron Pancrazi, for the month of November.

Oh, yes, I will also be participating in a craft sale at the Unitarian Church in Ridgewood, NJ on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19. This sale is for the benefit of a Youth Camp in Patterson, NJ.

Wait, wait, one more - Itsuko will be at a sale in Westfield, NJ on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19.

And finally, you have been reading the words of Miss July, in a 2012 Potters Council calendar, available here.

Happy Family

 I just fired a kiln of Earthenware pots that I had a lot of fun making. I am still working on a clear glaze I can make myself but for now the commercial clear is working well enough.  These little guys looked like a Mom and Dad and baby and I think they look adorable in their family portrait.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

ONE OF LAST YEAR'S PUMPKINS

THIS YEAR'S PUMPKINS!

My family is not quite up to decorating plates, but every year the "kids" come over before Halloween and we carve pumpkins and roast the seeds together. Starting from the left, the first pumpkin was carved by my daughter Tessa; next my daughter-in-law Melissa; my son Zach and that's mine on the far right (don't ask me what it's supposed to be).

ANOTHER ONE OF LAST YEAR'S PUMPKINS

Bevy of Beauties

'Bevy of Beauties' circa 1980 - Grace, Mary, Peggy & Ellen

I am lucky enough to have three sisters very close in age - maybe my Mom didn't feel so lucky delivering four girls in five-and-a-half years, but she did call us her 'bevy of beauties'.

With four girls that close in age there were some very passionate likes and dislikes, with alliances changing daily. There was certainly a pecking order, but time and faulty memories has softened the hard edges, and our shared experiences have kept us close.

We all have busy lives, and I have to travel a bit to see them, but now that the car-pooling days are over we are trying to carve some time out to spend together, not related to the holidays or birthdays, just simple 'sister days'.

Our most recent get-togethers are usually a nice lunch, followed by sitting around a table, drinking some very civilized cups of tea, and painting plates!

Around the kitchen table - Grace, Peggy & Mary

I pack up some bisqued porcelain plates, colored slips, and brushes. It's a great way to settle in for quiet conversation, a bit of gossip, and lots of laughing. There is nothing serious going on here, just allowing ourselves this time to remember how much we love each other and enjoy each other's company. And there is the great excuse of delivering the fired plates, to get together again!

At left, Grace carefully composes, on the right, Peggy consults

Mary on left, her completed sunflower plate on right

Grace likes to work in themes

This last session we were joined by my nephew Harry, who painted a plate with the image of his current obsession, driving his car - he just got his license!        

After a few sessions of this, we are ready to try out small bowls. And I'm guessing the curved painting surface will be a bit challenging, so maybe I'll pack some plates!

-from my iPad

Location:Highfield Ln,Nutley,United States

My Friend 'KALO'

circa 1982

When I was an art major in college, back in the '70's, I made a life-long friend, Paul 'Kalo'. He is a wonderfully talented artist, with a way of looking at the world that is so happily peverse, so obsessive about the details of his work. Every day with him was fun, and I will always consider him one of my closest friends, although I never get to see him.

The photo strip on the left is 'KALO' as he appeared (sort of) in 1982 - on the back he calls himself 'Stan Koolski - Polish hipster'

For the last 25 years or so, my family has been lucky enough to receive his Holiday greetings. We get together on Christmas day, and it's always the first thing my sisters and I say to each other...'Merry Christmas! Did you get Paul's card?'

And the Halloween cards, some very special Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, the list goes on.

He recently designed a wonderful coloring book. As soon as I saw it, I thought of using the images as decals on cups, and we now have a great collaboration. I tried to keep the cups as simple as possible, because his artwork is the star of this production.

I am now selling these on etsy, and really encourage you to check them out, even just for the entertainment factor. I have a wonderful postcard that Paul sent me in 1981 that I modified to be a signature decal - me as Humpty Dumpty, from an antique German postcard, I think. Look for it on the back of the cups.

-from my iPad

Getting busy!

I know that my bisqued pots are happy that they are finally getting their coat of glaze:

spot left on table by my wet pot!

So hopefully the pots will all be ready to show off at Peters Valley! Hope to see you there...

First Show together as 'Tomo Potters'

Well, it's been a summer of earthquakes, hurricanes, power outages, and vacations. But we are now gearing up for our first fall show together as:

We have been accepted into the Peters Valley Fine Craft Show, and we are very excited about it. All four of us have participated in this show before with the Potters Guild of New Jersey, but we decided to do a booth of our own, and have had a wonderful time planning.

We hope you can stop by this wonderful craft fair, say 'hello', and enjoy all the beautiful work shown each year at this fair, my favorite.

Tomo Potters will be at the:

Peters Valley Fine Craft Fair

September 24th and 25th, 2011
Building 5, Booth 109