This is a hand built wedding cake!  

The forever cake!

You can keep stuff in it, it has a 'puzzle' lid, and it is kind of fun!

This next one is a mini set of cup and tray, for crumpets and lemon curd, or crackers and peanut butter, or whatever!

biscottipottery.etsy.com

This is a circle of 8 stars in puple-ish colors. 

• This heart has imprinted lace patterns on it. 
• I put lots of stuff on etsy today, though now I can't remember how to advertise that stuff. :)
  

Etsy Rant

biscottipottery.etsy.com

Our etsy shop has been a lot of work.
First, you have to make stuff.  Well, that is fine, since we do.
Then, you have to decide which things to sell in your etsy shop.
Next, you need to take a photography class and figure out all about pixels and what-not and glare and what-not and sizing and what-not.
If you haven't worn out yet, you must know how to put the photos on your computer and then on the desktop and then oh, wait!  You should edit your photos and make them Excellent, because there is Competition on etsy.  Lots of it.  And no one can pick up your stuff and know that it feels great.

Where was I?

 Go have a cup of coffee or some ice tea and come back to .......um ........Oh, yes, pop those photos on the etsy dealy-bobbers so that your stuff is see-able to the billions looking for pottery.

Then describe your stuff, creatively of course.  Not just Hey it's a Bowl made from clay, no it needs to be a description:  A lovely greenish bluish brownish bowl for salad, or something, and you want this bowl cus it's the best one for your blueish greenish brownish decor and your salad will taste mighty fine out of it.  Especially a salad with cranberries and gorgonzolla cheese and with a bit of arugula and of course some organic olive oil and balsamic vinegar on it.   Yes, you need this bowl;  it is a necessity in this age of messy financial things going on.

Let's say you have managed thus far and are quite proud of yourself.  Well, you are  not done.  You need a paypal account and you need to remember yet another password.  And if you haven't done it quite right, you need to remember a whole lot of other junk.  Like what is your mother's maiden name?  And what was your favorite pet's name in fifth grade?

You may eventually get some sales.  This is exciting!  This makes it all worth it.  This means something good has happened.

But if you don't get any sales there are about a billion ways that the dear etsy folks have figured out to keep you busy and not remember that you haven't had any sales.   Like, how about the Teams and the Treasuries and the Circles and What-Not.   At least while you are running about all over etsy, you are seeing what is for sale.  And for how much.  And how confused you can become running from one circle to another, later deciding to do a treasury or two and finding out how inane the whole thing seems.  But, nevermind about that.  You are on etsy.  A world-wide place for home made stuff.  So, we are competing with people that don't mind making 10 cents for every hour they spend.

I think I could go for a raise like that. :)



 

Rejoice Formula

Side view of Rejoice Formula

Linden Store Buffalo River Artisans Co-op

• These are at the Art Shop in Linden Tenn.

•  
• Side View of the Rejoice Formula
• 
  

Etchings and Stain

New stuff June 2011

This is my first attempt at a cake container with flower embellishment.
It has a few issues, but I like it!

Little things.  Flower stake, heart and cone shaped wall hangers for dried flowers or secret notes folded up realll small. :)

Art Show in late May

Family Birthday Class

Family Class for special birthday.  Note the variety from this inter-generational class.  

Family Tile Class

  

Family Tile Class. 

We had a great time!  They did a great job!

Now it is probably happily hanging on their wall. 

Spring Time Class Ideas

Ideas for this season of Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduations, and other Memory making times. 

 Give Mom or Dad or grandparents a gift of time and creativity together.  Family classes are great fun!  

Family Memory Plaque:

Each one in the family gets to create a square of a larger puzzle.  You can make one large design, or each have an independent piece, creating a memorable event and something unique to hang on the wall. 

Mike's design was in porcelain, cracked in the bisque firing, and we said, Glaze Anyway!  He's going to adhere it to a board to hang on the wall.  First three families to do this will get the Discount Experimental Rate of $35.00.

Call me for ideas and directions!

Mother's Day: 

Mom and daughter, or son, come to the studio to make a mini cream and sugar 'pinch pot' set. 

Think about design, color, embellishments  to make a matching set. $15.00 per set.  Call for further details.  

For another $5.00 add a little animal to the set!

Father's Day:

Make animal sculpted pencil holders, or wall plaque.  Work together on one if you like.  Wall pockets can be embellished with any theme you like. Price dependent on size of project. 

Pinch pots, slab and coil construction classes available, also. 

We practice with a bit of clay, discuss the construction methods, and begin a simple project.  $15. per student for the two session class.  All materials and firing included. 

Family Bargain Class:

For one hour, work on a 'mini' pinch cup for each person.  Have a common inside color and different outside color for a family theme, if you like.   Or each one could embellish the mini cup with something personal, a flower, a letter, a shape.   $7. per person, but it will be limited in amount of clay and time spent in the shop.  Two sessions.  About 1/3 pound of clay each and an hour slot for creating and another for glazing.  

      Other ideas:

Birthday parties, women's groups, boy scouts, etc. can be discussed and arranged.  I can have the hot water ready for tea and you can bring the crumpets.  Jewelry classes in the near future, I hope!

Glaze class only:

Booklets, make a few for gifts.   $6.  per set.  Other items may be available.  

This is the cutest when it has flowers in it.  I'll have to take another photo to show you all!

I plan the classes two weeks apart so as to have time for the drying and firing of the projects.  

April 29 and May 13 at 10:30 available.

Mondays, May 2 and 16 are available.    

Mondays, June 13 and 27  are fine also. 

 But if you need another option, just send me a note at biscottipottery@gmail.com

Thank You!

Recent Projects

Mini cream and sugar set.  Come make them for Mother's Day!
Great Mom and son or daughter activity!  Add an animal creature to the scene for even more fun!

Little candy dish and goblet for chocolate, of course!

These are some of the projects from our classes, 
with ages from 4 to 84!! 

It's April 2011. Slow Down World!!

This is the tile that Mike built.
 Note the lightning bolts!
Come for family class to design your own Family Forever Memory Piece!

Spring Stuff!

Notice the taco shell/ napkin holder, the little book covers, the playhouse in bisqued state, and the wall hangers.  Fun stuff!

2011 Class Ideas

It's a new year, new hope amidst the hard things of life.  Let us press on, not staying in any pit of cyclical nonsense, press on, not giving way to the hardships of life, press on to Play with Clay for the pure value of creation, joy, expression. 

These two dates in Jan. and Feb.  comprise the creating day and the glazing day,  and the project could be completed before Valentine's Day unless we get a freak snow storm, which will tangle us all up with problems. :)  

January 24 and Feb 7  (Mondays)

10:00  class full

1:00  class full

3:30

Feb. 11 and 25  Fridays
10:00
1:00
3:30  class full

 We could decorate bowl or cup size pinch pots with hearts, stars, eagles (that would be a challenge as I don't have an eagle cookie cutter)  or whatever you dream up.  Small Valentine's party idea?   Just need 3 or 4 students, and if you want to bring snacks, this could work!  

Same times as above, or e-mail me  with special requests. 

Feb. 14 and 28.  Up for discussion.
Send me a note and we will plan a Valentine's event for a small group, if you like.

Class purpose is  to enjoy the process of building with clay.  The slab work above makes a delightful wall hanging.  The turtle was made by my dad, in his 80s, with some dementia, which may or may not have helped in the creation. :)

Each class should choose their realm before coming to class:  slab, pinch, or coil construction.  This way, we can teach and create with more focus.  Otherwise, we get baffle-brained and it just won't be as successful.

We might plan a four week class in March.  We shall see!

Open House

Saturday, November 27 · 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

 

E-mail me for directions at biscottipottery@gmail.com.

We'll have snacks, biscotti cookies, and hot stuff to drink. 

Come by to see Grandpa Greybeard's winter garden too. 

See if you can identify the greens he planted!

 

Classes for Nov and Dec 2010

Pottery Classes for Nov. and Dec. 2010

ORNAMENT CLASS:
One-time class of just glazing  DEC.  8, 12 to 3 pm.   It may only take 20 minutes to do an ornament, maybe less.  Just call me so I can reserve a place for you.  Parent supervision needed for those under 7. 
Anyone can manage this!  $2.00 per ornament.  I have just a few of these, so it's first come, first serve:  airplanes, dinosaurs, angels, hearts, leaves, ducks, etc.  These are already bisqued and ready for glazing.  So, come on down as a family or a little group, pick an ornament or two to glaze bright colors, or pastels, initial it  on the back (with glaze)  and you have your own special ornament.  We will kiln fire it and you can pick it up within a week or so.  :)

BEGINNER PINCH POT CLASS:
Monday Nov. 15 and 29
Monday Dec. 6 and 20

Pick your time:  10:30, 1:30 or 3:30

Classes:   Beginning fun for all ages:    pinch cup or bowl.   $15 total,  per student,  for the two classes needed to complete the project:  Day 1 to create, then  two weeks later for Day 2 to glaze.  The two firings, the clay, and the glaze are included in the price.  Check my blog for photos.  The individuality that comes out in clay work is so much fun!

It’s best if we have from 3 to 5 students for a class. 
Also available:   Slab class, coil building, family game set construction (variable prices), animal modeling,  slab and coil construction.   This is quite experimentally fun.  It's best to do the pinch pot class before any of these other classes.  Some of these require a bit of experience. :)

Think at least a  month ahead if you want to make gifts.

biscottipottery.weebly.com

biscottipottery@gmail.com  Send me a note here if you would like to be on my list for updates and phone number. 
I always have stuff for sale if you need a pottery gift, and gift certificates and cards.   Just call to see if we are home.
Mike's still doing tile installation, also.

Girl Scouts Earn Pottery Badge Falll 2010

Porcelain Nesting Set

Autumn Art Show

 

Flower Goblets

Many new varieties, as I have become addicted to making them.

BIG POTS

Mike has built a few of these enormous pots.  Lots of work!

AUTUMN ART SHOW
 3-6 pm Friday November 5th
11am - 5pm Saturday November 6th
1pm - 5pm Sunday November 7th

Come join us for hot cider and cookies at our Autumn Art Show! We'll have all kinds of new paintings, drawings, photos, and pottery - as well as some great little gift items like jewelry, woodings, note cards, Christmas cards, and other fun things!


Free kids' art times:
Friday @ 3:30 - Watercolor Trees with AJ
Saturday @ 12:30 - Snowflakes with Jen
and probably some Koolaid playdo with Melinda, Mike, or some other big kids.  

ajcurrado.com

Write me for more info.  

Pottery Classes Oct. Nov. Dec. 2010

Pottery Classes
Monday Oct. 11 and 25
Monday Nov. 15 and 29
Monday Dec. 6 and 20

Pick your time:  10:30, 1:30 or 3:30

Classes:   Beginning fun for all ages:    pinch cup or bowl.   $15 total,  per student,  for the two classes needed to complete the project:  Day 1 to create, then  two weeks later for Day 2 to glaze. 

It’s best if we have from 3 to 5 students for a class.  We have a small studio. 

Also available:   family game set construction, animal modeling, box construction, slab and coil construction.   This is quite experimentally fun.

Think at least a  month ahead if you want to make gifts.

What about a 6 week class for 2011?   If you need an art class for school, let me know and I will see what I can put together. This sounds like fun to me! 


biscottipottery.blogspot.com
biscottipottery.weebly.com
biscottipottery@gmail.com  Send me a note here if you would like to sign up for classses and  to be on my list for updates.

Art Show  Nov. 5, 6 and 7 at our house.  Watch for details.  At least 4 artists participating.

I always have stuff for sale if you need a pottery gift.  Just call to see if we are home. (E-mail  me for my phone number.)

Mike's still doing tile installation, also.