Recap...

keepin' warm outside by the fire...

Ahhhhh, I 'm still winding down from the weeks of travel and firing and also the studio tour last week...ahhhh, again. Nice to have all that behind me and I want to thank all of those folks who came out to the tour to visit or to pick up a new mug or something or other...it was great to see familiar faces and equally as nice to meet new ones!
The tour was a good one and I am quickly spending my loot on wicked salted caramel mochas from that dastardly corporate coffee monster...you know the one. I am addicted to their deliciousness this time of year...that salty salt on top of the sweetness all mixed with foamy, creamy espresso and whatnot. DAMN your yumminess salted caramel mocha!!! I am having to add an extra day to my gym schedule because of it!

my new crow mug from Nancy!

In between salted caramel mochas, I have been repopulating my much neglected etsy shop. Right now I have two dozen pieces in the shop that are looking for a good home. Feel free to stop in and pick up a new mug or serving bowl or whatever...think Christmas or just think like me...of yourself...and treat yourself.

Well, that was my sales pitch...

Finally today I would like to extend my thanks to Nancy Smeltzer for having me once again as her guest for the 5th year in a row on the Potters Tour. I am thankful for her generosity and hospitality for allowing me to finish my work, fire and crash out at the house... and also for the good eats and numerous beers. Thanks to Mr. Daniel Kuhn for squeezing me into a couple last minute 04 firings as well!

inside the gallery

more...

return customers and cool people!

 

hula mama tumbler...

 

Utensil holder with jellyfish...

 

large stacked wood fired vase

  Hope you enjoy the pics from the tour and also some pics of new work that is waiting on you in my etsy shop...much more to come, the Fall is just starting to get going!

pour-over and mug set...brew your own!

Potters Studio Tour 2012

The Gallery at Little Mahoning Creek Pottery...see you this weekend!

Its that time again kids...3rd week in October, peak Fall leaf color...time for the Indiana County Potters Studio Tour! This weekend, 10/20-21 from 10 am - 5 pm each day...Woohooo! This is my 5th year as guest potter at Little Mahoning Creek Pottery. I would like to go into all the details with you today but I am running around like a crazy person trying to get it all together so I am ready for you this weekend! So here are a few pics of what you can expect...if you are in the western PA area, c'mon out and see us and don't forget to check out the other studios on this great tour! Hope to see you !Click this link for more details and directions.  and click on the pics to see bigger...

lotsa new graphics on lotsa new wood fired pieces!

double espresso!

lidded jar fresh from the firing!

perched and waiting by the window...wood fired mug by Nancy Smeltzer

Its All in the Firing...

Little Mahoning Creek Pottery

And once again, the wait is on because literally IT IS all in the firing...well, all the work is cooling in the kiln that is. Nancy is unloading the wood kiln this evening and I will be heading back there on Monday to check out the booty! I have a whole lot of work in this load...Nancy said she peeked in and only saw Kyle, Kyle, Kyle! Woohoo...GO KYLE!

 We did have a good firing this past Wednesday...I started the kiln around 3:00 am to prevent us from going too late into the night and it sure worked out. We had about a sixteen-seventeen hour firing on that breezy Fall day. And it was a pretty nice day to boot...a little rain and some clouds during the afternoon  but the wind kept pushing the bad weather away and we ended up with a beautiful, bright Autumn late afternoon...just the way we started the day. During our firings, I have made a habit of shooting pictures. I have a visual record of almost every firing of the wood kiln(both kilns) that I have been involved with there at Little Mahoning Creek Pottery. So, in between stokes, this firing was no different in that fact. The light was gorgeous in the morning and, like I said, when the afternoon cleared up, it was equally as nice. Little Mahoning Creek Pottery is idyllic especially in the golden Fall light. Today instead of showing you some new freshly fired pots, I want to show off the place where I have been firing for the last 4-5 years now. I think that environment truly influences the work...like a biscuit in rich and creamy sausage gravy, the flavor of the place where you make work can come through in the finished product. This  idea is very relevant right now as we have a big studio tour coming up on the 20-21. If you are in the Pittsburgh area/ western PA, I highly recommend making the time to travel the back roads and see the pottery studios, the super work, enjoy the Fall colors and visit with a bunch of friendly potters. The link for this is located on the sidebar or heck, just click here. If you want a better taste, here is the link from my post about the tour last year.

daybreak...the early shift

Nancy is firing the wood kiln one more time this week...probably unloading Saturday during the tour...get your fresh hot pots here!!! Hope to see your smiling face during the tour...October 20-21! Enjoy the pictures here then get out of the house and come see it all in person...

See Nancy Smeltzer in the Smicksburg Chainsaw Massacre...of hardwoods.

Dear Etsy...

Dear Esty,

I hope you can forgive me. I have neglected you for a long time now...pushing you aside for other venues that are more direct and with less changes. I have seen the error in my ways and I would like to breathe a little life back into my online shop that is homefry : eclectic ceramics. It seems that the shutters had been drawn and the virtual dust had accumulated on the virtual shelves where once there were wonderful virtual ceramic wares. I pledge to you that those days are behind me and although I will continue to send work out to those large percentage taking "brick and mortar" spaces, I will not, and I repeat, will not use those "other" online art shopping sites. We had some good times in the past and I am hoping we can bring some of those glory days back. I am willing to give you another chance, if you are willing to give me another chance. Your my girl...um,er...site, or something.

P.S.  Below are some pictures of some of the pieces that I have now listed in my etsy shop...click to see bigger.

P.S.S. I hope people visit the shop...homefry : eclectic ceramics