My Mugs are Becoming Famous:>)

I have such exciting news to report! Last month I was contacted by the curator of the gift shop at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts in Tequesta, FL. She asked me to consign some of my mugs for the museum gift shop.

So after much thought and weeks of work, the first shipment has been delivered.

The Lighthouse Center for the Arts is northern Palm Beach and southern Martin Counties' oldest and largest visual arts museum, and has been dedicated to educating and developing an appreciation of and interest in the arts for all ages for 44 years.

I am so honored to be included in this fine institution and will be participating in their next exhibition in June through August. It will be a "vintage surf " theme and my head is buzzing with ideas:>)

My Valentine Mugs, plus a Tribute to some of my Great Customers.

Above are the two mugs I made for Valentines day. I posted them on Etsy and they sold in a few hours. So now I am making a few more.

On another note, I sold another urn to put in the ashes from a customers dear passed kitty by the name of Goose.

When she got the urn she said "my husband and i just love it. it is going to be a very nice home for our kitty".

This Photo is from my number one customer and pottery fan. She sent me photos of her vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner using my pottery. It make me feel so good to know my art is being used and enjoyed. Here is a note she sent me after her last order:

Hello Pat!
I received your pottery and it is absolutely perfectly fantastic!
I love everything. I am sipping my morning tea from your mug just now.
The new fluted bowl is on my counter top with fruit in it along with two others which I switch so every one feels like they belong.
The smaller bowls are waiting for some hot cereal to warm them this morning...we all can't wait.
The plates are amazingly shaped and the color is wonderful, I feel they are all unique and perfect, love them.
Thank you for the wonderful little tumbler...soo cool.
I'm hoping some of my girl friends love your work as well and send you some orders.
I tend to like very nice things and am willing to go for authentic.
Keep Well Pat,
You are the greatest potter ever!
love,
Jo
Thank you Jo, you are the greatest!!

Happy New Year

I am starting this new year with a resolution to contact all my customers and keep in touch with them through this blog. I have had such a wonderful and rewarding year and most of it is due to the great people that buy and use my pottery. If it wasn't for you guys, I couldn't keep working on the art I love so much.

I spent the day planning the things I want to accomplish this year. The first holiday is coming up fast, Valentines Day. I am starting some mugs with a heart appliqué where a name or saying can be stamped. I am also making a heart shaped trinket dish, with an appropriate saying on it. I will post the pictures as soon as they are done, but Feb 14 is coming fast, so if you want a personalized piece of pottery from patspottery for your honey, better order now:>)

My Experiments with the Donut

Speaking of teapots, I made two new teapots last month. I decided to try to throw a closed in ring on the potters wheel and was successful on my first try. I couldn't think of what to do with the ring, so decided to make a teapot. It turned out so well, I decided to make another to be it's friend. Now they can dance around in my studio all day:>)

PS: If you click on the teapots you can see them on my etsy site with more views at differant angles.

My Teapots are taking a Trip.

Well, I just finished packing up my favorite three teapot sets for their trip to Steamboat Springs, CO. They are going for the Steamboat Invitational Teapot Exhibit on December 5, through January 31, 2009 put on by the Steamboat Springs Arts Council.

This is my very first exhibit, and I am very excited and honered.

As I understand. lots of exciting events are being planned around the event. The Japanese Consulate is working on a Tea Ceremony event as well as an Ikibana flower arranging demonstration and Silk Weaving Demonstration .

There will also be a tea tasting and a couple of local potters will be putting on a teapot making demonstration.

There are over 75 teapots from national & international ceramic artists being displayed and my three little teapots will be there :>).

Espresso Inspiration

Last month I was contacted by someone that saw my pottery on Etsy. She was looking for someone to make six espresso cups for her to give to her fiancé, Chris Deferio, for his birthday. It seems Chris is famous in the barista world on the east coast and has started his own coffee training school,(thecoffeeinstitute.com) so, you could say that he's really serious about his coffee. She sent me the photo (above) of him that was in the paper in New York during one of his competitions.

He wanted handmade cups without handles height 2 1/2 inches, width 2 1/4 inches with straight sides. She also wanted them by his birthday, which was really pushing the limits on pottery. I said I would like to try and if I couldn't get them done on time, would refund her money.

This photo is of the six completed espresso cups which were finished on time.

She sent me the email below after giving him his gift:

"These are awesome, pat. seriously!!! This is the best money I've spent in a long time. just wanted to let you know that Chris just loved your cups. He couldn't believe how they were just what he's been wanting. We can't wait to use them!Thanks again, and I'll keep you in mind the next time I want some pottery. Blessings to you,
Thanks again for getting them here before his birthday!!!"

After receiving that great feedback, I decided to make some more for sale on Etsy.

The photo of the espresso cups and pitcher are on etsy and if you click on this link you will see more views.

What Goes Into Making a Mug

Sometimes people will say, can you give me a discount on that mug?

Here is my answer:

1) Drive to C & F Wholesale Ceramics and pick up the clay - 3 hour trip round trip.
2 Unload clay into garage.
3 Weigh out amount needed for the mug.
4 Wedge (knead) clay.
5 Center clay on wheel and throw the mug shape.
6 Remove from wheel and let dry 24 - 48 hours; depending on humidity.
7 Put mug back on wheel and trim.
8 Hand create handle.
9 Let handle dry 1 to 5 hours; depending on humidity.
10 Attach handle to trimmed mug.
11 Cover handle in hot wax to slow drying on very dry days.
12 Let mug dry 1 week minimum. If mug cracks at this point, re-cycle clay and start over at step 3.
13 Place mug in kiln and fire to 1850 F - about 18-20 hours.
14 Unload mug from the kiln. If mug has cracked during first firing, discard, write-off and start over at step 1.
15 Mix glaze(s). Each glaze requires approximately 3 hours to mix and sieve.
16 Put hot wax on the bottom of mug so it will not stick to kiln shelf.
17 Choose design and glaze mug. This can take anywhere from several minutes to upwards of an hour, depending on the design.
18 Let mug dry thoroughly.
19 Load glazed mug back into kiln. If glaze scratches or gets bumped, wash with hot water and start back at step 13.
20 Fire glazed mug to 2250 F. This takes 14-16 hours depending on electricity demands.
21 Hold at 2250 F for approximately 20 minutes. Make sure all shelves reach the exact same temperature.
22 Wait approximately 14 hours for kiln to cool to under 350F before opening.
23 Remove and check mug. If cracked, discard, write-off and start over at step 1.
24 If mug has miraculously survived to this point, clean sharp bits off bottom with grinding stone by hand, and put out for sale.
25 Last, but certainly not least instruction; try not to attack the foolish person who innocently asks "Why does this mug cost so much?"
AND, let us not forget all the hidden steps NOT numbered in here.
* Answer phone
* Sell pots
* Pay FPL (electric)
* Develop new glazes and slips
* Create new designs
* Pay FPL
* Re-cycle clay
* Clean studio, tools and wheel
* Pay FPL

* Not to mention the time, effort, gas and other expenses involved in getting into a show in the first place, and then traveling to it, setting up, selling all day, braking down, driving home, unpacking... I guess that's a list all by itself...
Thank you for your time and attention. - Patspottery