Powdermill Pottery

SPRING

2011-03-01T19:48:00.002-05:00

Well, today was March 1 and it felt like a beautiful spring day. Winter seemed kind of short this year even though it was a cold snowy one. We are back at work getting some Crystalline and Saggar pots ready for the spring. I will post some pictures on here as soon as I get them on my website.

Long Summer

2010-11-28T12:28:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it's been since February since I last posted on here. Back in May, my right side started getting numb and it turned out that my cancer had come back on my brain stem. I spent the summer getting sunburned, not by the sun, but the radiation treatments. They thought they had shrunk it enough not to worry about until back in October I started going numb on the right side again. I have now gone through a Gamma Knife procedure and now just wait and see kind of a deal.

Anyway, throughout all of this, Lesa has been busy keeping us alive at the studio. I've been trying to get some work done on our websites and wholesale catalogs as this is way past due. Hopefully I can get some crystalline done soon for everyone to see. Lesa has been doing some REALLY nice Saggar work lately, especially with horse hair. If you get a chance, go to the Powdermill Pottery website and see it. Going to get off of here now, but know that there are certain people who follow our blog and I've kind of ignored it this summer. Stop in and see us.

2010 Show Schedule

2010-02-02T21:27:00.004-05:00

Powdermill Pottery

February 11 - 15
Buyer's Market of American Craft
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, PA

March 20
Demonstration
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Berea, KY

April 30 - May 2
Berea International Festival
Russell Acton Folk Center
Berea, KY

May 29 - 30
KGAC Spring Fair
Sloan Convention Center
Bowling Green, KY

July 10 - 12
Berea Craft Festival
Indian Fort Theater
Berea, KY

July 23 - 25
Hullabalou Music Festival
Churchill Downs
Louisville, KY

September 10 - 12
Constitution Square Arts Fest
Constitution Square
Danville, KY

October 9 - 10
KGAC Fall Fair
Indian Fort Theater
Berea, KY

November 12 - 14
Carolina Craftsmen Christmas Classic
South Carolina State Fairgrounds
Columbia, SC

2010-01-18T21:41:00.004-05:00

It seems like there has been a lot going on, but there really hasn't been, which makes me wonder why I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving. Here is a sneak peek of a couple of new Crystalline colors we have developed over the last couple of months.

Iced Mint

2009-11-08T08:57:00.002-05:00

Iced Mint is a new crystalline glaze we are now firing weekly. It's a gorgeous mint green with frosty halos.

New Stoneware Glazes

2009-10-21T08:25:00.004-04:00

Here are a couple of our new stoneware glazes for the holiday season. Should have some new crystalline on in the next week.

New Crystalline Pottery

2009-08-02T18:20:00.002-04:00

A few pieces that came out of last weeks crystalline glaze firings.

Show Schedule Update

2009-07-19T10:59:00.003-04:00

This is an update of our 2009 Show Shedule and will have just a couple of more shows added in the late fall.

September 19 - 20 - Midway Fall Festival - Midway, KY

October 2 - 4 - Appalachian Harvest Festival - Renfro Valley, KY

October 10 - 11 - KGAC Fall Fair - Berea, KY

December 3 - 6 - Christmasville - Rock Hill, SC

Catching Up

2009-07-14T16:51:00.004-04:00

We just had a big weekend at the Berea Craft Festival. I think everyone had a great time enjoying the crafts, music and food. The weather couldn't have been better and the entire atmosphere made it one of the best festivals we have ever been a part of. I also wanted to mention that as of the end of June we are now in the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea. Many of our products are on display and available there. The artisan center is a great place to grab some lunch and admire the wares of many talented Kentucky artists.

Saggar Pots

2009-06-13T08:35:00.004-04:00

Lesa has been busy with her saggar pots.

New Crystalline From The Last Week

2009-05-16T22:38:00.004-04:00

These pots turned out nice!!

Updated 2009 Show Shedule

2009-04-17T18:13:00.006-04:00

This is an update of our 2009 Show Shedule and will have just a couple of more shows added in the late fall.

May 16 - 17 - KGAC Spring Fair - Bowling Green, KY

May 30 - 31 - Louisville Festival Of The Arts - Louisville, KY

June 27 - 28 - Ky Appalachian Craft Fair - Somerset, KY

July 10 - 12 - Berea Craft Festival - Berea, KY

August 7 - 9 - Craftsmen's Classic - Myrtle Beach, SC

August 15 - 16 - Woodland Art Fair - Lexington, KY - Pending

September 12 - 13 - Rising Sun Festival Fine Art - Rising Sun, IN

September 19 - 20 - Midway Fall Festival - Midway, KY

October 2 - 4 - Appalachian Harvest Festival - Renfro Valley, KY

October 10 - 11 - KGAC Fall Fair - Berea, KY

December 3 - 6 - Christmasville - Rock Hill, SC

Back From First Shows Of The Year

2009-04-02T19:27:00.003-04:00

Well, we're back from our first 3 shows of the year. I just put new elements in the kiln and we're firing a big load of crystalline tonight with some new color tests included that we're hoping will turn out on the first try. I'll either get the pictures up tomorrow or Saturday. Stay tuned!!

Pictures Of New Crystalline

2009-03-06T22:33:00.005-05:00

We're at our show in South Carolina, but I'll post some pictures. Here are a few pictures of the crystalline pots we did all last week.

Crystalline Pottery

2009-02-28T20:21:00.002-05:00

Actually, over the last couple of weeks, we have pulled a few loads of crystalline out of the kiln. In trying to get ready for our first show next week, we haven't taken the time to get pictures taken. I will get pictures up in the next couple of days as these have been some gorgeous pots.

Crystalline Pottery 2009

2009-02-16T09:34:00.002-05:00

This weekend, we fired our first load of crystalline since leaving the Smoky Mountains last year. I'll get pictures up after we remove them from the kiln today.

Super Bowl Sunday

2009-02-01T17:59:00.003-05:00

I know it's Super Bowl Sunday and I didn't work, but we decided to run into town to pull a few pieces out of the kiln that fired last night. This is a pic of the first few pieces we pulled. The rest of the pieces were still too hot to pull.

Down Time In Old Town

2009-01-18T12:18:00.014-05:00

Things are dead in Old Town Berea right now. Many of the artists are in Florida until March and I can't say as I blame them with temps in the teens over the last week. We had no water in the studio earlier this week as a water main had froze up and broke. Anyway, we can't be in a warmer place right now as we are making product trying to get ready for our spring shows. March is a full month for us. I am posting our tentative show schedule for 2009 below. It will change as more shows will be added as the year proceeds.

March 6 - 8 - Craftsmen's Classic - Columbia, SC - DONE

March 13 - 15 - Craftsmen's Classic - Richmond, VA - DONE

March 27 - 29 - Craftsmen's Classic - Chantilly, VA - DONE

April 3 - 5 - Craftsmen's Classic - Greensboro, NC - CANCELLED

May 16 - 17 - KGAC Spring Fair - Bowling Green, KY

July 10 - 12 - Berea Craft Festival - Berea, KY - Pending

August 7 - 9 - Craftsmen's Classic - Myrtle Beach, SC

August 15 - 16 - Woodland Art Fair - Lexington, KY - Pending

September 19 - 20 - Midway Fall Festival - Midway, KY

October 2 - 4 - St James Court - Louisville, KY - Pending

October 10 - 11 - KGAC Fall Fair - Berea, KY

December 3 - 6 - Christmasville - Rock Hill, SC

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T10:45:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all and hoping you have a good one. I can promise you that there is no one out there happier to see 2008 gone than myself. We have many plans for 2009 including new stoneware glazes, new colours for our saggar pots and my new year resolution to post at least once per week to this blog. It's been a little lacking this year, but we have had a busy year on my behalf. No excuses this year though as I guarantee a post every week and pictures of our new work. Again, we wish you a happy new year and leave you with a slide show of some of our 2008 Crystalline pots.

New From This Weeks Firing

2008-12-07T09:19:00.003-05:00

These also are some new colors for 2009!

A Couple Of The New Saggar Colors For 2009

2008-11-30T08:45:00.003-05:00

These are more beautiful in person!!

Lousy Blogger

2008-11-29T17:02:00.003-05:00

I guess I'm going to make a lousy blogger!! It's been too long since I have posted, but have seriously not had much to blog about since the last post. I have been teaching and guiding Lesa to do some of our Saggar fired pieces. She took to it like a duck to water and honestly takes the efforts and time to probably to a better job of it than I. So the good news is, she has another hat to wear at SMI and Powdermill. The bad news is, if she gets too good at it, she won't need me!! LOL Anyway, we'll get some pictures posted over the next couple of days of some of her new pots.

Another Update

2008-10-08T21:12:00.000-04:00

Had my first chemotherapy Monday and it made for a long Day, 7 hours to be exact. I had no nausea, just a little loss of appetite early in the day for the last couple of days. I'm looking more forward to the short days over the long days. The short days only last 2 hours, which is much better than 7 hours. From what I found out on Monday, the chemo will be over in mid December, but still no sign of when I'll be released to throw again.

Crystalline Spectrum

2008-10-01T18:19:00.002-04:00

Here are a few pics from the Crystalline Spectrum. If you are anywhere near Washington DC, it goes on until October 22 at The Tyler Gallery in Alexandria, VA.

I'mmmmmm Baaaaaccccckkkkkk

2008-09-30T19:10:00.001-04:00

Well, it has been 6 weeks today since the big surgery. It took nearly 7 hours to get through, which really made no difference to me, as I was out cold. But I really feel sorry for my wife and family who had to sit there for that period of time not knowing what was going on. As bad as it hurt afterwards, I think I would have rather been where I was. This week is actually the first time in 6 weeks that I have felt like me, which is good and bad. It's great to feel normal again, ready to play some golf, get back at the wheel and make some things. Bad news is, Doc won't release me to do any of the above yet, and I have to start chemo next Monday. As many of you already know, I had to miss the opening of Crystalline Spectrum at the Tyler Gallery in Alexandria, VA this past weekend where I have a piece in the show. That was at the top of my "BUMMER" list. I am back in the studio 3 or 4 days a week, even though I can't make anything. It just feels good to be there. I saw my doctor yesterday and expect to get released to glaze and do light duty after chemo. Luckily I have about 8 loads of bisque ware all ready to glaze. I'll get pics of of all exquisite pieces up and on here when they come out of the kiln.

Jeff

Running A Little Behind

2008-08-18T13:17:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the gap in posts, but we have been extremely busy with all that's going on. Tomorrow is the big day for the major surgery. I'm relieved, but a little scared all at the same time. Anyway, I finally found out that recovery will be 4 - 6 weeks and I will hopefully be back in the studio the first of October and I'll start getting more pics posted at that time.

New Saggar Pots

2008-07-11T22:14:00.001-04:00

Here are 2 new Saggar fired pots.

An Unwanted Vacation

2008-07-02T16:49:00.001-04:00

Well, it's been about 3 weeks since I posted anything and it has been a quite eventful 3 weeks. We left the Smoky Mountains on June 16 to go to my hometown of Lexington, Ky for some testing at one of the hospitals there. The couple of weeks that I wasn't in the studio seemed like an eternity as I really didn't realize how much I would miss it. We're now back in the Smokies for the time being and enjoying having my hands back in the clay. It is amazing though, when you are diagnosed with a life threatening disease, how you figure out really quick what things are important and what is not. I'll be going back to Lexington for surgery in mid July and apparently will be down for 2 - 6 weeks afterwards. This should take care of the situation and we should be back at the shows starting in September. Hopefully after this I'll be posting to this blog for many more years to come.

New Pics I Promised

2008-06-14T19:47:00.002-04:00

Here are a couple of pics from the 6/10 firing!

New Crystalline

2008-06-11T20:51:00.002-04:00

Just got home from the studio and before leaving unloaded a new load of large crystalline pots. They are gorgeous. We'll get them cleaned up and ground tomorrow and I'll post pictures tomorrow night.

New Glaze

2008-06-01T23:16:00.003-04:00

This is my newest glaze to hit the shelf. What do you think?

Back From School

2008-05-31T06:40:00.003-04:00

Thursday night I returned home from Tom Turner's for some one on one instruction over 3 days. It's truly amazing what bad habits can be formed and not seen until you're sitting in front of a 45+ year potter. After overcoming those obstacles, a whole new light was shed on attention to detail and aesthetics. He just does it naturally without thinking and it makes such a difference in his pots. I was becoming bored with my pots and have to assume my customers were as well. If nothing more, I became very motivated while there. I went to the studio yesterday and spent the entire day analyzing my small tools, stamps, glazes and processes deciding what to keep and what needs a change. Tom is a great source of knowledge in all aspects of the ceramic industry. One thing I liked was when I walked in each morning, Tom would ask me what I wanted to do. He's there to teach you what YOU want to learn. I chose to spend much of my time just talking with him. The history and stories are great. Speaking of history, Tom has a collection of pottery that everyone should see as it's truly amazing. His studio is up on a mountain and is so serene and peaceful that the only thing we heard were locusts. If you have the chance or desire to visit with Tom, I highly recommend you do.

Heading Out Of Town

2008-05-26T20:49:00.001-04:00

Finished trimming several pots today in preparation for the next Raku firing. Heading out early tomorrow morning for 3 days of learning at the studio of Tom Turner in Mars Hill, NC. Hope to hone my skills. Will report back upon return.