August in Seagrove, NC

Jeff and I have really enjoyed being home for the month of August. We do miss our family and friends, but we haven't missed the stress of packing and hauling a trailer to a show that is 800 miles away. I know there are a lot of people who make a living traveling to shows, but I just don't have it in me. I am thankful for opportunities this year that allowed us to stay home.

We have been enjoying our garden tremendously! While some things were not too successful... green beans and scarlet runner beans, we've had a great crop of okra, tomatoes, and basil. Jalapenos are starting to come in and there are lots of ghost peppers that are so hot no one can eat them! Poblanos will be ready for chile rellenos very soon. Once again there is butternut squash that grew from the compost. It looks like we will have more than last year. Jeff gets credit for growing the vegetables. He is diligent with organic pest control and keeping down the weeds. I just pick and eat! 

Pitcher by Dan Compte, bowl by John Baymore - both NH potters

I am still spending time with painting practice, but I have been side tracked with a new obsession...

Washi Tape! I bought it to tape down paintings while I work. It holds well but is easily removed. If you search Washi Tape ideas on Pinterest, you will find a plethora of fun things to do with it.

I made my school teacher sister a "back to school" set. The clothes pins are great for pinning papers to a "clothesline" or for holding bags closed. The pencils were wrapped in tape and then covered with a thin coat of matte medium. The binder clips speak for themselves. Jeff says if anything sits around too long I will wrap it in Washi Tape!

Face Jug Re-Fire

Jeff and our friends Paul Haigh and Rose Hardesty, fired a wood kiln in Carthage last month. Luck would have it that it was during the hottest days of July, not the best time to wood fire. Unfortunately they didn't get the reduction they wanted. It's hard to fire a wood kiln that your aren't all that familiar with. Paul had a deadline to meet so Jeff offered to re-fire his face jugs in our gas kiln. Paul came to the studio and loaded his pots in the afternoon. Jeff gave it a good pre-heat until bed time, then continued the firing the next day.

It was a lot of fun to see the door come down, revealing pots that are nothing like we make!

Paul was really happy with the results. He had some Green Man jugs that were just fabulous.

The tiki jug really looks like it was carved from wood.

I had a couple of  lackluster wood fired plates that I made two years ago and were re-fired in this recent wood kiln... they were now fired AGAIN in the gas kiln. Two of them actually look pretty good. I will get some pictures once they are sanded.  Third times a charm!

Hello August

Typically right now, Jeff and I are on the road hauling a trailer to the League of NH Craftsmen's show at Mt. Sunapee Resort, in New Hampshire. Last year we decided we needed a break. I can't tell you how much more enjoyable the last few weeks have been! While there were still firing deadlines to meet, we haven't spent days sanding, pricing, and packing pots. Aside from show prep, we would have to get our personal stuff packed, and our home ready for our wonderful house and gallery sitters.

We spent most Saturdays in July participating in the Seagrove area wide event, "Stepping into the Craft". We had lots of people of all ages sign up for one hour pottery classes. We did three sessions, each Saturday, and most spaces were filled. It was a lot of work, but also very enjoyable.

We will miss seeing our patrons, friends, and family at the fair. As of right now, Jeff and I don't know how long a break we will take. Will we go back next year? Probably not. But who knows about 2021!

If all goes as planned, we will head to New England in October. We will visit with family, deliver pots to a few galleries... and hopefully eat some lobster.