Exhibition at Sand Hills Community College

There was a bright spot in our life last week! Jeff and I were invited to participate in an exhibition at Sandhills Community College in Southern Pines, NC. Sandhills is Jeff's alma mater and it was exciting for him to go back and see how the college has grown and changed since the late 70's.

Our work is being show along with large scale paintings by Bucky Benson. The show is in the Hastings Gallery, located in the Boyd Library building. It's a really nice space, and Jeff was able to set up the pedestals and pottery.

This show is the first collaborative effort between the college and the Arts Council of Moore County. The exhibition runs until November 1, 2018. Please stop in if you are in the area.

Hastings Gallery of Art, Katharine L. Boyd Library at Sandhills Community College

3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374

Free Admission

The Large Platter Project

 This was installation week for Jeff's platter project at the Belle Meade Retirement community in Southern Pines, NC. The resort community is undergoing a dining room renovation and Jeff was commissioned to create sixteen, 16" platters to be hung on two walls.

Hanging these was not an easy job. It took Jeff about a day and half to complete the installation. These are heavy platters and needed to be securely attached to the walls.

The design team was great to work with and the sub-contractors on site were always helpful.

Jeff is planning to go back for a final photo shoot once the furniture is installed.

Southern Pines in Autumn

Jeff and I drove to Southern Pines today and packed up our show at the Campbell House Gallery. We were very happy with the positive responses to our work and the sales that backed it up.

While Jeff went back into the gallery for one final sweep, I snapped some photos of the surrounding gardens.

 It's truly an amazing setting that epitomizes the beauty of North Carolina.

I am not sure if I like the magnolia blossoms best, or the seed pods that come in Autumn...

I always say that I wish I could hang on to fall and make it last for 12 months, but then it wouldn't be so special would it?

Show opening

Our exhibition at Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC opened last night. There was a great turn out and we enjoyed meeting new people as well as visiting with friends and family.

This is Jeff's latest sink from the kiln. He has two on display at the show.

Remember the BIG bowl we worked on this summer? Here it is, finished and SOLD. I am feeling a little sad that we didn't get to spend any time with it. It came out of the kiln and packed for the show. I will get over the sadness quickly. Money has a way of doing that when it comes to making pots. 

These bowls came out of the kiln and into boxes as well. I am liking the translucent glaze over the sgraffito and plan to do more. I am looking in to buying some darker clay bodies for a brown/white contrast.

Jeff and I were pretty stressed getting this show together so soon after our New Hampshire trip. We somehow managed to pull it off! The show runs through September 26th. If you are in the area be sure to check it out.

Pretty Pots = Hard Work

Labor Day weekend is over.  We spent it laboring and the labor continues. Jeff and I are both dead tired. He even more than me, since he is helping with the wood firing down the road. Why is it that whenever you have intense work to do, the weather turns hot and sticky? It has taken us way longer than it should to accomplish anything.
This morning we unloaded the kiln. Overall we are very happy with the firing. A couple of pots will get the hammer (of course one was an order) and a couple ash glaze pots need some grinding. I am so happy that my teapot wasn't one of them! You just never know with this ash glaze. I quickly snapped a few photos of it before packing it up for our exhibition at Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines. We delivered the bulk of our work today. A few more pots will go tomorrow. If you are in the area, the opening reception is this coming Friday, September 5th from 6-8pm. Info is in the sidebar of the blog. We would love to see you there.

Together We're Better

Jeff threw this large 22" vase over the weekend so that I could carve my ginkgo leaf design onto it.

I am always nervous to start carving into his pots! I have to talk myself into making that first mark. Thankfully I can lightly draw the design in pencil before digging in.

It took me about 5-6 hours to complete. At one point we turned it upside down, resting the rim on a bat, so that I could get to the bottom third without killing my wrist. I had to be careful not to exert too much pressure on the shoulder. Jeff and I are both pretty happy with the end result.

This is one of the many collaborative pots we will be working on this summer for a show in September at Campbell House Gallery in Southern Pines, NC. Stay tuned for some large platters.

Palustris Festival

Last Saturday a few of us potters from Seagrove spent the day demonstrating and selling our work at the Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC. The event was part of the annual Palustris Festival in that area. There was a good turn out and while sales were not great, we talked to lots of people and spread the word about all the great things that are happening in Seagrove.

Dan Triece from Dirtworks Pottery demonstrated throwing "minis" off the hump.

Bobbie Thomas, of Thomas Pottery, was hand building frogs and turtles.

Jeff and I demonstrated altering leather hard pots and carving through slip.

Beth E. Roy's paintings are currently on exhibit in the gallery and she spent the afternoon painting. The first one she did was of Jeff working on a pot.

Beth's use of color in her paintings is amazing. Definitely worth a trip to the gallery to see her work.

The setting for the Campbell House is absolutely beautiful and everything was in full spring bloom. We were set up on the sun porch and our back drop was stunning!
This week it's back to throwing pots. The Celebration of Spring Studio Tours is right around the corner... April 21st & 22nd.