Tied at #11

click on the photo for complete list of Top Blogs

Each year, Pottery Making Info announces the top pottery blogs of 2015. This year I tied with Garth Clark's Cfile for #11. Not too shabby if I say so myself. I am also in good company with Gary Rith (#2!) and Linda Starr (#5), and Barb Rogers (#8). The announcement was perfect timing for today's post.

I have been working on a small dinnerware order. The pieces all have wavy rims, which can make trimming a challenge. Using a foam trimming bat makes this job so much easier.

The foam grips the piece quite well, and centering is easy because of the concentric circles, drawn onto the foam.

I learned about making a foam bat back in 2007, when Emily Murphy posted the "how to" on her blog. JZ immediately went out and bought some foam and made this bat. The instructions say to use a new clean bat, but JZ used one that we had in the studio. Clean it up and let it dry thoroughly and it will work just fine. I have been using this bat for nearly nine years and it's just now showing signs of wear.

You can find the instructions here: PotteryBlog.com

My point is... I have learned so much from reading blogs and writing my own blog. I have made friends with other potters, some who I have met in person, others who I feel like I have met! I appreciate each and everyone of you, and how you have touched my life in a meaningful way. 

2016 is going to be an awesome year. We are off to a great start.

Happy New Year to my Blogger Buddies and Readers!

An Etsy Treasury of Potters Who Blog

I created this Etsy treasury showcasing potters who blog and have an Etsy shop. If I read your blog and didn't realize that you have an etsy shop, I apologize now for the omission! Enjoy the beautiful work by this talented and diverse group.

'Pottery Bloggers' by meeshspottery

All of the fabulous work in this collection has been created by potters who blog. Each share a piece of themselves online, whether it's about their artistic process or a glimpse into the every day life of a ceramic artist.

mug with pig Rith $19.00	Natural Soap and Soap D... abelabodycare $24.00	Flying Purple Dragon St... FutureRelicsGa... $40.00	Multi Leaf Serving Disp... LindaStarrPott... $53.00
Pitcher (MK61) klinepottery $120.00	Nesting Lotus Bowls in ... whitneysmith $325.00	Tumbler with Tulips BlueHenPottery $25.00	Pottery Snowman Christm... baumanstonewar... $86.00
Lidded Box with Rabbit,... RonPhilbeckPot... $145.00	Twisted Stoneware Vase-... jeffbrownpotte... $95.00	Woman Woodfired Figure-... burntnormal $240.00	Flower vessel / vase (C... KiefferCeramic... $525.00
Blue Stoneware Platter ... kingscreekpott... $125.00	Christmas Red Salt Pepp... Creativewithcl... $42.00	Rustic Sunflower Honey ... DirtKickerPott... $45.00	Brie Baker and Cracker ... NewDayPottery $45.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Look who I met at the fair today...

It's Suzie, aka Smartcat!!!!!

Oh what fun to meet blogger buddies in person. Suzie has family in NH and has made the League of NH Craftsmen Fair a near annual visit. I think we could have talked for hours, if it wasn't for the fact that I needed to be selling pots! She is planning to return one more day to the fair (it's way too big to take it all in in one day) and I hope that we get more time to visit. I still need to have my annual fair ice cream (or two!) so maybe she will join me, and we will have more time to chat.

... in business news, sales picked up a lot today with the cooler weather settling in. We are confident it will continue. In between selling pots, we are having fun catching up with all of our artist/crafter friends. I truly love North Carolina, but it does feel good to be "home".