League of NH Craftsmen's Fair 2014 - Day One

Jeff and I had a great trip north. We actually left on time on Wednesday, drove a little over 8 hours that first day and arrived at Mt. Sunapee Resort in Newbury, NH a little after 2:30 pm on Thursday. The booth walls, pedestals, and lights, were up in about four hours. I think it was a record for us! Friday was spent securing shelves and unpacking pots.

We are really pleased with the booth this year. The freshly painted walls and additional lighting make a big difference. The fair limits wattage per booth. We are slowly switching to LED lights which gives us more lights at lower wattage. They are expensive up front, but worth it in the long run.
The fair attendance seemed up from the first day last year. I will know for sure tomorrow when they give us the daily stats. I am quite certain our sales were up. Lots of people spend two days at the show (there are 350 craftspeople) and in the past, Sunday has been better for us than Saturday.
and did I mention the weather? In the 70's and super comfortable... tonight I had to put on a hoodie.

the last show of the year

and I am so glad it's over! I have to say that this was our easiest indoor booth set up. We only brought two corner walls and used our EZ frame to secure them and hang the lights.

We have done each of the three booth sizes that have been offered at this show and we have always made the same amount of money after expenses. Last year we decided the 10'x10' booth was easier to set up so why go big if you are not going to make more money?

This year was a little more profitable than last, and the bonus was that Jeff stayed home and kept the gallery open and we had good sales there as well. Last year I stayed home and I only saw a handful of people. We sold a lot of piggy banks, a few big pots, and LOTs of sponge holders and coasters. The funny thing is, we didn't sell a single mug! I wasn't surprised. This is not a juried show and we are competing with mugs that sell for eight bucks. The $25-$35 dollar mug buyers are few and far between at this show.

Now our focus will turn to Etsy. Holiday orders are coming in early this year and we already have a lot of pots to ship out this week. I have a feeling the holiday season will be good for us. I hope that it's good for you too!

blogger brain freeze

I have had nothing to blog about these days. I guess I haven't wanted to bore you with the mundane. The CCM Pottery Festival in Charlotte was good... easy set up, short day (10am-4pm), and fabulous customers who love to buy pottery. When you figure in the time and dollars we put into this show we make more money per hour than any other show we do. This show also attracts a smart crowd that understands art and handmade. We sold lots of sponge holders and coasters (as usual) and things in the $50 to $95 range were selling as well.

The sponge holders are about gone and the good thing is, I can throw those forms without putting too much stress on my shoulder. They are a good exercise in getting back to work!

I think I have the warping issue pretty much solved. They need to be thrown fairly hefty. A few still warp slightly, but not enough to be called a second or get the hammer.

I am having some issues with peeling slip on these flared rim bowls. The slip peeled off the rim on a few of these. I have two thoughts on the issue. The first is that I should keep the slip off of the edge of the rim and second, I am at the bottom of my slip bucket and I think it's beyond it's shelf life. I have heard other potters say that slip doesn't keep. The last batch I made was large so it's been around a few months. I also had a couple of vases with some slip that popped off the sides. It's time to mix a new batch and I think I will make half as much. If anyone else has had this experience, I would be happy to hear your thoughts.

"Treasures of the Earth"

Jeff and I have been invited to participate in "Treasures of the Earth" pottery show and sale, happening next month. The show is at the Cleveland County Arts Council, 111 S. Washington St., Shelby, NC.
If you live in the area I hope you get the opportunity to get out and see the show. Jeff and I plan to attend the opening reception on February 7th.

Strictly Functional 2012

The 2012 Strictly Functional Pottery National is now online, click here if you haven't seen it yet. Jeff is in good company, a couple of New England potter friends are also in the show... Maureen Mills and David Orser.

Jeff based his entries on knowing that Jack Troy was the juror and he definitely made the right call. A large number of the pots in the show are wood fired.

wood fired tray by Jeff Brown

Today is day two of glazing and then on to loading the gas kiln. Our goal is to fire tomorrow. Next weekend we will be in Charlotte for Festival in the Park. This is a first for me, Jeff did it 12 years ago. I hope it's a good show, it's long... Friday evening, Saturday till 9:30 pm, and all day Sunday. If you are in the Charlotte area come out to the park!