City by the Sea Ceramics: Pottery by Karen Mahoney

Call for submissions: 500 Teapots

2012-01-30T13:02:00.001-05:00

Lark has a call for submissions open until April 20 for 500 Teapots. Yes, there is already a 500 Teapots edition in the Lark 500 Series, but it is the ten year anniversary of it, so to celebrate they are releasing a brand new edition. The juror will be Jim Lawton.

There is no cost to enter, and you may submit up to four pieces for the book. As a nice bonus for being chosen, included artists receive a free copy of the book as well as a discount on more copies.

I had a piece in the 500 Raku book that came out last year, and I plan to enter this one too. February will be my teapot making month.

Mudtools Mudsponge

2012-01-27T16:56:00.000-05:00

As I sat and threw mugs and steins today I decided it was probably time for a new sponge. Usually nothing noteworthy, but this time it was.

The standard yellow throwing sponge kills me. They wear out incredibly fast, they leave bits of themselves in my clay that I recycle and reuse, and they don't hold water terribly well. Last year I lost my patience with it and decided to buy the Mudtools Mudsponge. It was $5, kinda pricey when the yellow ones are a buck, but I decided to try it out since I have absolutely loved every tool I've gotten from Mudtools.

When it arrived I instantly fell in love with it. It absorbed an incredible about of water without dripping and didn't crumble apart at all. It was the perfect sponge.

I got curious just how long ago I had ordered it and been using this sponge-of-wonder so I pulled up the invoice in gmail. March of 2011! Ten months (well 7, since I broke my arm) of solid use, often on very gritty clays, and just now it is ready to be replaced. Once again, well done Mudtools.

Mason Jar Scrubs

2012-01-23T12:51:00.002-05:00

My friend Tori had her birthday last week and I wanted to make her something awesome. I've been on Pinterest for about a week now and my "crafty" and "yum" boards show an obvious current obsession with mason jars.

I picked up this theme and ran with it making her 6 jars of various bath salts, facial scrubs, foot scrubs and hand scrubs in jars I grabbed from the grocery store. I had printed a pattern onto some sticky paper and colored it in, making a nice decorative sticker for the top of the jar, and wrapped some raffia around too.

Here are the recipes I used or based my products on: Foot Scrub, Mud Scrub, Bath Salts, Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub, and Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub.

I had some really nice scented oils around, so I decided to use those scents instead of a few of the suggested ones, but I did keep a few true to the recipe. I was really happy with all of the products, though I do wish my lavender vanilla foot scrub looked more purple and less gray.

I think I'm going to make a jar to keep next to the sink at the studio. They are really nice to keep your hands moisturized, something potters always need help with.

I'm in a magazine!!

2012-01-20T13:35:00.002-05:00

So a particular sawdust of mine got featured on the official Etsy blog and then it started blowing up on Pinterest. A few weeks later I got a request from Standard Magazine to have it featured in the "On the Boards" section of an upcoming issue, which was a super nice way to end 2011.

The issue with my sawdust piece is out now! The cup is featured on page 29 in the "An Octopus's Garden" feature. You can order a print copy here, or view it online here. I agree with the writer that the surface looks like it's from outer space, but they noted that it is glaze instead of effects from a sawdust firing. I'm still super happy that it was featured in such a nice magazine. Grab a copy of this super nice eco-friendly mag!

A craft fair checklist, just for you

2012-01-18T18:58:00.002-05:00

January is usually the time of the year when I take a moment to catch up on the business side of things. It's the one time of the year when there generally isn't too much on the calendar for shows, so I get to catch up on some updating, evaluating, goal planning, fine tuning, and other things too.

One tool I use to help me reflect on things and prepare for my next move is a craft fair checklist I made myself a few years back. I've tweaked it as my events have changed over time, but basically it helps me keep things organized leading up to fairs and then it helps me keep details straight afterwards.

What crafty person doesn't need a little help in the sanity department? So, here it is! Your very own craft fair checklist to print and use! Print it, use it, and be amazed by the amazingness..

What amazingness you ask? Well, as soon as you have a fair you're going to sign up for fill in the fair name, date, and vendor fee on the page. When you apply and pay, fill in those areas of the form too, being sure to note how exactly you had paid. If there's anything you need to remember, use the note section at the bottom. Now you don't need to worry about remembering the extra details on your mind, like exactly what table size you need at which show.

When Best Fair Ever is nearing, pull out the sheet and refresh your memory. Then use the check list to guide yourself when packing up. It's easy to let a small thing slip from your focus and forget it at home, but if you have a general checklist for yourself it's all taken care of.

When the show is over and your cash has been counted, fill in the amount you sold and how much sales tax you collected. Use the note section to give a summary of your day so you can remember specifics at a future date. I generally note weather, thoughts about the fair, organizers, and shoppers as well an anything else I think may be worth remembering.

If you fill out a form for each show and keep them filed, you will be able to prepare with more organization and less stress as well as be able to look back to events with accuracy.

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My 2011 Knitting Resolution Update

2012-01-16T16:00:00.001-05:00

Check out my post over on the Boston Handmade blog for an update on my 2011 knitting resolution.

People Perfect for Rope Texture

2012-01-12T19:07:00.003-05:00

I use a few different braid styles of rope in my work for texture, but I have a favorite that is on the majority of it. The pattern is very common, the standard 'individual strings twisted together' kind of cord. I'm sure there's a name for it, but I sure don't know it. I was thinking how since it's such a common style that it could be perfect for certain folks! (I say folks a lot. I think it was all my years in Wyoming that did it.)

1. Knitters
The twisted pattern of the rope is the same as yarn and how it is spun. The pattern seems even more appropriate on my yarn bowls, don't you think?

2. Boating Enthusiasts
Or just people who like to boat. Nautical rope is also the same pattern as my rope. I think some white rope textured items would be perfect for the sea people!

3. Cowboys
I haven't seen many wandering around since I left the Rocky Mountain region, but they're out there. Lasso rope! Need I say more? Okay. Mugs in a deep brown or other earthy, rugged shade.

So if you don't know what to get your difficult to shop for relatives (crazy knitting Aunt Bonny, Uncle Andy who likes to get his knot on, and the cousins out at the ranch), now you at least have a place to start!

Who else would be perfect?

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Back in the studio!

2012-01-10T15:14:00.002-05:00

Today was my first day throwing since my broken arm>sick>jury duty show stopper. It went well!

When I broke my arm in October I was worried how long it would be before I got back on track in the studio. I was worried about a lot of things (canceling shows in December, not being able to meet personal and professional goals, losing $$$ because I was canceling shows, and soooo much more. I'm a worrier) but how my arm was able to perform after it healed was really the only long term worry. There'd be other shows and sales to make, there'd be other times to reach my goals and while I kept telling myself these things, it was hard to not be very depressed about all of it. But really, I knew that as long as it healed and I was good for the long run, I was good. So I rested my injury and decided I would not pot again until January.

Mid-Decemeber it was feeling pretty good and I wanted to go throw, but I was worried that while it felt okay, wedging and centering would be too much of a strain (I broke the end of my radius down in my wrist). So I waited for January to come to head back.

January didn't get the message of my plans. After visiting family for the holidays I came home sick. Ear ache, runny nose, all the good stuff. Then I got better, but had to report for my first ever jury duty summons yesterday. I was very thankful when I was not picked to serve, there's too much studio catching up to do!

So that landed me back in the studio today throwing for the first time since mid-October. Yahoo! I wasn't as rusty as I expected to be, and I didn't feel any pain throwing, wedging, or centering. It does feel like that muscle is a bit weak, something I hadn't noticed until today, but I'm not worried, it will come back. I don't want to push it however, so I only threw 8 pieces today, easing into things as I go along and seeing how I feel. I've got to catch up on all the mugs and yarn bowls I sold this winter so that was where I began.

It's nice to be back to work. I will, however, miss my soft hands. Three months of being away from clay made them moister and softer than they've been in years. It was nice while it lasted, but cracked, bleeding skin on the back of my hands is where I belong.

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North Carolina Pottery

2012-01-07T11:46:00.001-05:00

Check out my blog post about a North Carolina pottery exhibit over on the Boston Handmade blog!

More sawdust pots

2012-01-05T16:24:00.002-05:00

New sawdust fired cup, wild fern image

My google analytics tell me that my sawdust fired pots have been getting a LOT of attention lately. I had a few that I've been carting around to shows and decided now was a good time to finally get them posted on Etsy. Most of them have leaf patterns fired on them, something I have been struggling to duplicate since my beginner's luck. The first time I tried for leaf images my firing was very kind to me, producing a piece that was my first work to be published. The firing of the newer pieces I just posted went well, showing leaf patterns on all but a few pots. Still, none have the incredible quality of detail like the very first one.

Vase from first leaf sawdust firing. You can see veins and holes in the leaves.

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My knit strawberries

2011-12-05T10:34:00.002-05:00

I had decided a while ago to knit some strawberries to display with my berry bowls, to help people know what the small dishes are exactly. There is still some confusion with shoppers sometimes, but overall they did the job.

This weekend at the JP First Church Holiday Sale and Bazaar Bizarre I got lots of comments about them. Even a few offers to purchase! As I told the shoppers, I found the pattern online and it had asked users to please not produce it for profit, and as a handmade person I can appreciate that.

So here it is, the super cute knit strawberry pattern! Also, the knit piece is the size of a large real strawberry when finished. The one I'm holding looks like it's been growing in Alaska because my hands are really small for an adult (youth medium gloves!).

Enjoy!

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5 reasons to buy a handmade mug

2011-11-29T11:34:00.003-05:00

1. It's green! Bring yours to the office and save some styrofoam or paper.
2. A nice, well fit mug can be super warm and cozy in your hands on a cold morning.
3. No one likes to do the dishes, but something about washing handmade pots is very relaxing and pleasing.
4. Make friends envious that you have a well-made/local-made piece of art you begin your days with.
5. A coffee mug is also a juice mug, a tea mug, a milk mug, a water mug, a soda mug, and a beer mug.

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Save the Date! Boston Handmade is at Bazaar Bizarre December 4!

2011-11-27T19:43:00.001-05:00

Save the Date! Boston Handmade is at Bazaar Bizarre December 4!

Boston Handmade members are certainly out and about this holiday shopping season, and one of our stops is at the Boston Bazaar Bizarre on Sunday, December 4 at the Cyclorama. The event runs from 12pm-6pm and is always a blast. The eight Boston Handmade members representing the group this year will be:

City by the Sea Ceramics

Stray Notions

Cristina Hurley Jewelry

An Li Studio

You'll also be able to purchase a Boston Handmade tshirt from us that day. Come see us and other talented artists that afternoon, you don't want to miss this super fun event!

Chawan: An International Exhibition

2011-10-28T11:13:00.001-04:00

I was invited to participate in an international traveling show while it is here in the United States and I hope you can come celebrate at the opening reception with me! The exhibit concentrates on a vessel to drink tea, the chawan, or tea bowl. Chawan: An International Exhibition features work from artists representing nine countries and has been traveling to museums and galleries around the world for the last few years. This Sunday, October 30 is the opening of the first stop in this country for an exhibit that has already seen Belgium, France, Korea, and Croatia and will head to Japan.

The reception is 1-4 at the Gorse Mill Studios Gallery at 31 Thorpe Road in Needham. There will be a demonstration of the Chinese tea ceremony by participating artist Chang kuei Wei at 2pm if you would like to see that as well. I hope you can make it! If not, the exhibit is up until November 27, and gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 11-5.

My New Ceramic Button

2011-10-24T18:12:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I went to the Newton Harvest Fair and of course I check out the craft vendors. There was a lot of really nice work, but I ended up going home with this small piece from Ingrid Hathway. She had two baskets full of beautiful buttons, I really had a hard time picking just one. I love it, and plan to put it on a future knitting project of mine.

American Craft Week at The Potters Shop

2011-10-07T11:06:00.003-04:00

American Craft Week is happening October 7-16 and people across the country are celebrating in various ways. The studio that I work in, The Potters Shop and School in Needham, is celebrating with a gallery event on Friday, October 14 from 6-9pm. The display will have work from studio staff, members, summer interns, and students. Because there are so many potters submitting work for the event there is a huge range of work styles, techniques, and price points. It's a great opportunity to see what some local artists are up to and to support what they are doing. The studio is located inside Gorse Mill Studios at 31 Thorpe Road in Needham, Massachusetts. I hope you can come by!

Northeastern Art

2011-10-05T19:31:00.001-04:00

Check out my blog post about a painting on the Northeastern campus over on the Boston Handmade blog!

A Note From My Neighbor

2011-09-15T17:38:00.003-04:00

My car is usually filled with boxes of pots, tables, wooden shelving displays, and other odds and ends I cart around from one show to the next. Since there is usually little time between shows everything generally sits in my car. I've wondered what my neighbors think I'm up to, and I finally found out! I found this note on my car the other day.

More Anniversary Art

2011-08-29T13:33:00.004-04:00

Last summer I wrote about the vacations and art that my husband and I celebrate our anniversary with every year, and updated you with our purchases from our 3rd anniversary. Our 4th wedding anniversary brought us up to Maine. This year we got a large plate by Richard Robertson of Rockport, Maine. The piece was both of our favorites, so it was an easy choice. Unlike the other plates we've bought on our past trips, this one is going on the wall and not in the cabinet for use, except for special occasions. We didn't fish on our trip, but I think the rugged, outdoorsy look of the plate will remind us of the time we spent camping, hiking to waterfalls, watching moose, and seeing the sun rise from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

My Second Knitting Project

2011-08-29T13:32:00.001-04:00

Check out my post over on the Boston Handmade blog about my second knitting project

This Saturday! Boston Handmade Somerville Marketplace!

2011-07-29T12:24:00.001-04:00

This Saturday, July 30, is the big annual Boston Handmade Somerville Marketplace featuring lots of awesome work by many local talented artists, including your truly. The event is 3-7 in Union Square. The rain date is the following day, July 31, but Saturday afternoon is looking to be gorgeous, perfect shopping weather you could even say. ;)

I will have have many new raku and sawdust fired pieces I've been working on recently. Some of these results have been VERY cool, and I'm sure you guys will like them too. I'm going to do a small demonstration at my booth also, polishing up some sawdust pots I fired. It's not nearly as exciting as the firing process itself, but it is the last step and gives the unglazed pots a beautiful sheen.

The event will also be the debut of my yarn bowls! Yup, yarn bowls! I'm pretty excited about them and I think knitters and crocheters will love them too. I recently learned how to knit, so making the bowls seemed like a natural step, combining the two crafts.

I hope to see you there! Come say hello!

My 3 Most Wanted Items Off Etsy

2011-07-15T08:24:00.001-04:00

Check out my post about my three most wanted items off Etsy over on the Boston Handmade blog!

My First Knitting Project

2011-06-28T08:50:00.003-04:00

Check out my blog post about my first knitting project over on the Boston Handmade blog!

Big Changes Coming Soon!

2011-06-27T17:21:00.001-04:00

Hi folks!

I'm about to do something big for my business that I've been considering for a long time. Something I haven't done in almost two years. It's good news, but it might sound a little scary at first....ready?

I'm raising my prices! Yeah! Why is this happening and why is it good news?

Well, it's happening because it's something I haven't done in nearly two years and it's time. I feel I've truly grown as a potter and artist in this timespan, and putting a higher value on my work is due in the scheme of things. My work was valued fairly when I priced it so long ago, but those prices are now undervaluing my work and I need to address that. It's something I've put off because I didn't want to alienate customers, but I've decided that if someone truly values what I am doing and enjoys the work, a few dollars difference won't sway their decision and they will still be happy to own the piece.

This increase is good news because it means that I've been successful at what I've been doing! If things weren't going well and I didn't see progress in my work I wouldn't have made this decision. My work is getting nicer, my events are going better, and my name is getting recognized. It's a long road to get where I want to be, but I'm on the right track, and raising prices is a step towards that direction.

Don't worry, if it was $40 before it's not going to be $90 now. But if you do want to save yourself a few bucks (who doesn't these days?) place your order from my Etsy shop before July 1 to get my current prices, I'll be changing them then.

Phish Supporting Artists

2011-06-08T18:03:00.001-04:00

Check out my blog post about Phish supporting artists over on the Boston Handmade blog!

adjusting etsy listings...too much?

2011-05-20T12:55:00.005-04:00

Hi folks!

I've been working on adjusting some descriptions of etsy listings. I like the changes, but can't decide if I'm laying it on just a bit too thick....what do you think?

before:

Enjoy your morning coffee even more when you have a new favorite mug. These stoneware mugs were thrown on a wheel and textured with rope. The exterior was glazed with a rich brown shade and the interior was glazed with a glossy sky blue color. The mug's neck and the handle's dimples are perfect for fidgeting with, and the smooth handle's curve is a comfy fit for fingers. The mugs are also available individually, look for the listing in my Etsy shop. They're also fun to pair with my mugs that are brown on the outside and green inside. The mugs are safe for your drink, food, microwave, and dishwasher. They stand about 4" high.

after:

Enjoy your morning coffee even more when you get extra cozy with a new favorite mug that fits in the nooks and crannies of your hand just perfectly. I hear it all the time: these handles are extra comfortable. The curves fit your fingers just right, no matter the size, and allow for a few fingers to wrap inside the loop, making sure there's no fumbling about. Pair the curvy handle with dimples at the attachments, rope texture, and the angled shape of the mug's neck and your fingers are bound to linger a bit beyond your sip, luxuriating in a moment of tactile pleasure. Oh my.

These stoneware handmade mugs were thrown on a wheel and textured with rope, the oldest known form of surface decoration on pottery, around the majority of the exterior, the lip left smooth for easy, dribble free drinking. Then I glazed the exterior with a rich brown shade, and the interior was glazed with a glossy sky blue color, modern adaptations of the classic tenmoku and celadon glazes of Asia. After that I loaded them up into the kiln and fired them up to roughly 2200° F

The mugs stand about 4" high, offering plenty of space to fill with your favorite beverage.
No one needs more work, so it'll be easy living with these dishwasher and microwave safe mugs. And they are definitely safe for your food and drink!

Please understand that the mugs you receive may not be these exact mugs, but I promise they will remain true to the work pictured. Pretty much, you'll enjoy what you receive unless you just really loved the way the handle crested over 1/16" of that line of rope texture. Handmade, ya hear?

Shipping, ugh, what a bummer. It's not just you, I'm not happy about how expensive it is either. USPS, UPS, FedEx, none of them are cheap. What I can offer you is 1) if you convo me your zip code I'll see if I can get a more exact, and hopefully lower, rate 2) if the shipping cost listed is more than $1 difference from the actual, I'll refund the difference 3) I can promise that all shipping materials are used (but clean!) to both keep down costs and help mama earth. I hope this helps!

The mugs are also available individually, look for the listing in my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/listing/70809284/brown-and-blue-mug

They're also fun to pair with my mugs that are brown on the outside and green inside. http://www.etsy.com/listing/70793293/brown-and-green-mug

See what else I'm offering up in my etsy shop!http://www.etsy.com/shop/Citybytheseaceramics

Find me elsewhere around the web:http://www.citybytheseaceramics.com/http://www.facebook.com/CityByTheSeaCeramicsKarenMahoneytwitter: @cityseaceramicshttp://www.etsy.com/shop/citybytheseaceramics

American Craft Beer Week

2011-05-18T15:27:00.001-04:00

Check out my blog post on American craft beer over on the Boston Handmade blog!

Open Studios

2011-04-26T08:05:00.003-04:00

The next three weekends will be keeping myself and other Boston Handmade'ers busy with Open Studio events in different towns around the Boston area. I encourage you to check out at least one of these events, but if you really want that gold star, you'd better get to all three. ;)

This weekend, April 30 and May 1, will be West Medford Open Studios. There will be four of us representing Boston Handmade at one location. Showing at 56 Bower Street will be myself, Lynne of Cozy Cottage Creations, Allison of Fraske Designs, and Sharon of Stray Notions. The event runs noon to 5 each day. Come get mom that gift for Mother's Day. Mom's LOVE handmade!

The following weekend, I am participating in Needham Open Studios, the town I live and work in. May 7 the event runs from 10-4 and May 8 the event runs from 12-4. I will be showing out of The Potters Shop in Gorse Mill Studios. Gorse Mill is a major stop for Needham Open Studios, having 16 artists in one location. Come say hi!

On May 15 will be the very first Dedham Open Studios event. This event will also have a few of us Boston Handmade'ers showing together representing the group. Participating in DOS will be myself, Kerry Hawkins of Kerry Hawkins Photography, and Nancy MacCallum of Nancyrosetta. Come support the first ever Dedham Open Studios event to ensure that it continues in the future!

Pots for Earth Day

2011-04-20T19:42:00.003-04:00

I try to be as conscious about waste as I can be with my business, and take small but meaningful steps where I can. I ship all my items with used packing materials and boxes. I try to collect people's email addresses for my mailing list rather than snail mail addresses. I had been reusing shopping bags for my sales until this winter, but I made the decision to buy new bags to sell my items in. I went with brown paper bags, and I carved a recycle stamp to put on each one, trying to encourage what hands it fell into once it left mine that they should recycle or reuse it.

I like to think that my pottery itself has a hand in keeping plastic cups, plates, and bowls out of landfills. I have many of each in my home that are sturdy enough to toss into a bag and without worry, go camping, road tripping, or just an average day. Having a cup with you is super handy to avoid those unfriendly containers that come along with spontaneous beverages.

Handmade pottery is far more durable than the stuff you can pick up at any giant chain. I have dropped mugs on the ground at shows to show people how sturdy they are. Am I crazy? No, I just know how strong they are. When potters have a piece that didn't come out of the kiln right and isn't fixable, some of them smash it. I do this, and have to hit pots numerous times with a hammer to chip it. If they can hold up to this, they can certainly hold up to an afternoon in your purse or backpack.

Here's a cup I cart around with me. Some tips on what to look for when shopping for travel-friendly pots:

The straighter the sides the better. The curves will have more weak points in the curve. Straight or shallow curves are best. You don't want it to be heavy, but it should feel sturdy.

A thicker lip is a good thing for this. Generally a lip should taper a bit more to prevent dribbling. In this case, you want a nice thick rounded lip.

The foot of the pot should be flat on the bottom and rounded edges on the perimeter. If there is a trimmed foot it is a weak point and more prone to chipping while getting tossed around. A trimmed foot could still be okay if it still had the same idea as the lip, rounded and thick, sturdy. The foot shown has a flower pattern carved on it, but is shallow enough not to compromise the piece.

I hope these tips are helpful. Let me know if you decide to buy sturdy pots in an effort to avoid plastic and styrofoam!

My Visit To DeCordova Sculpture Park

2011-04-09T20:18:00.003-04:00

I took a recent trip to the DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA on one of these gorgeous days we've been having. If you have never been, go! Right now! It's one of my favorite museums in the area and it's so much fun to wander and discover what they have. It's a perfect art museum for kids, as they are allowed to touch the sculptures outdoors, though no climbing is allowed as tempting as it may be. There's also many visitors that bring their dogs along. It sure beats a walk through the neighborhood any day.

While walking one of the winding paths I came upon Daniel Ladd maintaining one of his tree sculptures. Watching him manipulate the branches, I figured he was the artist, as it didn't seem like a job for the general landscaping crew. I asked if he was, and he seemed happy that I had made that assumption. Many others had passed, simply looking and moving along. I'm so glad I began speaking with Daniel because he took a few moments to show me exactly what he was up to.

Daniel's sculpture began in 1990. It is 11 elm trees, each bending to a 90 degree angle at a similar height, and growing into the one before it. Daniel said that he comes out 3-5 times a year to maintain the shaping of the tree sculpture.

Daniel cuts through the outer layer of bark, exposing the inside of the branches. He then tightly wraps them together. This time of the year is when it is best to encourage the branch grafting, since the trees are in a heavy growth period the two branches are able to grow into each other and become one. He also uses nails and a putty like substance to help direct the growth.

It was so much fun to see the park and it was especially nice to talk with Daniel Ladd. I plan on taking many more trips to the park, and you can bet I'll be paying special attention to the growth progress of Daniel's work.

Mashiko Potters Fund

2011-03-23T23:21:00.001-04:00

Reposted from my website page. Please find links to tweet, share, and email there:

As the days continue since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, many projects have grown to help the people affected. The images we have seen are devastating and touch us, urging us to help those who are experiencing what we cannot imagine. Many have helped Red Cross, auctions like Handmade for Japan have been organized, people have joined forces to help animals, even my favorite band, Phish, is releasing a show they played in Japan with all proceeds going towards relief. People are finding ways that are close to them to help, and I have found a cause close to me.

50% of all sales made in my online Etsy shop now through the end of April will be donated to the Mashiko Potters Fund. My goal is to be able to donate $500 on May 1.

I came across the Mashiko Potters Fund, or MPF, through email from Pucker Gallery in Boston.

After reading the email I knew immediately I wanted to help the MPF, organized by potter Ken Matsuzaki and the Mayor of Mashiko. Before I had heard of the MPF I had seen images of magnificent kilns crumbled and amazing pots destroyed. As a potter who has been so influenced by Japanese potters, these pictures struck a chord with me. Mashiko in particular has been the home to two of my favorite potters, Shoji Hamada and Tatsuzo Shimaoka. The village is filled with so many potters and so much history. To think of it coming to and end, the potters losing their livelihoods, and the kilns not being rebuilt is terrible and sad. I want to help this village continue on with what they do so wonderfully.

Local pottery studio Mudflat is the fiscal sponsor for the MPF. Proceeds will be transfered to them directly. I will be posting regular updates on the progress to the goal of $500 on facebook and twitter.

How you can help:
-purchase a piece from my Etsy shop
-donate to MPF yourself
-share on facebook
-share on twitter
-share on your blog
-email your friends
-spread the word any way you can

The Prettiest Bathroom You'll Ever See

2011-03-14T17:22:00.002-04:00

I attended the Elusive Teabowl Workshop at Harvard that I had previously blogged a bit about, and I will tell you all about it, but that time must wait. Right now we need to talk about bathrooms. Gorgeous bathrooms. Harvard ceramics department bathrooms.

Next time you are even close to 219 Western Ave in Allston, go see it. It's right next to the ceramics department entrance, so you can quietly sneak in and check it out without anyone thinking you an odd duck sneaking around bathrooms. It's worth the stop. I love seeing it any time I'm at the studio for an event. The wall and floor tiles were created by Lucy Scanlon. According to her website, the project was created after she had won a juried competition for the job while she was teaching there.

This phone camera shot of a dimly lit corner doesn't do it justice, but hey, I left the tripod and lamps at home. You are still able to see the incredible waves of texture in the tiles, including the border tiles at the top. Even the toilet paper holder is awesome. It's not every day you say that, that's why it's so exciting!

The texture of the tiles is amazing, but I love the glaze as well. It's a gorgeous aqua shade with lots of variation in it, varying so much from tile to tile, and even from corner to corner on a single one. The color and forms give you so much to look at. It still has the classic "blue/water" theme that so many bathrooms have, but it is the most unique and beautiful interpretation of it I've ever seen.

219 Western Ave in Allston, entrance is in the back of the building, down a few steps. The bathroom is right around the corner from the display of work that is directly in front of you when you walk in. Let me know what you think.

Teabowls in Boston

2011-02-25T16:41:00.002-05:00

Boston will be hosting a number of events concerning teabowls in March, which I am super excited about.

On March 12, Lacoste Gallery in Concord opens the exhibit The Elusive Teabowl. The group show has some very exciting potters included, and kicks off the events of the next few days.

At the MFA, the exhibit An Unspoken Dialogue with Tea opened in February and runs through September. This show focuses on the tea ceremony itself, and presents a number of teabowls made of various materials. On March 13, the MFA is hosting A Day About Japanese Tea to compliment the exhibit. The lecture has many speakers, including Japanese potters Tsujimura Shiro and Suzuki Goro, and American potter Jeff Shapiro.

On March 14, Harvard Ceramics Department is hosting a workshop, The Elusive Teabowl. The three potters from the MFA lecture will be hosting, as well as American potter Richard Milgram.

If you're interested in pottery or just like tea, I encourage you to check out some of these events. Maybe I'll see you there!

I llove llamas

2011-02-13T09:01:00.003-05:00

Click here to see the Etsy treasury I made

The Machu Picchu Collage G...
terispringer
$3.50 USD
super llama - thank you ca...
supersobo
$3.50 USD
FIDO - 4 x 6 fine art phot...
dianapappas
$25.00 USD
Llama Recycled Record Silh...
RandomPrefec...
$17.00 USD
Llama Socks Print
arawlins
$20.00 USD
L is for...
PaperWaspNes...
$5.00 USD
Alpaca or llama sewing cad...
Woollybutt...
$20.55 USD
Llama In Pajamas Canvas Pr...
bitethehippo
$15.00 USD
Llarry - Decorative Plush ...
bitethehippo
$18.00 USD
Las Vegas Llama
JRoseArt
$140.00 USD
Llamas T-Shirt in Brown Si...
maryink
$29.00 USD
hand painted necklace, ori...
tuckooandmoo...
$28.00 USD
llama lashes, 5x7 photogra...
dreadsky
$14.00 USD
Alpaca amigurumi CROCHET P...
planetjune
$5.50 USD
Llama Llove. Gocco printe...
papermenager...
$3.50 USD
Llama T-Shirt, Organic Ame...
elementalsho...
$16.45 USD

Etsy Treasury- Peacocks

2011-02-11T18:55:00.003-05:00

Peacock Fancy Cuff - vinta...
soradesigns
$24.00 USD
Peacock Feather linen pill...
giardino
$40.00 USD
Peacock print 8x10
berkleyillus...
$18.00 USD
P is for Peacock 8x10 Alph...
pitterpatter...
$17.00 USD
Royal Watch 8 x 10 photogr...
impulseART
$16.00 USD
Art Nouveau Peacock Hand-E...
melysbaby
$25.00 USD
TOTE BAG - Screenprinted P...
sweetharvey
$12.00 USD
Peacock Perfect Hand Embel...
Paperquick
$7.50 USD
Feather Fascinator // Sara...
aliceandtheo...
$25.00 USD
Peacock Couture print
JessicaIllus...
$25.00 USD
Peacock 4 - Vintage Book P...
DreameryStud...
$8.50 USD
sage peacock feathers - lu...
redrubyrose
$105.00 USD
Greeting Card - The Paper ...
CarolineRo...
$3.29 USD
Panoramic Cuff - Peacock F...
urbanrose
$33.50 USD
Vintage Peacock Illustrati...
thependantem...
$8.00 USD
Feathers - 5 x 7 Illustrat...
NanLawson
$10.00 USD

Click here to see the Etsy Treasury

An Accomplishment With a Lesson Learned

2011-02-09T10:17:00.002-05:00

On March 1 Lark Books will be putting out a new book, 500 Raku. It's part of an ongoing series from them. Other titles have been 500 Cups, 500 Plates and Chargers, 500 Ceramic Sculptures...you get the idea. Each book is a collection of 500 various types of ceramics, although there are other crafts who represented with books in the 500 series as well.

There was a call for entries for 500 Raku in the fall of 2009, and since I had some recent raku teabowls I was really happy with, I entered all three. The teabowls I made all had images of Hokusai prints I had painted on them. When I entered the pieces, I had titled them all "Hokusai Teabowl". This is where my lesson learned comes in.

Fast forward to Summer of 2010. After completely forgetting about the entry, I received an envelope from Lark. I opened it and found an acceptance letter! Woo hoo! One thing though. My letter read "Hokusai Teabowl, accepted, Hokusai Teabowl, declined, Hokusai Teabowl, declined". So which of the three was going to be published? I had no idea. I would have to wait until the book was out. And this is how I learned to ALWAYS give pieces distinguishing titles when entering them in something, even if they are similar or part of a set. Doh!

Last week I got my complimentary copy of 500 Raku for being a contributor, and this was when I learned for the first time which of the three pieces was in the book. It was Hokusai Teabowl! Kidding! It was the one with an image of "The Great Wave" painted on it. I had thought that may have been the chosen piece, as the image is much more common and familiar than "Hibiscus and Sparrow" or "Mount Fuji in Clear Weather".

I'm super excited to have this piece published, and I'm glad that Jim Romberg was the juror who chose my work. Though raku is a style of pottery I rarely do and certainly don't focus on, this teabowl is the second piece published in a book on the subject. This success has made me decide to make it more of a regular thing, so I made a New Years resolution to make 5 raku pieces and 5 sawdust fired pieces every month in addition to my work I would normally make. It's good it gave me a little kick in the butt to make more raku. It's also good that it taught me to properly distinguish my pieces, if for no one else then at least for myself. Has there been a time that YOU had a "doh!" moment submitting your work, teaching you a lesson? I can't be the only one!

I Will Learn To Knit This Year

2011-01-19T12:15:00.002-05:00

In addition to my numerous professional goals I made for myself this year, I also made a goal to learn how to knit. Why did I suddenly decide I'm going to learn how to knit? You know how some people see babies and just gasp because their cuteness is just too much to contain? I'm like that with llamas. I freaking LOVE llamas. They are just too adorable and I want to go give them a hug on their silly looking necks. After seeing BH'ers Diane post about seeing a llama at a wool festival and Beth post about buying some llama wool, I made a vow to get some llama yarn and make a scarf. Not the conventional pull towards knitting, but I'm drawn none the less.

When I was still pretty young my mom showed me a few things about knitting and helped me start a scarf. I'm not sure if it was a general adolescent boredom or the handmade bug hadn't hit me yet, but I didn't remember what she had showed me and the scarf was never finished. A few years after that she gave me a beginners knitting kit for Christmas. It was for a purple and pink striped shoulder bag. I never started it, but I did save it, carrying it with me for that last 10 or so years, moving it from closet to closet, apartment to apartment, state to state.

The kit's day has come! I will learn how to knit and I will learn with my shoulder bag kit. It has a DVD included so I hope to be able to take the skills it shows me and combine it with some advice from the friendly knitters in Boston Handmade, some tidbits from some library books, and knit myself one awesome llama scarf. I will keep you posted on my projects!

Nathalie Miebach

2011-01-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

Last week I went to the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton and had so much fun! I discovered one artist in particular I'm excited to have found and I'd like to share her with you.

Sculptor Nathalie Miebach complies the data of tides, temperature, winds, moon phases and other specifics of various environments and creates sculptures made of "reed, wood, data". She had two pieces in one of the current exhibits at Fuller, The New Materiality: Digital Dialogues at the Boundaries of Contemporary Craft.

The piece above, Boston Tides, was created from data collected in 2005 at Boston Harbor. It transforms the information of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, tides, moon phases, and the solar path in relation to the horizon, and creates a large sculpture of data, with each weave representing one hour.

Nathalie's second piece in the show is Warm Winter. This sculpture compares local, regional, and historical data of air, water, and soil temperature, as well as wind speed and direction, tides, and moon phases. The piece is specific to the weather of December 2006 and January 2007.

The exhibit is there through February 6, 2011. After digging through their site a bit more I found that Nathalie will have a show at Fuller from January 15, 2011, through September 25, 2011 with a reception on February 25.

My first gingerbread house!

2010-12-29T15:53:00.000-05:00

I decided this year I would skip making cookies and instead make my first gingerbread house for Christmas. I decided to build it Christmas Eve using graham crackers since I like those more than gingerbread. After I had bought all the supplies the night before, I was SO excited to get to work on it! I think maybe because of my recent handbuilding projects I was in the box building mode!

Christmas Eve morning I made my frosting, got out the candy and other goodies, and got started. Five hours later I was done!

I love my little pretzel porch and cookie tree! I had a pretzel fence made but I ran out of frosting before I could attach it to the baking tray I was building on. I also had a pile of candy left I wish I could have attached on, but I learned my lesson, next time I will make more frosting (and not spill a cup of it on my pants). I had so much fun making it and I can't wait until I do it again!

Etsy Treasury- Nesting Bowls

2010-12-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Click this link --> "Nesting Bowls", to see the treasury I created on Etsy. It's a collection of beautiful sets of nesting bowls.

Made to Order.... Nesting ...
clearmountai...
$200.00 USD
Medium Nesting bowls in Ic...
NstarStudio
$38.00 USD
DISCOUNTED White Waves Nes...
NewMoonStudi...
$85.00 USD
Three Large Nesting Bowls ...
warmnature
$64.00 USD
Nesting Butterfly Hand Bui...
dgordon
$34.00 USD
Nested Set of Bowls
larryew
$150.00 USD
Nested Jute Bowls Set of 3
sosorosey
$50.00 USD
Five Bowl Nesting Set
elizabethcoh...
$440.00 USD
Felted wool nesting bowls-...
Blackbirddes...
$86.00 USD
Small Nesting Bowl Set
sarapaloma
$120.00 USD
Nesting Floral Dish Set
mettaproductions
On Vacation
Set of 3 Folded Nesting Bo...
JustWork
$48.00 USD
Nesting Skeleton Leaves Bo...
justmare
$76.00 USD
Set of three small nesting...
HouseOfCeram...
$37.00 USD
Red Gum Burl nested Bowl S...
HandCraftedB...
$875.00 USD
Mini Bowls-set of 2- Cream...
carolbroadle...
$13.00 USD

It's not too late for more ornaments on the tree!

2010-12-18T10:27:00.000-05:00

Christmas is nearly here but it's definitely not too late to add a few additions to your tree. Head down to the Boston Handmade Downtown Gallery to grab one of my new porcelain star ornaments! There's many other artists who have ornaments there as well, so you'll be sure to find one that is perfect for you. Don't wait, the last day to shop is Christmas Eve!

Lidded Boxes at Boston Handmade Downtown Gallery

2010-12-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

As someone who mostly makes mostly thrown work, I decided to switch it up a bit and make some hand-built boxes with the rope texture seen in most of my work. I sometimes forget how laborious hand-building can be.

My shapes cut from a slab of clay textured with rope

The lid upside down. The small lips are to
make sure it doesn't slide around and fall off.

Creating the box sides.

After a lot of scraping and smoothing...voila! box!

3 unfired boxes with different clays

Want to see the finished glazed boxes? Well then you simply MUST go to the Boston Handmade Downtown Gallery before it closes December 24 because that is the only way you will! Open Wednesdays-Sundays, 11-7, at 505 Washington St, Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA

~~~~CYBER MONDAY SALE~~~~

2010-11-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

Yay! Cyber Monday sale on my Etsy shop. 12% off all purchases! Enter coupon code 12DECEMBER to get the discount!

Etsy Treasury- Winter Pots: Ceramics in Icy Blues

2010-11-28T12:55:00.001-05:00

Click this link-> Winter Pots: Ceramics in Icy Blues to see the treasury I created on Etsy. In honor of seeing the first snowflakes of the season last night.

Mug-Free Shipping
ElegantWare
$35.00 USD
FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING Eig...
whitneysmith
$325.00 USD
Botanical Ceramic Gift Tag...
koalachicken...
$6.00 USD
Two sunflower blue bowls
dbabcock
$55.00 USD
Single Peacock Green Bud V...
cynthiavardh...
$40.00 USD
handmade hummingbird vase/...
monicapharr
Sold
Carafe Set
lauracooke
$68.00 USD
Porcelain Textile Pottery ...
prettyinpott...
$28.00 USD
Finger Bowl - Shino Soda F...
khphillips
$10.00 USD
Mug 16 oz Handmade Pottery...
TwistedRiver...
$20.00 USD
Stamped tumbler in Ivory
kiefferceram...
$50.00 USD
Blue Sea Grass Tea bowls
Artenchanted...
$9.50 USD
Pitcher
flyingpignc
$28.00 USD
Koi Cup
SKTceramics
$55.00 USD
Bee Biking Through Flowers...
apaulek
$70.00 USD
London City saucer in pool...
EstherCoom...
$33.63 USD

Needham Holiday Open Studios

2010-11-25T11:21:00.003-05:00

The studio and building I work out of, The Potters Shop inside the Gorse Mill Studios, is having a Holiday Open Studios event Saturday, December 4, and Sunday, December 5. That weekend in our building visitors will have the opportunity to see demonstrations of glass blowing, a reading of a new children's book by its author, pottery throwing, digital photography, and storytelling. Guests will also be able to meet the artists of the building.

The event is one of the many happenings to celebrate Needham's 300th birthday in 2011, and there are more artists throughout Needham participating for the weekend. The Jared Branfman Memorial Gallery at the Gorse Mill Studios will have various works created by the artists of the building as well as a collection of photographs of the historic 19th century knitting mills of Needham, including Gorse Mill.

This is a wonderful opportunity to find a local, handmade gift this holiday season. With so many types and styles of art inside Gorse Mill Studios, you will be sure to find something you love for someone you love. Support handmade!

Gorse Mill Studios
31 Thorpe Road
Needham MA 02494

What's in a name?

2010-11-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

It never fails that at some point every time I show my work, someone asks about my business name, City by the Sea Ceramics. I'll hear "Are you from Manchester by the Sea?", or if they first ask where I'm from they'll reply confused, "But Needham isn't by the sea...". I always have to explain how the name has nothing to do with my actual location. So how exactly did I get my name and what does it mean? I'm so glad you asked!

When I chose to focus on pottery I decided I needed a business name to sell under rather than my actual name, Karen Mahoney. My name is pretty average, nothing flashy or unforgettable. There are many Karens out there and even more Mahoneys. I needed to stand out. I needed a shop name.

Next I decided that it was important that my name didn't pigeon-hole me and my work. I didn't want it to reflect anything specific, should I decide to take a drastic turn with my work at some point. While right now I want to make pots forever, you never know what the future holds. Some day I may just decide I need to make giant sculptures. Karen's Cups wouldn't cut it if that turned out to be the case.

So where did that leave me? I started thinking about what inspires me. While I've always loved Asian art the most, I've definitely been influenced by so many artists, time periods, and cultures beyond that. The Greeks, French, Romans, Inuits, I could go on and on. All of them have offered something notable to art that I enjoy and admire. This idea brought me to the next idea, that all influential cities throughout time have been near some form of water, be it a lake, river, or the ocean. I decided to work this angle into my name.

Using the word 'sea' as a general term for water, I decided upon City by the Sea Ceramics. I was able to honor the art history that the world has offered, keep the name broad enough so it doesn't focus on one specific thing, let people know it was ceramics I was offering, and still make it easy enough and catchy enough to remember. Perfect!

My favorite tools

2010-10-06T11:36:00.000-04:00

I *love* getting new tools to use in the studio. I have far more than I need, yet I still want more. Many items are used once and set aside to gather dust. Others I have because they were free and I thought that it might be perfect for something someday, but they too sit. I do however have a few favorites I've acquired over the years that I absolutely love and don't know how I could work without.

First, I love my Creative Industry bats. I have many, but at times not nearly enough. They are made with injection molded plastic so unlike some other bats, these do not warp or flake apart. They are super easy to clean and equally easy to release from my throwing wheel. They are also available in small square sizes so they take up less shelf space for smaller projects.

Next, I love my rosewood-handled knife. It seems to be available only at The Potters Shop, the studio I work out of. It cuts through clay nicely, no matter what stage of drying it is in, and has a handle that is very comfortable and sturdy to hold. I think it feels so nice in my hand because it was made by hand, from Roger and Lindsay Watts of England. We sell a ton at the studio and potters always call us back to tell us how much they enjoy it. It beats a standard fettling knife any day.

Some of my other most used tools are my Sherrill ribs. Before these became available in the last few years, rubber ribs for potters were limited to two sizes of the same shape and a 'soft' and a 'hard' type. Neither were particularly hard or soft and the material used for both quickly became dry, causing cracks and burrs on a rib used to smooth. The Sherrill tools are available in six sizes and shapes, and four levels of hardness. I use at least one of my many daily and have not had any of them crack or burr in the least bit after years of use.

When I use a brush in the studio it's always one of my bamboo ones. They are so comfortable to hold and easy to clean. The bristles hold a ton of water, slip, or glaze and they paint it on so smoothly. I may take a shot at making some of my own this winter.

Clay and Time

2010-09-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

At the Boston Handmade meeting in August, Arthur and I were talking about how time moves so fast as a potter. Not in that the days go by so fast, but rather we need to look far into the future to plan for ourselves. I always joke that I have plenty of hours in a day, just not enough months in a year.

We discussed how painters can sit down and begin and finish a piece in as short as a day. Clothing, jewelry, printing and the like can hold true to that as well. Of course, any artist or crafter needs to be sure the correct materials are on hand and in the necessary amounts before starting a project. You need to mull the idea over a few times to work out the kinks and make sure you have your ideas straight. Then there is the available time to create, which as we know can be very elusive sometimes, but the creation process itself for an individual piece, start to finish, can be relatively short.

Potters need to think months in advance, not days or even weeks. Often times when people approach me about a custom piece they are surprised, if not turned off, that they will not have it in two weeks. The ceramic process is much slower than many people realize. I'll use a mug for an example. Forming a mug on a wheel happens fairly quick. Depending on the details and the potter, somewhere between 5-30 minutes is plenty of time to throw the form. Everything slows waaaaay down from here. Clay is a very sensitive material. Drying it too quickly can leave you with cracks and warps in your mug, so potters need to dry work slowly. The mug form needs about a week or so before it's ready to trim and have a handle attached. Once these things are done the mug will need another week or two to dry out completely. Is it a humid New England summer at the time? Better add a week on each round of drying, because that moist air doesn't help our cause. Working with porcelain instead of stoneware or earthenware? Add another week to two again on each portion of drying because it is much more sensitive and is just dying to put a swift end to that mug with a crack from catching the smallest draft. So here we are, with a porcelain mug in the middle of a humid summer, six weeks deep, and it is still unfired, able to be crushed in the palm of your hand.

Things pick up a bit from here. For my firing process I usually plan for everything to take about a week. Once I load pieces into a kiln for a bisque firing, which turns the clay into ceramic, it's about two days for it to fire and cool enough to be unloaded. I like to rinse my bisque pieces in the sink after I unload them from the kiln. This clears away dust on the surface that could cause a glaze to crawl and leave bare spots on the surface. Not all potters do this, but it is something I have picked up along the way and feel it's worth the time since a clay studio is a naturally dusty environment. Remember, we're six weeks in here, no point in being hasty. Once rinsed the piece needs to dry out overnight, because the saturated surface is not able to hold the glaze. When dry the piece is glazed and loaded back into the kiln. It'll be another two days for it to fire and cool. Finally we're at the end of the road. About seven weeks in and we finally have something we can sell!

Obviously potters work in cycles and we aren't spending this time focusing on one single piece, rather a body of work, but that doesn't mean the time moves any faster. Artists always want to make sure they will safely meet deadlines in time and plan ahead accordingly, but Arthur and I agreed that potters need to look a few pages further into the calendar. It's fall of '10, but in my head we're already stepping into spring '11.

~~~LABOR DAY SALE~~~

2010-08-29T19:24:00.004-04:00

If you've been wanting something from my Etsy Shop but have been putting it off, now is the time! Everything is 20% off now through Monday, September 6! Once your item has been paid for I will refund you back 20% of the item's cost, or, shoot me a message at my etsy shop or citybytheseaceramics@gmail and I will adjust a price for you before you place your order.

This is a perfect opportunity to find a nice 'thank you' gift for your hosts, a surprise for an upcoming birthday, or to do some early holiday shopping. Don't wait, you may miss your favorite piece!

Anniversary Art Update!

2010-08-28T11:48:00.004-04:00

As I wrote about last month, my husband and I take a trip every year for our anniversary and buy at least one piece of art while we are away. We celebrated out 3rd anniversary August 13, and our trip took us through 11 states adding about 5,000 miles on our car in about 3 weeks.

Our drive through Indiana took us to Dick Lehman's studio in Goshen. A few years ago I was inspired by Dick's sawdust fired pots with leaf images and decided to give it ago myself. I have had some wonderful results with the process, including one that has been published! Because his work has influenced mine, I had to stop by.

His gallery is filled with thousands of pieces made himself as well as others. There were many pieces that I wanted to bring home with me but our budget was limited. We found some wonderful pots to add to our growing collection, and both were great deals.

It was tough to choose between Dick's wood fired teabowls, but I settled on the one shown. It has the beautiful variation in tiny speckles that I love so much in pottery. I was so excited to find a piece of

his I loved that I could afford.

The second piece my husband and I purchased was a tall crystalline glaze vase. It was a collaboration between Dick and Bill Campbell. I've always loved crystalline pieces, again because of the incredible detail of variation you see up close, and each one is so unique to the next. Generally crystalline pieces are pretty pricey because of the extra work involved

with this unique style. Considering that, and the size and shape of the piece, it was too good of a deal to pass up for such a nice pot. We

quickly took it from the shelve and cradled it in our arms while we finished looking.

Included in our bag with our purchases was a newsletter from the studio. It gave the sad news that the studio will be closing at the end of the year. Dick has lymphoma and it has progressed to the point where it will limit his ability to run the operation. The staff has been searching for answers on how the studio can continue to operate without Dick, but unfortunately no answer has come. The landlords of the space have been kind enough to lease the space through the end of the year, despite the lease being up in September. Dick's staff is currently scrambling to find studio space of their own and they need all the support they can get. If you are in need of any pottery for yourself, or are in need of a wonderful gift to be cherished, please consider purchasing something from Dick and his staff. Information and a picture of the overflowing studio can be found here.

Anniversary Art

2010-07-26T16:12:00.024-04:00

My husband and I will be married for 3 years August 13. We decided on our amazing honeymoon in Alaska that we would take a trip somewhere each year to celebrate our anniversary. We also decided on the honeymoon to buy a piece of art each anniversary and skip the gift giving between us. It seemed like a great way to create some memories and have something to remember them with.

While in Alaska on the honeymoon we picked up a set of small plates from a nice pair of brothers, Leif and Erik Sivertsen, who run Bigfoot Pottery in Ketchikan. The set of 4

blue plates have designs of mountains and rivers on them. Using them reminds us of walking through town, watching salmon swim upstream and leap over waterfalls, and the generosity of the Sivertsen men, who gave me a brush they made with beaver fur after we discussed and compared our own pottery styles.

While in Anchorage we stopped at the Native Heritage Center and picked up a print by Israel Shotridge, a member of the Tongass Tribe.

The print is of lovebirds, perfect for a newly wed

couple. I've always loved the style of traditional Northwest Coast designs so it was wonder

ful to bring home a piece that would remind us of the amazing works we saw throughout our 2 week trip.

Our first anniversary trip took us to Cape Cod where we proceeded to load up on pottery. Our

first purchase was a plate by Diane Heart. The small creamy plate stood out in her Brewster studio.

Next was an amazing plate by Steven Kemp of Orleans. Steven and his son run Kemp Pottery and their gallery is filled with amazing works. The colors of this plate really drew in my husband and I, with those luscious blues and red.

Our last pottery purchase on our Cape Cod trip was at the studio of Denny Howard in Sagamore on our way back home. During our trip we hopped along studio to studio, following the Cape Cod Potters brochure.

When I read the description of Denny's work I knew I'd find something to love. We ended up spending close to an hour or so in his small gallery space trying to decide what pieces to get we finally landed on a carbon-trap shino vase and a celadon box with a lid. Our

numerous purchases remind us of the many places we went and people we met during our trip not far from home.

Our second anniversary trip had us on the road driving up to

Niagara Falls and hitting some Phish shows as well, our favorite band that we can't get enough of. We saw a show on our anniversary night and bought our anniversary art piece that day in the parking lot of the show. We had seen him earlier in the day selling his prints and liked them but had no cash on us. When the show ended we hustled out to try to find him since we hit up the ATM. We found him and grabbed two prints, one of Phish's bassist, Mike Gordon,

and another of the guitarist, Trey Anastasio. We never caught the artists name or where he was from but we desperately hope to see him again at another show so we can complete a set of the band by grabbing a print of the

keyboardist and the drummer, Page McConnell and John Fishman.

It's so nice to have some great art representing a great band

we saw so many times last summer.

We are weeks away from our 3rd anniversary and this year our trip is even more scattered than last years. We will be travelling down I-80 for about 2 weeks, stopping in Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Brewery, Chicago for some deep dish pizza, Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit my family, Noblesville, IN for another anniversary night Phish show, and anywhere else that sounds interesting. Of course we are hoping to find some wonderful and unique pieces during our travels so please let me know if there's a shop worth stopping at! I'll keep you posted on our anniversary art purchases when we get back!

Clay and Beer

2010-05-31T15:17:00.005-04:00

The third week of May was Craft Beer Week, a national event raising awareness and appreciation of craft made beer. I took this as my cue to bisque fire a set of beer glasses I had made a few weeks previous.

I had been wanting to make a set for a while and a few months ago I came across a call for entries out of Florida. The theme of the show is ceramic pieces for alcohol service. Yahoo! While I make sake sets fairly regularly, that was not the first thought into my mind. The beer glasses I had been putting on hold had gotten bumped up to the top of my very long to-do list. While there are numerous styles of glassware in a complete collection for beer, there are three basic shapes you can easily get by on while maintaining proper glassware (and yes, glass style does make a big difference in your drinking experience). They are the classic pint glass, a pilsner style glass, and a snifter. I made the pilsners and snifters first and I'm really happy with them. The surface was stamped with individual letters spelling out "craft" so that it is very much a "craft beer set". I still need to make the pint glasses and glaze all of them, but I will be entering a set of the three glass styles as a single entry.

Needham Open Studios

2010-04-22T16:25:00.007-04:00

Needham Open Studios 2010 is Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 with a Preview Gala Friday, April 30. The map includes 19 stops, many with multiple artists representing themselves. It's a great chance to get out for the day with your family and friends for some free fun. There's even an activity sheet for kids to fill out as they make their day visiting with artists and seeing what they do.

The Preview Gala will take place in the Jared Branfman Memorial Gallery inside Gorse Mill Studios at 31 Thorpe Road from 6-9 on April 30. The gallery will represent many of the artists of Needham, giving a glimpse of what you will see at their private studio. Work will not be for sale at the Preview Gala, but artists will be present to meet and discuss their art.

Once Saturday and Sunday get under way Gorse Mill Studios will be a major stop, creating a small bit of chaos for the weekend in our quiet residential area. The reason is because there are 3 floors with over 30 artists having a huge range of mediums. Pottery, paintings, jewelery, glass, story telling, encaustics, mosaics, tailors, photographers, illustrators, all in one stop! Who could resist?

I have a few favorites in GMS. The encaustics of Ruth Lague, studio 201, are fantastic. Her landscapes have amazing colors and an energy that sucks you right in. Everytime she hangs a new one in the halls of GMS I smile.

The pottery of John Dorsey, studio 106, is another favorite. His pots have an earthy warmness to them as well as a definite Asian influence, two qualitites I love in pottery.

Jeweler Todd Krieger in studio 203 makes pieces out of recycled bits of computers and other electronics. He uses the internal parts to create something truly unique to wear.

In addition to these and other artists who own spaces in the building, Gorse Mill Studios will be hosting other artists from Needham in vacant studios in the basement. I am included in that group and will have a studio L-111 filled with new work for the craft fair season as well as a few pieces inside the Potters Shop Gallery in studio 206. Stop by and say hi!

3 Meals a Day: Functional Work by the Potters Shop Staff

2010-04-09T11:46:00.000-04:00

3 Meals a Day: Functional Pottery

by Karen Mahoney of City by the Sea Ceramics

The Annual Staff Show at The Potters Shop Gallery inside Gorse Mill Studios features the work of Jenn Barbe, Sarah Whitlock, and myself. The title of the show is 3 Meals a Day and is all functional work. I was able to snap some quick photos while setting up last week.

Jenn makes a bit of functional work but usually she is more focused on making her small scale sculptures. For the functional show Jenn made porcelain bowls, cups, and vases. Many of them have been inscribed with images that resemble a strange language.

Sarah makes only a handful of functional pieces a year. The body of her work consists mainly of cat and bird sculptures. For this show Sarah brought her large bird sculptures to 2D form, silk screening the figures onto plates, bowls, and sugar pots.

The vast majority of my work is functional so I didn't skip much of a beat preparing for this show. Most of work on display in the gallery is mugs, plates, bowls, and trays. I was particularly happy with some slab plates I had made using a new glaze. Love them!

The show runs until April 23 and can be viewed M-F, 11-5. The Potters Shop is in Suite 206 inside the Gorse Mill Studios located at 31 Thorpe Road, Needham MA 02494, 781-449-7687

Gallery Show!

2009-07-27T13:05:00.004-04:00

I will have a gallery show this fall that will feature all new work. Teapots, cups, plates, pots, sake sets, platters and more all done in stoneware and porcelain. The work will focus on the rich, rustic, Eastern style that I love.

The show opening will be Friday October 23, 2009 at Gorse Mill Studios in Needham MA at 6pm to 9pm. The show runs though November 27.

The opening night is also an opportunity to see my hand at another craft I love, brewing beer! Most galleries serve wine at openings. No thanks! I will be bringing some bottles of various homebrews of mine to sample to replace that tired expectation of fermented grapes. Chocolate malt tastes so much better...

31 Thorpe Road Needham MA 02494

City by the Sea Ceramics: Pottery by Karen Mahoney

Call for submissions: 500 Teapots

Mudtools Mudsponge

Mason Jar Scrubs

I'm in a magazine!!

A craft fair checklist, just for you

My 2011 Knitting Resolution Update

People Perfect for Rope Texture

Back in the studio!

North Carolina Pottery

More sawdust pots

My knit strawberries

5 reasons to buy a handmade mug

Save the Date! Boston Handmade is at Bazaar Bizarre December 4!

Chawan: An International Exhibition

My New Ceramic Button

American Craft Week at The Potters Shop

Northeastern Art

A Note From My Neighbor

More Anniversary Art

My Second Knitting Project

This Saturday! Boston Handmade Somerville Marketplace!

My 3 Most Wanted Items Off Etsy

My First Knitting Project

Big Changes Coming Soon!

Phish Supporting Artists

adjusting etsy listings...too much?

American Craft Beer Week

Open Studios

Pots for Earth Day

My Visit To DeCordova Sculpture Park

Mashiko Potters Fund

The Prettiest Bathroom You'll Ever See

Teabowls in Boston

I llove llamas

Etsy Treasury- Peacocks

An Accomplishment With a Lesson Learned

I Will Learn To Knit This Year

Nathalie Miebach

My first gingerbread house!

Etsy Treasury- Nesting Bowls

Click this link --> "Nesting Bowls", to see the treasury I created on Etsy. It's a collection of beautiful sets of nesting bowls.

It's not too late for more ornaments on the tree!

Lidded Boxes at Boston Handmade Downtown Gallery

~*~*~*~CYBER MONDAY SALE~*~*~*~

Etsy Treasury- Winter Pots: Ceramics in Icy Blues

Click this link-> Winter Pots: Ceramics in Icy Blues to see the treasury I created on Etsy. In honor of seeing the first snowflakes of the season last night.

Needham Holiday Open Studios

What's in a name?

My favorite tools

Clay and Time

*~*~*~*LABOR DAY SALE*~*~*~*

Anniversary Art Update!

Anniversary Art

Clay and Beer

Needham Open Studios

3 Meals a Day: Functional Work by the Potters Shop Staff

Gallery Show!

~~~~CYBER MONDAY SALE~~~~

~~~LABOR DAY SALE~~~