2014-01-18 Saturday - Akira Satake workshop

On Saturday and Sunday I attended the Akira Satake workshop at Clayworks.  It was a fun, informative workshop with a wonderful teacher.  He gave us lots of invaluable information and kept us laughing along the way.

On Saturday night Akira played a concert for us on his banjo as he is also a very talented musician.  When Becky told her husband Fred that Akira was going to play for us, Fred said we should hold the concert at their studio, Concentrix Music and Sound.  We all settled into Studio 1 and were treated to Akira's playing.

After the concert we went to Ben Thanh for a late supper.

I also got to sit next to fellow blogger Linda Starr for two days.  It was great actually talking to her in person.

My thanks to Akira, Clayworks, and Fred and Becky Story for a great weekend.

Getting warmed up.

Putting a handle on a teapot.

Lunchtime!

Akira warming up while Fred adjusts the mic.

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2010-09-17 Friday - Around town

Catching up again.  Life has been coming at me too quickly to keep up here, but I'll try to catch up and stay there.

Friday night I went back to Gallery 360 for Greg Scott's opening.  It was a good time, many Clayworks people came to lend support and he made some sales.  I didn't take any pictures this time as I took a lot on my last visit and I didn't bring my camera.

After the opening, a bunch of us went to the Double Door to see Gigi Dover and the Big Love for their CD release party for "The Avocado Sessions".  It was a blast and the band was dead on.  They played the songs from their new album and did a great cover of Ode to Billy Joe with a sitar.  I'll never listen to that song the same way again.

Another reason to see the band is that my friend Kim's son Andrew plays percussion for them.  Andrew was great and he danced the whole time he was playing the congas, kettle drum, tambourine, and several instruments I'm not sure what to call.

Gigi and Eric.

Gigi Dover.

Eric Lovell playing sitar.

Andrew Marcadis.

Andrew having fun.

Fred and Becky.

Me and Cary.

Me and Gigi.

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2010-07-30 Friday - McCormick & Schmick's

On Friday evening a bunch of us met at McCormick and Schmick's for happy hour to see Jamie Hoover and Steve Stoeckel play their acoustic set.  Jamie and Steve never disappoint and the restaurant's happy hour menu is very good.  We had quite a good turnout of friends and we all had a good time.

Amy, Fred, Kim, Becky, Paul.

Steve Stoeckel and Jamie Hoover.

Got the uke's out.

Becky, Elaine, Paul, Shelley, Carol, Dennis, Susan, Amy, Fred, Kim.

At one point, Paul asked to borrow my camera and he had some fun with it as you can tell from this sampling of his photos.

Yours truly and Shelley.

"Photographer, photo thyself."

A nice sunset.

(Good shots, Paul!)

I didn't partake much in the food at the restaurant since I had to go home and cook for the family.  I went home and made a chicken dish with red peppers, onions, and mushrooms.  It was pretty good and I will try to remember to make it again in the future.

Chicken platter.

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2010-04-09 Friday - Clayworks Spring Sale

Friday was the annual Spring Sale at Clayworks.  It's a venue for studio artists and teachers to sell their wares and have a bit of socializing at the same time.  I always love to see how well everyone cleans up since most of the time we see everyone in their clay clothes.  I still wear my clay clothes at the sale since I am generally there to demo.  I love demoing at the sales since it's a chance to have some fun on the wheel and talk to everyone while I'm doing it.  Imagine that.  (It has a lot to do with that extrovert thing.)

During the height of the sale it got pretty crowded up front by the pottery but I was in the back doing the demos, so my pictures are all after the crowds had dissipated and I had taken a break.

After the sale I went over to Twenty Two to meet Elaine, Paul, Scott, Will, and Barbara.  It was very nice time and I had my first Ellie's Brown Ale on tap and that was quite nice too.  I would like to go back there soon.

Amy Sanders and Greg Scott.

People shopping and chatting.

Julie Wiggins' work.

Go team celadon!

Tomoo Kitamura's work.

Paul, Steve, and Michael.

Joe and Julie.

Fred and Becky.

Kim, Shelley, Nic, and Tomoo.

Paul, Elaine, and Steve.

Nic enjoying the spinach dip bread bowl.

Paul, Nic, and Becky.

I was trying to get a picture of Nic and Becky talking

and Paul absolutely stole this picture.

Elaine's pottery.

Pretty flowers in a pretty pot.

Quite an impressive list of artists on name tags.

2009-08-07 Friday - Concentrix

I stopped by Concentrix Music on Friday to pick up some of Becky's work and got the grand tour from Fred. I was blown away by all I saw. The studio is state-of-the-art and beautiful to look at as well. All I could keep saying was "Wow!" (yes, yours truly was actually at a loss for words).

Becky and Fred at Concentrix.

The Evening Muse

On Friday I met Becky, Fred, Elaine, and Pete at the Evening Muse t0 see Steve Stoeckel and Jamie Hoover of the Spongetones perform. It was a great time and I was reminded once again just how talented these two musicians are.

During the show Fred found out that their work at Concentrix was nominated for two Emmys. Congratulations!

We had a lot of fun talking about pottery, art, music, footwear, glam, and lots of really silly things.

When Pete, Becky, and Fred wanted to head home, Elaine and I decided 11:30 was the right time to hit The Penguin for some fried pickles.

Jamie and Steve working hard.

Fred, Becky, Pete, and Elaine
enjoying all that hard work.

The ukes rule during a rendition
of "She's Leaving Home".

Elaine and Fred solving the world's problems
or maybe just talking about Emmys.


Feet. Starting at 12 o'clock: Elaine, Fred, me, Becky.


After Penguin fried pickles,
a fried bologna sandwich for Elaine,
a cheeseburger for me and a couple of beers,
it was time to head home.

Party on Garth...