Saturday - Another British invasion

Playing catch up again...

Saturday we (Becky, Kim, and our friend Ann) went to Shelby to attend a workshop featuring the talents of Hannah McAndrew and Doug Fitch at the Cleveland County Arts Council.  Hannah lives in Scotland and Doug in England.  It was a wonderful experience and made even better since their friend and our other blogging buddy, Angela Wolford came all the way from Australia to accompany them.  It was a magical day and it was like we had rock stars in our midst.  There was a surreal quality about it since we have all been blogging together for several years and we finally got to meet face to face.

Doug and Hannah did demos for most of the day and had us all spellbound by their talents and techniques.  They showed us how they throw their forms and how they decorate them and kept us laughing all the way.

We had a great lunch and watched the Isaac Button film while eating.

Then it was back to the workshop and more wonderful forms and decorating.

After the workshop we all went out front and took a picture on the steps and then it was on to a great dinner at the Pleasant City Grill.

All too soon, it was over and we had to say goodbye to our faraway friends and bid them safe travels back home.

A big thanks to Hannah, Doug, and Angela for visiting us and to Ron Philbeck for making it possible.

The demo stage with Doug and Hannah working away.

About 35 people attended.

Doug making a puzzle jug.
It's steaming because he just blasted it with a weed burner.

Doug and Hannah intent in their work.

Puzzle jugs require a lot of work to make them puzzling.

Hannah decorates it beautifully as Doug looks on.

Becky was soaking it in.

Almost finished.

Ta-da!

 A short break.

 

Susan, Jane, Becky, Kim, and Leon at lunch.

Back to work.

Robin and Kim look on as Doug quick-dries his jug.

Same jug with neck and handle added.

Great thumb chock and spiral.

Robin and Jane (in foreground) at Pleasant City Grill.

Ron and Becky.

Doug, Andrew, and Brad.

Gay came all the way from Texas for the workshop.

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2009-11-14 Saturday - Carolina Pottery Festival

My plan on Saturday was to unload the gas kiln and then head out to the Carolina Pottery Festival. When I got to Clayworks the gas kiln was at 386 F and it needed to be under 200 F before we cracked the door. We removed the peeps and the temperature began dropping so S-L-O-W-L-Y that Ralph suggested we go to the festival first and then come back to unload later. (Good idea, Ralph!) As we were preparing to leave, Kim arrived and we convinced her to join us. (It wasn't a tough sell. :8^)

We had a great time seeing all the amazing work and visiting with all our friends. On the way back we stopped at the famous Red Bridges BBQ (locally known as "The Lodge") where Ralph treated us to lunch. Once sated we high-tailed it back to Charlotte to unload that kiln.

Andy Smith
who assured us he was working
on a new saggar workshop!

Gina Van Dyke

(Kim, Ralph, and Gina)

Brad Lail

Adrienne Dellinger

Julie Wiggins

Ron and Sarah Philbeck

Hal Dedmond

Corine Guseman

2009-09-26 Saturday - Piedmont Pottery Festival

Saturday Minke, Melissa, Joe and I went to the Piedmont Pottery Festival in McConnells, SC in Historic Brattonsville. There were many traditional potters in attendance with a big emphasis on face jugs. It was a drizzly, soggy day, but it didn't seem to affect anyone's mood as everyone was in good spirits and buying and selling pottery.

I checked in with Adrienne Dellinger, Corine Guseman and Hal Dedmond. I stopped by to talk to Chad Smith whom I met at Hal's recent firing. I finally got to meet Michel Bayne and see his pottery in person. I talked to Michael Ball whom I met at the Mint Museum sale and I regret not getting around to check in with Brad Lail whom I also met at the Mint.

A wonderful surprise was meeting up with Peter Lenzo in front of Adrienne's booth. We had a nice conversation and I was pleased to find out that he hasn't stopped at 100 pots, but that he is currently on pot 103. In his words, "Well, I finished 100 and I was still alive so I thought I'd keep going." He currently has a show in Detroit where he once attended school and the pieces were selling well. He also told me that the piece he created at our workshop last year came out great and that he sold it for a good price. I would have loved to have seen the finished piece and I'm glad it sold.

He swelled with pride when he told me that (his son) Joe has developed quite the touch with clay and is making some impressive face jugs. Joe is not self-conscious of leaving features at the gesture stage where most of us would have to tweak it to make it more "finished". I understood completely: sometimes a gesture is enough. Something I still need to learn.

I also told Mr. Lenzo that Greg Scott and I have adopted his name as a verb when adding pieces to a pot as in "Lenzoing". "I'm going to Lenzo this thing onto my pot." He really got a charge out of that. I'm glad he liked it. It meant a lot.

I made two purchases that I will upload later (too tired tonight).

After slogging around in the mud and making our connections and purchases we decided it was time for lunch. We stopped at Groucho's Deli and picked up sandwiches before heading back to Joe and Melissa's for lunch and some of Joe's gourmet microbrewery beers. The food was good, the beer was delicious and the company and conversation was phenomenal. We also got a tour of their pottery collection, their comfortable home, the pottery shed, and gardens. Thanks Melissa and Joe for a great day!

Joe talking to Michel Bayne.

Mr. Peter Lenzo on the move.
Adrienne Dellinger and Hal Dedmond
look on from Adrienne's booth.

Adrienne staying dry.

Melissa, Joe, Minke, and yours truly.

Minke sitting at the coolest table at Joe and Melissa's.
It looks like a sideboard but table
slides out and you add five leaves.

Joe discussing pottery and pictures with Minke.

Melissa, Joe, and Minke eating
and sampling gourmet beers.