Fashion Victim

Saturday was great. Lots of wonderful friends, family and art lovers came by the Berkeley Potters Guild... Tons of good wishes and support. Sunday was rainy, freezing cold and I dressed like I was going to the tropics... cute little black sweater, kitten sling backs and a dot rayon trumpet swishy skirt! I discarded the idea of wearing tights because when I looked in the mirror, just as I was leaving the house, I looked too dark and refugee-esk. My job for half the day was to sit by the open door, be my best Vanna White greeter and "sercretly" guard against shop lifters. I found an old shawl and bundled up the best I could. If I was worried about looking like a refugee before - you should have seen me after! I didn't see any one pocketing pots but did have some great conversations with pottery lovers and the hot mulled wine helped a lot. To quote an expression I used to endure many a sales meeting -"Drink don't whine"! Many thanks to all of you who came by to keep me company. I'll be there for 2 more weekends - just look for the big pile of wool that moves slowly getting the wine glass to her mouth!

Official Invite

My pots are almost glazed, the kiln waits to be loaded. I arrive home every night covered in pink glaze splashes. This is exciting and exhusting. I have exactly one week to finish up and make enough work so that it looks like I've been working all year. Procrastination can be invigorating! The Guild is alive with activity as some of my fellow members seem to have the same work ethic as I do. When I leave the building at 8pm ( after arriving at 9am) the lights are blazing, the glaze buckets are slurping and the kilns are humming.

This year I am trying something different. Instead of turning my whole space into a "gallery" I am beautifying a well lit corner and will keep the rest set up as my studio usually is. I can then, continue to work during the month and a half that the sale goes on. Perhaps if you come visit you can witness first hand my white clay moustache! I've been working on some new forms primarily "breakfast sets" - a plate, cup and saucer and some pretty new altered vase forms with poppies.

Here's an official invitation:
Berkeley Potters Guild 35th Annual Holiday Show
731 Jones St (at 4th)
Berkeley, CA 94710
Nov 25-26,Dec 2-3,9-10,* 16-24
open from 10-5pm
* I will be camped out there the first 3 weekends - so come visit.

I am now represented at the ACCI gallery in Berkeley. I will deliver new pieces right after Thanksgiving. The selection of art in this gallery is just terrific and inspirational. John has a piece there in the Sacred Flame Show...Very exciting.
ACCI Gallery
1652 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley,CA 94709
open seven days a week all year

Hope to see you there,
Josie

Out of Order

We adore chaos because we love to produce order. - Escher, M.C

Sweet Inspiration

I went back to the studio this past week. I am tired of being at home, hurting, feeling sorry for myself - time to get back to work. My messy studio offers me a haven of color, mud and inspiration. I was excited to be back, though I have to admit I spent a great deal of my time on my magical lawn chair. It tips so far back that my feet are high in the air. I put an ice pack on my knee and I kind of look like I'm on a cruise ship waiting for the tango lesson.
Yesterday my amazing, supportive and foxy husband, John, came with me and patiently loaded a huge bisque. It is firing now and I can't wait to get it out and start glazing. While I've been recuperating I had tons of time to dream up patterns to use on these pieces. I've also been able to surf the web for images and books that have dazzled and inspired me. Here are two things I found on
purlsoho.com

This textile book is just chocked full of delicious patterns:
art deco textiles

And this magazine has so much good stuff it gives me goose bumps:
selvedge magazine