Complainer

I hate consignment. Remember this summer when I was elated to have gotten my work into Gumps? Then when it SOLD OUT I got a HUGE (for me) re-order? Well guess what...for some reason most of this labor intensive, beautiful custom work didn't sell. And guess what again...yesterday I drove over to Gumps to pick up my work and bring it back to my studio. The good thing is that the Holidays are upon us and I now have a wonderful variety of work to sell. I can say that I am disappointed and a bit discouraged with my attempt at consignment sales. I learned a great lesson though, that is I should have quit when I was ahead. Sold out at Gumps, head held high instead of making more work and limping back across the bridge with 2 big boxes of the unsold inventory. Anybody want to buy a bowl?

AND while I'm in the mood to complain...My vase was included in the beautiful, new 500 Vases by Lark Publication. It looks fabulous...full page (pg 282), standing proudly HOWEVER the name credited to the piece ISN'T MINE. They screwed up, it will be corrected in next printing.

So how was your week ???

Pattern Making

Mark Pharis's flat pattern


forming the piece

finishing the bottom

I've been rocking out with roofing paper.
Last spring I took a workshop at Trax with Mark Pharis who demonstrated how he drafts and cuts patterns from roofing paper and adheres them to wet slabs to build his pieces. I was inspired to say the least. He was talking my language - combining pure rigid flat pattern making technique with pliable clay. It took me all summer to get started in this direction...What can I say...I get distracted easily...but the idea percolated away in my brain. Now, back in Berkeley, I have been drafting away building large tall vases, creamer and sugar sets, pitchers using the simplest of patterns.


my very simple pattern

greenwear tea pot and pitcher made from above pattern