The Estacada Development Association
presents
The 3rd Annual
Estacada
Winter Artisan
Show & Sale
Fine Art...Fine Crafts...Folk Art...
Quality Handmade Works
December 6,    5-8pm
December 7,   10am-5pm
Estacada City Hall
on Broadway at Historic City Hall
in Downtown Estacada
Proceeds benefit Estacada’s Main Street Program
Door Prizes Drawn Half Hourly
more info at:
 www.EDA1.org
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U Know Me (or Yunomi)

Yunomi (Japanese: 湯のみ) is a teacup, that is taller than wide, with a trimmed or turned foot. Unlike the more formal chawan tea bowl which is used during the Japanese tea ceremony, the yunomi is made for daily (or informal) tea drinking.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. Although we haven't had much of a chance to camp, as we do most summers, we have been getting lots of things done around the farm. In addition to the daily chicken, goat, garden and dog chores, we've added bees and I'm putting in as much time as I can in my studio. I've got a couple interesting projects coming up. The 4th annual The Powerhouse Project, 2nd Annual OPA invitational show at the North Bank Gallery in Vancouver, and most importantly my own show at The Spiral Gallery September 6-29th.

I'm working on some new and very different decorative pieces. A little out of my comfort zone, but I'm having fun and enjoying the challenge. I hope you will consider joining me for the opening reception of my show "hands/fire/heart" on September 6th from 6-8pm at The Spiral Gallery, 341 S Broadway, Estacada, OR 97023.I'll be showing work from wood kilns as well as some low-fire Terra-cota. Speaking of that, I better get back into the studio. 

Back to the grind

This week we are experiencing very nice weather and I'm grateful. I have lots of new pots that need attention. After unloading the kiln a wood-fire potter then needs to check every piece and grind off wads or ash that still remain. I'm on day three of this process, but things are looking good and I have the end in sight. Next step is to price them and pack them.

The first picture is of the tools I've been using. A Dremel, very important wood-fire potter tool, and my silicon carbide tip is almost completely used up. I wear a mask while working since I'm creating lots of nasty dust and of course the lovely sanding pads make a nice final finish.

The second shot is of a few pieces just plucked from the kiln. I've been doing goblets, funky shallow bowls, soap dishes and stripes. I'm digging the stripes.

Just Days Away

I'm counting down the days till the 29th Annual Ceramic Showcase. This is such an exciting event for the members of the Oregon Potters Association. We work on putting this show together all year round. We meet monthly to discuss the details of all aspects of this show. We run this show entirely with volunteers. From the set up to the tear down each participant in the show has a job to do. We have a central sales area so you can shop the entire show and check out all at once instead of making multiple purchases from individual artists. We will also have UPS on site for shipping directly from our show.

There is a nice map that is put together so you don't miss anything. We have demonstrations, music scheduled for Friday and Saturday evening, Clay Play areas so you can try it out for yourself and beautiful galleries set up to showcase our finest work. It's a labor of love and I hope you will join us.

High Time for TEA

This years lobby display at the 28th Annual Ceramic Showcase is "High time for Tea" sponsored by Smith Tea. I'm very excited about the tea theme and Smith Teas involvement. It should be an exceptional display with all the grace, joy, community, health, and whimsy that tea is all about. Oh, and let's not forget great taste.

Don't miss the show and tell all your friends and family to join you. All ages are welcome and will have a good time. April 30-May 2 at the Oregon Convention Center.

28th Annual Ceramic Showcase

Mark your calendars. Don't miss it. It's big and beautiful. Lots of things to see and do. Bring your friends and family...all ages.

Oh, and I'm at booth I-11

Sisser's donuts

I can't believe I haven't posted anything since October. Where does the time go? I've been working hard on the planning of OPA's Ceramic Showcase which opens April 30, 2010. Mark your calenders because it's a show you don't want to miss. I also work at MHCC in the ceramic department and that keeps me busy. I'm working on gathering a nice group of students to fire our little anagama in February. It's always fun to get a few new students excited about the process. I'm firing the Chicken Pot Pie the 21st. So much to do to get ready and the weather is an icky 20°. I hope this cold snap...snaps and we can get back to realistic temperatures. I don't live in Wisconsin for a good reason.

Speaking of Wisconsin...my good friend and clay mentor, Treatzi Dall, sent me a beautiful story written by her youngest girl and she said it was OK to share it with others. It's a nice story so I'm going to share it here. I know her kids and they are a fantastic family and have all turned out well. They love each other so much. It's a beautiful thing.

I went to the grocery store today and my thoughts wandered to my sister as the most often do. To begin, I am married to a wonderful man who has serves his life to the greatest of his abilities as a soldier in the United States Army. I have an amazing husband who supports me unconditionally precisely as who I am and I am so thankful for that. We reside in Germany currently and as much as I really do love it here, the one thing that pulls at my heart the most is being away from my sister, or as I call her, "Sisser". I have never been one to have many friends, nor is it a strength of mine to really grasp onto a group of people. There is just something about a sister, My Sisser that no one will ever fill.
As mentioned earlier, I went to the grocery store today to grab just a few staple items; eggs, water, bread, etc. and found myself feeling so lonely for My Sisser. What sparked the thought of her was simply a donut. I was eying all of the tasty treats in front of me and after choosing one to drop off for Troy, my husband, I was next deciding which one I would like most for myself. As I stood staring at all of the lovely bakery, my head began to swell with the rich smell of sweet treats. It was then that I could feel myself shrinking back to being just a four-year-old standing next to my big, seven-year-old, sister in one of Rhinelander, Wisconsin's oldest traditions of Bernie's Bakery.
The few days that Mom and Dad would take us to the bakery, I remember being flooded with excitement. Upon arriving created a feeling of being overwhelmed with all of the sugary options layed out in near-perfect displays for us to admire. With our family lined up, I can fully remember looking at My Sisser and thinking, "Wow, she's so pretty with her dark curly hair. I wish I had freckles like her too." However small the the thought might be now, a person can imagine what a compliment like that meant coming from such a young girl. (As some of you may recall, I had stick-straight hair when I was young and My Sisser always had nice dark wavy hair. To this day, I have just one single freckle on my nose.)
I recall that it was snowing and as cold as it likely was outside, the warmth of the bakery combined with the wonderful cookie scent gave a feeling of being hugged by a giant marshmallow. Mom was holding Aaron who was all bundled up in a yellow snowsuit. It was keeping him so snuggled that he could barely move. He, being just a baby, appeared to care-less about being at this wonderful place. I became baffled by this thought. Andrew was all excited and had his face pressed on the display window. (As most kids would behave in house full of all the unhealthy wonderful things that most six-year-olds imagine they should be able to live on.) Dad stood silently behind us until he, carefully, reached out and grasped Andrew's shoulder with his big daddy hand and pulled him back from the glass. My Sisser stood carefully examining all of the treats in front of us. I remember she looked as though she was contemplating World Peace. My Sisser has always been one to stay focused on being certain to choose and do the "right thing"....even when it came to choosing a donut.
Eventually, My Sisser stepped forward with much more maturity then I had ever seen in a seven-year-old. She looked at the clerk and stated, "I'll have the sugar-covered, strawberry, jelly-filled one, please.", all the while, carefully pointing her thin finger precisely at the one she desired. It was then that I, too, stepped up to the counter. The kind lady with fluffy brown hair looked at me and asked what I would like. I did not say a word. I looked up at her and then fixated my eyes on my chosen donut....the one right next to My Sisser's; the exact same choice she had made.
As young as I was, I may not have known exactly what the definition of "admiration" was, but I certainly understood it. I knew, even as a four-year-old, that I loved My Sisser more then one could imagine and, somehow, I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.....even if it meant it would take me a mere three years to get there. I realized, even then, that Sisser always made the correct choices. Funny thing is, to this day, I love the sugar-covered, strawberry, jelly-filled donut choice and, yet, that morning, what I really wanted was the sprinkled cake donut.
To those of you who don't know, "My Sisser", is the eldest Dall child, Abbey. Next comes Andrew, then myself and finally Aaron. Though we are all grown now, we hold a bond that cannot be explained. We lean on each other every fraction of the day whether we are in complete awareness of it or not. Those of you with siblings, I am sure know that power. Abbey is always available for me. She has seen me through some of my darkest moments and stood by me through my happiest. My throat becomes tight when I think of the beauty she brings into my life. Abbey is surely one of the most selfless people I know. She is an amazing mother, daughter, sister and friend. She keeps me focused and thankful for the wonderment I have in life. Family is the greatest gift given to us and I ask that everyone pass this simple story to others. It is my hope that yourself as well as the people in your lives are able to reach into their deepest memories and pull out what events and people they should be thankful for most. Happy Holidays, Everyone!
Blessings, Ashley

It's been awhile

Wow, it's been too long since I've had a chance to post a little something. With spring here and the birds singing, flowers and trees blooming and spending lots of time in the garden I haven't had much time to sit in front of the computer. Gosh, what a concept...NOT sitting in front of the computer. We are going to Leach Gardens today. More beautiful inspiration. I also want to point out the Oregon Potters Association's Flicker site. Check it out...so much talent in the Pacific Northwest. Remember to consider handcrafted gifts the next time you are looking for that special something.

Just a week away

We are getting down to the wire and there are hundreds of potters in Oregon and Southwest WA that are scrambling around getting all their pots, garden art, sculptures ready for the largest ALL ceramic show in the US. Next Wednesday we will descend on the Oregon Convention Center and start setting up the show. It's organized chaos and Friday morning we open the doors to the public and hope they like what we do. Here's our add in the Willamette Week.

On that note...I'm going to take my dog Duke for a walk up our hill, breath deep and stretch. Then I'll come home and do what I've been doing for what seems like months...get ready for Ceramic Showcase.

Namaste,