Craft Beer and potter mugs

 We have noticed that as the craft industry has grown so have our sales of our beer mug.
We keep this item on the must make list and try to keep a good stock of them in the store for sale.
We have been pleasantly surprised at the steady sales of this item.
For us it is nice to not wonder, but to just make sure it is on the list.
We had a request for a mug that would fit a large hand. Mark worked out the size that would be needed for the customer and we just shipped 2 off to see if we are on target.

We have a favorite brew pub in Asheboro that we go have a pour now and again, the beer is great. We brought in our own mugs to use and that makes it even better. We enjoy sitting there and watching the different mugs used by the locals. I need to get a picture of the how the behind the counter looks as you are sitting at the bar, nothing warms the heart better than to see clay being used.
If you are in need of a new beer mug let us know, we ship.

Best,
M

What! Is this like the dark ages or something?!

He was tall with dark hair and a quick smile.
I thought now what does this hunk of a man want?
And then he said," I am going to turn off your electricity."
What! Now??? No, we are working.
Well, I have to.
No longer charmed by his boyish looks I said, "No."
Well you know who won that argument...
No electricity means, no wheels, no computer, no work.
Blah! Nothing to do but pack it up and take a day off.
So, off to do a bit of nothing and have a massage and some dinner.
Maybe we can work a full day tomorrow.
More later, I hope, meanwhile keep your grubby hands off my electricity!

I wish I had a glaze the color of fall.........

We live in a great spot, on a dirt driveway, with a big pond and lots of trees.
A few years back the person who owns the land behind us clear cut all their trees- ouch! We lost the whole top of the hill and the colors of fall that went with those trees.
We still have some trees back there, thanks to my sister who owns what was not cut.
So yesterday Mark said let's ride over to the zoo you have to see some of the trees they planted in the parking lot, the colors are wonderful.
So we did and he was right---- nice job for a parking lot don't you think!






We then headed into Asheboro for a beer and some food.
Beer- you have to remember it has only been a year since you could have a beer in Asheboro.
And if you are still reading... we have some family news.
Our daughter is going to make us grandparents.....
Cheers!

And very big bug

Here are some pictures of the kiln while we were unloading.
Mark did a slower longer fire.

The ash was better.


We used a new batch of iron Red without changing anything.

It looked pretty good. Some iron trapping, but not muddy like the last kiln firing.
And that mystery stuff the mouse brought in.... we still don't know what it is, but its burning did not seem to effected any thing in the kiln.














Asheboro has just voted in beer and wine sales along with serving liquor by the drink. We were suppose to meet a friend at one of the new restaurants in downtown on Friday night for dinner. The place was packed with an hour wait list.
We asked to be put on the list and the waitress told Mark, " Just remember there are three in front of you." He said what if I want to go away for 30-minutes or more and come back.
She said "fine, but..... just remember that there are three ahead of you."
At which point Mark took my arm and strolled me out saying we are going somewhere else.
You want to say, " Get with the program Asheboro." I know this is all new for you, but you have to learn how to handle a crowd.
Instead we found our friend and headed up to another new place.
Bistro 42 near the mall.
It was quiet, nice and the service was great and the food good.

This bug is on a wall in downtown asheboro. He is about the size of the one which joined me in the basement last week. See they do get big here.

The Potters Conference

I found my way up to the North Carolina Potters Conference in Asheboro in time to see some pots.
This sweet pot of Phil Rogers called to me. I love a good bottle, as most of you know. And this one was so sweet I wanted to take it home with me.
But- I walked away- it was hard but times such as they are I could not do my part for the economy.
But I did take its picture.
Sweet bottle that it is.

I went up there to help the crew from Highwater with the Friday night dinner. I no longer help with the conference, but I do love to pop in and have dinner Friday night and see some slides.
The gang from Highwater are Gail and her son Johnathan, his lovely wife Faye and their wonderful sweet girls. The girls had a blast helping set up and wanted to help us pour wine.....

I also ran into some of the other bloggers- Bruce and Samantha from Bulldog were there and if you look behind them you will see Mike Mahan and his wife Mary- bonus shot I just realized they are there.

And then there was this guy!

Why it's Mr. Micheal Kline from the mountains!

22nd North Carolina Potters Conference

I think I will sneak a peek at some pots this weekend.















I am heading up there to help serve the Friday night dinner later today.
I might get back to look at some pots- we have company for the weekend so I will not be at the whole conference but a pop in or two to see pots should be good!

Hark- is that spring knocking on the door?

I know the groundhog went back to bed telling us there are 6 more weeks of winter- but there are signs that tell me Spring is coming. The first was the daffodils I posted back on the 13Th.

The second was on Saturday when the Osprey were circling and calling one another on the pond while they scouted out some tasty fish. They arrive at the start of spring and stay until things get a bit chilly. I don't know where they go for the winter months because they don't leave a forwarding address.

So even though it was 25 degrees out this morning I am thinking spring is coming.

The other day as I was getting into the car it was warm and it made me think of The NC Potters Conference. I helped Dwight Holland for over 15 years with the planning for the Potters Conference. It was great fun and I met so many wonderful folks during those weekends.

One day I thought it was time to give it up and let someone else have some fun.

I no longer help in the planing, but I always try to get there and give Brian and Gail form Highwater Clays a hand for the Friday night dinner.

I am sure I will be there this year to pour a few bottles of wine and take in some slides.

The NC Potters Conference is one of the best conferences out there.

Guest Potters this year are: Phil Rogers - Wales. Mark Pharis - Wisconsin.

Alleghany Meadows - Colorado

The price is reasonable and they provide you with meals for the whole time you are there.

If you are interested in going contact the Randolph Arts Guild in Asheboro, NC- they will be happy to help you.

Fa la la la la ---la la-de da.........

I don't know if you can tell but the tree has another upgrade.
I was in-----Wally World today. I know I know- I was supporting the beast- and I bought lights for the tree.

Fa la la la la ladeda------

Like a fool I was not able to Christmas shop early this year with the fire and all. And then with my mother in the hospital last week ---- the best laid plans...

Silent night , Holy Night........

So today I went with the masses and went Christmas shopping.

We want to wish you a Merry Christmas... we want to wish you a Merry Christmas.

I am so behind I might as well be shopping for next year.
But I don't want your pity. It was not all that bad being out there and I am getting in the spirit of things. Having fun picking out some things for the family.

Oh, jingle bell, jingle bell jingle bell rock...hum...

So I am not finished, but I have STARTED.
I am addressing Christmas Cards.
Some will be late- some will just get there.

Rudolph the red nose reindeer- had a very shinny nose......

The evil part of this is I am passing on my ear worms on to you!
Why? You ask. Because I can........

Showing at the Randolph Arts Guild

Last night I went to see the show at the RAG- in Asheboro.
I was not disappointed. It was so full of life and color.
Hat and Cori outdid themselves.
Their combined -individual art- played off each other, like a sunrise.
Lots of burst of color and life everywhere.
You should take the time to see this show.
And- like an idiot- I forgot the camera.
I'll get back with a picture.
M
http://www.randolphartsguild.com/gallery.html
http://www.hatunderground.com/pages/frameset.html




COLOR UNLEASHED

The Randolph Arts Guild is proud to present an exhibition of the work of HAT (Harriet Ann Thompson) and Cori Cagle in the Sara Smith Self Gallery beginning September 1st and continuing through September 25th. Gallery hours are 10-5, Monday through Friday and 10-2 on Saturdays. “Color Unleashed” is what the Guild calls the show in that both HAT, a potter, and Cori, a painter, don’t hold back when it comes to brilliance of hue.

HAT is from Charlotte but is a frequent visitor to Asheboro and Seagrove. She is a graduate of the prestigious New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred, NY. She is well known to a broad segment of North Carolina and regional potters. Her cheerful, whimsical bowls, plates and platters brightly depicting frogs, lizards and other animals are collected by many people in our area. One special feature of her work is that the bottoms of the pieces are about as much fun as the tops.

Cori Cagle is the art teacher at Hopewell Elementary School in Trinity, NC. She gives of her knowledge to her students as if it is a cup of water. She, too, while possessing an entirely different sense of style, presents colorful, freely imaginative work. One of her recent influences is the work of Austrian architect and painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Cori is a lifelong resident of Randolph County.