The town of Seagrove or do not blink

A new adventure for Mark and me.

As of the middle of the month we have become members of The Co-Op of Seagrove Potters
 which is located in the "down town" area of Seagorve.
The Co-op is housed in what was the original bank of Seagrove.
I love the old safe and found it a pretty good place to sit the other day.

 

Here is a quick photo of the inside of the building.

A view out the window facing the Seagrove Hardware.

This does not change our hours at Whynot you will still find us hard at work and open to your visits with us here.
Plan to stop in this summer!

Meanwhile- the big vases are out of the bisque tomorrow.
More glazing with loading on Saturday and firing Sunday- give or take a day.
Let's us hope this firing comes off as a good one.
Cheers!
M

stage two of the lamps and the witness protection service

Just after I was out shooting pictures of the lamps Mark was in behind me to carve them.
Lovely, they will make great lamps for someone and stay tune for the final stages of bisque and glaze.
These needed handles, so I was told.
Makes me think they are in the pottery protection service.
Name, rank and serial number please.
Or hats- maybe they just need a hat.

I have spent a few days on glaze...........................................mind numbing at times and frustrating at times and then all the sudden done!

I have my small electric kiln working away today with tiles, butter trays, tea caddies and odd vases.

In early May I had an email from a friend and fellow potter of Hollis out in Cape Cod.
Gail Turner of Millstone Pottery would be traveling to North Carolina to visit her friend Lee and they would spend a day in Seagrove visiting the area potters and would love to come by.
We had a terrific visit and talk came easy for us all.
I felt I had known Gail, Lee and her husband ( who was kind enough to come along!) all my life- you know the feeling.
I had this when I met Hollis, Dan, Hannah, Angela and Tracey as well.
Some where on another planet in a place far away we have been connected before.
Is it the clay?
Or is it that common language that we all have with the work we do?
Mark and I have been very lucky to have met many potters from all over the USA and the world and we find we do have that common language even if we do not all speak the same language.
It makes me feel we are some how all related like one big disjointed family living all over the planet.
We plan to continue this journey of pottery and hope to one day soon show up in Cape Cod and follow the pottery trail they have up there.
Gail was kind enough to leave me with a book and map that both Mark and I have been reading over- road trip going through our heads- how quick can you pack a bag I think....
I have a few things to take care of but I do think a trip to the Cod needs to be on my list.
After all now that I have "family' there how can they turn me away?!
Whoops- time to check on the kiln!
M

The potters are in house- seagrove style

In David's workshop

I can not even begin to tell you what it was like to have Doug, Hannah and Angela walk in my house.
It was a thrill.
After meeting on line, reading each others blogs and facebooking there they were standing in the
USof A in Seagrove NC.
How sweet was that.

In the morning we headed down the road about 10 am to see David Stuempfle, Micheal Mahan, Mary Ferrell of Westmoore Pottery and Jugtown Pottery.
Then back to the house for lunch.
Then a mad dash to the NC Pottery Center, Johnston and Gentithes and Bulldog Pottery.
It was all I could fit in for the day.
There were several more I would have loved to drag them to but it was pack them off and send them off with Ron.
Now to start planning our trip to their part of the world.
A special thanks to Tracey for taking a day off to join us.

Angela who is developing a grand southern accent.

It was a blast!

At David's new kiln

From the ground up- Michael Mahan

What a day!

Black Friday

The day after filling your self with food people go shopping.
And you know what I mean, they go shopping at 4 am!
I am, for one,am not much of a shopper.
I never have been.
I just don't shop unless I need something.
And even then I would rather buy books or art.
I use to go out as a teen for clothes and come back with a book.
It made sense to me.
So going out with the masses to shop on black Friday!?
No, I will be right here with the pottery shop open.
We hope to see some of those like minded folks who are not big box or mall shoppers.

On another note we had hoped to spend thanksgiving with our daughter and her husband.
A case of the crud kept them home.
We were taken in by our friends David and Nancy for a wonderful afternoon of Turkey Frying and lots of good food and conversation.
I have never had fried turkey.
It was pretty darn good.

The Turkey Master- Adam

















I took some shots of David's new kiln he is building.
I would love to give you all the low down on the kiln but rather then show my ignorance on the subject I will just post pictures in hopes you will find your way to one of his kiln openings and then you can ask all the questions I failed to ask.

A quick look in the kiln more later

I was awake at 4 am- and from what I am reading on other blogs I am not the only one having trouble sleeping right now, like Gary.

So much stuff going on with the holidays and shows.

The turkey has not even been sliced but we feel the hot breath of Christmas as it comes rushing down to meet us.

Mark and I have the first stack out of the kiln and we are taking an oatmeal and coffee break.

I had better get out there and help with the second stack.

See if there are any pots of mystery in the kiln.

M

A reason to Celebrate.

A year ago last weekend the First Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters was held at the Luck's cannery in Seagrove NC.
We along with many of our fellow potters enjoyed a great weekend.
The second annual show is coming up this weekend.

If you read my blog you know we will be there along with about 65 shops which adds up to about 80 potters.

During the event last year, while we were all enjoying the show ,we had a turn of events which effected us all deeply.

On that Saturday night a fire struck at Chris Luther Pottery while the Luther's were not home but off at a friends house. The fire was related to a wood stove and the building was a total loss.

We had Studio fire in July of the same year, but lost only our main work building.
Chris and, his wife, Lisa lost everything in the building and the building.
The only thing left standing before the night was over was part of a wall and a piece of the tin roof.

We were all deeply effected by this tragedy at a time when spirits were high.
The community rallied around Chris to help and I know that he and Lisa appreciated all the care and love that came their way.

But as I said about our fire.

It is a walk in Hell.
A walk you don't wish on anyone and one you must walk many times alone.

We lost things, but Chris lost, kilns, gallery space, equipment, wheels, glaze recipes, notes, favorite tools, just think of all those things you have around you everyday.
To top things off they lost household items and a beloved family pet, Sassy.

But, if you know the Luther's, or ever meet Chris or have met Chris you will find that this is one of those people not to be beaten down.
He said to us, "I built it once, I will build it again."
And he is well on his way.

Mark and I have watched as the building has taken shape.
The ground was cleared, the block work went up, the trusses came in, doors, windows, electric, insulation.
All this while still maintaining a family life with three boys.

Chris and Lisa have come a long way in the past year.
They held their first kiln opening in October.
A "soft opening" in which many of their friends, family and customers came out not only to buy pots but to celebrate the rebuilding of the Luther's pottery.
To cheer them up and give them the hope they need to continue through the final stages.

The walls are up, but the devil is in the details.

I stopped by today just to say hello and see how they were doing.
Chris is busy getting ready for the show.
There were pots in all stages of ready.
They, like many of us, are loading tonight and firing tomorrow.

But for the Luther's this is the sweet rewards of the walk, the knowledge that things are falling into place.
The past year will become the past year,
it will be a year they will never forget.
Yet, they survived it and life goes on.
I fully get this.

I know for Chris ,that while he is not finished yet, there will be a point where it is just him and the wheel and the past year a faded memory.

The act of getting back to the life you were truly meant to live, like his ancestor's before him. The life of a potter which calls and whispers at you, calling you back again and again to the wheel to create.
It will be his again.

Our thoughts and best wishes are for him Lisa and the boys to Celebrate a job well done and enjoy their time at the Celebration Of Seagrove Potters.
Things will just get better and better!

M&M

Chris's new blog!

Thanksgiving already.....

I can tell you that the wind is still whipping out there.
And with that said I don't know how much we will load in the kiln today.
And the days are really counting down.
With only one week away from the show.

Now the thought is get it in and fire Sunday.
The kiln then takes two full days to cool down.
Nice and slow.
Sunday fire, Monday and Tuesday cool down, unload on Wednesday.
Set up is Thursday and Friday Night Gala is, well, Friday.
So our few days lead have turned into us chomping at the bit to get it done.
Nothing like letting the wind out of your sails.
And speaking of wind... yea, I already said, IT IS STILL BLOWING!"

I had to share my Thanksgiving cactus which thinks it is time for some turkey.
I think they are both a little early this year.
Maybe I should have left them outside another 2 weeks.

Little sister here is only about four years old. Plucked off at cart a Lowe's hardware one day. The first year no blooms at all. All the spots that I thought were going to bloom just dropped off.
She was much happier after being put in a Geoff Pickett planter with some room to work on her spreading roots.

I have a Pesto Cheesecake in the oven for the (free) reception tonight at the NCPC.

This is the all time easiest recipe. It sounds so strange, but think savory okay?

Off to be productive!

Cheers!

A visit from Tracey and Wes Broome

Well- sometimes you need a day to sit back relax, have some lunch and just chat.
That is what I did today when Tracey Broome and her delightful daughter, Wes, came over for a visit.
I have been askingTracey to let me know when she could take a day off and was in the area that I would be happy to fix lunch.
And that is what we did.
Some pizza and salad fixings on my end.
Tracey and Wes brought the best ice cream and pound cake for a sweet treat.
It was fun to kick back and talk about pottery, families and life.
I am amazed at the relationships that we bloggers are forming.
It reminds me of the days of "pen pals."
You would chose a person to write with back and forth and next thing you knew a friendship had formed. I feel that way with the bloggers. There are many of us who cross many miles daily to check in on one another, cheer each other along, pick up spirits for one another .
And on a special day like today just take some time to " break bread" and get to know each other a little more.

I have just been in touch with Linda Starr who has sold her house and will be traveling across county to see what she and her husband can see before they settle down somewhere and start their new journey into another phase of life.
I plan to follow Linda on her travels and look forward to the day she rolls in here for a visit.
Then it will be time to sit back again, take a day off.

I am amazed and thankful for the new friends we are finding through clay and these online blogs.


And I know, I know- I am looking at these pictures and wondering when I went so gray.
Is it time to go Red or blonde?

Making pots for Christmas and the giveaway

I was on the wheel yesterday making bottles one right after another.
You know the gig.
Thump, whirl, center, pull up, shape, off.
And another,
And another.
There are times that throwing production gives you that same feeling that you get when coming home.
You ,the clay and your wheel.
Just humming along and making some pots....
Then there are times that an idea begins to shape and you think of another shape you want to make.
If you don't watch out you will look down and your bottle will be a bowl or a mug or a vase.
It is where the mind thinks and the hands take over.
I love how potters learn to make a pot, let the mind take over and the hands do all the work.
There was an older potter here, Waymon Cole, who use to say, " If I had any brains, they was in my hands."
I love that expression and think of it often as I throw, or turn pots.
Thunk, whirl, center, pull up, shape, pot.......

Today is the last day to go over to the Women's Colony and leave a comment to win one of Mark's oil Lamps.
I have the lamp all packed up and ready to ship for the lucky winner.
So go- it might be you!
Me- I am back on the wheel today.
Making more bottles for a Christmas order.

Let's go to Penland

What would a trip to the NC mountains be without a trip to the Penland area?
Penland is full of studios of all kinds.
Glass, Metal, Jewelry, Fiber and Pottery.
I love taking a trip up there and seeing what is new.
This trip with all the rain we just picked a few things to do.
We went up to the Penland Coffee house for some coffee, tea and lunch.
The food was so-so- nothing to write home about, but the coffee was good.
We walked around the dining hall and I have missed this tile entry way.
So Catherine and I had our picture taken by Mark.

From there we wandered over to the Penland Gallery to see what was going on in there.
I saw one of Michael Sherrill's works as we walked through the door.
This one is for you Linda:

I wanted to go and see Michael Kline if we could catch him at home. I rang him up and got a message and thought I should have let him know sooner we would be in the area.
I handed the cell back to Mark and there was a message on it. Michael was around and would be there until 3 or so. We jumped in the car and headed over.
Michael is not far from Penland and with Catherine as our guide we didn't even have to back up and turn around.
We found his shop and stopped in in time for the first fire in the wood stove. Michael is always a treat to talk to and he showed us around his workshop and gallery.

I loved the sign over the door.

A good reminder for all of us!

I don't remember all that was being talked about, but it included some conversation about Bats.
Look at that handsome pot behind Micheal, don't you want to just go pick it up!?
We walked out to his covered area to see the clay mixing operation. It looks like he has a work horse of a pug mill there.
It is an older model he picked up, but it certainly looks like it does the job.



I always enjoy chatting some shop with another potter and seeing how they work.
It was great to have Michael take some time out of his day for us.
I came away with one of his pieces which I have not taken a picture of yet! I will hold it ransom until Michael comes to Seagrove and picks out something from our shop.
Thanks Michael it was good to see you as usual.
Instead of running around in the rain we headed back to Catherine's house for cards and games.

The rest of the trip was spent catching up with Catherine and seeing what see is doing in her studio.
Catherine has been working on some tile samples.
New work for her.
And speaking of work! Time for me to get there.

A trip to Blowing Rock- no time for pottery now!

Remember I had said we were going to be taking some non pottery related days.
Well we tried to.
We left here Saturday morning leaving Beverly in charge of the store.
We took our time driving up to Blowing Rock NC.
It takes us about 3- 31/2 hours to get there.
We stopped in Boone for supplies at a store, beer and food stuff and then off to stay at a friends condo for some R&R.
As we can into the town we noticed it was "Art in the Park" day in Blowing rock.
We thought we should go check it out.
I said as we walked in to the park," this will be fun we won't know anybody. "
Yea- go ahead and chuckle.
The first potter we saw was from Seagrove!
And then we came up on Potters John Garland and Mary Paul from Freechild studio outside of Raleigh.
We all had a good laugh and as we stopped to talk with them.
We invited them back to the condo for take out pizza and beers after the show was over.

Then on we went and we stop in to see Jen Mecca.
I walk right in and said, "Hi, I am Meredith Heywood, from Whynot Pottery and I read your blog."
She laughed and we had a good chat about blogs and pottery.
I love her work and found her to be so thoughtful and charming.
I will continue to keep up with her through her Blog and I hope I see her again.
As you can tell I did not have my camera with me- no pictures of the potters or pots!

The next morning we went for a hike just off downtown Blowing Rock.
The trail is called Glen Burney Trail and there are three water falls along the trail.
It was a cool, crisp morning and the hike down was wonderful.

But- we took so long taking pictures we did not make it to the last water fall.
We decided we needed a reason to come back.
And next time we would bring the water and some food with us!
We found there is a great spot at the second water fall with a nice place to picnic. If only we had known, we would have planned to do so.
We love the downtown area of Blowing Rock with all the shops but we are really there for the mountains, the woods and the water.

We drove up to Banner Elk and hit the Parway back to Blowing Rock for some wonderful views.

The views, although a bit overcast, were food for our eyes and souls.

We read, we hiked and we ate.

Then packed it off for home this morning.
Tomorrow we will be loading the kiln and life resumes.






PS Kids- Your dad said put this on his Christmas list.........

“SEAGROVE POTTERS FOR PEACE – 200 CUPS OF TEA”

13 Seagrove Potters have created special drinking vessels as a fundraiser for American Greg Mortenson, whose #1 NY Times Bestseller “Three Cups of Tea – One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time” explains his own efforts for peace.

Mortenson, through his Central Asia Institute (CAI), has built hundreds of schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where illiterate and impoverished children are prey to recruitment by terrorist organizations.

On Saturday, August 15, 200 teacups, mugs and tumblers will be offered for sale, with the full purchase price being donated to CAI. Many items are specially inscribed for this event. Copies of Mortenson’s book in adult, young adult and children’s versions will be for sale at several potteries.

Vessels by Whynot, Thomas, Old Gap, Jugtown, From the Ground Up, Caldwell-Hohl and Ben Owen Potteries will be for sale at the individual shops.

Vessels by Westmoore, Tom Gray, Old Gap, From the Ground Up, Dover, Dean & Martin, Bulldog and Cady Clay Works Potteries will be for sale at Cady Clay Works.

Items will be available exclusively at the shops until August 24, when any remaining vessels can be ordered by email or telephone.

More information about the individual potteries, as well as a request form for a free Seagrove Area map, can be found at www.discoverseagrove.com, or email seagrovepottersforpeace@yahoo.com.

Mortenson, who many believe will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, will be the NC State Convocation speaker on August 17.

After a failed attempt to climb K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain, Mortenson got lost and wandered into a remote mountain village in Pakistan. The impoverished local people shared what little they had and nursed him back to health. He returned to the US, sold most of his belongings, lived in his car and tried to raise money to build the village a school. The skeptical villagers, who had heard promises from foreign climbers before, were astonished when he returned a year later with building materials.

In CAI’s publication, “Journey of Hope”, Karin Ronnow explains:
“Ultimately, most Pakistanis and Afghans want peace. They want working democracy. They want more and better-paying jobs, good roads, clean drinking water and food to eat. They are fed up with violence and they want to get on with living their lives.
And they know a better future for their children starts with education.”

More information can be found at CAI’s website, www.ikat.org, or www.penniesforpeace.org, an educational fundraising program for schoolchildren of all ages.

Potter Beth Gore of Cady Clay Works urges everyone, of all beliefs, to read “Three Cups of Tea”. “It’s obvious that we, as Americans, are woefully uninformed about the people, beliefs and way of life in these areas of military conflict.”

“Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time … (and) proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.”
- Tom Brokaw, who made the first $100 donation to Mortenson’s effort in 1993.


- Beth Gore, Cady Clay Works, 910-464-5661, seagrovepottersforpeace@yahoo.com.

“THREE CUPS OF TEA”

Mark and I are asked many times, sometimes weekly, sometimes daily to donate pottery to fundraisers.
One year I kept track of all the pots we donated and how much it cost us to do so.
The women who does my taxes asked me if I could really afford to give away so many pots.
Not really I thought.....
Mark and I decided we needed a plan for donations.
We would donate to our local community; hospice, local arts, the North Carolina Pottery Center, and then other exceptions would be made.
Last year with the fire we figured donations were out for the year.
We would not have enough work to feel generous enough to give any away.
Then one day Beth Gore from Cady Clayworks emailed me and said I would like to talk with you, let's have lunch.
It took weeks for me to find a day, with the wedding and all we had going on just getting our lives back to a sense of normal.
When we sat down to order she slide this book across the table and asked if I had read it.
Beth is a great reader and always has a good book going.
I had hear of it and had seen Greg Mortenson speak on TV about his life.
Then she presented her idea to me:
Here it is in letter form-

“SEAGROVE POTTERS FOR PEACE – 1000 CUPS OF TEA”
For the past 6 years of the Iraq war, I have been complaining that instead of bombing the Middle East and creating future generations of America-haters, we should be building schools and hospitals so people would learn to love Americans. Remember the hymn, “…they will know we are Christians by our love…”? People have told me I am naive and that’s not how the world works. Well, I just read the book “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and lo and behold, here is a man doing just what I have been only talking about!

After a failed attempt to climb K2 (the world’s second-tallest mountain), he got lost and wandered into a remote mountain village in Pakistan. The impoverished local people shared what little they had and nursed him back to health. He returned to the US, sold most of his belongings, slept in his car and tried to raise money to build the village a school. Many years, trials and dangerous travels later, with no religious or government affiliation, he has built dozens of schools through his non-profit organization, CAI (Central Asia Institute). Without these schools, the only other option to millions of impoverished children is to attend radical fundamentalist institutions that breed terrorists.

The book made me ponder what I could do to help, and at the same time I happened to mention it to my customers in my spring e-newsletter. I got responses and links from potters around the country who are doing “teacup” fundraisers for this organization. Isn’t this just the time to think “outside the box” of our own economic woes and focus on others less fortunate?

We all get numerous donation requests, I know, but wouldn’t the title above be a wonderful gesture to the world? There are over 100 local potters – what if we each donated the sale of 10 cups (or drinking vessels of any kind)? A simple act from each of us could create such a powerful result! 100 potters x 10 pots/potter x $15 avg price/item = $15,000!!!! It costs CAI $1 per month for one child’s education. (They pay teacher salaries and upkeep on the schools they build) We would be sending over 1200 children to school for a year!! And, if you are “sitting on the fence” about this idea, how about the wonderful PR the project would generate? I think we could get a lot of media coverage of some GOOD news for a change!
Sample plan:
- each potter makes 10 teacups or drinking vessels to be sold at their regular price, and that amount donated to a bank account for CAI. Items could be sold at individual potteries or a central location, or both.
- I will, at my own expense, produce a small poster to display in each shop with the items for sale, and also a small insert to go with each sold item.
- I will contact area news sources and try to get as many articles published as possible, listing all participating potters.

PLEASE FILL OUT THE RESPONSE BELOW AND REPLY BACK SO I KNOW YOU RECEIVED THIS EMAIL!

Are you interested in participating in this fundraiser? (I have submitted it to CAI and received their enthusiastic approval.)

Name(s) of participating potters from this pottery:

How many total items are you willing to donate?

Sale price/item?

Do you think the items should be inscribed on the bottom?
If so, "Seagrove Potters for Peace"?
"3 Cups of Tea"?

Do you want to sell these in your own shop or at a central location?

Would you be willing to buy a copy/copies of the book to have on display or for sale in your shop? They cost $8.55 net on Amazon for 3 or more new paperbacks. Cover price is $15. (Link from http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ so they get credit for the sale, or I will order them. He has also written a wonderful children’s version, “Listen to the Wind”.)

If you sell other potters’ work in your shop, would you ask them to participate?

Would you be interested in helping to plan this project? (Trying to keep it VERY simple!)

No matter what you think of this idea, PLEASE READ “THREE CUPS OF TEA”!!** It is obvious that we, as Americans, are woefully uninformed about the people, beliefs and way of life in these areas of military conflict.

Many people expect Greg Mortenson to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He will be the August 2009 Convocation speaker at NC State University.

For more information or different ways to help: http://www.threecupsoftea.com/.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this!
Beth Gore
Cady Clay Works
910-464-5661
seagrovepottersforpeace@yahoo.com

** “Three cups of tea” comes from a local custom. The first time you share tea you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family.

The potters who are participating are:
Ben Owen Pottery
Cady Clay Works
Caldwell-Hohl Artworks
Dean & Martin Pottery
Dover Pottery
From the Ground Up
Jugtown
Old Gap Pottery
Thomas Pottery
Tom Gray
Westmoore Pottery
Whynot Pottery

Mark and I are donating 20 drinking vessels each.
He has made small ,hold in the hand, cups for tea, juice or wine.
I have made 20 drinking vessels, larger, for ice tea, juice or wine.
We thought this was a cause not to be pass up.
If anyone else is interested get in touch with Beth.

Your Cheating heart and I have my eye on you.

I wanted to post the results of the "cheating" pot and also thank all the bloggers who left comments and telling me how they "cheat" while making pots.
I found it very interesting.
It made me think about the potters here close by who cheat and make gorgeous pots in doing so.
If you have not taken the time to look at some of the blogs I follow please do.
I am enjoying following Alex Matisse's blog.
He talks so eloquently about his journey into the world of pottery making. He is posting up some really great pots and just spent time at a work shop with fellow Seagrove potter David Stuempfle, who is an ultimate cheater!
Alex posted some great pictures of the students learning a technique David learned while was studying in Korean and Japan.
Mark Hewitt, another of the great cheaters, has put out some fantastic potters. He brought his techniques he learned with him when he settled in North Carolina. He has trained some of the best and does it with all the grace and charm that is Mark. Sharing and teaching, giving back.

Many years back when my Mark and I were interested in learning to make pots we spent time just going to the local shops like Seagrove Pottery, J.B.Cole's, Jugtown and ML Owens.
They were kind enough to let us stand there and watch.
We would watch Dot Auman throw pot after pot.
Virginia Shelton at Cole's would throw dinner plates and then pick them up and throw another-- no bats here!
Melvin Owens was always a treat, full of stories along with the pots.
And we wandered in and out of Jugtown.
No one chased you away and they were all so giving of their time.
Of course if you were smart you just found a quiet corner and watched.

There are a lot of potters I know who have opened their studios, their lives and themselves to teach others. It takes time and effort to do this. I think you have to have a good balance in your own life to open your life up to others.
On another note there is a great discussion going on over on Ron's blog. Ron is another cheater, teacher and one who gives thought and caring back into the clay community. I have enjoyed peeking into the lives of so many potters this past year. Ron is one who draws me back time and time again.

And here is my delight this summer.
I have not had a garden in many years and I just picked eggplant and my first tomato!

Kiln Opening Cookies

I had so many people ask for the recipe of these cookies I promised to post them up.

Sesame Seed Cookies

1 stick of butter, melted
add:
1/2 c. sugar
1 beaten egg
4 or 5 T. sesame seeds
1 t. vanilla
mix in:
2 cups of flour sifted with ½ teaspoon salt and baking powder

Mix together well and form into a brick or log.
Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and
Chill for about an hour, slice into 1/4 inch thick slices
and bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes.

A great not real sweet treat -- a favorite with red wine.

and a repeat on the Peanut butter cookies no flour:
1 cup peanut butter- I like to use all natural chunky-
1 egg
1 cup sugar
Bake 350 for about 15 minutes.

Thank you one and all for coming out and sharing a beautiful day and supporting the local potters in Seagrove.
M

Spring Kiln Opening at Whynot Pottery and beyond....

On Saturday April the 18Th and Sunday the 19Th. We are joining about 40 other potters from the greater Seagrove area to have a kiln opening. Joining us here at Whynot Pottery on Saturday from 10 until 2 pm will be Bill and Dianna Osmolski from Green acres ranch.

The Osmolski’s
will be bringing their grass fed beef and pork, along with eggs from their free range chickens. We have been buying beef and pork from them the past year and a half. We have enjoyed all their products from the beef to the pork and the eggs.


Come and see what is new out of the kiln and bring your cooler along and plan to take home some locally raised meat, eggs and a pot or two.

On Saturday afternoon the NCPC will have its annual auction. This year for the first time ever the NCPC Auction Committee used the theme of having pots donated with faces on them. “Faces for the NCPC.” The NCPC takes absentee bids- so if you can not be there in person you can still buy a piece of your choosing.

Many of the local potters will be opening kilns and serving refreshments.

Start your day out at the Pottery shops, being sure to stop and see us.
Then end your day Saturday attending the NCPC auction.
For more information on open shops and their events visit the Celebration web site.
For more information on the North Carolina Pottery Center Auction visit their web site

Wood Firing

It was a long day for all the crews who came out to fire the wood kiln. Mark and the crew he was on started the kiln at 4 -4:30 am. I was on second crew and went in at 11am- until 4:30 or so.
The kiln just chugged along and the 3rd shift took it up until the last shift came in.
There was food and drinks passing around and in a short time the last chamber was being salted.
Now- it's all in the waiting.
For a whole lot more pictures go over to Bulldog and see what Samantha has posted up.

Freechild Studio

The show this weekend was very well attended despite the weather. In fact the weather might have driven folks inside. It was a mess of a weekend to be outside- but great weather to be inside.
The show is a mix of folk potters, county potters and contemporary potters.
I want to introduce you to John Garland and Mary Paul. I love their work- wonderful detail and color!
Go check out their website, because I could not do justice with my camera.

also they just happen to be very close friend of my sister who lives in Raleigh- which is how we met.
We enjoyed the show, but are happy to be back home. Next week is glaze week and woodfiring at the NCPC.