New Address for Whynot Pottery

We had an address change in case you use maps to find us.
Whynot Pottery & Acacia Art Tile
1015 Fork Creek Mill Road
Seagrove NC 27341
336-873-9276
Whynotpottery.com

Opening the kiln

When we have an order, such as the tile, there is plenty of space that needs to be filled up.

I tucked in some tiles in the open spaces and, I am happy to share those with you.

I figured it was time to add some giraffes back to the stock. Mr. Blue Eyes 

Of course there has to be some flowers and dragonflies. 

Those sheep! They are always getting out and making some fun.

Plus I can't do this without Lee in my mind.

Those always creeping bunnies by the light of the moon. I can never get tired of them.

Right now we have rabbits that are busy building nest.

The blue birds are also busy nesting.

The osprey are back hunting on the pond.

The real spring for me is when the Osprey show up.

I love to hear them calling to each other.

So folks;

Stay safe, be kind, and wash your hands.

M

October Tiles and things 2019

Open

The roads around us are in good shape and open. 
You can get to us with no problem. 
We are reading post about NC being closed. 
Yes, east of us they are asking people to be careful before going home, but we are in central NC.
 If you need to you can email or call.
Thank you!
Meredith

A jar

In a garden.
Last week was blasted hot and I did everything I could to keep the garden wet enough to make it through the first round of heat.
After a number of summers teaching I took this summer off to give my life a bit of the balance of just being here, making pots and tiles, growing a flower or two.
I did get a good start on those things but managed to kill 2 plants trying to save them from the bugs. I won't tell you how I kill them just that I did.
Everything else seems to be growing despite my negative attempts.
This summer has been unlike any other summer in the gallery.
We get up, turn on lights, put A/C on energy saver and go about our day.
We are seeing very little traffic here or anywhere.
So, what has happened to traveling to our little neck of the woods.
There are plenty of guesses but no real reasons.

These grow with no help from me. Queen Anne's Lace

Sunflower

Bliss

 We will continue to make work, but are in some serious thoughts about store hours.
Any thoughts?
I look back at post from years past and there are comments, discussions, but now most folks have moved to FB or other platforms.
If you are truly interested, let me know.
It is hard to talk to just myself.

Yes, there was an

  election.
No, we are not going to talk about it here. Instead I bring you sheep.
Before I could get these ready for the shop many of them left for new homes.
These hold a special place for me for many reasons.
Maybe soon I will share that with you.
Tonight they are here just for you to enjoy.

Keep the barn door closed tight, you never knock who will get in or out.
Later!

Tiles

 I am back at it playing with some tiles I had left over from a back splash I just finished.
The back splash turned out well, but as with all things there are extras. The back splash needed to be 6X3 inch tiles. I had made them in a white clay body and a clay body with some iron in it, not knowing which one I would end up using.
I am always telling students that clay body will make a difference to the glaze that you are working on. If you are looking at a glaze and you want it to come out with a certain color it is good to know what clay body is being used.
The tiles here are 2 different bodies with the giraffe glazed the same. The backgrounds were different but you can see how different the bodies turned out.

  I did the same thing with this praying mantis.
On the dark body the green is nice and warm. On the white body he is a very light green. Again, the back ground is a different glaze.
The flower below is also on the white clay body. I like the way it showed the bee and the detail of the legs. I have  been using a wax with some color in it and it allows me to place in more detail and have that detail show up.

 It is that time again- flowers in the yard.

I just finished with my last full time students. It was bittersweet saying our good-byes after spending two years with them. I hope that the time we spent together was a good one for them. It taught me so many things about myself. I learn that I was not  too old to take on a challenge.
 The first Summer I drove myself to the school to teach was three years ago.  I am still amazed at how those three years have turned out not only for me but for the program as well.
My plan right now is to teach one day a week through the end of the summer session. After that there are no guarantees that I will have a job, or stay on. In many ways I hope that they are in a place to hire someone who is younger and willing to move the program to another level.
It has been good for me to move outside my own comfort zone. In teaching I have found that I learned as I was teaching. I want to put some of those things into play.
The way I am working with tiles right now is one of those things.

After the summer it might be my time to go back to my own work while I have the chance.
Never stop.

I hope you are all well and ready for summer.
M 

Flowers, Pots and double fun

If it's okay with you I will give you the run down on my crazy wild ride of a week next time.
It's been fun!

Playing with new idea

I am working on some new sizes in the tiles and I really like the way they are coming out.
Never stop thinking has become my new motto.
You just never know when something might stick.
Have a great week! Spring is a beauty this year!

Sunday Tiles

Reminders for the New year.

 How well do we think we will remember something?
There are many times when I am working on tiles that I think I will remember how I applied the glazes, until I sit down and pick up a brush.
As soon as I pick up the brush, all the remembering seems to walk away.
I was taking pictures on my camera as I go along and placing them on my computer, but the computer is in my office at the house.  Too far away to be useful when I am in the moment.

 In the past year I discovered that I could snap some pictures and leave them on the cell phone.
Those are not the best pictures ever taken, but they fill in the gap of my brain, and they are much easier to access when I am in the studio.

I have been working to add some new tiles this past year and having the pictures close at hand helps me to see what I liked and what I did not like.

It also works to text a picture to a customer.
I know many of you probably already do this.
Boom!, right to face book and other social media.
I am an old dog learning new tricks.

I have a few days before I head back to the school.
I will be teaching 3 days a week through the next semester then I have some decisions to make on what I will do next.
Do I stay or do I leave?
Big question for me right now.
There are always new things to ponder with every new year.

I am off to see if the studio is warm.
Potting in January is always a challenge.

A month of Sundays.

 It's been a month of Sundays since I last found some time to just sit down and write about what is going on here.

We had family in, my favorite part of the month of Sundays.
We worked, I went off to school, we are working the best we can to keep both ends of the candle going.

Yesterday, as a kiln cooled, we drove to our favorite place to relax a bit before we start a new week.
The addition of Four Saints in Asheboro is that perfect place where everybody knows your name.

 There is nothing like walking in and being greeted by the guys who own the place, running into a few friends and enjoying the fruits of their labor.

On one of your trips to see us I suggest you stop in.

This has been the view from my kitchen window the past few days, so still that I feel as if I am living in a picture book.

  The clouds were writing messages of love.
 I am heading out to unload the kiln, followed by 2 days at work, packing for a show, spending the weekend at the show and getting up to start over again.
A month of Sundays might just pass us again.

I'll see you when I see you.
M