So, my pottery world is now in full swing.  I have shows each month from now until December.  My hope is to be able to do one firing each month to keep my shelves looking stocked with fresh products.  I’m loving the pots I’m making now.  The wax resist adds a layer of movement on the outside.  It gives them an energy that they don’t have with a solid color.

I made a new stamp with tree motives.  One is a pine tree.  Pine trees symbolize healing, and I have strong associations with pine trees that reach back to my childhood as I built forts in rows of pine trees my father planted on the house grounds.  They are a comforting and healing presence in my life.  The other stamp is inspired by the strength that trees offer.  There is a heart in the middle of the tree stamp.  Doing yoga I practice being a tree and I’m reminded of the strength and love necessary to be a tree.

The last bit of newness to my pottery products is the infustion of inspiration.  I’ve been hit with some health issues that needed attending and with that came the need for some inspiration.  It became reflected in my pottery as words stamped into the clay or words raised onto the clay with wings attached.  I hope to do more with wings in the future.  I should also give some recognition to Sophie Daugher for the inspiration of the wings.  Her logo for her photography business Rise Photography includes wings.  I made some mugs for her and had to start using wings in my own things.  Check out her website and studio.  Risephotography.com

So, the season begins with the Cumberland Craft show in August to be followed by a new show in Meredith, New Hampshire.  This will be a fun collaboration with my husband’s family.  Then one a month until December.  Check out my show page for more detailed info.

Happy Summer!

Tonight felt magical, unworldly.  The moon cast it’s sliver of a muted shimmer over the snowy hills of southern rural Maine.  Alex and I found ourselves behind the wheel driving through the darkness toward that shimmer to find a hilltop view.

I’m finding I’m doing that in my life, figuratively too!  Chasing that elusive sliver of glimmering light in the night.  Creativity is a fickle thing for me.  It comes and goes as it pleases, often just when I feel I need it most.  It is such a gift and I’m so greatful for when it does surge through.  I try to capture it’s essence and form it into my medium of clay.

With the shift of spring energy, so came the urge to make nest shaped bowls and egg shaped bowls.  I made 6 beautifully shaped egg bowls and am so excited to enter the realm of bright color!  I’ve moved through the subdued cool shades that encased my work the last couple of years, and am now ready to explore the brighter colors of the palate.  Turquoise and purple were the first to arrive on the horizon and will grace the eggs’ outer shell with a soft mat white on the inside.   I’ll post pictures as they emerge from the kiln.

If I like these glazes, it may open up a new look for my pots.  I love that pottery allows me to create a tangible form to express my spirit and it’s evolutions.  I believe anyone should have access to this experience in some form.  It’s quite healing and satisfying.

A ball of clay is a world in your hands.

I am thrilled with my business this past year.  It is wonderful to have my shows, students, and products continue to grow and evolve.   Pottery brings so much to me in so many ways and I am so greatful for the opportunity to be able to practice this transforming art at this level.  From the kneading of the clay, to the throwing, trimming, firing, glazing, and firing again, I feel the creative juices and feel such satisfaction being involved in the forming of something out of nothing, and making something that I consider beautiful and useful.  Then I get to share my little objects with those that either take them home or give them as gifts.  My hope is that you love my pieces as much as I enjoy making them. My hope is that they give you a feeling of connection to the transformative process and a bit more humanness in our high-tech world.  I hope you feel a little more grounded as you sip your tea or coffee.  I hope you admire a fingerprint in the glaze as you wash a bowl.  I hope you notice that imperfections are perfect and just make something more unique.

I love beginnings, and I love contemplating during this yearly tradition of change.  No other time during the year are we so focused on letting go and opening up to what is and will be.  My focus is to let go of those things that weigh me down.  My focus is on the things that bring me joy, peace, and serenity.  My pottery is one of the joys of my life.  I will be attempting to infuse into it the joy, peace and serenity that I seek so that it will spread in my own little corner of the world, and who knows, beyond….  Peace, Light and Love to you!

Moving into the Autumnal months is  a transition time for me.  I’m moving away from the freedom of summer into the structure of a school year.  My pottery life will slow down a bit, but ever so slightly.  I’ve still got a show planned for each month through December, as well as custom orders to fill and stock to build for those shows.

I’ve uploaded a number of new works on the  Dinnerware and Home Decorum  pages.  Look for the Sunflower pieces and Lotus Wedding Vessel.  All are made with the new dark chocolate clay I’ve been playing with.  It is absolutely gorgeous and adds a feeling of warmth and richness under the glazes.  I love it.  You can also see the new glaze I’ve been playing with.  It’s an intense cobalt color and really makes the Sunflowers pop!

Enjoy the remaining warmth of the Summer sun and crisp, clear nights that Autumn brings.  Namaste                             

I hope everyone is enjoying the long, warm, sunny days of summer and all the activity that it brings.  I’m on vacation from school and am loving spending time in the basement making pots.  I find this is a great time of creative renewal and expression for me.  I have the space, time and energy to throw myself, so to speak, into the clay. 

Some new themes and colors have emerged in the experimentations.  I’ve been using beach shells and leaf stamps to decorate my surfaces and am altering my forms a bit to add some extra curvaciousness.  It gives the pots a feminine flare.  I love the results and hope you do too.

Also, I’m exploring a couple of other blue glazes.  There’s a great one called Turbulent Indigo which is reminescent of an excitible cobalt blue.  Also, I’m looking into using an Ameythest glaze that will compliment the Antique Blue I’ve been using.   Addintionally, I’ve been searching for an exciting turquoise and I hope I found it with Antique Jade. 

 Because it’s been difficult to get my usual clay (delivery trucks aren’t coming as frequently because of gas prices), I’m exploring another clay which fires very dark.  I’m hoping the glazes will pop with the dark clay behind and I may get into doing some wax resisting.  Stay tuned!

So, if you’d like to come support my efforts and passions, check out my show schedule for the upcoming months.  There’s about one a month through December.  I’d be happy to do comission projects.  Just give me a ring or send me an email. 

See you at the fairs!  Enjoy summer.  Namaste

Happy Spring!

Leaves are emerging from their Winter slumber. Daffodils are bursting forth with joyful yellows. Tulips are soon to enfold their sophisticated buds. Fat groundhogs slyly edge around gardens planning their harvest raids. Wongpottery birdfeeders and flowerpots have emerged from the kiln in their hues of green, blue and purple. These are all signs of spring!

The new theme is nature inspired. Birdfeeders, flower pots, tender colors, bursting sunflowers, leaf stamped motifs. In the next load I’m psyched to make another water fountain, more flower pots, dinner sets and whatever else becomes. Stay tuned. Enjoy the warmer weather and your time outside!

I’m also announcing the start of private lessons.

$25 per hour includes clay, tools, glaze and firings. Sign your kid up for a 6 week session for the summer.

I was stoked with the results of the firing.  The sunflower pots came out beautifully.  I’ve sold most and will sell the rest on Etsy.com once I have that started, sometime in late January. 

My sweetie has been busy building a work bench for me so I can get organized in the basement.  I’ve been motivated by upcoming classes with my first adult student. 

The next project is creating teapots and mortar and pestals for Greenwood Herbals in Limerick, Maine.  Debbie Mercier, an herbalist, has invited me to consign these items in her shop.  I’m really looking forward to the challenge.  Her shop is really cute.  She sells wonderful mixtures of medicinal and flavorful teas along with herbal creams, tinctures, soaps and other goodies.  Check out her website at greenwoodherbals.com to see what her business offers!

One Fifty Ate now has the second display of pots for sale wich includes two teapots, various mugs and a pie/quiche dish.  The first display sold out in one week!  Thanks to the purchaser for supporting my efforts! 

I’m currently ramping up for the Annual Portland Pottery Holiday Sale. I’ve been in the basement the last couple of days mud slinging up a storm. My arm muscles ache, but I have some fun pieces to show for my efforts. My sunflower bowls and coasters did so well that I’ve expanded the line to include some large serving bowls. I’m excited to post them once glaze fired.

I’m also working on a table top fountain prototype. I’d like to have it ready for sale for the next summer season.

Check out my new works in progress

Display at Boney Eagle Sale

More Displayed at Show
Lovely Bowl and Vases Display

Galleries of Shannon’s work have been posted.  There are some bugs to workout, but feel free to take a look.  If you are having trouble viewing them, please visit Shannon’s Flickr Account.  Thank you.