Four days of demolition

July 12, 2015

I think we hauled out over six flatbed loads of this stuff. I was taking some measurements yesterday afternoon and realized that the walls are at least four inches from where they used to be. The post below shows the first day when we attacked the ceiling, floor and east wall, but over the next few days we moved on...

When I say "we" I mean the demo team. I mostly stared at whatever was newly exposed and tried to process what needed to happen with it next. While I don't need to do all of the things I'm planning this instant, the final design drives all the decisions being made now about what to take out and what to leave. Those decisions included everything from lighting to walls and stairs, and in one case, floors.

One of the more interesting plans involved the attic space. I had no intention of doing anything with this space now - It's not necessary, and more work equals more money, so I was going to make decisions on this over the next couple of years. BUT...

Demolition is one of those things that has a "now or never" component. Removing old plaster, lath and insulation is indescribably filthy and destructive. During most of the process I couldn't be in the building. (The guys wore masks and were in general fearless warriors as boards and chunks of junk flew). When we (they) got to the attic and loft space, it was pretty much a no brainer that the b.s. "homeowner" construction additions up there should come out now.

So I had to decide WHAT that space was going to be. I had a pretty good idea and at one point was standing outside on the sidewalk looking in (away from the dust cloud), and someone else from town stopped to check it out and said, "You should take that wall out and put a railing. Like a NYC loft." I think my exact reply was, "You have to leave now." The wall is out and I picked up a railing detail at the local junk shop during a dust break.

Clearing paneling, lath, plaster, and ANOTHER (older and weirder) dropped ceiling — Clearing paneling, lath, plaster, and ANOTHER (older and weirder) dropped ceiling

We also removed three feet of floor along the back wall windows. And the sink... And the closet/thing. — We also removed three feet of floor along the back wall windows. And the sink... And the closet/thing.

The former DJ booth becoming a loft office

Yet more weird rotting plywood over very restorable flooring.

Floors, walls & ceiling revealed.  And how about that stained glass? — Floors, walls & ceiling revealed. And how about that stained glass?

Strata

July 7, 2015

Today... I think was my most anticipated day of this entire process. The demolition team arrived and started to peel away the layers of weird previous renovations.

I don't know the history of this building yet, but I plan to get to the historical society very soon to find as many of its former uses as they know. I, uh, do know that the black paint there was for this lovely building's two-day stint as a strip club. The former DJ booth upstairs will be my office. Maybe I'll keep a couple of the 8-tracks for fun.

Above the dropped ceiling we found the original bead-board ceiling in very good shape. I'll keep the giant cargo hoist-hook in it for my hanging break chair. The east brick wall is fantastic and just needs to be cleaned. The flooring (maple, we think) is beat up and patched, as anticipated, but I think I'll add some more patches, sand & seal, and call it rustic.

The demo team did all of this in one day. Tomorrow they'll be back to finish revealing the brick wall and finish removing a light-blocking interior wall. And then the new construction starts. Some lumber, some patching, some sanding, some drywall, some paint, and a lot of wiring. For now.

Between the framing display and the wall

Under the carpet, under the tiles, under the plywood

Under the display, under the drywall, under the bead board, under the yellow paint, black paint, pink paint, cream paint, green paint, under the plaster, under the lath — Under the display, under the drywall, under the bead board, under the yellow paint, black paint, pink paint, cream paint, green paint, under the plaster, under the lath

Before...

July 3, 2015

Ready for the demolition guys!

What's above that dropped ceiling? What's under the carpet? What's behind the wallboard? Stay tuned!

Basement!  (I kind of don't want to know what's under that floor) — Basement! (I kind of don't want to know what's under that floor)

moving to main street!

June 26, 2015

ESP Pottery is moving to 58 Main Street, Stafford Springs, Connecticut!

This past week's checklist:
1. Buy a building
2. Make plans

Ok, I've actually been planning and working on this for almost two years, but at last I can announce it!

Renovation begins next week and I will announce an opening date as soon as possible. We'll be in the shop on the left in the picture. Isn't it gorgeous? If you haven't been to Stafford Springs yet, you will love it. It's a classic, charming small New England mill town main street in the heart of a rebirth. (That means the artists are moving in!)

Plans are that you'll be able to watch me work there on the main floor, come in and chat, and browse ALL of my pottery. Downstairs will be a full working studio for students! I'm shooting for a Fall opening for classes and will announce more on that as the work progresses.

I'll be posting a ton of renovation pictures, so come back often. (The inside is... well, it needs a lot of work. You'll see.)

In the meantime, you are welcome to stop by! I'll be there most days hovering while the guys work. If I'm not there, please feel free to bring them coffee! And words of love and encouragement.

I *totally* could have fit that plate before I dropped it on the floor!

Square Plates in a Round Kiln

June 21, 2015

Square plates seemed like such a great idea! And then I remembered that my kiln is round...

I haven't had to re-pack a kiln in a long time. I can judge ten cubic feet pretty well by now. And I have NEVER used all of my kiln shelves in one load. Ever. And then I made a whole lot of square plates. The picture above doesn't look like much, but that took a few hours and two load attempts.

For starters, if the peg and hole toy is in your toddler's toy chest, throw it away or buy your baby a hammer and a sanding block. Don't give that plastic to good-will either: There's no need to inflict non-creative thinking on anyone. While I'm thinking about it, get rid of the coloring books too. Buy a blank book, some sharpies, and a lot of praise any lines, colors and combinations thereof that have never been created before.

Then, never be too proud to dumpster dive. As a local pottery was cleaning out their "unnecessary" equipment, I learned to check the trash regularly. Rusted specialty tools, broken (new-specialty!) tools, and one of the biggest triumphs: Broken kiln shelves! Ooo... As weird as it is, broken kiln shelves are gold in a productive pottery. You can see them in the picture as both shelving AND spacers between the shelves. (What got these plates to fit was saving about a quarter inch each layer by using the shelves as spacers rather than the regular spacers which are made in one-inch increments).

It's not neat, it's not pretty, but the job gets done in a gloriously creative (and economical!) way.

So now why am I firing those broken plate pieces?? YOU tell ME. :)

What a difference 2200 degrees can make!

Because I can.  And snails — Because I can. And snails

Coming soon...

May 1, 2015

A few new designs for this summer. More things to come!

Plates!  Just testing glazes on a few broken ones. All looks good! — Plates! Just testing glazes on a few broken ones. All looks good!

Dragons Burning Villagers.  Because they do — Dragons Burning Villagers. Because they do

sneaking clay into luggage

April 13, 2015

I am incapable of traveling without bringing work with me. I've learned that if I don't, I go crazy. And while I'm not above sticking a big lump of clay into a checked bag (guarantees inspection, btw), the problem is that I blow through it in about two days and then am left again with nothing to do with my hands and brain. This is NO reflection on the place I'm going, the company, the sights, or the shoes: It's just a necessary thing that I feed the creative beast or it gets angry.

So as the thought of dragging bags over cobblestones with a healing back injury looms, I decided to come up with something lighter...

One of the MANY things on my wish-list of projects has been to do hand-painting on clay forms. In this case it needs to be small, so I thought I'd make a batch of little pendants and see what my brain comes up with. I have a few dozen ready to be fired this week and then packed with a small underglaze paint kit. (Think of the little paint kits you had as a kid).

My bag will probably still be inspected, but there will be more room for shoes on the return flight.

I'll post pictures of the work in progress.

10 years

March 18, 2015

I realized this month that exactly ten years ago I was taking my first clay class. Right about now I was two-thirds of the way through Wheel 1 making ugly cat food dishes and had already made the decision to do this as a job.

We wrote a business plan, I harassed the teacher I wanted for private lessons and then spent the next year and a half working an average of ten hours a day to build technique.

It's fitting that today I'm again deep in plans for the next phase of the pottery. And making better cat food dishes.

Spring Will Come

March 1, 2015

While I wait for a warm stretch of weather to finish up this kiln load (I do the dustiest part outside on nice-enough days), I'm making use of the time with some of the smaller things on my to-do list.

(I have now learned that a group of snails is called an "escargatoire." I have made an escargatoire. Also, I've noticed that snail shells spiral clockwise. Is this true everywhere?)

The escargatoire.  (I just like saying that)Also... a challenge for my OCD-est friends:  Find it and it's yours.  ;) — The escargatoire. (I just like saying that)
Also... a challenge for my OCD-est friends: Find it and it's yours. ;)

(Those black things will each have six legs post-firing  ;) — (Those black things will each have six legs post-firing ;)

(I just noticed that this stamp is in the foreground a few entries down, in all of its purple inked glory).

Gathering Forces

February 4, 2015

Plates!

It's hard to get a good picture of these while they're being made. You have to use your imagination for the final result: The swirly patterns will be true black and white (like the portfolio pictures), and the designs in the middle will be fun, bright colors. I'm testing out the usual suspects: Red, chartreuse, salmon, and every turquoise there is. I'm hoping later down the line to be able to custom tailor the colors to whatever you request. (Including, God forbid, yellow.:)

Anything new takes some testing and adjusting, so there's no saying exactly when I'll have a lot of these. But I'm breaking one of my rules of only doing a couple examples of anything new by making far too many for the first test. My rationale is that anything that doesn't work will make *really* good mosaic pieces... (of which I'm always running short).

The trays (below) are done and waiting for firing. I haven't thought about what comes next. I do want to build up a LOT of inventory in the next couple of months, because...

Behind the scenes I'm working on expanding the pottery. A lot. I'm *hoping* for a summer opening for that.

Happy New Year!

January 4, 2015

New year, new pots, more color! (Yes, that one in front did come with coffee and attached to my hand).

It's January! While you test out your new gym membership, I'll be spinning my wheel too... I've finished up last year's pots and have started to think about the next batch. My plan is to add some more kitchen-ish things: What do you think about plates? I have these really cool square ones that I made for myself a few years ago. They're uncomplicated construction so I'd be able to keep the price down, and they'd still be ESP-lovely. White and blue? I've also be poured a mold (I'm waiting for it to dry as I type) and picked up some new lace to make flat trays.

The pie dragons were the unexpected hit of Open Studios.  (Don't forget to send me an action shot!) — The pie dragons were the unexpected hit of Open Studios. (Don't forget to send me an action shot!)

Dragons Burning Villagers were also popular, but I couldn't sell them yet!  (I need to keep some new designs as models for the next throwing cycle, but your interest is well noted. :) — Dragons Burning Villagers were also popular, but I couldn't sell them yet! (I need to keep some new designs as models for the next throwing cycle, but your interest is well noted. :)

Winter is Coming!

October 14, 2014

I have gotten far too good at stacking a kiln! Beneath the shelf shown in the picture, there are three more *packed* shelves: Big curly bowls, many little plates, tons of cups… My inner stubborn child won't let me fire this until the top shelf is full, so I'll spend today and maybe tomorrow throwing some last minute things. (If you're the first to comment below (before Halloween) with something about the size of a mug with no attached parts, I will throw it for you!).

These are new! I've been having a great time trying out my summer stamp acquisition, all newly scrubbed, repaired, tung oiled and cured. You can see some of the purple fabric dye still leaching out after all of that. (It will burn off in the kiln). In the picture, I have some olive oil dishes, tiny ring plates, and some new clay/glass jewelry.

What's next?? Oh my friends… Good things are happening! I'll be making some announcements shortly, and along with those, I have been working with some of the Main Street shop owners in Stafford Springs for some specialty items. In the next few weeks we'll be opening a new general store co-op (CT Farm Table General Store. I can't wait!), and in a couple months I should have some practical ESP items in there for you. We were thinking of starting with some good baking dishes: Deep casserole, quiche… I'll also be working with Sabor 44 for some specialty olive oil dishes.

Winter is coming and it's going to be fabulous!

Request Time!

September 25, 2014

You *don't* want lizards attached to your fine stoneware? Well then! ;) What do you want?

Whenever I'm caught up with inventory and my always-long list, I like to go over things you've been asking about.

This month I am working on handle-less cups, and because you love it, I'm doing them in the marbled clay with shiny colors on the insides. I'll also be working these colors into more of your favorites: Bowls with holes & votives.

After that, you'll be seeing more stamped things. I've *just* finished cleaning, repairing and protecting the giant stash of antique stamps I found earlier this summer. I'll give them a few days to cure and then have at them.

One Small Cup...

August 26, 2014

One small cup for the Potter...

A few tiny charms for fun...

One giant kiln-load for You!

And Pie!

August 13, 2014

Winter is coming!

Momentum

July 1, 2014

Maintaining Rhythm

Whenever I'm asked what part of the clay process I enjoy most, my answer is always whatever I happen to be doing at that moment. It could be throwing, trimming, carving, or loading the kiln. (Ok, it's rarely glazing and NEVer cleaning the kiln shelves). Although there's an economical component to doing the same task for a period of time, the truth is that I find there is a momentum and rhythm that my brain latches on to. Eventually I'll complete a step and have to move on, but once I've started the next thing, it happens all over again.

What does this mean for you? It means I have four *packed* bins of mugs drying for the next firing: Big mugs, little mugs, and some tiny espresso mugs. Mugs with lace, mugs with Indian wood stamps. I'll probably run a fire and glaze on those before I start the next thing.

What's next? I keep getting requests for handle-less mugs. For a potter, this is a dream come true! The only thing holding it up is my brain waffling over the design and size. What I'd *like* to do is make them the same colors as the new marbled vases, with velvety charcoal interiors (similar to the recent pictures). The problem with that is that the extra time associated with that technique will keep the price similar to mugs with handles. I think I'll do a set of those and also think about what would look best on a second set without the marbling. Do you have a favorite mug glaze combination?

I also think I need some pie plates. (Believe it or not, now is the time I start thinking about fall. How awesome would a hot pie in a pottery dish be on a cool day?). I'll have to make some time this week to cast a form. Curly edges, right? No-brainer.

And... we're still working behind the scenes too. Keep the excitement & energy coming.

More Mugs??

June 9, 2014

You've found the new blog. :) Sleek & interactive!

And now… I have a question for you: What… would you like to see listed in the new online store? Besides mugs. I know you want mugs. I'm making more mugs.

Other than mugs, what would you like to have??

Beware Silence!

June 8, 2014

Artists, like the small children we are, are usually up to something when we're silent...

I just finished a new batch of tile mosaic jewelry boxes

Artists, like the small children we are, are usually up to something when we're silent...

I have been very busy behind the scenes working on new clay things and new business developments. I have learned that spring through early summer is the best time to explore new ideas, after I've spent the post-holiday months filling my inventory in preparation for the summer markets.

What's new? Remember that fabulous small collection of black clay things? I'm expanding that. I've hunted down some fantastic Indian wood block stamps and am hand-building a new arsenal of mugs and small bowls. When I've had enough of that (and when my next clay shipment arrives), more of the marbled bowls with bright colors are in order.

On the business side of things, I have been actively working on expanding the pottery. !! The next obvious step for ESP is a brick-and-mortar permanent venue. As that develops, hopefully over the next few months, I will give you more details. For now, send some good "make it so" energy our way!

In the meantime, I can be found at the ever-successful Ellington Farmers Market on Saturday Mornings from 9 to Noon.