One Year Opening Anniversary!

September 18, 2016

OMG... What a year?

At this moment last year, my floors had just been finished six days ago, the guys finished trim work up a day ago, and I had stayed late into the night trying to paint the trim, and was now moving boxes of pottery from home and setting up display tables.

And here we are! So here's what's happening:

Behind Schedule: I *still* have not finished painting the trim(!) This winter do or die. Also this fall we'll be doing some exterior work, including the back doors and front paint, to brighten everything up.

On Schedule:

Shop sales are good, and I'm somehow finding time to stock up on best-sellers (though never enough mugs) as well as feed the creativity with new and cool designs. More to come!
One-night workshops have taken on a rhythm and continue to be a lot of fun. Mug Night has been the most asked-for (can't imagine why ;).
The Arts on Main Art Gallery is up and running and has been a LOT of fun. Guacamole & Sangria seem to have become a staple. We've also added an Open Chamber Rehearsal series and have found an awesome reception to classical music here. How cool is that?

AHEAD of Schedule:

Lessons! You like clay! Because of this full year's continued interest in lessons, we will be expanding (doubling!) the basement studio. More maneuvering room, more windows to the view, a bigger (real) lounge, and... as a little treat for myself, my own workspace.
Attic storage. This part you don't really see, but I very much underestimated the amount of CRAP I need to store, and I now have an awesomely functional and cool place to do it.
Community. Holy moly. Having never been involved in a small town before, this has been very fun to watch happen. I somehow planted myself in the middle of a community, and have become a part of something here. I've enjoyed adding my little uniqueness to the Collective. (We have good things planned for Halloween, we're working on Christmas, and I may have a special little treat for Valentines Day).

Summer in Stafford

August 16, 2016

Seriously. All the "growing" analogies aside (there're more of those than pottery life analogies), I absolutely love seeing things like this happen. Beth makes the medallions in our pottery, her sister hangs them on the Garden Club planters, the Garden Club waters my outdoor planters, and I make guacamole from the jalapeño plant I have hidden in one of them... (and Beth has guacamole at the next event?) Full circle, ain't life grand?

Speaking of growing, because of the success of our teaching studio this first year, this October we will be expanding our basement space. (Yay to our first-year students!) We'll be doubling the size and spreading everything out more, giving ourselves some more breathing/wiggling room. We'll have more storage, a bigger lounge, and bigger work areas. This will let us increase class size. And give us room for a full-sized fridge.

The Mineral Springs of Stafford Springs

July 29, 2016

Our little tiny claim to historical fame (or at least the main one I've heard so far) in Stafford Springs would be our two mineral springs. Once sources of a famous spa destination and a subsequent bottled beverage endeavor, both springs are within eyesight of my back windows.

In the first couple of months of being here, one of my (many, many, many) ideas for the pottery was to somehow incorporate the water from the iron spring into a unique Stafford-Springs-only glaze formula. I found an analysis report of the minerals and knew they would do SOMEthing cool, and I made plans to experiment.

Long story short, now almost exactly a year later, we have an absolutely unique iron oxide stain for our pottery. It's a deep, velvety red-brown that highlights texture like nothing else. You can find the first prototypes in Middle Ground on some coffee cups, and now in the shop on some little plates. (Mugs are coming soon).

Stafford Springs: An Art Town

July 20, 2016

Stafford Springs is an art town. The locals know it, the visitors feel it, and we all celebrate it.

I am enjoying (far more than I ever imagined) exploring the depth and variety of talent that walks these tracks.

Demolition morning! Me, "Do you think we could expose the bricks..?"

One Year!

June 24, 2016

I realized last night that exactly one year ago I bought this building...

Electrician, "You want to get rid of all that lighting??"

Passerby, "You should open that up, like a New York City loft." I had about 18 hours to visualize and decide how to lay that out.

Contractor, "We can cut the loft floor back and open up the back windows..."

Me, "Let's cover basement walls as little as possible."

Me, "Omg... Not now." (Attic renovation starts tomorrow. Not too much for now, just usable/rentable storage space).

Digging for Summer!

May 16, 2016

Oh have I found new toys for you!

A ton of great new (old) wood block stamps at the Brimfield Market! (Give me about a month to clean, repair and seal them). I also scored some new (old) lace there.
I have tested, to awesome success, the mineral deposits from the Stafford Springs iron spring as a ridiculously unique red-orange colorant in textured pottery. That, along with a custom "Coffee & Jerwich" (as we're calling it) stamp design, made for some sweet, sweet coffee mug prototypes.
The back wall garden is primed for this summer's Arts on Main events, when home-made guacamole & dips will accompany our All Street Sangria Contest...

April, Art & Updates

March 18, 2016

Please join us Friday April 8th for Stafford Springs Arts on Main!

I will be hosting the Blackledge Flute Trio for our first Open Chamber Rehearsal
I am also (finally!) launching our Community Tile Project where you get to come in and paint a tile for the studio
And if all goes as planned, I should have a small, interesting art collection hung on our fabulous gallery brick wall

Then join us for our Third Friday Clay Night workshop. I'll announce the project at the beginning of the month: If there's something specific you want to do, please let me know!

Time to Eat the Decorations

February 15, 2016

As I ran out of an October Ellington Farmers Market on my way from my market booth to the shop, I grabbed a pumpkin off of Joe the farmer's truck before he took off. Halloween was coming and in the middle of all the renovation chaos, I needed some decorations. This gigantic beast pumpkin would count as both "Fall" and "Halloween."

Fall came and went, and as I put some lights and twigs from the yard around the shop for Christmas, the monster pumpkin still looked good (that is, not rotten), and I sure as hell didn't have time to cook it. Even carrying it seemed daunting, so it got some lights instead. Festive, but weird. Exhaustion is the mother of invention?

Christmas came and went, New Year's came and went, and Valentine's day was coming. I drew the line at putting pink paper hearts on a giant orange, though still not rotten, pumpkin. Instead I carried it to the car, took it home and cooked it.

It is delicious.

That... and I have also emerged enough to find time to make pottery. :)

New Year, New Plans

January 6, 2016

I cannot lie: I've been looking forward to January. I'm told that it's our slow shopping season on Main Street, and I have many many plans on how to use this "slow" time...

For starters, I plan to make pottery. What? That's right. I do more than run around to junk shops and paint crappy old furniture, and I plan to prove it to you. Also, you did an excellent job cleaning me out during the holidays - Yay you! So I need more things for you to buy. It's a pottery shop, after all.

Then, I'm adding a new class to our list of things to do here. I'll be introducing Family Clay to our list of class options, for parents and kids to play with clay together.

After that, I do plan on hanging in my hammock a little more and doing nothing. Nuh-thing.

Community

December 9, 2015

One of my longer-term goals in this project was to help establish a community based around the pottery studio: A place for people to meet, hang out, develop relationships and share ideas centered on a common interest. What I didn't understand at the time was that Stafford Springs already *is* a community. I've mentioned before that it has been a great experience being welcomed into this artistic town. I have help when I need it, support, commiseration, creativity, camaraderie...

Now that the big deadlines have been met, for the most part, and I can get down to some of these other goals, this one is turning out to be a lot of fun. In keeping with the Stafford Springs character, I came up with a really cool community project that I will be announcing shortly, and in the meantime I'm getting some details around it into place.

I always had a plan with the layout of the shop to have some hanging-out community cafe tables, and I'm just now getting to that. So today the tabletops were dropped off, and we put one on a base to take a look... It took literally less than fifteen minutes for the riffraff to find it and use it exactly as it was intended. (See photo above). So cool! They're on my floor right now (the tabletops) waiting for polyurethane.

So my community idea has been fabulously expanded to incorporate what is already here in Stafford Springs. My goal is to be a contributor and facilitator to help nurture this already creative and supportive (and eclectic) community.

More to come!

A gift from Beth: We're pretty sure it came off of the Maple Grove Inn and are hoping to find some old pictures. In the meantime, it's getting cleaned, protected, and hung with honor. — A gift from Beth: We're pretty sure it came off of the Maple Grove Inn and are hoping to find some old pictures. In the meantime, it's getting cleaned, protected, and hung with honor.

Up and Running

November 2, 2015

Monday is supposed to be my day off, and on Sundays I think about sleeping late on Monday mornings, but then I just come in anyway. I tend to knock off a bunch of paperwork in the morning, and by afternoon the latte has kicked in and I'm back to painting things, sanding things, ordering things, and planning things. I realized today that you're due for some updates and pictures.

Our first 8-week class is full and underway. (Next session will start Wednesday January 6th). I've been organizing the basement around you a little, and tomorrow I plan to do the first test-fire in the new kiln room. The studio layout turned out good, and while I still have a lot of smaller things to move in and organize, all of the big equipment is in place. I still need to find your lounge-couch.

The first social workshop, November 20th, is also full. The next one will be January 15th. I'll look into doing these more often once we've run a few.

AND... dear clay gods, I've even started making some pottery! I cannot lie, I really like working on the renovation and restoring & painting, but I like clay too. :)

An Official Thank You!

September 22, 2015

Wow...

My fancy new point of sale system is still in its box, the trim is still only half painted, and my body aches... But the plumber just hooked up the sink, the guys are painting the basement as I type, and I just moved last night's latest Craigslist toy into place: A sweet new pottery wheel for the upstairs workstation. It's all coming together. Or as my friend Paul would say, "All is proceeding as I have foreseen..."

This is in NO small part due to the amazing, unprecedented and overwhelming support I have received throughout this project and especially last week. Our Grand Opening Celebration was FUN!

The list of people who have helped make this happen is long, and I have thanked many, including family, in private, but I'd still like to acknowledge some very awesome people:

Stafford Springs Main Street! The support, encouragement and comraderie I've received during this entire process has been incredible. The members of this special and unique community have welcomed me, supported me, and promoted my endeavor beyond any expectation.

My party food coordinators! Carol and the Joshes (my Farmers Market friends) not only put together that fine party spread, but did it on a budget AND surprised me by making it gluten-free. (I've been snacking on leftover cake ever since).

My secret sangria recipe source! I have been threatened to not reveal this under penalty of death.

My awesome tango DJ, Sally(!) who stepped in last minute in the midst of a very busy schedule and put together a beautiful playlist of just the right mood. Also for Remy and Jackie who arranged and drove around the big speakers and sound system.

For Daniel and Fernando, for arranging and providing the live music! It was perfect. (Did you notice the acoustics in the shop?? Who knew!)

Sarah! for setting up and running the tile painting station. (Some very impressive results, btw. I'm thinking tiles would make a good one-night workshop theme.)

Miss Carol again for running in last minute and finishing the beautiful lace curtains on the side wall.

Miss Tami for thinking of and gifting the guest book that councidentally evokes coffee bean canvas...

For Angelo and everyone who took some really great memory pictures. Nice, nice, nice.

For my amazing construction team for, well, building the space, for putting up with my regular, "Hey look what I picked off the side of the road!" finds, and for working through the last three weekends (no exaggeration) to get it ready in time. Oh and the secret office loft futon! I have no idea how they got it up there. Magic.

For Bernadette for making the most awesome party shirt ever! (and a lampshade). And Wayne for owning a Lego Deathstar.

And for everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to come and celebrate with me! Many of you drove long distances, and I really appreciate it. It was so much fun seeing old friends as well as new. (And I noted that a common somewhat snarky sense of humor made its way through groups who had never met before... Hmm...)

Thank you, thank you, thank you! As I said Friday night, I am... overwhelmed by your friendship and support. :)

My crafty Mom made sure I had some special touches from long-distance

Floor!

September 9, 2015

Holy maple! (Literally)

Three guys, three sanders, two full days

Home Stretch! (An Update on Everything)

September 2, 2015

As we wind down and my to-do list gets LONGER and time gets SHORTER, here's what's happening:

We are ON for the September 18th Grand Opening Celebration. Star it on your calendar.
I am working out a class schedule and registration format for lessons and workshops to start in October.

And then I made the guys run across the train tracks with this monster for the purists among you! (Don't worry, electric wheels are on their way for the less hardcore, including me).

Paint!

August 22, 2015

Recycling Donations Wanted!

August 20, 2015

I'm down to a few last things that I haven't been able to find in the salvage & thrift stores. If you have any of these you'd like to donate, or if you have any leads, please let me know!

Folding Chairs (12)
Large folding work tables (2-4)
Old Tupperware-ish containers (the bigger ones mostly) and pitchers
Old towels, all sizes
Pottery wheels... (5-10) :)

Details, details

August 12, 2015

So the guys are moving along: The insulation is finished and now they're on to the finishing the drywall on the main floor.

While they work, I'm hacking away at my to-do list: Hunting for and picking up the next layer of details. The lighting is all found or ordered. I have a lead on a giant basement equipment sink. I'm picking up an eBay kiln today... And so on. I'm also getting some announcements out, LIKE.... our Grand Opening Party (!)

But here's the "problem" I keep running into... If there were a theme to this entire project, this is what it seems to be. I keep finding and picking up very cool, funky old things that have a lot of character and fit with the evolving style of the shop, which is turning out to be, "Eclectic artsy elegant." But as I pull these old things into the shop and take a better look at them, I notice that underneath the old varnish, rust and dirt, these are really, really beautiful things. (Kind of like the shop itself). So then my original plan of, "I'll throw some paint on it, some home-made tile and use it as a coffee table," becomes, "Oh crap, that thing is gorgeous..." and I'm on Google researching furniture refinisher and tung oil brands. "Slap paint on it," is now a five-day refinishing project, and I STILL don't have a knock around coffee table, or whatever the thing-du-jour is.

So my to-do list gets longer instead of shorter, and at some point I'll have to quit my new junk store habit. I suppose I'll fill the void with, oh I don't know, making pottery??

Update: Found cafe/coffee tables! Thank you, Salvation Army Doner, come and visit your donation in about a month! But like the rest of this post, after I removed the really junky table tops to paint the bases, I had THE most awesome idea how to make new tops... dammit. But at least they'll still be coffee-table-able, and the furniture hunting phase of this project is almost done.

Windows!  (Well, three out of ten, anyway, to start).  Bring in the light! — Windows! (Well, three out of ten, anyway, to start). Bring in the light!

Cleared out most of the backside garbage dump and started to "landscape" the 2.5 foot strip between the bricks and the train... (one echinacea, one fig, and a bug-chewed bench).

And a sink!  Surprising to both me and the UConn surplus sales people, these were a hot commodity.  I stayed out of the verbal fight and ran with my sink. — And a sink! Surprising to both me and the UConn surplus sales people, these were a hot commodity. I stayed out of the verbal fight and ran with my sink.

Ok, polyurethane. Ok, tung oil. Ok, fancy-schmancy tung oil that The Google told me was best for things that will get water splashed. Like a sink base cabinet.

Watching paint dry

August 4, 2015

What I'm really doing is waiting for insulation. I'm getting foam insulation which will take two to three days to spray, so it took a little coordinating between me, the shop next door, and the foam guys. They should be here tomorrow.

In the meantime I'm hunting down the next round of supplies I need. You know, lights, kilns, wheels... The response I'm getting locally for lessons has been huge, so while we were waiting for the insulation, I had the guys move ahead with the basement renovation. The kiln room and closet are framed, and everything is wired. Next week we'll repair the old floor and do a little drywall.

So... I've fired up my old eBay sniper and have started the next round of salvage hunting. I'm trying really hard to avoid buying new equipment, for obvious financial reasons, but I have to tell you that I'm *really* enjoying the challenge of finding what I need used, for both uniqueness and quality. (Check out the French door panel in the upper picture). At some point I'll have to give in and get some new things, but until then the truck, my tape measure, and my Internet auction skills are in action.

Kiln room & under-the-stairs storage closet

On this particular salvage day I knocked down a big chunk of my to-find list:  Three (more) light fixtures, a fridge (be quiet), and a less-beat-up bathroom vanity. — On this particular salvage day I knocked down a big chunk of my to-find list: Three (more) light fixtures, a fridge (be quiet), and a less-beat-up bathroom vanity.

let's get this party started!

July 28, 2015

ESP Pottery Grand Opening Celebration

architectural salvage

July 22, 2015

First off, hats off to Habitat for Humanity ReStores. If you ever need anything that goes in a house and don't mind a little wear, stop in one of these stores (they're everywhere: I had no idea). While you're at it, throw a few things in your car to donate while you're there.

I have been to about six salvage warehouses in the last week. If you see me coming with a tape measure, lock your door because if anything you own fits, I'll unscrew it and throw it in my truck. I still have a few things I'm tracking down.

One of this week's missions was a big sink that will look nice on the main floor of the shop. Both the sink and its most awesome base (below) came from separate Craigslist listings. A little customizing by my contractor and some touchup refinishing by me next week and the sink & base will be perfect. I also hunted down some great display tables for the shop and a very odd surprise for later.

Still to find: Some cheap, great light fixtures, a table/thing for the coffee pot, and two little round cafe tables. And whatever else shows up that begs to be a part of the space. A lot of the time I just walk around these stores with an open mind and let that great thing find me. The challenge is finding both the size AND the style that works. Oh, and the price. It would be quite easy to go buy these things new, but, uh, that's not really an option. It's like great wine: You can get it for a hundred bucks a bottle, but that's not an option. Nor is drinking crummy wine.

It's more work, but I have to admit, I have always thoroughly enjoyed a good bout of dumpster diving. Again, watch out for me and my tape measure this month.