TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! THIS IS THE WEEKEND!!!

The Actual Press

Got back from vacation and I received my copy in the mail...
I know, "big deal", but just wanted to share...
Do you see it?

Catching Up.

Well...
We are back from Whistler... Just adults...
No Kids... CRAZY... No sleep because we took a red eye and
I am in that exhausted buzz place right now waiting to CRASH.
It was a good break from the intensity of Pam leaving us...
Here are some of the snow board photos...
P.S. I am still with my husband of 18 years even though
I ended up having to wiggle down a cliff of sorts at one point!











































Additionally, the 8 Fluid Oz. Cup Show has uploaded all of the images...
My cup has sold but it is nice to see the whole show!

I also had 2 cups accepted into The Coffee, Tea, Or ...? Show
at Terra Incognito Studios in Illinois.
My cup even made the poster:



















Sadly, the correct spelling of my name,however,
did NOT get into the show... But... you can't have EVERYTHING!

I can't wait to get back into my studio but of course...
ther is laundry and errands and did I mention LAUNDRY??

New artist statement and a few new pots

About to launch my new website that I made using Big Black Bag...
You may be able to check it out HERE... temporarily...
That and a show I was entering forced me to focus on a new "Artist Statement".
Here is my latest:

After spending many years of my life as a fashion and textile print designer, creating forms and fabrics for the human figure, I found clay.
I realized there was an entirely different creative and artistic world out there that I never could fully explore in my lifetime.
This was a world that was centered around mud.
My experience with this medium has been, and will always be, a journey.
It is something I have realized after many ups and downs since I first touched clay nine years ago.
I choose to work in a manner that stimulates me creatively.
Investigating and exploring, I may have an initial idea of where a piece is going.
But then I will veer off in a different direction to allow for a possible fresh approach or, unfortunately, a possible failure.
As Beatrice Wood said, "My life is full of mistakes. They're like pebbles that make a good road."
Moving from fashion and textile print design to “mud” was a transition I never could have predicted.
However, there actually is a thread that seems to connect my previous career with my work today.
This connection involves attention to the human form and gesture of line.
My work frequently involves a focus on this as well as the pervasive development of texture.
The human body, nature, and environment absolutely inspire me.
I am not interested in replicating these but, rather, to reinterpret their energy in my work.
My true passion is in the process of creating the work.
The hand-to-clay contact is both meditative and stimulating to my spirit.
I usually throw a form on the potter’s wheel, alter it, then allow for a period of drying.
After the drying, I continue to alter and carve interchangeably until the piece is complete.
The piece is usually bisque-fired in my electric kiln before any glazing or special firing preparations are made.
At this point I move forward with the final firing.
Experimentation remains present in this part of the process as well.
The work continues to change and evolve as I do.
Initially, I was particularly focused on creating functional forms.
Now, I have shifted to emphasizing the vessel as a sculptural vehicle.
I enjoy creating work that relates in a group, or vignette, as well as stands alone.
I envision my work going out into the world and finding its own place for others to enjoy its presence as much as I have enjoyed the process of its creation.

Here are a few more photos:

Some Oldies but Goodies for SALE

BIGSALE10 is the coupon code in my shop until I pull it!
It gives you10% off everything!
Making room for new work!
These are some of the pieces you will find:
IN MY ETSY SHOP!

Kiln bound tomorrow!

IMG00058-20100809-2309.jpg
Originally uploaded by judi tavill

Here's what's happening.
Going in the kiln to dry out and then fire...
Tomorrow...

42's "the new 9"!

Tomorrow's my birthday...8/6/68
double 21.... equals 42...
Not that I pay attention to numbers or anything...
So maybe I should go out and party double the amount I did when I was 21...
It's a thought.
Unlikely though.
My special birthday "gift" is not here yet...may not be here until next week...
BUT it is worth the wait!!!!
If 42's "the new 9", then this gift is perfect...
I am completely "pimping my ride" there will be a basket in the front... and a mirror too ...
OH! and a rack on the back(all the better to take packages to the post office!!!).


































AND along with all of that...
SAFETY FIRST... but...only in this super cool helmet!


















As I enter into this next year of life...I have been trying some different things in the studio...



































So, we shall see what comes of this next year...
The last one was pretty crazy.
Enough said.

OH and I booked ALL of my accommodations to visit Seagrove and Asheboro, NorthCarolina for the
Clay and Blogs opening the weekend of October 1st.
I just decided to go for it... and hopefully pick up some goodies down there...
I have a tendency to sell my work to buy other pottery...
SO... in the spirit of my younger years...
"The future's so bright...I gotta wear shades"....

Summer....

I love THIS happy simple summer-y Etsy Treasury that I am proud to be included in!
(That's my bowl-third one over, first row...)























It reminds me of the "SUMMERWARE" show and sale in Brooklyn
I am participating in on SUNDAY!
This Sunday July 11th!!!!
See my side bar...

It is sooooo hot here in the "Garden State".
I am pretty sure my house is under a brown-out effect as some things seem OK...and others are just "not right".
My kiln had an Error sign at the end of the firing and showed that it made it to 1901degreesF instead of 1948degreesF...so... I ramped it back up again...
Of course it's the first time in FOREVER that I didn't throw a witness cone in...
DUH!!!!!
My clothes dryer isn't heating up and the microwave only produced a luke-warm effect.
It's either that or my 7 year old house is haunted...
I'm hoping for haunted. Way cooler...
Speaking of cooler...The AC isn't very effective either...

ARGHHHHH, Photography.

Submissions for a Bowl Exhibition...





















































Need to order a new background...
I spend too much time photo editing the damned scratches...
PLUS I feel like the color, lighting, grainy thing is kicking my but...
I ALWAYS like the work better in person!
NOW I'm tired and cranky.
Grrrrr and Argh.....

The place settings for the Registry are complete and an "Experience".

Here are the place settings for the bridal registry I was working on!
Whoot!
They only need to have one more setting purchased to complete their 8!


















































































And I donated a 3 hour "Experience" in my studio to The Rumson Education Foundation fundraiser's silent auction back in November and the "winning ladies" came for Part 1 today!
I will fire the pendants, etc that they made and Part 2 will be when they can glaze on Friday!
They had a great time...which was cool.

Not sleeping much.

Working. :)

Wow.

I don't have a ton of time to blog because I have to essentially
"MAKE THE DONUTS"...or CHIP AND DIPS as it were.
On Friday, May 28th, my son Sam's first DOUBLE DIGIT birthday(10) I had a piece(the chip and dip form) featured in ETSY FINDS! .
Well let me tell you...it was a huge JUMP in views and a really decent affect on sales and interest(people sending me convo's on Etsy about buying custom chip and dips!).

So now... I need to get on these special orders, as well as a few other existing orders AND I need to GLAZE the wedding registry place settings and make her side pieces(I have 2 great serving bowls waiting to be bisque fired. I am just a tad nervous about the glaze firing... It just makes me nauseous every time... so many possible issues... I realize I just need to get in there and do my business....but I am also afraid I need to make more glaze and we all know how much I adore that...

And so, I am going to take a positive proactive point of view and just dig in and love all of it. So THERE.

Yesterday...

This was my table yesterday.
The Kitchen Tour Boutique went rather well...
One thing that was a bit of a problem was that the ladies on the tour were not expecting the boutique so many came in without wallets....
I know this was not an excuse because some went back out to their cars to get $$$.
I sold several pottery pieces and more jewelry...
The ladies love the trinkets...ya know???
My love is making the pottery but I have fun with the trinkets so it's all good.
PLUS...I was wearing a cuff bracelet I knitted out of sterling silver wire with fresh water pearls and it was a bit of a hit too... this is a more portable endeavor that I have planned on coming back to anyway...play with wires, beads...see where it goes...
Most importantly I can take it "on the road"...

In the Studio.... Soon to be OUT of the Studio???

So... I have the Rumson Kitchen Tour Boutique that I will be selling my stuff AT on Thursday... This Thursday, May 13th...'You can Buy TICKETS HERE!
The Boutique is at House #3...
It is NOT Springsteen's House...
It's across the street...

So I have pulled together what I am going to pack up...







Lots of Fun Happy SPRING COLORS!















And then we have a few of my deeper tones...





















Some Jewelry like before and some new...
In my home-made glaze colors(the bottom portion)...






















And these are a few new vases I am working on.



They will NOT be at the Boutique.
All that doesn't go will start up loading to My Etsy Shop on Thursday or Friday...

I got a new camera...
Very Excited.
It's a Canon Power Shot G11...
BUT I haven't "learned it" yet...
I will!!!
ALSO... I plan to open another little Etsy Shop...
JTTrinkets : J.T. Trinkets by Judi Tavill:
jewelry(ceramic, etc) little items...
They need their own home...
AND I am happily working a wedding registry with pieces listing on ETSY for a couple tying the knot in AUGUST!
6 three piece place settings are already purchased...
Now I have to list some serving pieces for the lovely couple...
Busy, Busy...
Be careful what you wish for...
That's all I'm sayin'.

New Business Card

Just thought I'd share...

The cups are in their new home!

Here they are...
Go order your coffee at The Copper Canyon!