Keywords: handmade ceramic pottery : unique, elegant, modern, contemporary, sculptural, sophisticated studio, ceramics, art, blah blah blah...

So... I re did my listings and I tried to have the words attract people who would be looking for WHAT I MAKE... it does become rather scientific and sterile.... HOWEVER... the internet is definitely a venue for sales... In the mean time...I will approach Galleries/ Brick and Mortar... Just want to make sure they are the best fit...
I have some opportunities and now I have to think about which to pursue...

I can't thank you guys enough for your super feedback.
It gets a little "lonely" in the studio....

MEANWHILE... I am having
an Open Studio Sale Next Wednesday, April 28th at my studio...
ALL DAY: 9am-10pm...
WITH Refreshments...
So you can feel REFRESHED(of course)...
email here if you need directions: jtceramics@aol.com
Mother's Day is coming...
Wedding and Anniversary "Season"...
of course...there is always the WEBSITE to beat the RAGING CROWDS!
and...yeah...I am kidding...
a little...

Finally! Serene.............................Sophisticated......................WHY AM I NOT HAPPY???

So...This is what my Etsy Shop looks like.
Finally enjoying the glazes...
Happy with the forms...
Not a lot of excess CRAP...
And now...
I feel like maybe it bores the bejeezers out of people...
WHY?
It makes me happy...
But it IS rather mellow...
I was sort of shooting for mellow though...
I' feel like I am actually really happy with my work...
And now...
Well..
Lets just say, they aren't KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR for pottery these days...
And frankly,
I can't FOR THE LIFE OF ME
Figure it out!
Comments are appreciated.

Hot Etsy Treasury

OK!!! I just love this ETSY treasury !!!
I was so happy to be included!
My pitcher is happy to be surrounded by great STUFF!
Eleanor Hendriks really rocked it and
she's a rockin' potter too!
A big thank you!

Mugs!

Mugs!
Originally uploaded by judi tavill

Working on the Mug Project... we decided to go with the "handmade appeal" and each one with be different... though very close in size...
Don't you love how it takes so much work to give the feeing of simplicity...

Vacation

IMG00011-20100327-1341
Originally uploaded by judi tavill

I do love these vacations...
I am not complaining...
However...I miss clay...
I will be with my beloved clay shortly...
This is what my view has been...
and the sky, the trees,the mountains, etc...
All of it is very inspiring...
Being in the moment.. only a few interruptions...

I am excited because the coffee mug project that
I will be returning to work on will be about all different mugs...
similar colors and style but each will be unique
in keeping with,the handmade aesthetic.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy your holidays...
I am enjoying mine.

Color Cards for my reference of my Glazes,Combos, etc.

Color Cards for my reference of my Glazes,Combos, etc.
Originally uploaded by judi tavill

Seeing how I can blog from Flickr...

Getting Organized...

Well I'm clearing space inside my head to move forward with my work... I basically have 2 color stories happening and I needed to see them in a clear-ISH format.
I've got my "Pales" and my newer "Jewels". Basically they are a combination of semi-mattes and glossy glazes and I really need to make large amounts of the bulk of them so when I glaze I can just push ahead. I've been making small amounts testing everything for so long, on and off now, that I am dreading actually buckling down to make the large batches.
PLUS... I have a small(?)project as I am going to make 5 dozen coffee cups for a very cool local restaurant... so of course I want to refine the shape and start crunching... and on top of that, we have spring break coming up Friday and I will be away for a week in Colorado with my family(snowboarding...and celebrating Passover...and totally BUMMING as I will be unable to attend the NCECA conference!!!)But, while I am away, it is a perfect time to sketch and organize my ideas and direction going forward... So I organized my color ideas ahead of time:
Pales:




































































































































Jewels:

I'm exposing my DARK SIDE

That's all I'm sayin'...

Glaze Testing = Glorious Fun.

Not.
Try as I may...to love love it...it's tedious...but, the tests are in the kiln...
Except for my little glaze "faux pas" that I accidentally(yes I am a ditz!!!!) mixed in Ball Clay (OM4) instead of the recommended Kaolin...which I had been using EPK for anyway... well..all of the dry ingredients and colorants are mixed for two separate colors but I am thinking I can save them by adding Alumina Hydrate...a Facebook compadre made this suggestion...now i need to figure out how much to add...

These are the last batch "test tiles", etc.

















Here the newly mixed glazes that are being tested in my kiln....

















And here is all of the lonely,naked bisque waiting to be picked up, dressed up and fired!

A Couple of Special Orders and glaze testing...

I will spare you the glaze test photos because...honestly...they won't mean anything to you ...
I am trying to figure out layering of glazes that will add some depth and dimension to the work and it's a bit of a struggle but...I will press on...also...trying to move into to some darker tones without losing the movement/sculptural quality/detail of the piece... For instance... I am afraid glossy black just looks like a big blob of glossy black...working with mattes...and glossies...Colors that blend...not real harsh color changes on the pieces... I tend to feel that subtle color changes are the ways to go with my pieces. I don't want a block of color, big changes...big contrast or you lose a lot of what i feel is the "essence" of my forms... now I'm just rambling...
but here are a couple of the pieces....
(The darker purple was a request...)

OFF TOPIC... AGAIN...

I know this is off topic...
AGAIN.
BUT...
I spent the day making glazes...
AND
I finally got some great photos back from the Bar Mitzvah...
SO...
I thought I would share...
BEFORE...
I deal with more glazes...
TOMORROW.
Here we are all dressed up for the ceremony:
Me and Mike












Me and the Boys.


















And then the evening...

A sample of the floral arrangements...













Here's the four of us...













And a girl deserves a dance if I can get my dad to NJ...


















And I love to swing with my little guy...

















And Jake and The Band Rocked out..
(I would tell you the name of the band but it has changed SEVERAL times...)












And Dad even picked up one of the give-aways to brave the snow storm!!!

happy ♥ day!!!!

I don't have MUCH to say... we have been away snowboarding for a week and had a great time...
Ready to dig back into my clay and make some glazes but I've been up to my ears in laundry.
Still dealing with Dad stuff... just another part of my life now...
Heading down to Baltimore for the day on Wednesday...
Praying there won't be new snow issues.
Loved seeing Apollo Ono ...that speed skating is CRRRRRAZY!
I will eventually get back into posing more pottery/ceramic stuff...
Check out this article about the Harvey Meadows Gallery that I thought was cool!

Have you seen the latest?

Not quite my new direction...but moving the glazes along... here are a few new things in my Etsy Shop !

Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story

I've been invited to participate in a special show with potters from throughout the United States and abroad. Entitled "Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story" .
I can't tell you how excited I will be to show with these people!
Excellent work and super cool on-line comrades!

Here's the info:

Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story
Arts Council of Moore County, Campbell House
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Opening reception: October 1st 2010
6 to 8pm

It will also include an online element as well.
The Online sale will start October 3rd.
That's good news for everyone who may not be able to make it to the on-site opening.
we will eventually be able to post a link.

Big thanks to Meredith Heywood for putting this together!
Check out her blog:
http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/

Here is the incredible line-up of potters who will be showing:
(I think there are 48 of us!)

http://oohmyheck.blogspot.com/
http://anniesingletary.com/
http://claygarden.wordpress.com/
http://averypotteryandtileworks.blogspot.com/
http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/
http://bulldogpottery.blogspot.com/
http://musingaboutmud.blogspot.com/
http://chrislutherblog.blogspot.com/
http://artmakinginthenorth.blogspot.com/
http://danfinneganpottery.blogspot.com/
http://slipware.blogspot.com/
http://garysthirdpotteryblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.hannahmcandrew.blogspot.com/
http://studiotouya.blogspot.com/
http://hatchvillepottery.blogspot.com/
http://jeffmartinceramics.blogspot.com/
http://jennifermeccapottery.blogspot.com/
http://jimgottuso.wordpress.com/
http://colepottery.blogspot.com/
http://joytannerpottery.blogspot.com/
http://juditavill.blogspot.com/
http://mountainhousestudios.blogspot.com/
http://henhousepottery.blogspot.com/
http://potsapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://kittyshepherd.blogspot.com/
http://carpenterpottery.blogspot.com/
http://bluestarrgallery.blogspot.com/
http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/
http://mattgrimmitt.blogspot.com/
http://www.clayandglassblog.com/
http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/
http://michaelklinepottery.blogspot.com/
http://fromthegrounduppots.blogspot.com/
http://www.patriciagriffinstudio.com/
http://paulthepotter.blogspot.com
http://powenliu.blogspot.com/
http://bumcrane.blogspot.com/
http://theponderingpotter.blogspot.com/
http://ronphilbeckpottery.com/
http://www.timayerspottery.com/
http://tgraypots.blogspot.com/
http://tsbroome.blogspot.com/
http://fetishghost.blogspot.com/

I've been "Bowling"!

Just a little CORNY pottery humor....

Slowly but surely...

Still working....
Trying to be "productive"...
while dealing with all of the other things in my life
that continue to pull me in 15 different directions...

I "got my carving on" here:


















Adding a little personal info... my son turned 13 and had his Bar Mitzvah Dec. 19th....in a 1 1/2 feet of snow....
So... I have had my hands full ...
This was on his actual b-day Dec. 20th and Nice try but NO I did not make the cake!
You might be able to see some of our pottery collection in the background...
That's why I sell my work...to buy others!