Rochester, NY (Small Ceramic Works)- Part 2

With all of the wonderful pieces on display...

                                                   ...at the Genesee Center...

                    ...who could blame me for stopping by the gift shop on my way out?

                             This rat mug (by Lynne Hobaica) really spoke to me...

                            ...and after trying to walk away from it several times...

                                          ...I finally succumbed to the temptation!

                                  I also had to purchase this cunning jewelry box...

                                ...with its fanciful snail design and subtle colourway.

                                     There's actually even a functioning jingle bell...

                                               ...baked inside the wonky lid!

                                                  ********************************
                                                             In other news...

                   ...I purchased a rather choleric ceramic head in Oregon recently...

                  ...and a fabulous strong man painting in downtown Philadelphia.

                  My daughters tell me it's 'startin' to look a little weird up in here'!! ;)

Rochester, NY (Small Ceramic Works)- Part 1

I recently viewed a charming exhibit...

...at the Genesee Center...

   ...in Rochester, NY.

                                 
                                                   It was a lovely collection...

                                                 ...of 50 small ceramic works...

                                            ...from artists all around the country.

                                    There were brightly colored functional pieces...

                                                  ...(some with surprising interiors)...

  
                                          ...and a few 'special event' ones, too. :)

                                           There were even a couple of designs...

                                       ...that I thought could be quite interesting...

                                                    ...if translated into felt! ;)

                                        Next time: more works from the exhibit...

                                    ...and a few of my own recent acquisitions...

                                                ...(pottery and otherwise). 

My Midwestern Adventure- Part 1 of ?

Friendly and happy ducks.

                                    Becky, preparing to start a raw fleece project.

                   Apple and raspberry 'Dutch Baby' (puffed oven pancake) for breakfast.

                                                An artist friend's wooded oasis.

                                  

                          How would you like to wake up to this view each morning?

  

                                    The shelter for a pottery kiln and bread oven.

                                        Shards of beautiful, but imperfect pottery...

                                         ...kept for future use in mosaic projects...

                                           ...like this spectacular oven exterior!

                                 

                          I loved the rows of mythical sea creatures, standing guard...

                     ...and was so taken with the work of a particular pair of potters...

                         ...that I managed to acquire a few of their pieces for myself!!

                                                    (Thanks, again, Denise!)

              I recently spent a delightful week in Minnesota with my friend, Becky...

    ...and despite the fact that I somehow only managed to photograph her ducks...

               ...(too busy feeding apples to the sheep to go fetch my camera?)...
                      
                             ...she does, in fact, have quite a large menagerie...

                        ...including sheep, chickens, 'meepherds' (inside joke)...

                             ...and a few domesticated animals, as well.

             During our time together, we felted several raw fleece projects...

                                      ...using wool from her 'babies'...

                ...and enjoyed delicious meals, prepared with uncommon flair.

              We also spent time in the company of artist friends and neighbors, Denise and Paul Morris...
            ...who make functional pottery featuring whimsical and kinetic designs.

                            Next time: we 'take our show on the road'...

                           ...and head west to South Dakota for a Fiber Fair!

     

Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show 2013- Part 2 of 2

Lori Lupe Pelish is an art quilt maker...

...who also creates these marvelously intricate hooked rugs from wool.

 

The artisans at The Natural Woodworking Company...

...use Appalachian hardwoods in their work...

 

...while at Meb's Kitchenware...

...they employ their own, regional, New England hardwoods in crafting their inventive items.

 

Furniture, cabinetry and lighting are the mainstay of Ouldcott's business...



 ...and the exceptional and singular turned wood vessels of Michael Mode...

...were absolutely luminous up close.

 Ann Roantree (shown here with her husband)...

...crafts elegant, architecturally inspired rugs and interior textiles.

With a focus on two complimentary colourways this season...

...Butterfield Pottery had much to admire...

 

...and these translucent Aspen wood lampshades by Peter Bloch...

...provided an ethereal and otherworldly glow.

  

Thanks to all of you who kindly permitted photographs.

It was lovely meeting each and every one of you!