Strictly Functional Pottery National

I am so happy and excited to have this piece accepted into the Strictly Functional Pottery National (SFPN). This is the 32nd year of this wonderful show juried by David MacDonald. Although this show is local -at the Lancaster Museum of Art it is a national show attracting ceramic artists from all over the country and for the last couple of years, beyond. I am so honored to get in!

Because this show takes place near me I have had the opportunity to help with various aspects over the years, from unpacking and packing up the pots to helping with editing the catalog and in the past sitting the show and even dusting. Being involved, for me, has been a wonderful way to get to know the work a little better. I am grateful for this opportunity provided by Jean Lehman who directed the show for 17 years, and to the present co directors Kevin Lehman and Amy Burk.

I can’t wait to see all the work in person! I hope you can make it too. The opening night is September 27 from 5-8 PM and the show is up until November 9. The website for the SFPN is www.strictlyfunctionalpottery.net

Enjoying pots from our May wood-fire

It’s June! I’ve had some time with my pots from our special May wood-firing and my neighbor, who grows his flowers from seed, has a spectacular garden blooming. I pass by his garden on my morning walk and, while I’m trying to be patient while my dog eats grass, I imagine how the flowers will look in my new pots fresh from the kiln.

This is our third year firing the soda chamber of the wood kiln together and it was a wonderful firing. We are excited to share and celebrate our work and our friendship in December at the Lebanon Picture Frame and Fine Art Gallery. Put December 6th on the calendar and join us for opening night!

In addition to looking forward to that show I also have three wood-fired vases (from other firings) in the show Embrace The Vase at the Worchester Center for Crafts juried by Martha Grover which opens June 21 and is up until July 20th. See it online at https://www.thehandcraftedshop.com/

To learn more about wood-firing check out this neat video made by Natural Light Films at the Lancaster Creative Factory.

( https://vimeo.com/866851258).

Thank you for looking!

Looking for a hand made gift for someone special?

I am really happy with my newest work that just came out of the wood kiln. Firing with wood often adds a beautiful dimension to the work, telling a story of how the flame and ash move through the kiln and interact with the clay and glazes. I hope you enjoy it too and are able to find that special gift.

Visit www.msepots.com , find Layla, and when you order something get a little something just for you, from me.

If you are interested in learning more about the wood-fire process take a look at this cool video made at the Lancaster Creative Factory (where I fire my work) by Natural Light Films:

https://vimeo.com/866851258

Wood/Soda Fired Cup. Slab built with slip design and hollow extruded foot.

Cups available for sale at Charlie Cummings Gallery through February 2024!

I am excited to have five cups available for sale at Cup:The Intimate Object XIX at Charlie Cummings Gallery. I love being a part of this show. Check out my cups below and go to the web site link to see the amazing collection of really creative cups and see which are your favorite (I would love to hear which are your favs!). :

https://charliecummingsgallery.com/cup-the-intimate-object-xix.html

I'm so excited to have my work in two wonderful Galleries this May

The Clay Studio

Me at the opening night reception. Can you find my Box with Carp?

Box with Carp by Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis

Baby Face Cup by Kimberly Canfield

Dream Bike by Zhana Martin

Golden House by Maureen Dondanville

Hands Off Me by Keok Lim

Morning Routine by Ashley Bevington

Esspresso Cup by Joanne Sutkin

By Lisa Naples

Foxy Bud/Herb Vessel w/ Guinea Hen Feather by Marsha Lederman

By Sam Scott

Princple #3 by Sergei Isupov

The show Small Favors at the Philadelphia Clay Studio is up until July 3rd. It is a really interesting show! I was inspired by all the creative work that artists made to fit into a 4”x4” cube. The possibilities are endless aren’t they! See my work and some of my favorites in the slide show and be sure to check out the whole show at:

Click here

These two wood/soda fired pieces will be in the show Fired On juried by Jessica Putnam Phillips at the Saratoga Clay Arts Center. The show opens May 6th (at 5PM with a reception) and is up until June 10.

Ditch lilies in wood/soda fired basket

I have always called the lilies that I brought from my mother’s garden in Vermont just Day lilies. They are the same ones that grow by the side of the road, on the edges of fields on the way into Hershey. They grow in such abundance and have such great color they have the ability to brighten your day when you see them. A neighbor of mine called them ditch lilies and at first I bristled at the name but since then it grew on me and I kind of like it!