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New Pot in Use

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You may remember that I won Marcia Tani Paul's giveaway on her Blog not long ago.

One of the prizes was this great bowl made by Marcia.  It's my new favorite pot and has been in use regularly since it arrived.


This is pretty much a weekly meal, teriyaki salmon, short grain brown rice and edamame.


Marcia has sent me a new salmon recipe that I'll be trying soon as well as a recipe for roast duck.  For more great food and pots be sure to visit Marcia's blog and her recipe page.

Box Battered. Pots Survive.

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I got these photos from an Etsy customer in Texas today.  I send this box UPS ground a few days ago with 3 pots inside.



Come on UPS!!!

Okay, so this was one of those cheap, recycled boxes from WallyWorld.  I'm not sure the box is 100% to blame here but I think I'm going to be ordering some better made 12" and 14" boxes in the future.  This could have been a disaster.

Thanks to my super, over the top packing method the pots did survive.

The eFFing Handles

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That title is just to get you here.

I don't understand why anyone would use the efF word in their band name or any other thing really.  I mean it kind of limits where you can put your name, logo, etc.  Like, I wouldn't want to be called Ron F%%*#^ng Philbeck Pottery.  Any how here are two bands I like that have that word in their names:

Star(bleep)er and The *bleeping*Eagles

Just in case you're looking for some new tunes.

Right, on to some pots.  Handles were applied to mugs today:



Other stuff happened too, but no time for that...sorry.


I am off to an opening at Buffalo Creek Gallery in town.  Sarah has work in the jewelry show that is going on this month.  It's been so cool to have her working in her studio over the past few weeks.  Most of you know she is a full time therapist now so time in her studio is very limited.  I miss hearing her hammering and soldering and sawing during the day.  Anyhow this show is just in time for Valentine's Day so if you are in the area stop in at Buffalo Creek Gallery and get your Valentine some unique, local, handmade jewelry!

British Slipware Potters Workshops

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Hi folks. I want to take time to remind you all again that our friends Doug Fitch and Hannah McAndrew are coming to the States in April and will be giving a series of workshops.

The first will be in Cape Cod, Mass and you can get information by contacting Hollis Engley or The Cape Cod Potters.  Those dates are April 8-10

The next workshop will be in Fredericksburg, Va and you can find info on that by contacting Dan Finnegan.   April 15 - 17

The NC workshop will be hosted by me at the Cleveland County Arts Council on April 23rd.  For information and Registration you can click HERE or email me at ronpots2 at yahoo dot com

Jug by Doug Fitch


We hope you'll make it to one of these workshops.  Doug and Hannah both are looking forward to being here and I know they have a lot to share.

Candle Holders by Hannah McAndrew



Readers: Please help pass this info along by sending this post to those who may be interested.  Thanks!!


I Changed My Mind...

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Good grief. Three posts today and it's not even 5pm.  Can you tell I'm home alone??

So catch up if you've not read the last post then come back.

Back are ya?  Good.  So here's where I am now with this shipment of work.  I went back out there thinking I'd take 8 or 9 pieces out but then I didn't really feel like unwrapping it all after I'd done all that plus some of the pieces were wrapped together and that was going to be a pain.  Also I had already filled out my official Inventory sheet from the gallery and I couldn't just go through and strike stuff out and all that mess.  So I am sending it ALL.

There's more to it though.  First off, I got in this gallery last year and it's a really nice one.  They have their act together, pay on time, have all the paperwork, etc.  I'm really honored to be there.  Plus, there is a chance for me to have my work featured there at some point and they have mentioned me doing a workshop.  So that's good stuff !

I really don't want to consign and I've already told a smaller gallery 'no' this year.  But the nicer, established places will show my work and promote me, so I want them to have a nice selection to start off the year.

(I am going to raise my prices just a bit on each pot to help cover this shipping)

Monica asked in the comments of the last post if I'd talk about my packing/ shipping.  So I shot this video.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQvsfrIgcPc

I use both the USPS and UPS for shipping.  For bigger packages, mostly anything over 14", I use UPS, esp. to the west coast b/c it's cheaper.  I did have to file a claim with UPS last year when something got broken.  I got a check in the mail from them a few weeks later.

Right, so really if any of you shipping/packing pros have any feedback/comments please leave them.

I promise that will be all for today.

Shipping and All that Junk

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I hate to bring this topic up again, but it's just where I am today.  I finally made it out to the shop and decided I'd work on packing up pots to ship.  I had 3 Etsy orders which I knocked out pretty quickly.  Then I moved on to wrapping up 20 pots for a gallery.  It's a 50/50 split with the gallery (consignment) and I'm responsible for the shipping cost.  After getting about 3/4 of the way done I realized I wasn't going to get all 20 pots in the size box that I wanted to use.  Which then got me thinking about having all these pots going away from here and how I could put many of them up on the Etsy site.  I'm getting almost full retail by selling on Etsy and the customer is responsible for shipping costs.  Seems like a no brainer doesn't it?

I figured the 20 pieces I was going to send to the gallery would retail for $1040.00.  Of that, if they all sell, I'll get half, $520.  It's gonna cost me about $40 to ship it all, plus I guess I've used about $12-15 packing materials and a couple hours of my time.  It's not looking good is it?  I think I'd down to about $470 now.


I really like this gallery and I want to have some of my very best work in there.  So what I think I'm going to do is split it up and send them 10-12 pieces and put the rest up on Etsy next week.  I'll feel a bit better about that even though the shipping cost is going to be about the same and I've wasted some time by coming in here and writing this post when I could be packing.  I feel good too because my Etsy shop has been doing very well and I want that to continue.

Hopefully over the next few months I can think about all this and come up with some new ideas.  One thought is that I'll send the galleries my more complicated, expensive works.  I want to also really focus on promoting my online store and keeping good work up there.  I've signed up for more shows this year too.  It's going to be fun to see customers again, but I'm not looking forward to packing up the truck and doing all that setup and tear down.


Okay, well guess what? It's time for lunch! So I can procrastinate more before finishing that packing job.

Pots in Use

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My friend Angela sent me these pics of my pots being used in her kitchen.  The butternut squash casserole was baked in one of my salt glazed bakers and then served up on an amber plate.  Thanks Angela! I always like to see my work being put to use.





You can send your Pots in Use photos to me at ronpots2 at yahoo dot com

New Pots Out Tomorrow and...

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Treasures of the Earth at the Cleveland Co. Arts Council opens Thursday!

It's been a super busy week already.  Lots of running around and general madness.  I'm hoping things calm down soon.

The Treasures show is an annual event at the A.C.  The opening reception is Thursday evening beginning at 5:30 pm. It's always a fun event with good food, lots of pots and people.

I've got a few posts in mind for the near future.  One is on the 'virtual customer'. Well the customer is not virtual, that's a real person, it's doing business with people on the web and how different that relationship seems to me as opposed to doing business face to face. More on that soon.

Um, what else? Well I can't remember right now, but it's late and I need sleep.  So check back in tomorrow for some good pics of new pots (some with Amber glaze!)

For now here's a pic from a while back...some of my first slipware bowls.

Fun and Work

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It's been a fun weekend but a busy one too.  Sarah and I are both working towards deadlines with our work.  She has a jewelry show coming up and I have an exhibition/sale this week.

It was 70 degrees here today and sunny!! I decorated pots on the porch all day.  I finally got the bisque loaded around 8pm.

Here are some of the pots from the last glaze firing. (the ones that were in the video) Click for larger, more complete image. (I feel like the color on these is a bit off, but you'll get the idea)

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="ID"]

I'll have more new pots out by Wednesday.

The Treasures of the Earth pottery show and sale opens Thursday at the Cleveland County Arts Council.  I am going to have some really nice pots so if you are in the area please come by, it's a great opening reception with pottery, food and cold beverages!

I'm A Happy Guy

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I won!!  I am the winner of some fine Minnesota pottery as well as Minnesota wild rice and maple syrup!!  Marcia Tani Paul had a giveaway on her blog and my name was drawn as the winner.


I really love Marcia's blog.  Not only does she showcase her wonderful pots but she does so by putting them to use in her home and kitchen  It's great to see a table set with a group of pots, a bowl filled with soup, or a plate filled with pasta.  There is even a recipe page! Marcia also features other potters work from her collection.  It's really a fun and unique blog and I hope you'll add it to your Reader or drop in often.  You can also visit Marcia's website HERE.  I can't wait to get the bowl and goodies.  I'll be sure to post a 'pot in use' photo of it here.

Speaking of Pots in Use, I got this image from my pal Carter Gillies last week.  This is a bowl of mine being put to use in Carter's home.  I'm pretty sure there's an Owl hidden under that nice salad.


Visit Carter's Blog HERE


I unloaded the bisque this morning and I have to say it's really cool when I like the pots this much before they've even been glazed.  I was excited to see some of my new designs on the more labor intensive pots.  I'll post pics after they've come out of the glaze kiln.


On the topic of labor ...the answer to the question in the last post is 1 hour, 10 minutes.


Have a great Tuesday everyone.

Getting the Bisque In

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I finally got enough pots decorated to load a full bisque.  Good grief I feel like it's taken me all week.  I have to say I haven't been putting in full days so I can't complain.  It will be nice to get this load fired, glazed and fired again.  Many of these pots are going to the Lillstreet Gallery in Chicago.

The last pot I worked on today was this 12.5 " shallow dish.  I got the design penciled in yesterday.  I timed how long it took me to do the 'scratching'.  Any guesses??


Time for a bit of Tai Chi practice (I started a 6 week course last week) and then homemade pizza for supper!!

Saturday's work

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This is where I left things for today. Some finished some half finished.  I am having a slow time working in the designs that I want.  It's just a learning curve.  I'm glad I have the pencil to use otherwise I'd seriously be ruining some pots.


Six Seven of the twelve  Year of the Rabbit pots have sold including the two most detailed dishes.  I'm so happy with that!  When I set this project for myself I wasn't sure what the pots would look like.  As I worked on the designs I found some new ideas and I was very excited to see them on the pots.  I am speaking mostly of the more detailed and complex images.  Working on these and seeing them finished pushed me to do more decorating in that way.  So it moved things forward.  Good eh? Yep.

I wonder where this is going, and I'm not trying to judge it or worry about it at all.  I think the past 2 or 3 years have taught me to go with what I enjoy and what I like.  It's been challenging at times to let some of my past ideas about what I should be doing go.  It's very freeing.

Well that's all for now.  Thanks for stopping in.