Some Finished Work

A Garden Walk finished

Leaf Plate finished

17th Annual Boylan Heights ArtWalk

Now that Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show has finished, I’ve been madly glazing for the Boylan Heights ArtWalk. If your living in Raleigh, NC and you haven’t attended this event you’re missing one of the most charming art events Raleigh offers. ArtWalk was created seventeen years ago by Boylan Heights residents Carrie Knowles and Elizabeth Dunbar who have managed to grow the number of artists participating without letting the area that customers walk get so large that you need a car to see it all. Artists are clustered on the porches of historic homes in a two block by two block area making it an easy walk. Always held the first Sunday in December this was one of the first dates my husband took me on while I was still living in Asheville. When I moved to the city it was a goal to have my studio in this wonderful artful neighborhood.

Joining me at Bosetti Art Tile are potters Edge Barnes, potters Mary Paul and John Garland of Freechild Studio, and sculpture Charlie Burkhead.

Here’s a few pieces that are firing now.

Morning Glory Platter

A Garden Walk

Leaf Plates

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Set Up

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild

The artists will start setting up this morning at 6:00 am. It’s a long day that goes till nine. With the Preview Party starting at 4:00 pm and opening to the public at 6:00 pm. Located in the Exhibition Center at the NC State Fair Grounds there be lots going on.

I’ll be setting up the Masterworks booth later today with fiber artis Roxanne Lessa. You can get a sneak peak of Bulldog Pottery’s piece at their blog Around and About with Bulldog Pottery.

The show will be featured on UNC- TV’s North Carolina Weekend on Saturday, November 28th at 10:00 am.

 

The show’s hours are Saturday 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild’s 40 Fine Craft + Design Celebration

Janice Mrkonjic the Executive Director of CDCG and I have been busy plotting and planning Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild’s 40th Birthday. The programs have been printed, chocolates, wine, sparkling cider are stacked high for Friday’s, November 27th, preview party.

The press resleases have gone out and the new TV commercial looks wonderfull. See you there.

A Quote for the Day

 

Framed 12" x 12" Tile, titled "Silence"

 

 

 

 

“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness.”

 

~Mahatma Gandhi

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Craft + Design Show_Thanksgiving Weekend

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Craft + Design Show

If you’re in the North Carolina Triangle area this Thanksgiving Weekend, I hope you’ll join me at the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild’s 40th Fine Craft + Design Show. Over 100 of the area’s finest craftspeople will be displaying their work Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday at the Exhibition Center in the State Fairgrounds. Come see what’s being created around you and take the opportunity to shop local and keep our area financially and beautifully vibraiant.

As president I won’t be showing but will be on hand in the membership or masterworks booth.

Lentil Soup for a Rainy Day

North Carolina is getting lots of rain as a topical storm sits on us for three days. We need the rain, and what great atmosphere to hang around the fireplace and eat soup and crusty bread. Because there’s very little temtation to leave the house Lentil Soup is the perfect choice. Versatile ingredients and down home flavor make it easy to make with what’s in the house. Provided lentils are a regular in you cupboard.

Boil a 12 or 16 oz package of lentils according to the package, about a half hour.

Meanwhile chop any combination of the vegetables below:

Lentil Soup

3 medium carrots or sweet potatoes
2 stalks celery
1/2 bunch of cilantro
6 green onions
8-10 chard leaves or 2 cups chopped spinach
2 medium potatoes
2-3 ripe tomatoes or add a 120z can
1 bell pepper any color
3-4 leeks, white parts only
2 T olive oil
4 cloves minced garlic
2 T cumin seeds
Fresh ground pepper to taste
pinch of cayenne
Stock, vegetable or chicken

 

-Add the potatoes to the lentils and add stock to create the consitancy you desire.
-Saute the rest of the vegetables in the oil and add to the lentils.
-Simmer another 1/2 hour.
-Adjust the seasoning with fresh ground pepper, a good pinch of cayenne, the juice of 1 lemon and maybe some more stock.

If you’re using the cumin seeds toast them in a small skillet, stirring constantly until they release their fragrance. Grind them in a mortar and add them to the soup.

If you don’t have some crusty bread, make some chesse toast. Toast some bread, butter it, and sprinkle parmasean cheese over it. Place on a cookie sheet and broil to brown cheese. Enjoy.

Session l_Day ll

"Oh look! It's level. Must be that instructor." ~Katherine G.

The second day of the plate workshop involved folks finishing up work they made the day before as well as making a few more plates, glazing and decorating them. Some finished early and took off while others got more involved and stayed till the end of the day.

After class on Saturday I headed over to “Ten Thousand Villages” for their 20% bag sale and found these great batik blocks for pressing into the clay.

 

Batik blocks found at Cameron Village's "Ten Thousand Villages"

 

 

 

I’m looking forward to using them to make boarder tiles, that will be less expensive than my hand drawn and glazed tiles. I also found a darling box of three stamps that will be great for detailing tile corners and edges.

As a teacher, I learned which of my demonstrations need more thought and preparation. Next week I plan to introduce color the first day instead of waiting for the second one.

I’ll post  the finished work when it comes out of the kiln later this week.

 

 

Plate Class Session l Pictures

Coil and Slab Construction with abstrace pattern

Coil and Slab Construction, stamped bottom with fluted rim.

 

Coil and Slab Drop Method Construction

We had a great time at class yesterday and I’m looking forward to the color part of the workshop. Each student made three items and a few more will be made today. One made a water dish for her pup. I’ll publish the finished pieces when they’re fired.

I enjoy the silence of the participants working.

Needlepoint Lovers or Lovers of Needlepointers

 

I found and ad for Ehrman Tapestry in a magazine and their patterns of Klimt backgrounds enchanted me enough to go to their website and check it out. They have a delightful selection of forals, fruits, and birds. A large selection is on sale for $78.00 down from $96.00

You can also find designer scarves, kits for boarder patterns, panels, and rugs.