www.modpotsceramics.com

I've been working to create a real live website for Mod Pots and since it has a blog section I will be updating this blog less and less. Please visit my site to see my new work and catch up on what I've been doing!

Link to Mod Pots website

The Royal Bison Craft and Art Fair

It's almost that time again - the Royal Bison Craft and Art Fair is just over a week away! I've been working on a lot of new designs so come on down to the sale and see what I've been up to!

Link to the Royal Bison website

Royal Bison this weekend!

The Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair is this weekend! It runs Saturday May 5 and Sunday May 6... and as always it will be overflowing with creative energy. Come on down and see what I've been working on! Information about the show and links to all the artists can be found on the Royal Bison website at http://www.royalbison.ca/. I hope to see you there!

Summer Sangria

The days are getting warmer and summer is in the air! It's time to mix up some delicious sangria and spend the afternoon sipping away on a sunny patio. This pitcher and tumbler set - called Groove - is perfect for the occasion. The pitcher is large enough to accommodate a couple of generous servings, and the tumblers have two small dimples for a comfortable hold.

Chicken Roaster

I'm a vegetarian. Yes, it's true. However, my dear husband loves eating meat, and roasted chicken is one of his favourites.

I've seen those little beer can roasters for BBQs, but in this climate, where BBQ cooking is often a very cold option I thought it would be great to make something that could be used in the oven. This roaster works like a beer can roaster in that you fill the central cylinder with beer and position the chicken over it while it cooks, resulting in a moist, flavourful bird. This roaster has the added benefit of giving you the option of using not only beer, but any other kind of beverage or liquid that suits your fancy. In addition, the chicken drippings are captured in the roaster, so once the chicken is cooked you can use the flavourful drippings to make your favourite gravy.

My dear husband, ever so appreciative of my efforts in the kitchen, told me it's one of the best chickens he's ever eaten. Moist and delicious, with lots of highly coveted crispy skin!

www.modpotsceramics.com

That's right - I'm taking wee breaks from the studio and working on a Mod Pots website. It's still in construction but it's coming along. Eventually (assuming I can figure out how to do it) you'll be able to purchase directly from the website.

Check it out: www.modpotsceramics.com

Dinnerware for Culina

Earlier this year I was commissioned by the lovely folks at Culina (my favourite local restaurant) to create some custom dinnerware for them. All 48 bowls are now at their new home, awaiting their chance to be paired with delectable treats from the Culina kitchen. You'll find Culina at 9914-89 avenue, in Edmonton.

Royal Bison spring edition

The fine folks at the Royal Bison have kindly invited me back to participate in the spring edition of their sale - to be held on May 5 and 6. I'm very excited, and a little nervous because there's not much time to prepare!

I've been working on some new stuff... with a bit of a focus on spring and the coming warm summer months. I've got some plant pots in the works, as well as some sangria sets and even some bird feeders! I'll be updating my blog with photos as the pots are completed... so check back often!

Artists in Action!

I've been invited to participate in the new "Artists in Action" event at the Muttart Conservatory on March 18. I'll be in the company of a group of talented artists demonstrating their crafts and talking with visitors. I'm planning to make a few hand-built pieces and I'll have some samples of my work on hand. It should be an exciting day!

For more info click here (you will be directed to the Muttart Conservatory website).

Thank you Royal Bison!!

I had a fabulous weekend at the Royal Bison - thank you to everyone who came out! It was lovely, and flattering and humbling to have people respond positively to my work, and I'm happy to say that the majority of my pots now have new homes!

A big thanks to the organizers of the Royal Bison, Jeanie, Josh and Vicki, for putting on such a great show and for supporting local artists. You guys are tops!

Royal Bison starts tomorrow!

I'll be spending today doing final preparations for the sale tomorrow... scouring the house in search of boxes to pack all those pots! Oh, and I'm super excited to hear that the weather is supposed to be gorgeous... it'll make for a great weekend!

I've been calling these little cups rum cups - because they're the perfect size for a cocktail. They would be great for rum and eggnog... if you want to get into the spirit of things. I also drink wine out of them... and in the summer if you chill them they'll keep your cocktail nice and cool.

Starburst! bowls for the Royal Bison

It's time to get your groove on! I've made Starburst! bowls in three different colour combos for the Royal Bison sale. These bowls are sized to be serving bowls... or, super big cereal bowls for those of you who can't get enough Cheerios in the morning!

Pretty pitchers

A friend gave me my first nice pitcher a few years ago. Before I had one I didn't realize how much I would use it... but it's always there, on the dinner table when we entertain guests... full of ice water, lemonade or even a lovely sangria. With that in mind I have made pretty pitchers. Some are tall and thin and some are short and wide, and they come in three fun colour combinations.

 

Screened mugs – ready for Royal Bison

I have always had a thing for patterns. I have files and files of patterns and I've dedicated entire sketchbooks to them. Once I finally learned how to transfer my patterns on to ceramics my world opened up.

I have created a series of mugs using three different patterns that go together... so you can create a set that's all the same, or you can create a set using more than one pattern. And just to make the possibilities endless, the mugs come in four different colours.

Mod Pots and the Soap Kitchen team up for the Royal Bison!

A few years ago I learned how to make natural soap. I search through my kitchen pantry for ingredients and inspiration and create soap that's almost good enough to eat.

For the Royal Bison I will be selling my "Soap Kitchen" soap. You'll be able to choose one of five flavours: Peppermint Patty, Apple Cinnamon, Milk and Honey, Orange Marmalade or Cranberry Balsam to pair with your choice of three funky soap dishes. I'll wrap them up for you in a take-out box and it'll be the perfect gift for under the Christmas tree!

One week until Royal Bison!

I'll have these available at the sale - they're my "monoprint" series. I did the original drawings earlier this year as part of the Arthouse Co-op sketchbook project and I immediately knew that I wanted to put the drawings on to pots. I've made mugs and vases...

If you want to check out my entire sketchbook project you can see it here:
my sketchbook

Pile of pots

Things are really starting to come together for the Royal Bison sale. I've now finished making all my pots and they're just waiting for their turn in the kiln for their glaze fire. I'm using our basement bar as my space to stack all of the finished pots and the pile keeps growing and growing. I'm so excited to bring them to the sale and find them loving homes!

What happened to October?

 My last post was on October 5, which seems like only yesterday! I've been working feverishly in the studio getting ready for the Royal Bison sale - my basement has become a miniature ceramics factory! I've expanded from my main studio area to also include our laundry/storage room, which I have turned in to my drying and glazing room. There was a point last week when there were so many pots at various points of completion and there was not enough space for them. But things are getting finished and fired and I should have lots and lots for the sale! Yay!

See you at the Royal Bison!

A happy email greeted me when I got home the other day - I found out that I've been selected to exhibit at the Royal Bison Craft and Art Fair in November! Yay!

There's no time to waste... the show is going to be here before I know it. I began production of new pots yesterday and got off to a great start - as long as I can keep up the momentum I should be able to fill my table with a lovely collection.

The show runs on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from noon to 5 pm. It's located just north of the Farmer's Market, across from the Yardbird suite on Gateway Blvd.

For more info and to see all the vendors visit their website: Royal Bison

Slab series... cups

These cups are hand-built using thin slabs of clay. I used underglaze for the colours, then created the texture by cutting and poking into the clay. Since these pieces are hand-built I was able to make them very thin (and lightweight) by allowing the slabs to set up a little before assembling them. They're the perfect cups for a cool drink on a hot summer day.