Whistle Creek: Branded

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Branded

Regular readers will remember me pondering what to do with my Christmas gift from the sign shop.Thanks again to all of you for your input. Well, I'll never get a tattoo but I have been branded. I finally made up my mind and got a banner for the booth, some shirts, assorted hats, and a large rubber stamp.I really don't know if it will make a huge difference in the short run but anything that makes me look more together should increase buyer confidence.

In other matters, Springfair is in two weeks and I have one more load to bisque and glaze so it looks like I'm on track.On a different note, in answer to Patti's comment- No, Patti. I think Crazy as a Loon applies to me singing in public.

3 comments:

Linda StarrApril 18, 2013 at 5:21 AM
Here's to the loon in all of us, sing on, great line up for your brand.
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Michèle HastingsApril 18, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Awesome banner! I have been thinking about a rubber stamp to mark our bags. Yours looks like a good size, how big is it?
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Dennis AllenApril 18, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Michele, 3" stamp.The bottom is "rockered" for easier stamping and it seems to work well. Cost was about $35+ pad. The self inking were over a hundred. I wouldn't go any smaller. The banner is just 5 1/2 ft so I can put it on the tent outside but it is small enough to hang on a table at an indoor show.
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Why Whistle Creek

Whistle Creek is near the area where my ancestors settled in East Tennessee. It is about 6 miles west of I-75 and 8 miles south of Jellico.At various times the land was claimed by England, France, Spain, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky,Tennessee, the Union,the Confederacy, and the Cherokee.My family was there around 1800 and possibly before.My brothers and I still own the top of the mountain and it is still very rough country. I named my studio Whistle Creek in memory of the Allens who scraped their living from the earth and managed to keep it for two hundred years.

Bricks,Bricks, Bricks

I have two loads of kiln brick at home and one more to go. Weather permitting I will get some help from my newly retired brother and haul the rest home next week. I'm still early in the planning stages for the kiln. I haven't decided yet whether to make the firebox perpendicular to the arch a la John Theis managama and groundhog kilns or to place it parallel to the axis of the arch. I do know that with #2 three inch arch brick It will be a 3"6" sprung arch on top of low walls with a sunken firebox. If i can find a saw that will cut 41/2" I can rip some of the arch brick to fill in the ends of the courses and use the arch brick on edge to make 9" thick walls. Any input appreciated.

The Pitcher and the Nun

Yesterday a couple of sweet elderly ladies came into my booth and fell in love with the pitcher from the last woodfiring. (See last Blog entry) They said they wanted to give it as a wedding gift, then they said the fatal words-" Do you take Mastercard? " I replied-" No, but I want this piece to go to a good home and I believe that if I send it home with you, you will send me a check." They agreed and we exchanged info. It turned out they were nuns.Instead of mailing me a check, they brought back a check and some homemade candy a couple of hours later.It was nice to make the sale, but even nicer to send out a little faith in mankind and have a good deed returned.

Ohio Slip

More Spring Fair Prep....

Today was spent loading a bisque kiln with pots I have been throwing the last few weeks.They are made with a really nice red clay that a friend sold me when I couldn't get earthen red at Highwater. I should be able to glaze Monday and fire the whole load again next week. This is the only clay that I fire in the electric kilns but it gives a look that a lot of people like and I can fire economically. This plus pots on hand and pots I have been glazing for the gas kiln should be plenty for spring fair so now I can concentrate on the booth.

Spring Fair

The main project of the week was to try to finish throwing a batch of red clay that I have been working on so I can get the pots fired and glazed for the big Spring Fair sale that the Clay Alliance is holding on May 2. This is the big annual sales event for the club and I am very happly to be included this year but I do feel a little pressure to up my game and have a booth that doesn't look like a yard sale. Once I get the pots fired, I will have to spend some time focusing on display space and building some nice shelving. The sale is 11 to 4 at the corner of Madison and Woodburn ( DeSales Corner) Just take 71 to Edwards rd., Edwards to Madison, Right on Madison and you will be there in a few minutes. You will have a great time and get to meet 40 of the best potters and ceramicists in the region. More info at http://www.clayalliance.org/.

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