Whistle Creek: Counting Down

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Counting Down

I'm counting down the days until next Saturday when I head to Yellow Springs ,Ohio for "ART ON THE LAWN". This has been a very good show for me in the past so my hopes are high.I'm expecting the same corner booth I've had for the last couple of years.I have pretty good exposure and I can drive right up to my spot to load and unload. I also am near a small tree that gives a little shade and a small "side yard" if I want to sit outside my booth. The3 pots are mostly ready, I have some refires I am going to try to get done but they are not critical. Yellow Springs is the most open and liberal town in southwest Ohio and the show reflects this. It is very relaxed. The show is organized by artists for artists and no one jerks your chain just because they can. Performers from town busqe in the aisles. Dare I take a guitar or maybe a harmonica ? Would it help or hurt? Most shows I do would never accept this but this one is very different. Chime in with your opinion.

7 comments:

Tracey BroomeAugust 4, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Well, heck yeah take some instruments! At least if the show is slow(God forbid) you can entertain yourself!
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smartcatAugust 4, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Yeah, take the instruments. You always have the choice of not playing, rather than kicking yourself for leaving them home.
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vraffAugust 4, 2013 at 10:45 AM
What time is the show? Would love to get there but I work until noon and Jen volunteers until about 1:00.
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Dennis AllenAugust 4, 2013 at 11:42 AM
I think we are open 'til 5. Hope to see you. If not, I'll be in Loveland Sept. 8.
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June PerryAugust 4, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Take them. If you don't and it's a quiet show, you'll regret not having them. The universe has a warped sense of humor at times and maybe if you take them, you'll be too busy to use them. Wouldn't that be lovely!
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DeniseAugust 8, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Oh yes take your instruments! When we were doing shows nationally, my husband Paul always took his guitar. Columbus Ohio had a huge jam at the Christmas show. That sounds like a great show! If you happen to meet a guy named Justin Theilet (potter)say hi from his friends in Minnesota!
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Dennis AllenAugust 8, 2013 at 1:19 PM
Denise, small world dept. I have met Justin a few times and last year at this show my booth backed up to his son's (Jason??) jewelry booth. If I see him I'll tell him. He does some stunning work.
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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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