A brief history of Mudbuddies

 I know we started this group/co-op that sold our pottery together at the local Tailgate Market sometime around 2010.

Mudbuddies booth 2010

Cathy and Marsha Mudbuddies Booth 2011

Mudbuddies Oct 2012

Mudbuddies meeting Aug 2012, Cathy Babula, Pat Levi, Elise Reed, Bette Potter Jones, Marsha Cozart, Barb Rogers

Mudbuddies 2013

Bette Potter Jones and Geoff Bird (teacher) doing raku firing at Black Mountain Clay Studio 2011

Bette Potter Jones' pottery at market in 2015 (above) and Cathy Babula with her pottery 2015 (below)

Here is a blog I posted about us in 2016 Market for Mudbuddies.

Bette Potter Jones, Barbara Rogers, Cathy Babula, Marsha Cozart, and Pat Levi at beginning of season 2016

Our booth was close to the entrance at that time, and we enjoyed how our different styles attracted different pottery lovers.

Here's a blog with our different styles of pottery, all on display on three tables. 

At the end of the 2016 season I resigned as a Mudbuddy, due to health concerns.

I often visited the Mudbuddies booth in the following years, here is 2017 on one Saturday morning.

And in 2018.

At some point the makeup of the crew changed again, with Pat Levi resigning and Amelia Packer joining by 2019. Marsha Cozart had moved away probably around 2017.

Mudbuddies 2019

Cathy made bowls for each of the vendors for the Tailgate Market's 25th anniversary in 2019.

Muddbudy Cathy 2021

Mudbuddies 2023, Bette and Amelia

Some of Amelia Packer's pottery 2023 (above and below)

Visitors Marsha (on r) with husband Bob Cozart and Bette Potter Jones met for lunch in 2023

A few years ago I did a series on the Mudbuddies...in about 10 posts. I've just pulled a few for this blog post! And some years seem to have missed my attention. But for 13 years, this is what I have for now. I'll be rejoining the Mudbuddies in a few weeks for season 2024.

More of the Treasures of the Earth show

While some Shelby NC residents will be coming to the opening reception at the Cleveland County Arts Council next Thursday, we dropped our pottery off, set up our displays, and came home last Thurs. during the constant rain storm.

Here are the rest of the displays.

 I enjoyed her figures, with very cute names. But I missed getting the artist's name. oops.

 The hanging bells were also by this same potter.

 Sorry, I missed the artist's name card on this one.

 I had to get a close-up of Lee's mug details!

 Another long display... the lamp and mugs belong with this one.

 Another view of Susan's display, showing her name plaque.

 Cathy (my friend from Black Mountain who goes with me to Shelby's show) changes her set-up several times until she's satisfied.

And she took a picture of her display when it was just right.

A Good Tired Day at the Market!

 Cathy Babula. She made amazing work, and sold over and over during the day! She went home tired and happy.

My table, with a few sales. I'm glad some of my sculptural pieces sold.

Pottery Market in Marion NC

 Cathy Babula's display before the doors opened.

 My display before the doors opened in the gym of McDowell High School

 My ornaments and some vases and teapots...

 The yoga cats were quite popular!

 There at the door is the line starting to wait for the opening, while potters still arrange things, and some of the organizers stand in the middle of the cafeteria just before 10 am.

 So glad to meet a fellow friend from Facebook (and perhaps a blogger as well) Cat Jarosz

This was Michelle Soule's first time at this sale, after I encouraged her to display her Ikebana and angels...which were quite lovely.

 Just as people started to come into the gym, I climbed to the balcony (where one of the entrances for customers was) and took a quick shot of the layout.

 Then things got busy for a couple of hours!

 Cathy would explain to those who were interested how her berry bowls worked with a saucer/lid.

 After a box lunch, I was happy to sit down for a while.

And now it is several days later, and I've recovered (mostly) from the long day.  I even did a bit of book shopping for gifts today.  Now how can I give them if I haven't read them first? (They are used in the first place...which is how I can afford to give them for gifts this year.)

Did I mention I'll be at the Owen Middle School sale (Black Mountain) this Sat, Dec. 9, from 10-4...sharing a booth with Sally Smith this time.  It's my first time at this venue, and I'm excited to be part of it.

Today's Quote:

We remember that nature's power is as close as our breath, and we breathe deeply once again.