Celebrating art on pottery

 I said in 2022: "I am the proud owner of two pieces of Charlie Tefft pottery."  (His home page is ctpottery.com)

I  found this neat video of him describing his process, Here.

Charlie Teft made this mug and I bought it at a pottery show in Marshall NC. I then kept a eye out when he'd be included in shows. He lives in Summerfield NC. Unfortunately an accident in my kitchen demolished this mug.

I did purchase another of his mugs, the crow to remember a good friend of many years who loved all things corvid! 

Wanting to have another cat mug, I was happy to find this one.

Not a great photo, but my last purchase was the otter, on left here in a years-gone-past-springtime photo!

Many more blog posts of ceramics by others are on my "art blog" Alchemy of Clay.

Today's quote:

Rebecca Solnit, “Hope is an embrace of the unknown and the unknowable, an alternative to [polarized certainties. . . .Hope] is the belief that what we do matters even though how and when it may matter, who and what it may impact, are not things we can know beforehand.”

From being a potter to supporting the art

 Well, I already know how to make lots of things...whether I ever did or not. 

I had twelve good years after I retired. I never made myself into a great potter. I was more into exploring different shapes and glaze combinations. And once I found a few styles I liked, I did do more of them. 

When I haven't been making pots in my life, say as long as I can remember as an adult, I've purchased pottery from others...the ones going to shows to sell their wares mainly. But sometimes I've visited their studios or shops. So a local show was held last weekend, which of course had been closed during the pandemic. 

And after oohing and aaahing over a lot of beautiful things, I ordered one from Charlie Tefft, and bought one in person. An otter mug this time. I had an older mug (made in 2018) by Charlie, and it's pretty much the same shape.

New otter on the left, old crow on the right!

The tails wrap around the sides...

These are definitely right handed mugs...because that's where the animals greet me!

2018 at top, and 2022 at bottom. Not much difference.

I won't even discuss the price difference...but it's doubled!

However I wanted a cat mug, because the first mug I'd bought from Charlie even before the crow, had been a cute little black cat sitting looking at me, but it had broken by accident.

So Charlie just sent me a photo of this, and will ship it to me!

I love it! Now I have to decide whether to use these for coffee, or treasure them on a shelf where I can see them! As my friend Helen says, I can use them and feel really special. Maybe!

Morning mugs that say hello

I am the proud owner of two pieces of Charlie Tefft pottery.  (His home page is ctpottery.com)

I just found this neat video of him describing his process, Here.

So here are my two mugs...it's taken a few years to get the second one, which I purchased at The Potters of Madison County show just this month.

It's nice the Charlie still does the same ash glaze, and his little painted animals are still lovely...this is my first from about 3 years ago, used many many times.

This new one is a bit more tapered, in honor of my dear friend who recently died, Rosemary, who loved crows. We would be drinking our first cups of coffee while emailing for the last 17 years, almost every day.  That her time zone was 3 hours later than mine for the last 5 years, didn't seem to matter.

And in honor of showing them to you, I fixed some espresso and made an Americano for my waking cuppa this morning.  Hadn't had that little old machine out since I moved here 2-1/2 years ago. 

Marshall NC Pottery Show

The Potters of Madison County - Marshall NC was a one day show in an old high school which is on an island in the French Broad River.  The school is now used for art studios, and some friends and I had to go see the annual pottery show.  Just walking into the big room (an old gym or cafeteria perhaps) is a fun scene.  I held my camera over my head and started clicking to get the feel of the excitement and the scope of a smallish room full of pottery.

Friends Marsha and Bob Cozart (on left) were in this photo, but I didn't see them for a few minutes...when our paths crossed.

The busy-ness of potters as well as customers was cheerful.

Charlie Tefft had been at Hickory NC just last weekend, (See my post HERE) and still had some pieces on display.  The round form being held by the man in green on the right was about to be purchased.  I didn't get a chance to talk to Charlie this time. (His web address is: Charlie Tefft Pottery)

I'll share just a couple more potter's booths, because I don't want to weigh you down with too much eye candy!

Steven Cheek beautifully carved with celadon glaze!

Steven Cheek does some carving of skulls as well as pretty leaves!

Steven Cheeks' contact is Steven Cheek.

Part of the amazement with Kate Johnston's work is how it's very big, and she's very small.

But her work with carved stoneware is gorgeous, no matter her size!

Here's a great link to show you her large pot and carving process in a short video.

And to cap it off, I give you one shot of nature.  After all, it's the inspiration for many potters.

Where the French Broad looks pretty broad...April 2, 2016 between Marshall and Asheville, NC

Catawba Pottery Show (Chapter 4)

There are only a few more booths of pottery which I took photos of.

Maggie Black, Boone, NC

Maggie Black, Boone, NC

Some nicely done trees on slab built vases.

Kathy Whitley Pottery, Pink Hill, NC

 I loved Kathy Whitley's cats on mugs!

Kathy Whitley Pottery, Pink Hill, NC

Kathy Whitley Pottery, Pink Hill, NC

 And there's even a lamp with cats carved on it!

Cynthia Link Studio, Gafney, SC (Sorry about the blurred cat vases!)

Cynthia Link Studio, Gafney, SC

 Though the potter seemed ready to go to lunch, we did enjoy seeing her cat vases and sgraffito work.

Charlie Teff, Summerfield, NC

Charlie Teff, Summerfield, NC

I actually own one of Charlie's cat mugs...and use it frequently!  He uses ash glaze to get the beautiful finish, sprayed on his work.

Flame Pottery, Boone, NC

This is all of the Catawba Pottery Show photos.  I hope you've enjoyed them and are glad you didn't have to work the crowds to see these beautiful works.  I've got another pottery show coming up to share with you soon!