November News - Holiday Open Studio

I am back, trying to catch my breath, after an epic summer. In June my husband - John, dog - Gus and I traveled across country in our little 16' trailer affectionatly named The Tin Can. We lived in Woodstock ,NY til the beginning of Oct and then took 24 days coming back, taking the southern route caravanning with friends. It was a dream adventure and my smile from it hasn't yet faded.

While in Woodstock I worked at a wonderful community pottery -Byrdcliffe. I threw pots all summer - a challenge for this handbuilder. I explored the vagaries of stonewear and cone 10 reduction firing. I learned SO much and loved every minute. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

I can't believe the Holidays are just around the corner. My studio (2236 Summer St, Berkeley) will be open the weekend after Thanksgiving - Saturday, Nov 26 and Sunday, Nov 27 from 11-5. I will also be participating in a very fun makers faire on lower Solano in Albany on Dec 10 sponsored by the wonderful to go food shop -Picnic (shamless plug for my daughter Susannah's business !!!). I do hope you can stop by one of these events and see what I have been up to.

If coming to Berkeley isn't in your plans I will hopefully have my on- line shop filled after Nov 28. I will be sending out more information about all this as the time draws closer.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I am writing from Woodstock, New York where we have taken up summer residence. I was fortunate enough to take a class which gave me unlimited access to the incrediable Byrdcliffe Pottery here. Run by Rich Conte for the past 27 years this funky old barn used to be just that…the house for cows and horses for the Byrdcliffe Utopian Community that was begun in 1908. As I don’t have a studio of my own here I spent many hours in this wonderful funky place and loved every minute. Byrdcliffe is totally about throwing and cone 10 reduction firing…very different than my usual studio practice. I spent my days throwing some very agreeable stonewear clay and trying to figure out how I was going to incorporate “me” into the process. It was a experiment in trust… I am not a “dunk in the bucket” kind of glaze girl but dunk I did and I think I came up with some pieces that reflect both me and Byrdcliffe. A great learning experience for this old dog!

In about a week we start our return trip across the country in our little trailer. I am excited to get back to work in my Berkeley studio. I am full of new ideas!

Giving Thanks

This Wednesday before the strangest Thanksgiving ever, I am giving thanks for so many things. I may not be able to be with much of my family this year but the love is real and there is always zoom. We are all healthy and ready for 2021. Hopefully this next year will bring some sanity to our world because 2020 SUCKED! I hope this finds you all well and preparing for a good Thanksgiving.

I opened my on-line shop on Nov 21 and have been busily shipping and arranging curbside pick ups. I sold out of most cups, almost all bear vases (still one beauty left as I write), many of the candlesticks, my 2020 Sucked Postcards. Thank you all who came and shopped. There are still lots of great pieces available. I will continue to be open until Dec 12 and have put a few new items in the shop today. I hope you visit and find something you love to give or keep.

Holiday News

2020 What a YEAR! IT SUCKS!

I had great hopes to have a beautifully socially distanced OPEN STUDIO this year. I envisioned twinkle lights, my studio with all the doors open, a gorgeous pottery display, me cozy outside in my down jacket and sparkling (masked) conversations with all of you. BUT however good intentioned my plans were,at this point, I am not going to risk being open. With the dire news of the virius surging it just doesn’t seem smart.

SOOO…. New Plan!

I am photographing my new work like a wild woman and setting up my on line shop. I am hoping to get it all organized and ready to OPEN very soon.

Hopefully you will pay it a visit and find something wonderful to give or keep! In it you will find my beautiful Tahoe Tree/ Blue Sky Cups, Bear and Friends pieces , wonderful new candlesticks (including a new pine tree series), my very special annual ornament collection, lots of fun Bear Ware Post Cards, “Greek revival “ wall pockets and many other one-of-a-kind pieces.

Stay tuned! I will post when I am OPEN and thanks in advance for your support.

Josie

Holidays

Oh man this year has sucked! Now the holidays, complete with masks and hand sanitizer, are upon us. This year I will OPEN my on-line shop on Nov 18 and will stock it with great stuff including cups, candlesticks, ornaments and postcards. I’ll be able to ship to you directly until Dec 12. But I will miss your company SO….

I am planning on having my studio opened for 3 Saturdays … Nov 28, Dec 5 and 12 from 12-5pm. If you’ve been to my studio in the past you know it is a small cozy cottage nestled in my backyard. I am going to be outside (hopefully the weather will cooperate!) in the patio across from the door. I will keep the doors open in the studio to keep the air flowing so be sure to dress warm! I’ll be allowing 2 masked people into the studio to shop at a time. If you would like to schedule an appointment, so you don’t have to worry about waiting or sharing the space, I will take a limited amount of appointments from 10 - 12 on the days I am open. You can email me or call (510-517-2444) to schedule.

Thanks so much for your support and interest in my work. I hope to see you and share as much holiday spirit as possible.

May 2020 - News from My Studio

"there is light somewhere. it may not be much light but it beats the darkness." Charles Bukowski

Greetings from my studio.

Last weekend May 2 & 3 marked the first time in 16 years that I haven't been able to invite you to my Spring Sale (that always included lots of great new stuff and fabulous seconds). This year, of course is different ...to say the least. I wanted to take a second to say I miss seeing you, miss
sharing my new work with you, miss having my studio all spiffed up and greeting you in the garden that is bursting with flowers, bees and humming birds.

I have been keeping busy during these Stay In Place days. Along with a lot of bread baking, mask making, closet cleaning, quarantini drinking, InstaCart negotiating, I have been in my studio. My hours making work have been quiet, focused. The pandemic has filtered into my thought process. I have been making candle sticks to help lighten my mood, garden wall pockets to hold the flowers that are bursting forth without regard to what's going on in the world and memorial white flower bound bundles combining slip dipped fabric with paper clay that capture some of what I am feeling - a sense of loss, beauty in solitude, the missing texture of touch.

Thank you so much for your continued interest in my work and for your past support. One of these days,,,this too shall pass....and we can all celebrate together. I can"t wait! to show you, in person, what I have been up to.
Until that time please stay safe

Best,
Josie

Studio Wall with clay and felt pieces, garden wall pockets, paper clay vases, clay fruit

Memorial white flower bound bundle

That Time of Year

It’s hard for me to believe but the Holidays are right around the corner. It seems like Summer just ended but my cold toes can testify that it is time to get out the socks.

I have been busy this Fall making crazy fun stuff for my Holiday Open Studio Sale. You’ll find lots of talking bears - plates, bowls, cups and special edition ornaments. I tried to infuse these pieces with the merriment and joy of the holiday season. In these very stressful times I think we all need a little bit of whimsy, don’t you? Talking Bears are not you thing? I have also a good supply of Birch Tree and Double Pattern pieces (pictured below).

Please come by if you can and see what I’ve been up to.:

Double Pattern Mugs

Birch Bowls

Solo Show @ Roscoe Gallery - Still Life & Shadow

I am so excited to be working on new pieces for my second solo show at Roscoe Gallery in Oakland. I have spent my summer in the mountains handbuilding, stitching, painting, firing and glueing, taking occasional breaks to walk in the gorgeous wildflowers of the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

The work I have created for this show combines my passion for clay and love of textiles. This year I am working on establishing relationships between the two mediums. It’s been a joy and challenge to create this body of work I hope you can join me for the opening of Still-Life & Shadow on October 4, Roscoe Gallery, Oakland, CA

Camouflage -Black & Camouflage - White : clay, felt, textile paint, thread

I'm Teaching a Workshop !

For the NEW YEAR I am stepping out of my comfort zone….I am teaching a workshop at Leslie Ceramics on April 27 . I have led a couple of workshops in the past but have always been a bit shy about teaching but this year I am READY and excited to share the techniques I’ve been developing. Please come join me. We’ll have fun together darting, seaming and cutting patterns. Learn more and sign up HERE.

Holiday Open Studio

My OPEN Studio event starts the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I really can’t believe that the holidays are upon us already. I have been working like a crazy lady getting new work ready including my 2018 ornaments which are kind of crazy this year. In addition to the collection of funny face ornaments, some of which bare vague resemblence to members of my family, I am making something very special out of wool felt and I am keeping these a secret for now….you’ll have to come see them in person (in other words…they are not quite done!!!).

Please join me:

Saturday and Sunday

Nov24,25, Dec 1*,2*,8,9 11-5

2236 Summer St, Berkeley

* Special guest - Whitney Smith - will be joining me these 2 days.

2018 Holiday Ornaments