Pottery Galore!

 

I spent almost all of April and May in my pottery studio working on pieces for various friends and events.  So I thought I would give you a quick rundown of them.  I won't say too much, because really, it's more fun to look at the pics than read a lot of stuff.

 

I did a few paintings during that time, but we'll look at those later.

 

 

 

This giant 18" toucan bowl was a special order from an old friend as a wedding present for his son.

 

 

This load of pottery was for my featured artist event May 2 at

 SoDu Gallery,

1102 b Duval Street,

Key West

  The photo of the work was so colorful I used it for a new post card and invitation to the show.

 

 

 In side SoDu Gallery

 

Inside SoDu Gallery

 

Inside SoDu Gallery

 

 



I am happy to say that lots of new pottery pieces have gone to

 Wet Paint Gallery,

 430 Duval Street KW

 In addition to my pieces Jennifer Badry, gallery owner, and her lovely staff have filled the gallery with lots of local and tropical art.

 

 

 

  And last for my things to show you today is a bowl I am sending as a thank you gift to a friend in Philadelphia.  This friend is hosting an entire Memorial Weekend event for a gaggle of old friends.  All we have to do is show up.  So I am off to Philly to see the old Gang.  I lived for a short time in Philly as a child.  My brother was born there and we used to take class school trips to the various historical locations, so I have lots of fond memories.  Can't wait to see it again and all my chums.

 

bowl detail

 

 side of bowl

 

Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and remember our Vets.

 

  I return to Key West next week and then I am back to painting, this time with a horde of children.  I'll be busy teaching art to young artists all of June and July.

A couple of other fun things are in the works, but we'll talk about those as they happen.

bye for now,
Maggie

 

 

 

Bummer!

See that dark round speck on the side wall of my kiln? Well something got on the element and burnt through it during my last firing. So the kiln didn't get hot enough at the top and now I have to get a new element and repair the kiln. It's always something.

But here are a few things that came out of the last firing. Some plaques for Margaritaville, and odds and ends for the gallery.

Some experimental sushi type dishes, faces and pineapples.

Some special order flip flops that had to match the fabric swatches. They have holes in them because they are going to be attached to a curtain valance. The drapery lady said she would sent me a photo after she got them installed.

And some mugs for the gallery and some mugs for Margaritaville. I am going to North Carolina to celebrate my Dad's birthday and when I come back I will have to get that kiln fixed because I have orders to do.

A look at what is in the gallery

Just a quick peek at some of my pieces in 7 Artists Key West.

Recent firing.

Last Friday's firing had the recently discussed chip and dip pieces, some fish spoon rests for Margaritaville Key West's web site, some coasters and a special order plaque.

A customer came to me about a month ago with a special request. She wanted the above saying on a plaque that could be outside in the weather and she wanted it a certain size. Other than that I could do what I wanted. I came up with this little scene to go with her text. I hope she likes it. It leaves via UPS tomorrow for her house in Tallahassee.

Three chip and dips, one very tropical and two not so much.

Of the three chip and dip pieces I made recently I decided to do only one with a tropical theme and two that are packed with bright colors but no specific motifs. I do love the tropical flora and fauna but I can understand that not everyone does. So for those people, there are two color-packed contemporary style chip and dips.


Tropical chip and dip $124.00

Comtemporary chip and dips $94.00

In 7 Artists Key West gallery now.

604 Duval Street

Top shelf

These four pieces were on the top shelf of the last firing. They are two colanders and two batter bowls. The two pottery colanders I have in my kitchen always seem to be in use. I don't bake that often, but when I do I love! the batter bowl. The spout makes getting the batter into the pan much neater.

Batter bowls and colanders, $58.00 each

Small nosh sets finished

The "nosh" sets are finished and on the shelves in the gallery. They are really cute.

Small sets $37.00

The Usual Suspects

After two vacations this summer my inventory in the gallery is depleted, so I have been working on "the usual suspects" to go into the gallery asap. Here are some entertainment sets and spoon rests just out of the bisque fire.

Glazing in progress: Messy.

The lead free glaze I use goes on opaque and fires clear. I dip and pour the glaze to get an even coat.

Here they are out of the glaze fire, nice and shiny. Now into the gallery they go.

maggieruley.com
7 Artists Key West

Sunflowers and dragonflies

I make a lot of these two piece entertainment sets. The most popular of the motifs I use on these sets is the pineapple, but I am always experimenting with new ones. These sunflowers have the same bright colors as the pineapples, so maybe some customers will find them appealing. They went into the gallery this week.

Dragonfly and Sunflower set $74.00

Dragonflies and roses

I am leaving for vacation on Tuesday. I am headed to North Carolina to see my parents and then to Hilton Head Island to see my son and his wife and my new grand baby, Jacob. I am very excited. So the above photos are of the last load out of the kiln before I go. They are going into the gallery tomorrow. They are a swarm of dragonflies to celebrate the summer. I will try to do some posting while I am gone.

Today is my friend David Scott Meier's birthday. He is such a nice man HE brought ME roses on HIS birthday. He says that the little yellow one is going to smell wonderful. Thank you David for the roses. David is a wonderful friend, and he is an amazing artist. His mixed media work is truly artistic and his design sense is impeccable. Please take a minute to check out his blog.

The Flip Flop Lady

Several years ago I had a very nice business making hand made ceramic flip flops. I had a lovely rep and she got me into galleries and gift shops all along the south east coast. Whenever I had to call my customers I would always say, "This is Maggie, the flip flop lady". That business went down the tubes when someone sent my flip flops to China and mass produced them. The worst thing was they asked another artist to do the designs for them. Oh well, I decided it wasn't worth the money or effort to fight it, and shortly thereafter, the flip flop craze was dying out. But I still make flip flops and sell them in the gallery. They make really cute wall sculpture. I make a ladies size and a child's size in lots of different patterns.

I have recently added two new designs. The dragonflies and the cottages. I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day, I did.

Ladies flip flops $48.00 a pair

Child's flip flops $38.00 a pair

Welcome

Pineapples have long been the symbol of "Welcome" so I like to use them in the serving pieces I create. I very often do a pineapple - papaya combo. And I love using the saturated reds against the orange and greens. I think when you are having a party your serving pieces should be as festive as possible.

Rectangular tray $58 sold
lg bowl $135. sold

New Star Pattern

This week's glaze fire included some dip sets in a new star pattern. It is a sad but true fact that not everyone wants palm trees and tropical fruit on their serving pieces. In realization of that fact I am always searching for alternatives that don't include ducks and cows. I do a pattern called leaf and berry and now I am adding stars. But I had to include old standards in the firing, pineapples and papayas and coconuts with fronds.

These pieces are now in 7 Artists Key West, 604 Duval Street, Key West