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

 

 

 

Delightful new spoon rest designs

 

I have revamped my flip flop spoon rest design.  The strap is less bulky and I have added some fun dragonflies and turtles to my designs.  Below are the ones that are in my studio now.  They are $27 each and shipping is $12. 

 

They are available for sale in my Etsy Store  MaggieRuleyStudios

 

 

visit my Etsy store to purchase click here

Recent firings

This is an order of Key West Mugs and coasters that went to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville web store.

 I had a few left over to take into the gallery - 7 Artists Key West

 The fish flops in front (blue) were a special order.

 This tray and bowl are a special order wedding present.  Aren't they a lucky couple.

 New palm bowls.

Platters to match.

Before there is color.

Before there is color the clay is a lovely warm gray. These are some new dip sets with a small plate as part of the set. I think I will call them "nosh sets". They should be fun when they are finished, and a nice alternative to the larger sets.

Last kiln firing of 2010

Here are the last pots of 2010. A big cheerful kiln load of serving pieces and a couple of tiny pairs of flip flops.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

A Stroll through the gallery

I keep forgetting to take pictures of new pieces as they come out of the kiln. So here a some photos of what is in the gallery now. Here is the front of the gallery looking out toward Duval Street.

Some of my small paintings and framed prints, and a few of Egg's paper smashey creatures.

Cute little Christmas ornaments.

Paintings and prints

Entertainment sets.

Looking down from the stairs.

New flamingo sets.

Classic chip and dip.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Here are some lovely platters for your holidays. Thank you all for your support and friendship.

Extra large platters with braided handles

13 x 21 inches

$125.00 each

Some sparkle-y things.

Well, I can say it has been awhile since I have posted to my blog, and it is not because I haven't been working, I have. But most of the work has been the nose to the grindstone kind of thing. The reality is that not every minute in studio is full of wonder. My main focus has been clay these last few weeks and the clay work is very process oriented. Pieces only get finished after all the steps have been completed. It is not for those who constantly require instant gratification.

But things are finally getting finished. These Christmas ornaments came into the gallery today. There are palm trees and flip flops all with added glitter for fun and sparkle. Fantasy Fest (our biggest event of the year here in Key West) is right around the corner and the town will be bursting at the seams with people, so it seemed like a good time to get these done.

I have also been working on painting a bicycle for a fund raiser for The Studios of Key West, a local arts organization. 40 bicycles are being painted by Key West artists and will be auctioned off in February. Between now and Feb. the bikes will be on display around town and ridden in a couple of parades. My bike is going to be on display in The Restaurant Store. I'm trying to have my bike finished by Oct. 20. It is almost done and I will post some photos.

Also going on the Key West Art Center, a non-profit art center and gallery, of which I am the president this year, is about to start their season. I have been planning the season along with other board members. Our first meeting is this Thursday and I am giving a short workshop on how to write an artist statement, something we encourage all our artists members to have.

I hope you all have been well. It has been a fabulous fall so far here in Key West. We had lots of rain for a while (while all those storms were out there) and everything is green with lots of tropical flowers. I've put in my tomatoes and have lots of blooms and one small tomato starting.

Well, more later.

Pottery ornaments

Palm trees, $14.00

Flip Flops, $24.00

This week's production work.

I am a production potter so a lot of the small items that I make get made in bunches. I have a work area where I can lay out several spoon rests, or Christmas ornaments or small sets and do them all at the same time.

I don't tend to work on multiple original paintings at the same time. I do best when I zero in on one and bulldog it until it is done. Although some paintings need to have a "time out" and sit in the corner until I'm ready to deal with them again. And while they rest, I can work on something else.

A new size platter and experimenting with a positive message

Isn't this the truth!
It will be interesting to see how people respond to these in the gallery.

That is a new size platter in the front, and the lemons are new, I usually add strawberries.

Here they are in the gallery. And thanks everyone for the positive feed back on the beach gals, now I'll have to try a larger one. Everyone have a great day.

Bowls and sets for entertaining.

These little bowls I call "dip bowls" because they are intended to hold a dip or spread and I haven't come up with anything more interesting. I have added a "little thing" to hold the spreader knife. The little thing has no name, but when everyone sees one in the gallery they go ,"Oh look! It has a little thing to hold the knife". This should make it easier for guests to know what to do with the knife and help keep the table cloth clean. I have fluted the edges of the bowls for fun and they come with the knife. They sell for $29.00 each. They make a nice hostess gift.

I also make sets like this one, a platter that comes with a dip bowl. I occasionally make the traditional dip set where the bowl is attached in the center. But I like the idea of separates because you can get more use out of two pieces. This set is $74.00.