Nothing Profound

...But this mug is hilarious.
Made by Propaganda.

Fingerbowls

Well, I didn't even make that pun up myself. So enjoy these fingerprint bowls by Judith Seng.

Via AT

Dressing of Dinner

Another re-purposing of old dinnerware.
By Li Xiaofeng, click the image for some more great work.
via: Designers Block UK

Great Idea

I'm not sure who makes this but is featured at the Good Hotel in San Francisco. The original post says that these sinks are common in Japan. I can see why, it is a really simple idea to use the water to fill the tank to clean your hands. What a great way to conserve water. So smart.

Link via: Apartment Therapy

New Template

Well I hope I don't have to make a habit of this. I guess there were some problems with the hosting of my previous template. So I hope this one sticks around for a while.
Sorry for the lack of posts. Lots of content coming soon, but I have been swamped by the beginning of the semester.

Obamaware Revisited

In honor of this historic day I want to revisit some of my favorite pots that came around during the Fall. Ayumi Horie put together this fundraiser by getting some of our best potters to make pots for now President Obama. It was a stellar collection that raised $10,843.54 to put our man in office. I say with no hyperbole that it was the ceramicists that put Obama in office.
Gobama!

Obamaware

The pots above are made by
Janice Jakielski
Andy Brayman
Ayumi Horie
Steve Colby

More Aysha Peltz

Aysha was kind enough to send me a few more images of her newer work. So I just had to post them. It is just amazing stuff, and I can't believe how much more smooth the work appears. I think that softness is a concept that is often overlooked in pottery. I know that it is antithetical to the nature of ceramics, but in the basic tactile nature of ceramics, how can we forget softness? It is the my most favored touch sensation. To this day I still touch objects to my upper lip to tell how soft they are, just like when I was young. Soft is omnipresent while working with clay, yet virtually excluded in pots. Well, I guess that is why we have Aysha.

Check HerOut at ayshapeltz.com and townhillpottery.com

Fired News-Color Me Mine Paints A Rosy Picture During Recession

I know that talking about business is verboten in ceramics circles. And that Paint-Your-Own Pottery is a common whipping boy, for ceramic snobs. Good thing this is my blog and I can tell all of the Holier-Then-Thou Cerami-snobs (registered trademark) to get over yourselves. Business is important, and the fact that most people in ceramics don't want to talk about it is a huge problem. We need to understand our business better. We need to capitalize on our creativity and ability to generate a ceramics based economy.
The fact that Color Me Mine is doing robust business in theses troubled times (DRINK!) is an important factor to consider when examining the non-ceramics world's view of our little enclave. We need to embrace everone who has the smallest inkiling in ceramics. The kid who goes to a P-Y-O today, is tommorow's great ceramics collector.

Color Me Mine, the world’s largest paint-it-yourself ceramics franchise, announced today that average same store sales for studios open over one year showed continued growth for the past 12-month period. Michael Mooslin, Color Me Mine’s president, attributes the stable revenues during the current recession to three factors, all of which are related to the troubled economy.

“It appears that as people travel less, they are looking for affordable family entertainment close to home,” Mooslin said. “Additionally, families on a budget are increasingly opting for personalized, do-it-yourself gifts which have a higher value perception than the actual cost. Furthermore, while entertainment businesses historically do well during a recession, Color Me Mine also fills the greater need for family enrichment time during periods of higher stress.”

Due to current difficulty in obtaining financing, Color Me Mine will be offering interest-free loans for a significant portion of the initial investment. Combined with typical landlord contributions on new construction, qualified applicants will now be able to open a new Color Me Mine with minimal conventional financing. According to Mooslin, “We are committed to finding innovative solutions, and have also negotiated vendor participation in the internal financing that will be of significant help to new studio owners.”

This represents an opportunity amid dim economic forecasts for people looking to invest in a business, according to Mooslin, particularly for women looking to get back in the workplace, people who are looking for a second source of income or those who want to build their own business in a creative environment.

“During such volatile times, my wife and I are glad our investment is in our business rather than in real estate or the stock market, having seen our 2008 sales jump 29 percent over 2007," said Arthur Murphy, Color Me Mine franchise owner in Costa Mesa, Calif., who says his business is weathering the recession well. "It's hard work, but we are doing what we love and we have the freedom to determine our hours. We are learning how important our studio is to the community right now, as our customers are looking for more meaningful and creative activities.”

“We are gratified that our studios are resisting the downward recessionary pressures affecting so many retailers,” Mooslin said. “Franchise inquiries are coming from those wishing to exit what is seen as a less stable corporate world, opting instead for a stimulating and rewarding business where they offer a meaningful contribution to their community. Comparatively low entry costs of less than $150,000, and some of the best rental rates we have seen in years on great locations, have combined to paint an interesting opportunity indeed.”

Shilpa Patel-Paul, who recently sold a studio in Fairfax, Va. and opened a new studio in Carmel, Ind. in January, believes that Color Me Mine’s ability to attract so many in the community – moms, dads, children, grandparents and young couples – enables the studios to weather difficult economic times. Her sales in the Fairfax studio saw a double digit increase from 2007 to 2008.

“Once people try it, they love it,” Patel-Paul said. “Spending time together talking, laughing, and creating meaningful memories is so important today. Color Me Mine provides a relaxed atmosphere where the time-honored practice of painting ceramics has been made fresh, fun, hip and appealing to this generation.”

Color Me Mine is the largest worldwide chain of paint-it-yourself ceramics studios, having initiated the concept in 1992. Color Me Mine has 140 studios open or under development worldwide in 25 states and 10 countries.

Via: Here

Yes I know this is a press release and not a real news story. I beleive in the information none the less.

Salt n' Peppa

Icosahedron Shaped Salt and Pepper Shakers. Great for Ceramics wonks or D 'n' d players

via: Supermarket

Animalia

Kitty and Bird Dog 2 but Mary Engel

via: Peek

Frivolity

Hello all.
Well I have been extremly busy and this week is not going to be great for posts. As it is the last week before classes resume, so there is a lot to get done. But there will be some frivolity anyway.

via: Eden and Eden

Aysha Peltz

In my on going series of favorite pots I am really excited to post Aysha Peltz. I wish I had better words to talk about Aysha's pots. There are so elegant and luscious that I am often left speechless when trying to talk about them. Which many of you know if hard for me. But some pots must go without words.
Aysha Peltz.

Delft Ware Computers

To partner with the Porcelain Mice featured previously. Here is a hand painted Delftware computer case. unlike the mice this one is made of ceramic. They also have other colors and finishes for thier various ceramic cases
via: Plush Department

Ein-Stein

Ok, I don't really love this beer stein, but I had to post this just for the pun.
via: Nerd Approved

The only Bush legacy we can be proud of.

I am a pretty political guy. But I am in no way a Republican or a Democrat I think both parties stink. That said, I do think that Mr. Obama is the Cat's Pajamas and that Mr. Bush can suck a big fat Donkey's d... Well anyway. If you have ever visited the White House, part of the tour is the china room. In which they display examples of every Presidents China pattern, It should be every ceramists favorite part of the tour. I know a lot of potters look down on Fine China. But this stuff is amazing. Beautifully designed and executed. It was made by Lenox China, one of the best out there.

Put a lid on it.

I wish I spoke French... Well not really. I took Spanish in High School and I will never forget my Father telling me how pointless that was (HA!). None-the-less, if I spoke French I could tell you more about these mug lids made out of cookies. What I am sure of is their warm, deliciousness. But alas I cannot.
Via http://florence-doleac.creationflux.com/

Update: A Translation from Anna- made in 2004 at Bon Marche, the cookies are hazelnut with a sugar cube on top. While serving as lids to keep the coffee warm, they are also made to be eaten by dipping into the cup:)

Tiki Party

Here in Alfred we are stuck in the dead of winter so I though a little Tiki action would warm us up. I think that I really need some of these, because Miss Rose and I decided for the first time to stock a bar (Ah, Alfred). So we have been playing mix masters at our social events this winter. The Mai Tai's were a big hit and I think these would be perfect for for some South Pacific fun.
They are from Frank's Tiki Room in Las Vegas.

Scandal at the 2012 Olympics...involving Ceramics!

Shock and Horror, dear readers.
Apparently there is anger floating around the interwebs about the London 2012 Olympics. Rumor has it that the 2012 committee had possibly awarded contracts for commemorative plates and other ceramics goods associated with the 2012 Olympic games to a Chinese company. This is scandalous considering the dire state of British ceramics. Noting particularly that the venerated Waterford-Wedgewood company recently collapsed.
The 2012 committee recently posted a rebuttal stating that this rumor was not true.

Bulb vases

My friend Jenny used to make object out of used light bulbs like this.

via Craftershock

Room Temperature Firing

Even though I work as a Glaze and Clay designer, I am a huge fan of room temperature firings. I tell my students, do what it takes to get it done. If the finish you want is paint, and the work is not functional, then use paint. I love these toilet decals, finally a way to adorn our after-dinnerware.

Metrics

I am not normally a fan of the web comic XKCD, but I had to post this. My friend Anna who is not a ceramist but who is Russian sent me this. Ceramists are one of the few groups in America to use the metric system (along with drug dealers, hmmmm). There is one area where ceramists still use English and that is in our firings. Please people, use metric. Cone 10=1305 (or 1300, to be brief) Cone 6= 1243 (1250) and Cone 04= 1077 (1075).

BTW, This is a blog for adults

Ok, Well...
Those that know me know that I have no filter and no decorum. In that spirit, neither shall this blog.
There have been Pyrex sex toys for some time now. These are the first I have seen made of porcelain. My favorite feature is taking advantage of the hollow spaces made by slipcasting, so that you can fill the space with hot or cold water to change the temperature of the implement. Talk about functional.

Too bad I found this after the holiday party season

I am a stickler for function. It seems that a lot of ceramics that people declare to be functional are far from it. So I am always on the look out for work that is excessively functional and I think these are a perfect blend of form and function.

via Nerd Approved

The Evolution of Oppenheim

Diem Chau makes these Hairy Dishes

via Designers Block UK

And Now For Something Completly Different...

As many of you know that my day job is in Ceramics Tech. Part of this is teaching Glaze Calc here in Alfred to the Art Students. As the new year dawns, I will begin teaching another batch of eager students. I love my students as their thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. What does drive me crazy is that I have to spend a good part of my teaching time clearing their minds of the crap that it has been filled with. I'm looking at you Graduate Students, as all of our undergrads are Alfred trained and are brimming with only the finest information.
Why does the ceramics world have a war on science? For some reason, ceramicists have a habit of believing everything that is told to them when it comes to the technical side of ceramics. And virtually everything that is taught to them is wrong. It is one of the biggest burdens that I have is to struggle against bad information.
I think ceramicists can do better. As a whole we have an amazing population. Think about the fact that almost everyone in the ceramics field has at least a Undergraduate degree and very likely an advanced degree. There are not that many pursuits out there that are so well educated. Yet we rely on bad information, when it comes to how our glazes work, or what is going on in our kilns. The information is out there. But you have to think critically.
So this will be my sounding board. I promise not to rant too much, but I do promise to provide great information.

Of Pottery Bondage

The "Slave Betty" Tea pot by the redstr/collevtive

Porcelainious Jewlery

Fun jewelry made of cut porcelain teacups, by Lindsay Pemberton.
Takes me back to my days when I used to sell jewelry.

Porcelain Grindstone

Welcome to 2009.
I've been away, even though I didn't really go anywhere. Miss Rose and I visited her family for the Holiday, which was lovely. After which we spent the entire Holiday sick. I have to say that it was fun to spend a vacation doing nothing, as we are constantly aware that we come back from all of our vacations more tired then before we left.
I have collected lots of great ceramics that I will trickle out, as I really need to do some work.
But for the moment It is cold in my office and there is no one else here. So a few treats.

P.S. What do people think of the new layout?