My latest kiln contained a series of berry bowls that I made through berry season alongside hikes on trails laden with wild wine berries (in the raspberry family). Walking in the woods in springtime and summer inspires various forms for the potter! The tiny wildflowers which seem to bloom in sequence by color—yellows, whites, purples, etc, sent me to my wheel to throw small vases. Hence, you will find in my online store and elsewhere a collection of berry bowls and bottle vases. Next, I’m thinking about larger bottle vases and serving bowls that have rims that turn inward. I’m imagining a visible surface that invites carving and other decorations. We will see what flows from these fingers next!

This Holiday season, you can combine gift-buying for friends and family with support for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.  From October 15 to November 14, a portion of all sales from our online stores will support BRAFB. If we ship directly to your gift recipients, the enclosed gift card will mention that part of your purchase supports the Food Bank. You can see my latest pots at my online store https://becky-garrity-pottery.square.site or Nan’s at https://nan-rothwell-pottery.square.site

If your Holiday gift plans don’t include buying pottery, please consider making a straight-up donation at https://www.brafb.org/pottery/. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities, providing nutritious food to 118,300 people on average each month. Their distribution network includes more than 200 community partners – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, schools, churches and other non-profit groups. With each dollar they collect, they can feed four people.

We are finally able to be in-person at shows and craft festivals. You can come and actually touch the pottery and feel the relative weight and surface textures. How lovely! It is a relief from studying photos, reading descriptions and measurements online (although that a good alternative!)

I will love to see you if you can make it out to
Claudius Crozet Park in Crozet, Virginia this weekend.

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Come to Stanardsville, Virginia for the 2021 Virginia Clay Festival and see and hold (!) pottery by fabulous Virginia potters. Plan to make time for some wheel throwing and hand building demonstrations which are on both Saturday and Sunday. Since I have been making pots throughout the Pandemic, I have lots of work to show and share. I will be demonstrating “Tackling Teapots” on Saturday at 3pm. See the schedule and other details about the weekend at https://virginiaclayfestival.com. Below are pics of some of the pottery that came out of my July kiln firing.

One good thing about the lockdown is that I have been able to continue making pots. I fired 2 kilns in June which has resulted in lots of new pots for the open market.

There are many surprises in slowing down. Due to the lockdown this spring, I realize how full my days have been with teaching and other obligations and have found satisfaction in stepping back to reflect and devote concentrated energy on solitary tasks in the studio, kitchen and sewing room.

In the studio, I’ve given myself over to making whatever I want, apart from market considerations. I’ve added components: trays for cream and sugar sets; plates to go with berry bowls. I’ve explored vertical carving on vases & lamps; winter tree designs on mugs and vases; branches on platters; and complicated attachments on teapots. Basically, I’ve enjoyed more time in the studio for play and less worry over producing for a market. It has been freeing and has allowed me to consider new directions and to reconsider old habits.

Please join me at Mud Dauber Pottery this weekend, November 9 and 10, from 10am to 5pm. You will see the latest of my current work: more trees, lots of lamps and mugs, in addition to assorted serving bowls, pitchers and vases. For our 25th anniversary, the Studio Tour has 46 artisans showing and selling in 25 studios around and in Charlottesville. All studios will have tasty food to help you along your way. Plan on visiting a few studios or many studios, as you are able. See artisanstudiotour.com for details, maps, directions and beautiful images.

I will be showing my latest work this weekend, Sept 21 and 22 at the William Monroe school campus in Stanardsville, Virginia. Potters will be demonstrating hand building and throwing techniques all weekend. I will be throwing bowls at 3pm Sunday. Come when and if you can. It is lots of fun for all, including the excitement of Raku firing both days and a children’s clay play area.

Come visit me at Crozet. I will have lots of new work showing the results of experimentation and play over the last several months. I have been exploring thick slip application, translucent glazes to best highlight my carving, and some new design motifs.

Please join me at Mud Dauber Pottery for the upcoming 24th Annual Artisans Studio Tour on November 10 and 11. Pottery from my latest kiln firings will be featured. See artisanstudiotour.com for directions and details about ours and other studios! We will be serving cookies and other sustaining foods to keep you strong for your journey.