September already

I had the Clothesline Festival last weekend, that concluded the busy summer show season. This was the hardest summer ever.  I had two shows cancelled or suspended due to the wind storm.  At the Clothesline Festival, the organizer announced that the 60 mph winds are approaching in 20 minutes, and advise to close up the tent and look for the shelter.  I have never moved that quickly to pack loosely everything in the containers, and closed up the tent.  I did in 15 minutes.  The winds came, fortunately we missed the center of the the storm. The wind got 30-40 mph and flipped up a couple tents. My twenty some years old tents withstood the wind, but the sidewall flaps too much against the shelves.  I was not comfortable at all during the storm.  This may be an indication for a new canopy.

This was the hottest summer, especially in June and July.  I am not sure where I made the schedule mistake, but I was always behind the schedule this summer, that lead to the glaze firing in last minutes.  My studio has the bisque and glaze kiln in the same room,and I can't fire the same time due to the heat.  I really need a new space soon....

Lots of things to think about...

Thank you very much for all customers come to see me.

End of summer

I was at Rochester Public Market for the Artist Row today, and this was my last outdoor show this summer. Public market is located down the street from my studio and a good place to hand out fliers for the upcoming open studio. There were lots of bees and zombies in the crowd. Nice sunny crisp fall day.

I am getting ready for the first Friday in October and November and the open house in December.  Back to the studio time. I talked my clay supplier about the sagger clay and found one premixed for refractory use.  I am getting it next month.

Here is a teapot 25.

[caption id="attachment_1776" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 25"][/caption]

 

Elmwood Art Festival

We had very good weekend at the Elmwood Avenue Festival in Buffalo, NY.  Good crowds, and weather.  I got nervous when a festival staff informed us on Saturday of possible gust of 40MPH due to the Hurricane Irene on Sunday, but we got very lucky.  We were at just out side edge of the Hurricane, and got occational gusts, but not as strong as 30MPH.  I was planning to take pictures of the setting up, here is the tearing down instead. It took us a little over a hour .  Next-up, the Clothesline art festival in Rochester, NY two blocks from my studio.

I added a new page for the one of kind teapots I have been making this year. I need to see pictures at once, and will figure out a better format for these pictures in coming days. Lots of them found good home.

Syracuse Art Festival

We are in sort of drought this summer. It poured on Friday for 3-4 hours at the first day of the Syracuse Art Festival.  Rest of weekend was sunny and hot.  I sold more on the rainy Friday than sunny Sunday, that how these festivals go. You never know what happens.  It was very good weekend, with nice music.  One piece going to Kolkata, India, and another going to Vienna, Austria.  Great knowing my pottery is spreading the globe.



Park Avenue Summer Fest this weekend.

Corn Hill Art Festival this weekend

Corn Hill Art Festival is this weekend. I will be my usual spot, at the corn hill place, and usual 90F heat.  I fired the kiln on 4th of July., and restocked small items.  People are interested in below $30 items this year.



I had the periodontitis, and gum surgery in March and two weeks ago. I was warned by the dentist two years ago, but ignored it.  After lossing two teeth with infection, I decided to treat it.  The surgery takes about two hours, and I can't chew that side for three weekks. Now, rice sticks to every teeth as my dentist said the rice is the perfect size to fit between the teeth. It is annoying, but better than losing more tooth, I guess.

With my surprise, I sold more than half of small teapots.  I made some during the firing.

[caption id="attachment_1573" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Teapot 12"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1574" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Teapot 13"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Teapot 14"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1576" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Teapot 15"][/caption]

Down time

The first year show last weekend was, well bust.  It was shame that there are so many quality arts and crafts, but hardly no customers.  We have some kinds of shows and festivals every weekend in Rochester, and it is very hard to draw people without good plan and advertisements. Unfortunately, not like the field of the dream, If you build it, he will come.

I heard about the wind storms knocked down a half of booth during the Three River Art festival.  I feel lucky not apply this year, and so bad for ones affected.  There was another storm in Ohio knocked out the booths.  I should be prepared this year as more extreme weather condition seems to continue this year.

I had the second gum surgery yesterday, and will stay away from potting next couple days.  I really need to restock small items, though...

Great weekend

The Allentown Art Festival was great as usual.  It was cooler side, and almost rain free weekend. We had a huge crowd on Sunday, and sales were better on Saturday. I used the cable tie to secure the canopy this time.  It worked.



Next up, the Help the Shriners Help Kids” art and craft show. This is the first year show in Webster, NY. Would be very interesting.  There were many talks about the Square credit card processing using the smart phone at the 100 American Craftsmen last weekend.  My daughter is back home, and activated her phone.  I will try the Square at this show.

Here is the teapot 16. I can't find unfired photo :( Just before sold.

[caption id="attachment_1566" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 16 fired"][/caption]

Van is loaded

Allentown Art Festival in Buffalo, NY tomorrow.  This is how my van looks when loaded.  I need to bring lots of stuffs to the festival. It is like moving an entire retail store, and I will leave 5:30 am, drive for a hour and half and arrive there by 7am, and set up in 3 three hours.  It includes a canopy, display shelves, back drops, a chair, shopping bags and wrapping papers, and lots of potteries, and list goes on. Hope see you there!

First show of 2011

I was  the 100 American Craftsmen this weekend. It was very well organized show as always.  More and more shows are concern about the raising money to fund their our cause rather than the show itself. This show threats us very well, and works together with us to improve over the years. In fact, there is Sunday morning meeting with the stuffs and us over the breakfast.



I was looking at the left side of the booth using the pedestals, which weighs tons.  I think I can replace with table with some raisers. This is something to think about it.  Ikea shelves I bought on the right will not work on the uneven ground.

Next up, Allentown Art Festival on June 11 and 12.  I will glaze tomorrow and fire on Tuesday to restock small pieces.

shelves 1

I have been working on new shelves for the show next year.  The current shelves are more than 15 years old, and can't find the same ones anymore. Last couple years, it starts to show sign of wear and tear, and are getting dirty.  It is very sturdy and light, that I really liked them. It does not look as good as other people's display.

It worked.  I have been thinking to replace it for couple years, but could not come up with good design.  I want it to set up easily, sturdy, light weight and compact to transport. I tried to come up with something in the spring, and run out of time before the show season begins.  So I decided to work on now.  This is a prototype. It is light, sort of sturdy.  I need to figure out how to attach the back wall while stable against the wind.  I realized the size frame is too thick to stuck up in the van.  I am not sure the color of the shelve against the pottery is right one.  I might paint it to white, or stain it to white.  I do not know.

Abu Dhabi

I came home after glazing on Monday, ate dinner and checked the weather. Weather forecast has changed, and forecasting gusting 25 to 35mph next couple days. I went back the studio and fired the kiln overnight. I was breezy, but cooler night. The studio never got above 87F, which was not bad at all. I think I am ready for the Clothesline Festival this weekend.



On Sunday, our daughter left for NYU Abu Dhabi, as a part of the inaugural class.  It have been quite interesting and challenging year since her scoliosis surgery in August of 2009. I have not imagined she is ready to go abroad to study, last year today. It was kind of struggle for the first 2-3 months after the surgery, and she was regretting it. It took her 4 months to face what she can and can’t, or challenge new things. After the 4 months check-up, and her doctor’s ok for skiing and horse back riding, has changed her attitude a bit, and her flexibility and activities started to gain back. I would be kidding if I say she regained her flexibility to pre-surgery level. It has limitations. She can’t crouch while sitting. Her plane to Abu Dhabi is 11 hours from Chicago. Imagine sitting straight on the chair that long. But she can sleep at night without placing a book on one side to level her in the bed now. It was quite surprise NYU Abu Dhabi name first surface in out of blue in March. Remember all the campus trips we did, which did not include NYU. These trips give her idea that it is all right to be far from home. She wanted to this new challenge, and she deserves this wonderful opportunities.  We wanted her to be independent mind.  We got one,  I think.  Now we have empty nest.

Elmwood Avenue Festival of Art

We had great weather, crowd and sales this weekend at the Elmwood Avenue Festival of Art.  This show is definitely growing, and going the right direction.

I had nightmare-ish start on Saturday though.  I was setting up the canopy at 7 in the morning, and realized I forgot to bring one pole.  This is the second time in last twenty years.  Last time was at the local show, and I was able to go home to pick up.  This show is in Buffalo, 70 miles away from home.  I had two choices, no canopy and ask my wife to bring it by the end of the show or make one.  I thought I can use a 2"x1" wood" from one of the wall piece if I could shorten it.   Mark (Lukacs Pottery Studio) had a saw! Then I had, of course, DUCT tape.  I taped up the wood to the joints, and was able to set up the canopy, with my surprize.  What can you do without the Duct tape!  My wife and daughter wound up bringing the pole, but decided to leave it overnight.  It was perfect weather on both day, sunny and no wind to speak of.  If either it was rainy or windy, I had no idea what I did instead.  Next time, I count the number of poles when loading the van!



Next up, the Clothesline Festival, my last summer festival except one addition of the Artist Row at the public market.  I am out of lots of items now, and am afraid I can't restock everything as my daughter leaving to the collage next Sunday.

Ratcheting tie-down

Great crowd at the Park Avenue Arts Festival.



I bought the ratcheting tie-down for my weight for the canopy. You can see the orange tie in the picture above. The weight is now actually hanging from the canopy, giving the canopy more stable against the wind. At the Syracuse show, one strong wind moved up the canopy for a foot. I was using the bungees.

Two canopies across from my booth flipped over by the wind at the Syracuse show. This  was group effort to reset the canopies.



Back to the studio. I have three weeks until next show. Time for restocking. I made slab pieces. I have the Bailey DRD/II slab roller, more than ten years.

Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival

My pottery made a cover of the weekend section featuring Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival of The Post-Standard in Syracuse, NY.



We had very nice weather for three over the weekend.  There were many people and had lots of great potteries.

This weekend is Park Avenue Festival.  I am glazing tomorrow and firing on Wednesday.

Good weekend

One of neat thing about the Allentown Art Festival is a lodging. The Holiday-inn is in front of my booth. It is neat to see the booth at night from the room. I guess someone broke-in to my booth overnight, and took a large vase. Maybe around the time I took this picture. Kinds of ironic. I have been doing this show and had never had problem before. Then, one of customer told me the vase was shuttered three blocks away. What is the point.... I don't understand.

I have applied the award competition for a decade, and finally got one. It is very nice to be recognized.

Washed out

Well, the weather dictated the Three Rivers Arts Festival last weekend. I should note to myself, "no outdoor show in the first week of June", as the weather is not stable.. I have not seen such a strong rain. My bowl at outside the booth collected close to 1” in 30 minutes. The entire booth became a part of the stream, and kids were only ones having fun! I had five years plan for this festival, to establish the repeat customer base, and this was the fifth year. Last year, I felt some build-up and had high expectation. Due to the rain, the five years plan did not meet my goal.  This festival is physically demanding in terms of set-up / tear-down and long hours; driving and festival hours. Live music was very loud this year I hardly hear customer talks, very bad for business.

Thank you very much for those who came.

Good note, I enjoyed the Pirates ball game after the show with awesome fireworks.

Next up, Allentown Art Festival this weekend.

Getting ready for the shows

I can't believe the festival season starts in three weeks.  Now, I need mail my show  schedule to customers, now snail and e-mails, clean the shelves, and sand and price the pottery before packing into the container.  I have been using the plastic shelves for decades, and want to replace to something... I need something light weight, compact, easy to assemble and steady against the wind. Oh, and  some wall space to hang pieces.  I am thinking to use the IKEA shelves with some backing for a while.  I will get some at Pittsburgh after the Three River festival, and make something out later.

kiln is loaded.

Getting ready for the open house

I have been glazing last couple days and am firing tomorrow. I mailed  postcards to Rochester area customers and was working on the map of the hungerford building for the building wide open house.  The kiln is loaded with slightly new setting, moving the target brick 1/2" toward burner, and I will ease the reduction at the end of firing.  I hope to have another firing after this load before the open house.

Studio Open House and Sale

December 4th (5PM to 9 PM) & 5th (10AM to 5PM)

In conjunction with “A-MAZE-ING Hungerford”
- Art at the edge Building-wide open studio over 25 Hungerford Urban Artisans

Come to the door 2.  There will be the elevator operator helping you to my floor, and other artisans floors.

1115 East Main Street Suite 422, Rochester, NY 14607

I will put a map at next post.

Clothesline Festival

Third overnight firing in this summer. I hope this is it for the overnighte for a while.



I unloaded the kiln today, and will set up the booth at the clothesline festival tomorrow night.  I have been exhibiting at the  clothesline festival almost twenty years.

Pressure cooker

The sign of the fall.



I have eaten the Korean short lib soup at the Secret Garden last couple years while in Syrucuse, NY during the syracuse art festival.  I have not seen this this dish in Rochester.  Once a while I got craving for it, and tried the other day with the normal pot. I simmered for two hours, but the meat was very tough.  Kinda impulse, I got this pressure cooker.



It took twenty minutes to cook the short ribs, the meat was very tender. Soup was very simple, nappa cabbage, soup stock, soy sauce, chill and red pepper paste.  Since then, I made the custard, chile, pasta sauce.  It cuts the cooking time to at least in third. I should have gotten it much earlier.

Glazed today, and firing on Wednesday. Clothesline festival this weekend.  This is my last show for the summer.