Keep the Light On

On today's Memorial Day I'm remembering all those who gave their lives to keep our country free by keeping the light on in my lantern. I got these LED lights to test in my lantern; they'll last twelve hours and they run on a battery. If I had brought lanterns to the strawberry jubilee farmer's market I think I would have sold a ton of them.

I think using the LED light instead of a candle is safer especially at a show. I believe anything unusual like this flickering light will attract the passerby at shows.

Remember when I made these flowers? I discovered a small box of them when I was unpacking my studio boxes. I sold a ton of them at the show. They aren't on magnets or anything, they are just do-dads and they were snatched up. I suppose some of them can be ring dishes or spoon rests, perhaps meditation bowls. I couldn't find my pendants but I think I could have sold lots of those as well.

I priced them inexpensively singly or in sets of two or three. One woman bought three for her daughters, one bought two for her young daughter's dresser. They looked nice interspersed on my shelves and table and caught the attention of folks who otherwise might have passed on by.

While I was at the market Gary went home (it's only a  mile or so away from our home) and got me a small amount of clay. I demonstrated some pinch bowls (on the right) and gave some mini lessons to several children (small bowls and mushroom on the left) stopping in my booth with their parents or grandparents. Several folks have signed up for lessons at my studio.

Here's a photo of my new booth shelves which I now have set up in my studio. Sorry I didn't bring my camera to the show, next time. I sold several of my overlapping or stacked towers and they were well received by those visiting my booth. Folks remarked they really liked my work and found it refreshingly unique.

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My new shelves fold up in the middle and the sides fold in so they lay flat in my car. No shelves to remove separately. Several good things about the Blairsville Farmer's Market location are it's covered so I don't have to set up a tent. I can back my car right up to the spot and those visiting the market walk down a center aisle. There is piped in music and permanent restrooms and lighting.  Art and craft booths are interspersed among those selling produce and other hand made or home grown items. I was between an alpaca yarn vendor and a soap and lotion vendor. Both have been at the market several years in a row and had lots of repeat business.

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My studio is almost totally unpacked so I hope to have a photo or two for you soon. Yesterday Gary and I had a smashing party. Gary said he felt worse about smashing pottery than he thought I did. Several items were broken in moving and others were prototypes with various flaws or cracks. Other prototypes and pottery are now sitting on my new shelves for review or to be organized and repacked for the next show. The kitchen is almost ready for a counter top so stay tuned for a sneak preview soon. Hope you are having a relaxing holiday. Thanks for reading and for all your comments and encouragement.

Wagon Wheel Patio Set and a Lantern

You know how Gary and I both love turquoise. The other day we went to an antique mall and picked up this unique patio set for our deck. The arms and the table top are shaped like wagon wheels. I'm sure this set was hand crafted by an artistic wood worker, it's very sturdily built. The set was originally painted red and was repainted this turquoise color. Looks like our garden theme will be eclectic.

Would you believe I kept the pieces of this lantern or luminary under plastic for over two weeks and then put them together today? It's true. I laid the pieces on thick plastic and covered them with the same piece of thick plastic wrapped around. They stayed workable all that time. I was sure surprised.

I made the lantern in three pieces, the base, the middle and the top. It's about eight inches tall. It's meant as a table top lantern to be used indoors or out. We've been doing some work outside so I've been thinking of pottery pieces for gardens. I think a lantern would look nice on the table of our new patio set. Perhaps not the lantern I made since it has a more Asian feel to it. I think I should have made the top larger, next time. I'd like to modify the top so that it fits down over the sides to make it more stable. What do you think, any suggestions? I just realized since the lantern is in three pieces I can make another top.

The pagoda lantern above is 18 feet tall and is in the Japanese Gardens in Portland, Oregon. I've been to those gardens, they're well worth visiting if you're in the area. If you're ever stressed out take a trip to a garden and let nature wash over you. It works for me every time. Stay tuned for a home project and a update on plants we've added to our garden. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.