Let's get things straight!!

by Eleanor Hendriks

I was talking a few weeks ago with a potter at his show opening. I complimented him on the great posters and promotional materials that he had. He told me that his wife made them. I said that the selling system seemed to be going smoothly -he said that his wife organized that. I said that I thought that the displays showed off his work really well -he said that his wife made all the display decisions. I told him that I need to get a wife!!

Since I'm not planning to get a wife anytime soon, I thought I'd show you some of the great things that my wonderful husband made for my studio..

First the packing thingie -it's too high to be called a table, but it keeps all my boxes and wrapping papers coralled neatly and instantly accessible. On top I have my trusty scale, tape collection, goodies to add to packages (not telling -the only way to find out what they are is to buy a little sumthin' sumthin' from my Etsy store...) and notecards.
Next, my kiln shelf rack and post organizing system. Keeps all the shelves safe and handy. I even have a pen tied to the table so that I am never without when I want to fill in my kiln log.

A slab roller table -OK, this may be a little overbuilt -but it was still tonnes cheaper than the factory made one that could have come with it.

The wedging table to end all wedging tables -it will never move! In fact, it was so overbuilt that even though we cut off one of the 2x6 boards holding it together at the bottom to get it out of my last studio and into this new one, it still doesn't shake even under the most vigorous wedging action!

Glaze mixing station -the little table at the right is just the right height so that I can weigh things on my triple beam balance and have perfect eye parallax without stooping over. The glaze ingredients go down into a bucket on the lower table with no extra lifting effort. The other low table holds my makeshift washing up station -and its usual collection of dirty dishes. This part of the system could be better -someday!!

High sturdy shelves for storing small boxes of heavy glaze chemicals (and assorted boxes of what can only be called "kaka")

Low sturdy table for glaze buckets at just the right height for dipping pots without stooping and storage for large buckets of glaze ingredients underneath.

All in all -I've got some great custom built ins that make working in the studio more efficient -and more FUN!

Thanks Steve!!!! You're the bestest!

Blogged About!

by Eleanor Hendriks





Right now I have the delicious feeling you get when somebody gives you a compliment...


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Adieu to my Spring Students

by Eleanor Hendriks

Another session of pottery classes at StudioÉlan has come to a close. The students have come to pick up their wares at the closing night 'party'. I always try to arrange the schedule so that everyone can come at once to pick up their finished pieces so that they can see the results of everyone else's efforts. There are lots of ooo's and aaah's, "what glaze did you put on that one?" or "this isn't what I wanted" and the one that makes my ears perk up "Next time I'll have to do..." -then I know for sure people enjoyed the class enough to consider coming back!!

So I'd like to show off just a bit of the work the nine people that came once a week since March have produced...

Some really fabulous boxes! (Somehow I missed getting a picture of Janet's cheerful white and yellow butter dish -it really should be in this great group.)

Three large bowls -at least 14" across -all made from the same mold -but very different in the end...
An assortment of creative challenges undertaken with great results...

And last but not least -a few thumb pots made by my faithful studio sidekick -my 5 year old daughter -an apple bowl just like mommy's and a special cup for her pretend pet....

Thanks to Betty, Sylvia, Gayle, Sandy, Lee Ann, Susanne, Rochelle, Sue and Janet for a great session. I look forward to seeing many of you in the fall -have a lovely summer!

Now I prepare the studio for kid's art classes through the summer -more fun yet to come...

Art Studio Fridays at StudioÉlan

by Eleanor Hendriks

The Big Apple Project

by Eleanor Hendriks

I was the grateful recipient of a large order for my new apple bowls from a long time source of encouragement and support (Hi Mom!) The first apples I made were the result of a lot of experimenting and fiddling. This time I knew what to do and could streamline the process.

First I threw and then handshaped all the basic bowl shapes and let them stiffen overnight...

(Sorry, no picture -not quite sure what happened to it!)

Then I made all the leaves and stems using templates I made to speed things along...

Next, I attached all the stems and leaves onto the bowls...

Finally, these will dry again overnight and then I can finish the bottoms with a bit of trimming and my signature. I love how that array of similar bowls looks -each one slightly different but part of the same family.

If you would like to see how the finished bowls look you can check them out in my Etsy store... Just click on 'Apple Bowls' in the section list on the right hand side.