News Flash for Lovers...

by Eleanor Hendriks

Sweetheart Mugs are now available in my Etsy shop!

Cranberry Red



Weathered Ivory (with a touch of palest Pink)




My dear American friends, I can still get one of these to your Sweetheart for Valentine's Day but please, please, place your order before the end of day on Sunday -thanks!

Just spreading the love.

First post of 2010

by Eleanor Hendriks

I was so excited to get back to clay this week. Holidays and shipping have kept me away from gooey wet delicious clay for many weeks and I could almost taste the mud. But, things didn't go as planned...

I had a turkey carving cut on a finger that was surprisingly painful, my clay was too hard, my studio was too cold and I just couldn't find the rhythm. I just kept working and I did have reasonable results but I was surprised not to find The Zone right away. I should know better by now -even though I can sit down at a wheel and make pretty much anything I want whenever I want, The Zone -that space where time doesn't exist and the clay leaps into shape -is still elusive. It takes a combination of time in, repetition and mindfulness that isn't always instant. As always, I have high hopes for next week...

In the meantime, I have Sweetheart Mugs well under way...

Despite good intentions to the contrary, I usually only get one batch of these done per year, so if you'd like me to reserve on for you, just let me know. Don't worry, the finished product won't be so shaggy looking. There's still some smoothing and glazing time to be put in...
These will be available in my Etsy store before the end of January -I may even try some not so traditional Valentine's colours...

Progress and Swapping

by Eleanor Hendriks

I am thrilled to report that there is progress on my gallery entrance -the framing for my new doors and one window is in!
I'm hoping to have the doors delivered and put in before this next weekend is over. Then all will be ready for a welcoming entrance for my 3rd Annual Christmas Art Sale on November 6,7&8. No more traipsing through the kiln room (also known as the junk repository). Be sure to plan on stopping in if you are in the area...

And I've entered to play my favourite game -Mug Swap with the Etsy Mud Team. Here's my entry...
Check in to see the other entries by other Mud Team Members.


While you are there, you may want to check out the catalogue of great things that the Etsy Mud Team has made...


After all, Christmas is coming :)

Clay's Many Variations

by Eleanor Hendriks

I am always amazed by the many possibilities of clay. It can be so many things to so many people. Functional/ non-functional, colourful/stark, wildly textured/perfectly smooth, organic/geometric and on and on.

I had three students willing to brave winter and come out to my studio for my Feb/March pottery class session. Even among only three beginning clayists, their visions and results had lots of variety...

An elegant leaf bowl is a study in contrasts...

A geometric letter box with a surprising bright orange interior...

A homey casserole dish with delicate carved designs...

A jewellery tray waiting to be filled with baubles...

Pinch pots that look as if they were grown rather than made...

...and fabulously textured wall pocket that will grace a sculpture studio wall...
Thank you Marina, Darlene and Pam for a great class full of enthusiasm and fun!

These three women have just dipped into the possible variations of clay. If you'd like to see how many other clay workers have interpreted their artistic visions using clay, you really need to read these two articles by Jeff Campana of the University of Louisville published on Etsy's blog, The Storque:

Ceramics and Pottery: Facts and Fancies (Part 1)

Ceramics and Pottery:Facts and Fancies (Part 2)

The second article is excellent, particularly because Jeff included some of my work in his review of decorating techniques (she said humbly). So check them out -you're in for some good reading and lots of clay eye candy...

What's old is new again

by Eleanor Hendriks

Just for fun, I decided a few weeks ago to revive an old pottery form that potters have been making for decades and that I haven't made in at least 5 years -the Pansy Ring.

The Pansy Ring is an unusual and versatile vase form that works really well in situations where a traditional vase just isn't suitable. It's low profile make it a great dinner table display, guests can see each other over the flowers and aren't in danger of knocking anything over as they pass the gravy. Flowers with tender or short stems are supported by the double wall of a pansy ring making it perfect for pansies (thus the name) and children's bouquets. They are simple to use -even the "arranging impaired" can make a lovely display easily. Put a candle in the middle for an instant centre piece. And last but not least -the form is so simple, a Pansy Ring can co-ordinate with any decorating style from traditional to country to modern.

Can you tell that I really think these things are great!?! And to top it off, they are a bit of a challenge to a potter's skill -which makes them a real pleasure to make as well...

I treated myself to a bouquet of flowers and spent some time photographing my latest crop in bloom...





If you've decided that you must have one of these for yourself, you can check them out in my Etsy store. This batch have been finding new homes quickly, but I don't think I'll let another 5 years pass before I make these nifty flower friends again...

Shipping out...

by Eleanor Hendriks

My Etsy shop has been hopping lately -here is today's selections of items that are being shipped out to places as far flung as California, Colorado, Ohio, and Guelph, Ontario (where I used to live)...


All boxed up and ready to take to the post office...
I've had to get creative to carry so many parcels at once -I've taken to flinging a large sack over my shoulder -I look a lot like the big red guy -only not so big, or so hairy, or so red -really it's just the sack over the shoulder... and no, I'm not posting a picture of that...

Just a reminder to my American friends -Christmas comes early in Canada -or at least the last minute to ship to the US does. If you've had your eye on something in my Etsy shop , now is the time to snap it up. After the first week of December it is very likely that it just won't reach you in time for Christmas. Canadians have a little more time, but the selection is thinning quickly...

So -It's been a While!

by Eleanor Hendriks

Well, I haven't been blogging -not even the (almost) once weekly I keep promising myself -but I'm back -temporarily at least. My apologies to those of you who have been checking in and getting nothing new! That doesn't mean that nothing has been going on at StudioElan though!

First of all, that glaze marathon I mentioned earlier had some lovely results...

In fact, I've done two other serious glazing sessions since then -but in the flurry of pre-Christmas excitement around here I neglected to document them. Many of the things in the above picture can be found in my Etsy shop along with pieces from the latest two firings. You'll have to check the Sold Items for some of them -I've been trotting off to the post office laden with packages quite frequently lately...

These two boxes... ...full of Fruit Salt Shakers and Apple Bowls went off to NorthWest Fine Woodworking Gallery in Seattle a while ago. This long-time cooperative gallery is a great showcase for beautiful fine woodworking and I'm thrilled to have my pieces there. I particularly enjoy these Dancing Tables made by Tom Deady. If any westcoasters are willing to pop in there and give me an in-person report I'd love to hear from you! I doubt that I'll be there to check it out in person any time soon -but you never know...

I'm about to embark on another glazing session and I'm setting myself a challenge. I am going to glaze this series of intricately detailed bowls that I have had sitting around since forever (they were one of the first things I made after moving here and opening the new StudioElan). I've put off glazing them out of fear, but the time has finally come.

I did a test of my new Champagne glaze on a small piece that I embellished in the same way and I'm reasonably happy with it...

I'm going to try a little something on them to bring in a little more colour... wish me luck!

There, now I've commited to glazing them in front of the whole (wired) world. I can't get away with putting it off any longer. Check with me later to see if I manage to follow through!

To those of you who stopped by the studio for my first year as a participant in the Victoria County Studio Tour, thank you for making me feel so welcome (and giving a fair number of my pieces new homes)! If you are in the Kawartha Lakes, GTA, Haliburton or Peterborough areas (or are willing to drive for a great art experience), drop me a note and I'll make sure you get advance warning of next fall's tour and a copy of the self-guided tour map.

And last but not least...

**Watch this space for information about the 2nd Annual StudioElan Christmas Art Sale**

Kiln Magic

by Eleanor Hendriks

A group of fruit salt shakers with their glaze coats on waiting for the heat that will transform them...
...and how they look 24 hours and 2300 degrees farenheit later...
I just love how the subdued and dusty looking glaze coat becomes bright and jewel-like by the action of the heat. There were a few disappointments in the kiln too -a glaze ran and fused three really nice mugs to the shelf :( but these things sometimes happen in the world of pottery. I'm just glad this didn't happen to the special order mug that I also had in the kiln!

A few of the fruit salt shakers have already been listed in my Etsy shop.

Etsy Mud Team Critters on the Loose!

by Eleanor Hendriks

The Etsy Mud Team is putting on another interesting challenge. Visit the Etsy Mud Team website to vote for your favourite critter and be sure to look for critters hidden in participating shops -you will receive a free something-er-other with any purchase if you find the critter!


This is a little taste of my critter.
I'm still cooking up something good to be the prize with a purchase -I'll let you know!

Do you know how to Etsy?!?

by Eleanor Hendriks



For those of you who have tried the "Etsy" I keep talking about but still find it confusing, here's a handy video that explains many different ways to wander through Etsy...



My favourites are the Treasuries (I make one whenever I can -look for StudioElan in the curator's list) and Pounce. Of course, you can skip all that and just head for my shop ;)

I'll be back with an update on studio goings on soon -the winter classes are coming to an end and I can't wait to show off what my students have been up to!

Don't forget -hedgehogs and outhouses....

Etsy Mud Team Salt and Pepper Shaker Challenge

by Eleanor Hendriks

The Etsy Mud Team Salt and Pepper Shaker Challenge takes place February 3 - February 9.

You should go right away to the Etsy Mud Team website and check out all the entries. Vote for your favourite and you will be entered into a draw to win something pottery made by one of the team! This is the website:

http://www.etsymudteam.freeweb7.com/

And here is my entry:

Salt shakers only, I'm afraid, too many snowdays with kids home from school delayed the pepper's trip through the kilns -I'll have to show them to you later!

More Etsy fun for StudioÉLAN!

by Eleanor Hendriks


I had some Treasury thrills yesterday! -First of all, I got to make a treasury -this has become harder as the number of treasuries sometimes soars over 500. Second, my treasury was used as the front page (the first thing people see when they enter the Etsy website) within hours and it was up during the evening for most of North America -so it was seen by many! Here's how it looked (at least for a while -it kept changing around while it was up)...




Not a speck of clay in it, but fun all the same.



Later on I got a nice note from a Toronto artist who goes by the name RatGirl, to thank me for featuring her necklace and she put the page on her blog. I think the World Wide Web is aptly named and I am enjoying being part of its weaving!



The Matryoshka collection wasn't the first treasury that I made that became the front page -this one was....

I didn't realize how rare it was to get chosen for the front page yet then -I think this may have been only my second Treasury -and now the competition is even more fierce with so many treasuries to choose from every day! So I guess I'm feeling a little boost because "they like me, they really like me!!!" Silly, huh? I do like that they didn't mix this one up when it was on the front page -perhaps it was left alone because the layout was so important to how it looked. I wish that the Matryoshka collection was left alone too -even though the layout wasn't so obvious, I did choose it very carefully and didn't like the variations that were generated by Etsy. Hmm.. I wonder if it was a human making the changes or some piece of clever code?? I don't mind insulting a computer for poor aesthetic choices but I'd rather not dis a human!

If you don't get what I'm blathering on about here you'll have to pop over to Etsy and check out the Treasuries to see! Each collection on the list is chosen by an Etsian and its rank in the Hotness list is determined by the number of people who click on the items featured. Caution: major timewaster website ahead!

StudioÉLAN on the front page...

by Eleanor Hendriks

...of Etsy!

Can you tell I'm spending too much time on the computer? Go on now, get a life!!

World Travellers

by Eleanor Hendriks

Two of my stopperless salt shakers have found new homes across North America: one in Maryland and one in California! Etsy is making the world smaller. Goodbye, salt shaker friends -happy trails!

To see my other items seeking international travel adventures visit my Etsy shop !

If you wait until 3:00am....

by Eleanor Hendriks

...you can make an etsy treasury!

Here's how it looked...

StudioÉLAN is on ETSY!

by Eleanor Hendriks

So, after much fussing, StudioÉLAN is selling online!



Just a few pieces so far, but more will come as time allows.