4th Annual StudioÉlan Christmas Art Sale

by Eleanor Hendriks


Pottery -Eleanor Hendriks
Watercolour -Janice Addison
Stonecarving -Peter Martin
Handsewn Gifts -Rene Buist
Stained Glass and jewellery -Janet Tysiak
Woodturning -Morris Young

Friday November 5, 6-9pm
Saturday November 6, 11-6
Sunday November 7, 11-6

From Hwy 121 just north of Fenelon Falls,
turn east onto Victoria County Road 8 and
south onto Hickory Beach Road. #97

Please join us for a lovely weekend with art. Let me know you saw it on the blog and I'll give you $5 Élan dollars to spend on pottery!

Scavenging -Part of the Potter's Life

by Eleanor Hendriks

It seems that every potter I know has a bit of scavenger blood. It seems I'm always saying things to people like "If you ever have any empty drywall mud buckets, save them for me..."or "Don't throw out those Styrofoam peanuts -just give me a call, I'll come get them..." Sometimes the effort that goes into scavenging these things is enough to make me think about taking the easy way out and just buying what I need new, but that always feels just a bit wrong. I get a kick out of using something that would have otherwise been thrown away -especially when it is plastic made from non-renewable resources.

Just lately I had a great score -a just-up-the-road neighbour was telling me about the new kitchen he was putting in and worrying about what he was going to do with all the bubble wrap the cupboards were wrapped in. Of course I jumped on that one and sure enough, he stopped by a few days later with a carload of bubble wrap for me. I got it all straightened out and folded neatly -now I just have to figure out where to put it:



Of course I'll gladly share this latest score with you -all you have to do is order a pot from my Etsy shop and it will come wrapped in some of Keith's bubble wrap!

I have a New Man in My Life

by Eleanor Hendriks

His name is Peter. I met him on Valentine's Day and I'm in love.

So here's the whole juicy story. I bought a Peter Pugger/Mixer from another potter who was upgrading and the only day we weren't both busy was Valentine's Day so that was the day we arranged to go and pick it up. My handy hubby (yes, I'm keeping him too) and I spent the most romantic day driving to get the pugmill, rearranging the studio to accommodate it and testing it out on my huge pile of reclaim.

This great machine is more than just a pugmill, it is also a mixer, which means I can put dry trimmings and chunks, slop, water and workable clay in it to be reconstituted. The only thing it won't mix up is leatherhard clay. Also, is has a vacuum pump, so the clay comes out deaired, there is no need to wedge! Be still, my beating heart...

My hubby loves the pugmill too! So much so, that he volunteered to turn my three year pile of reclaim back into usable clay. He's already made noticeable progress.

New love is just the thing to brighten up the depths of winter!

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 :)

Its not all playing in the mud!

by Eleanor Hendriks

Being a potter isn't all playing with clay -in fact, I haven't touched wet clay in over a week! This past while has been glazing, kiln loading, packing and...

...painting the new table top display my super handy husband built for me...

It's got a nifty hanger for all my Christmas ornaments and it folds flat to fit in the back of my CRV. I've painted my old IKEA crates to match, sewed some table cloths and skirts and loaded up all the pots not already for sale in my Etsy shop. As we speak, my wares are set up at the Kawartha Potter's Guild Annual Christmas Sale in Peterborough.

I completely forgot to take a picture of my display while I was there, even though I remembered to take my camera! If you are in the Peterborough (Ontario, Canada) area, you'll just have to check it out for yourself! If you come on Sunday, I'll be there working one of the cash registers. Introduce yourself and I'll whip some Elan Dollars out of my pocket for you...

The show is on Saturday Nov 29, 10-5 and Sunday Nov 30, 11-4 at the Peterborough Lion's Community Centre, 347 Burnham Street.

View Larger Map

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!

Studio Transformation

by Eleanor Hendriks

StudioÉlan went from this...


To this...

And then to this...

And finally, to this...

A bright, cheerful pottery workspace with heat (just in time for winter) and lots of power for ...

..the kiln.

This transformation took from February to October, two electricians, one backhoe, 6 bottles of Dawn, 3 floor epoxy kits, 15 gallons of paint, a truckload of drywall, plywood and 2x4's, 4 doors, 6 (energy efficient) fluorescent lights and HOURS of work.

But it still looks like....

...a garage!