Etsy Shop for FredParkerPottery

Wire Wrapped Stoneware Pendant (item09995)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:40:16 -0500

$22.00
Elegant, fresh and very unusual...

Here's a beautiful little copper-wrapped clear glass flat teardrop that could very easily stand on its own. But it doesn't. There is MUCH more.

It hangs above one of my unique bare stoneware pendants -- a one-of-a-kind object made from the bit of textured clay left on my potter's wheel after removing a new pot. Because it seemed the right thing to do I also added a handmade drop fashioned from a little red agate bead and some copper wire. The larger wire-wrapped flat teardrop has a small clear Swarovski crystal above and below for a bit of sparkle on a sunny day. Its wire wrapping is interlaced with tiny transparent aqua seed beads matching those on its agate drop.

Everything is suspended by an elegant black satin cord terminated with silvery hardware. A clear blue rondelle manages the attachment rings connecting the pendant to cord.

Length: approximately 16" to 19" (with its 3" expansion chain)

In the entire Universe there is only one...

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Stoneware Skull Necklace (item 09996)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:55:52 -0500

$19.00
The Dark Side finds its heart...

It was bound to happen: you really tried to be Dark -- maybe even Goth. But then, just as things were really shaping up something happened and your heart took over. There was nothing you could do...

It's a well-tanned leather cord finished with a silver-plated expansion chain, clasp and attachment rings. A single hand-carved wood skull hangs just above its two stoneware pendants -- one glazed black and the other left bare. A tiny heart hangs among them as a reminder...

Length: approximately 17" to 20" (includes a 3" extender chain.)

Slightly dark perhaps but in very, very good taste. In the entire Universe there is only one...

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Wirework and Leather Necklace (item09994)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:38:45 -0500

$35.00
Too much time on my hands... Maybe that contributed to this incredible -- if not downright strange -- piece of work. Clearly, this is something for someone who is more comfortable outside the box than inside it.

Very "one-of-a-kind," it began with a larger (appx 22mm) glass bead. I started a wire wrap using a medium-weight silver plate wire. Then I pondered what might happen with some light copper added in... then I thought about weaving seed beads into the mix... then other objects... then heavier copper... then... After spending far too much time on it this is were I ended up. Too late to turn back I fashioned a cord it could live with and here is the finished product.

Knotted and unknotted leather cords, copper, silver plate, glass and maybe things I have forgotten all ended up here.

In the entire Universe there is certainly only one of these...

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Wirework Stoneware Pendant (item 09997)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:01:36 -0500

$22.00
Sometime I just feel happy...

Stoneware, red suede, silver plate, clear glass and clear glaze: icy reminders of blue skies, crisp air and a festive spirit. This one-of-a-kind necklace craves a white blouse or sweater with a hot cup of tea or cider by the fireside!

It begins with one of my hand-finished, clear-glazed stoneware pendants made from the remaining bit of clay left on my potter's wheel after removing a fresh pot. I dried, smoothed and finished this little orphan -- typically relegated to the recycle bin -- and gave it a glassy, clear glaze. Its mate is a very nice little (15mm) clear glass bead which I free-form wire wrapped and nestled between two silvery metal bead duos. The grouping hangs from a triple red suede cord with silver-plated clasp and extender chain, all held together with combinations of silvery rings. Length: approximately 16" to 19" (includes a 3" extender chain.)

This is a happy little necklace. In the entire Universe there is only one...

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Stoneware Necklace (item 09998)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:14:57 -0500

$19.00
Unusual, unpredictable, unique...

Here's a beautiful little smoky-green glazed stoneware pendant married to a lovely green glass lamp-worked bead with smatterings of red and gold. I added a couple of little Swarovski crystals for sunshiny-day glitter and finished it off with a couple of swirly, gold plated beads topped with a trio of red and amber glass.

This little grouping begged for a home with earthy colors, eventually joining a bit of soft tannish-browinish suede cord in need of some excitement! I let a 3" silver plate extender chain, clasp and other hardware see to the back-of-the-house work...

I have long searched for a way to use the beautiful little one-of-a-kind bits of clay left over after throwing a pot on the potter's wheel. Like people, every one of them (with a bit of work) can become something very special! This one certainly did! I am certain someone will take to it as much as I did. Length: approximately 16" to 19" (includes a 3" extender chain.)

Very upbeat, stylish and unusual. In the entire Universe there is only one...

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Stoneware Necklace (item 09999)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:28:49 -0500

$19.00
Reach out and touch that part of you that makes family get-togethers interesting...

I made this one-of-a-kind stoneware pendant from the bit of clay left over after throwing a pot on my potter's wheel. I have long searched for a way to use these beautiful little bits. Finally, I found it! Adorned with a hand crafted wood skull and a wreath of tiny iridescent beads, it lives on a simple black satin double cord. Its metals are mixed, including silver plate. Does it make a statement? Yes. Does it lecture? No. Length: approximately 17" to 20" (includes a 3" extender chain.)

Slightly dark; very stylish. In the entire Universe there is only one...

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Berry Bowl (item 09.049)

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:48:42 -0500

$30.00
Think of a berry bowl as a small colander made especially for rinsing and serving fresh berries. Holes in its base allow water to drain through freely. You can rinse berries then serve them -- all in the same container. It comes with its own saucer to protect your table from any water droplets or berry juice. Both the bowl and saucer are dishwasher safe and no lead was used in making either of them.

This rustic little berry bowl is hand-crafted from light tan stoneware clay. Outside it is glazed in a wonderful hazy green gloss glaze. Inside, it is a beautiful speckled ivory gloss.

The berry bowl and saucer together stand 3-3/4" tall. Its top opening flares to 5-1/2" from a bowl base of 2-7/8". Its saucer is just a bit less than 5-1/2" in diameter. It ships to you gift boxed.

Dishwasher safe. No lead was used. Proudly made by hand in the United States. Signed by the potter.

Pup's Paw Paperweight (item 010809.025)

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:43:43 -0500

$18.00
Here's the perfect gift for a true "dog person". It's a "pound puppy" paw print paperweight.

It is a collaboration between me and our genuine "pound puppy" adopted from our local shelter. She's a Border Collie mix who can't sit still. I think these little paperweights convey energy. She certainly does.

This paw print is a "positive" meaning it stands above the clay instead of sinking down into it. I enjoy holding it and letting my fingers wander across her paw pads. There's something relaxing about it.

It's a half inch thick, measures a little more than 3" square and weighs about seven ounces. Its size and weight make it perfect on a stack of papers or even in a jacket pocket for good luck. Its edges and corners are nicely finished. A clear coating of a matte crackle clear glaze tops off its top and side surfaces and its background has a very nice layer of melted, crackle green glass*.

It was hand crafted from start to finish (including persuading a disinterested pup to allow me to make the master impression). It bears the potter's original signature. Proudly made in the USA. Dog not included.

* To see up close detail first click on any small image, then click the larger image that opens, THEN click that image. Enjoy the detail!...

Pup's Paw Paperweight (item 010809.025)

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:41:46 -0500

$16.00
Here's the perfect gift for a true "dog person". It's a "pound puppy" paw print paperweight.

It is a collaboration between me and our genuine "pound puppy" adopted from our local shelter. She's a Border Collie mix who can't sit still. I think these little paperweights convey energy. She certainly does.

This paw print* is a "positive" meaning it stands above the clay instead of sinking down into it. I enjoy holding it and letting my fingers wander across her paw pads. There's something relaxing about it.

It's a half inch thick, measures a little more than 3" square and weighs about seven ounces. Its size and weight make it perfect on a stack of papers or even in a jacket pocket for good luck. Its edges and corners are nicely finished. A clear coating of a matte crackle clear glaze tops off its top and side surfaces.

It was hand crafted from start to finish (including persuading a disinterested pup to allow me to make the master impression). It bears the potter's original signature. Proudly made in the USA. Dog not included but it DOES ship beautifully gift boxed...

* To see up close detail first click on any small image, then click the larger image that opens, THEN click that image again.

Spindle Turtle (item 060309.s.006)

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:05:27 -0500

$15.00
Yeah. I know. It's a goofy name. But it was the best I could do. I'd love to hear a better suggestion...

Just what is a "spindle turtle?"

If you are a yarn spinner and you use support spindles, this turtle is a neat little replacement for that teacup you've been using for support. Why is it a "turtle?" Because when you turn it upside down it looks like one.

I designed it to rest in your lap or on a small pillow in your lap instead of on a table or other flat surface. Its bottom is rounded like a bowl instead of flat like a saucer. I wouldn't expect it to work very well on a tabletop but it should do wonders in one's lap. Then again, it might be great on a hard surface. I'm a potter. Best I leave that determination to someone who knows spinning...

It has a special indentation in its center to support the lower end of a spindle. The indentation is about 5/8" in diameter. To keep friction down I made sure it was well glazed with a thick glassy glaze coating. It is, as they say, "...smooth as glass." By keeping the indentation small I hoped to limit the spindle's wandering around, making contact with other parts prematurely slowing its spin.

I made it on the potter's wheel from white stoneware clay. Its glaze is a very nice light smoky green with iron red accents. It is approximately 4-5/8" in diameter by 1-1/4" tall.

This is a new item for FredParkerPottery. For a limited time I am making it available for a flat price of $15, WHICH INCLUDES GIFT BOXING AND SHIPPING WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. There IS a catch: you have to promise to let me know what you like AND dislike about it.

Porcelain Summer Tea Bowl (item 09022)

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:03:20 -0500

$25.00
Traditionally referred to as a "summer" tea bowl, intended for serving Senchas, this porcelain bowl measures approximately 2-3/8" tall by 5" wide, with a capacity of about 9 ounces filled to its brim. Its wider, more shallow form allows more rapid cooling of its contents.

Its sunshine-yellow interior is glazed in a clear gloss glaze to provide a perfect field for the natural coloration of Senchas. (A bit of trivia on the side: This color combination (green and yellow) is known to artists as an "analogous" color scheme -- built from adjacent colors on the color wheel. Among the characteristics of analogous color schemes is a perception of harmony.) Outside, its multiple glazes include ochers, iron reds and patches of deep blues -- all in a textured field. Only its foot ring is left unglazed, exposing the bare, pure white porcelain clay from which it was thrown.

a slightly everted lip compliments its convex sidewall whose profile is unbroken from lip to foot ring. Visually, this is a beautiful and harmonious object. Physically, it fits the hand well and comfortably...

It is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece hand crafted in the United States of America and bearing my original signature. Foodsafe, microwave and dishwasher safe, although I recommend and prefer hand washing with warm water and a mild dish washing detergent -- as one would wash fine china. Ships gift-boxed in case you need it...

( * For a close-up view click any image until the cursor becomes a "+" then click it again.)

Porcelain Summer Tea Bowl (item 09023)

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:29:24 -0500

$25.00
The wider form exposes a larger surface area, thereby allowing quicker cooling. Traditionally referred to as a "summer" tea bowl, intended for serving Senchas, this porcelain bowl measures approximately 2-1/8" tall by 5-1/8" wide, with a capacity of slightly more than 8-1/2 ounces filled to its brim.

Its multiple glazes include an interior glazed in a very light tint of "vintage green" with a barely noticeable* dusting of iron red specks -- a lovely combination that compliments and displays the natural coloration of a green tea exceptionally well. Its exterior glazes render ochers, iron reds and patches of deep blues in a textured field. Only its foot ring is left unglazed, exposing the bare, pure white porcelain clay from which it was thrown.

a very slightly everted lip compliments its subtly convex sidewall whose profile is unbroken from lip to foot ring. Its visual grace translates well to its comfort in the hand...

It is a unique, one-of-a-kind object hand crafted in the United States of America and bearing my original signature. Foodsafe, microwave and dishwasher safe, although I recommend and prefer hand washing with warm water and a mild dish washing detergent -- as one would wash fine china. Ships gift-boxed, just in case...

( * For a close-up view click any image until the cursor becomes a "+" then click it again.)

Porcelain Tea Bowl (item 09090)

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:13:16 -0500

$28.00
Summer dawn -- the image that comes to mind when I turn this jewel over in my hands.

Its colors take me back to summertime fishing jaunts during those wonderful three months we once had for summer vacation from school. Up early while the air was still cool and crisp, A short ride to a friend's old fishing boat and the sound of the outboard motor pushing us along over a glassy calm, misty predawn river as the sky morphed into what could have been this very tea bowl.

It was thrown from a special mix of tinted porcelain clays I prepared for one small collection of tea bowls. The various colors were partially mixed being careful not to let them blend too much. (The goal is to produce beautiful swirls and striations that extend through the clay -- not just on the surface.) After throwing it was slowly dried, trimmed and carved and then sanded before firing for the first, or "bisque" firing. Later it was inspected and decisions were made regarding what I considered to be its optimal glaze. After applying the selected glaze it was fired a second time to mature the porcelain and its glaze. here is the final result.

Porcelain clay is extremely sensuous to the touch. The porcelain in this tea bowl contains no "grog" (the gritty particles added to some clays) and therefore is especially smooth. I enjoy the "feel" of this clay, and often leave parts of my porcelain objects unglazed so its future owner can enjoy this surface.

This tea bowl is glazed inside and out with a glassy clear gloss. However, outside its glaze extends down from its lip only to its shoulder. Its lower bowl is left bare for a tactile contrast with its upper glazed regions.

It holds about 8-1/2 ounces filled completely. It stands about 2-3/4" tall by 3-1/2" wide with a lip diameter of barely over 3".

To my eye its distinguishing feature (beyond its colors)is its near-perfect profile. Things worked out the way I like there. See the photographs* for a close-up view. I also feel especially good about its base, which is very nice to ponder before or after tea.

This shape is one of my more comfortable tea bowl forms. Its upper collar provides a natural rest for the forefinger and thumb; its rounded bowl is a naturally comfortable surface for the hand.

This is a "one-of-a-kind" item, hand crafted and bearing my original signature. Made in the United States of America.

It is food safe and also "dishwasher safe." However, I recommend hand washing with a mild dish detergent and warm water as you would wash fine china. No lead -- ever. Ships gift-boxed, just in case...

( * for a close-up view click any image until the cursor becomes a "+" sign, then click again)

Porcelain Tea Bowl (item 09034)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:15:30 -0500

$20.00
It holds about 7 ounces brim full and stands barely less than 3" tall by 3-1/4" wide -- a very comfortable medium-size tea bowl. Its lower body (below the shoulder) is carved yielding a pattern of angled ridges that remind me of the turbines of a jet engine. (What a great tea bowl for an aeronautical engineer!) For me, these patterns always suggest radically different images when paired up with a glaze.

This tea bowl has a traditional base, a "pond ripple" patterned foot and a compound spiral cut bottom disk -- all hand carved and left unglazed to showcase its porcelain. It is glazed everywhere else: its interior is a clear gloss resulting in bone white; its exterior is a textured ocher fading to iron reds*.

Like most of my tea bowls this is a "one-of-a-kind" item, hand crafted and bearing my original signature. Made in the United States of America and shipped to you beautifully gift-boxed...

This tea bowl is food safe and also "dishwasher safe." However, I recommend hand washing with a mild dish detergent and warm water as you would wash fine china. No lead -- ever.

( * For a close-up view click any image multiple times to get the "+" cursor, then click again to zoom in...)

Porcelain Tea Bowl (item 09089)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:24:50 -0500

$50.00
I am grasping for words to describe this one. About the best I can do is confess that my heart will not be broken if no one buys it. I really like it...

It is substantial -- almost 10-1/2 ounces filled to the rim. Yet it doesn't seem overly large. It stands 2-78" tall by 3-3/4" wide. Its glazed interior and exterior shoulder are glazed with a glassy clear gloss. Below its shoulder I left it unglazed to showcase what turned out being a spectacular clay. Allow me to explain:

This is a porcelain tea bowl made of a very nice whiter-than-usual porcelain -- that is, before it was tinted. I partially mixed various colored porcelains with the white, then made the tea bowl. After much controlled drying, trimming and sanding a pattern of colors reminiscent of a Springtime dawn emerged. It is absolutely beautiful! I didn't have the heart to glaze all of it so I only glazed the parts coming in contact with tea and lips -- the interior and shoulder. The result is far better than I expected: a visual feast* coupled with the sensuous touch of bare porcelain.

It was inspired by a form I often use. Its collared-in neck does wonderful things for the way it feels in my hand, making it a very comfortable tea bowl. Inside, its collared-in shape acts as an obstacle to loose tea leaves, impeding their movement with the final sips. Its base is nicely textured finished with a graceful compound spiral.

This is a "one-of-a-kind" item, hand crafted and bearing my original signature. Made in the United States of America and shipped to you beautifully gift-boxed, just in case you can bring yourself to part with it...

It is food safe and also "dishwasher safe." However, I recommend hand washing with a mild dish detergent and warm water as you would wash fine china. No lead -- ever.

( * for a close-up view click any image until the cursor becomes a "+" sign, then click again)

Pup's Paw Paperweight (item 010809.023)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:14:58 -0500

$16.00
Here's the perfect gift for a true "dog person". It's a "pound puppy" paw print paperweight.

It is a collaboration between me and our genuine "pound puppy" adopted from our local shelter. She's a Border Collie mix who can't sit still. I think these little paperweights convey energy. She certainly does.

This paw print is a "positive" meaning it stands above the clay instead of sinking down into it. It has a stippled background to make her little pads more prominent. Other than that it is a bone-white color overall. I enjoy holding it and letting my fingers wander across her paw. There's something relaxing about it.

It's a half inch thick, measures a little more than 3" square and weighs about seven ounces. Its size and weight make it perfect on a stack of papers or even in a jacket pocket for good luck. Its edges and corners are nicely finished. A clear coating of a matte crackle clear glaze tops off its top and side surfaces.

It was hand crafted from start to finish (including persuading a disinterested pup to allow me to make the master impression). It bears the potter's original signature. Proudly made in the USA. Dog not included, but the paperweight will be shipped to you beautifully gift- boxed just in case...

* To see up close detail first click on any small image, then click the larger image that opens, THEN click that image.

Porcelain Tea Bowl (item 09094)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:30:27 -0500

$20.00
This is a tea bowl with more traditional form. It's capacity is a generous 9 ounces (filled to the rim) with a diameter of approximately 3-1/2". It stands 3" tall.

The psychology of color interests me. I don't know why different colors elicit so many different psychological reactions in people, but they do. This tea bowl is an example -- at least for me.

Although there is much to be said for the elegance and beauty of pure white clay with only a simple clear glaze -- it is a combination I often use -- there are times when I want to reduce the "formality level" from pure white. I have found that a small amount of "impurity" in an all-white vessel can change its demeanor from very formal to casual.

I wanted this tea bowl to be a bit more informal -- even casual -- and so to achieve this I partially mixed a tiny amount of a ceramic colorant directly into the clay before I began making the tea bowl. The colorant manufacturer recommends against this because it tends to produce uneven results -- which is exactly what I wanted.

So instead of a pure white surface I gave this tea bowl a mostly white surface with very subtle color striations and a sprinkling of random specks. Expand the photographs* to see this. The result is a very nice white tea bowl that somehow gives the impression it is comfortable with someone wearing jeans and perhaps using the occasional coarse epithet.

It is glazed inside and out in a glassy clear gloss glaze. Only its hand carved base and foot ring are left bare.

Like all of my hand made tea bowls it is a "one-of-a-kind" item, hand crafted in the United States and bearing my original signature. It ships to you beautifully gift-boxed just in case...

It is food safe and also "dishwasher safe." However, I recommend hand washing with a mild dish detergent and warm water as you would wash fine china. No lead -- ever.

Porcelain Tea Bowl (item 09032)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:28:17 -0500

$18.00
Short and sweet...

Here's a dainty little tea bowl with all the features I like to include, but in a petite package. At 2-3/8" tall it holds 7 ounces brim full. Its rotund 3-1/4" diameter makes it comfortable and comforting for a smaller hand. No shortcuts diminished its form, foot ring or glaze. The result is a beautiful, comfortable, interesting tea bowl sure to become someone's longtime friend.

Its exterior glaze is a dramatic mottled/textured combination of ochers, iron reds and blues. Its surface is tactile as well as visual* and its interior is a soft vintage green gloss. Its finish is a combination of three separate glazes. Its coved base is left unglazed to showcase the richness of the porcelain clay. Each part was carefully hand trimmed to produce a finished product that is as interesting to examine upside-down as it is right-side-up.

This little tea bowl is genuinely "one-of-a-kind." It was made from start to finish by hand and bears my original signature. Made in the United States of America, and shipped to you beautifully gift boxed, just in case...

It is food safe and also "dishwasher safe." However, I recommend hand washing with a mild dish detergent and warm water as you would wash fine china. No lead -- ever.

( * For a close-up view click on any image then click it again until it reaches its maximum size.)

Pup's Paw Paperweight (item 010809.024)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:04:25 -0500

$16.00
Here's a little something for a "dog person"...

It's a paw print paperweight from our very energetic Border Collie mix pup we adopted from our local animal shelter. I'm thinking it might convey energy and excitement. She certainly does...

This little paw print is a "positive" meaning it stands above the clay instead of sinking down into it. I enjoy holding it and letting my fingers wander across her paw pads. There's something relaxing about it.

It's a half inch thick, measures approximately 3.1x3.2 inches and weighs around seven ounces. Its size and weight make it perfect on a stack of papers or even in a jacket pocket for good luck. Its edges and corners are nicely finished. A clear coating of a matte crackle clear glaze tops off its top and side surfaces.

This little paperweight was hand crafted from start to finish (including persuading a disinterested pup to allow me to make the master impression). It bears the potter's original signature. Proudly made in the USA. Dog not included but it DOES come to you already beautifully gift boxed...

* To see up close detail first click on any small image, then click the larger image that opens, THEN click that image. Enjoy the detail!...

Espresso or Tea Mug (item 060309.116)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:08:31 -0500

$18.00
This is a beautiful little stoneware espresso mug especially for someone who can connect with what the term "hand made" is all about. It stands 2-7/8" tall by about the same width at its widest (bottom) point. It holds 4.6 ounces brim full. It would also work for coffee or tea -- in small amounts.

It is neither round nor symmetrical -- by design! I deliberately introduced subtle deformations into the soft clay before it had time to stiffen. The result is an organically-shaped espresso mug that is a genuine pleasure to hold and to touch. Then, to carry its form just a bit further I added four dumpy little feet that somehow remind me of a "Little Rascals" episode, and also instill its very own unmistakable "personality."

There is much to be said about this beautiful glaze. It is nothing like what I think when I usually hear "brown!" It is a complex, very deep jewel-like glassy amber glaze with indescribable subtlety. Developed by a much-respected potter and teacher it draws on a very studied approach to glaze chemistry for its effects. Spend some time with the photographs to enjoy its beauty. (Remember, to see a magnified photo click it until it stops growing.) I could spend hours just peering down into it.

Safe for the dishwasher and microwave. No lead. One-of-a-kind. Proudly made by hand in the USA, stamped with my mark and personally signed. It comes to you already gift boxed just in case you have a deserving friend...

Espresso or Tea Mug (item 060309.058)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:08:31 -0500

$18.00
Here's another of my little espresso mugs whose best description is its photographs. I hope it speaks well for itself. I also hope you will examine it closely from all angles. Remember, by clicking on an image again after it has enlarged a closer look is usually possible.

This is definitely an espresso mug for a very unique kind of person. It is nowhere near "mainstream." In fact, that's what I like most about it. A perfect match for the espresso aficionado not afraid to step a bit outside the box. "Boring" is definitely NOT a word I would use to describe it!

It holds 5.4 ounces, filled to the brim. It stands 2-5/8" tall by approximately 2-3/4" at its base (exclusive of handle. It was thrown from a beautiful tan speckled stoneware clay. Its handle is "pulled" meaning I sculpted it by hand from a separate ball of soft clay; a process that allows the potter to introduce tapers, curves, ridges and other desirable design elements. It is designed to be equally comfortable in the right or left hand.

Its glaze, consistent with its form, includes multiple glazes used in combination to emphasize its unusual look. It is a potpourri of earthy colors including browns,iron reds, light greens, olives and blues. For objects as personal as espresso mugs I like to approach each one differently, thinking of it as an opportunity to create a tiny "mini sculpture" with a functional purpose. I obsess over handles, deformations, glazes and other elements. It takes longer but it usually yields something the right person can connect with.

Safe for the dishwasher and microwave. No lead. It is a unique, one-of-a-kind handmade espresso mug proudly made in the USA, bearing my original mark and signature. It comes to you gift boxed in case you have a deserving friend...

Espresso or Tea Mug (item 060309.150)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:08:30 -0500

$18.00
Here is an espresso mug for someone craving more than mass-produced pottery but less than the, well, really "out there" stuff. This is an obedient little mug who wants very much to please, yet it has that glimmer in its metaphorical eye that says it can be happy in the board room OR in Bohemia. It would also be happy serving tea or even a small cup of coffee for anyone trying to "cut back."

It stands about 3-1/2" tall. Its base is 2-1/2" in diameter. It holds almost 4-1/2 ounces filled to the brim. Its pulled handle is slightly more comfortable for a right-hander although the left hand should not be uncomfortable with it.

Inside, a clear "liner" glaze allows its white stoneware clay to show through to facilitate strong contrast between dark espressos and its bone-white ground. Outside, a combination of two glazes -- one over the the other -- highlights streaks and rivulets beneath a glassy gloss surface.

But perhaps its strongest visual point is its "laid back" posture. It somehow manages to convey its own self confidence. I wouldn't call it "arrogant," but nor would I accuse the little beast of being a shrinking violet...

Proudly made by hand in the USA of white stoneware clay. It is dishwasher and microwave safe. No lead was used. It bears my original mark and signature. It comes to you gift boxed.

Espresso or Tea Mug (item 060309.193)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:08:30 -0500

$18.00
This little summertime mug with its sunshiny buttercup yellow interior would be equally comfortable serving espresso or a small serving of tea.

It holds 4.7 ounces brim full. It was thrown on the potter's wheel then slightly altered to become more flattened (and interesting). It stands just over 3" tall with a 2-5/8" base. Its pulled handle is comfortable in either hand. Its glazes are bright, clean and cheerful including light smoky green with iron red accented exterior to compliment its sunshiny interior!

Its demeanor is not overly serious. I believe it will be an equally good companion for either a robust espresso or a moment's relaxation with your afternoon tea. I especially like its very positive attitude that seems to want me to know that life is not all seriousness and accountability. Some of it can simply be enjoyed -- even savored -- for what it is...

This is a one-of-a-kind item, hand made and bearing its maker's original mark and signature. It is dishwasher and microwave safe. No lead was used. Proudly made in the USA. It comes to you already gift boxed in case you have a friend in mind...

KNOWLEDGE Paperweight (item 010809.032)

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:20:55 -0400

$18.00
What a powerful word!

It helps, it hurts, tell me, I don't want to know, with it I can earn more, it can cause big trouble, it is comforting, some of it disturbs us, it drives curiosity, we have many words describing those who lack it -- and others who have it. This is a great reminder paperweight for teachers -- or for anyone. After all, teachers are in the business of imparting it. Each of us relies on it at every turn.

It weighs about a pound. It's a half-inch thick, a little more than 8 inches long and 3-1/4 inches wide. "KNOWLEDGE" is impressed into its surface and it is glazed in a clear "crackle" finish on its front and sides. Its back is unglazed.

It is entirely hand crafted from start to finish, and bears my original signature on its reverse side. Proudly made in the United States of America.