Stone Lotus Pottery

Front Page!

2011-11-28T22:38:00.001-05:00

We made the front page of Etsy tonight! First time ever! And lucky you, our weekend sale is still going on. Use code FRIDAY20 for 20% off your entire order. And like us on Facebook to hear about more sales in the next few weeks before Christmas!

Restocking

2011-09-28T07:57:00.000-04:00

Our next craft show is this Saturday, October 1 in Sunset Beach, NC. Come join us at the Sunset at Sunset Block Party in the Village at Sunset in front of Ingram Planetarium. 10 am to 5 pm!

And for those not in the area, our Etsy shop is getting restocked with plenty of gift giving ideas from these crosses...

to ring dishes...

and dipping bowl sets.

Summer Colors

2011-07-21T17:12:00.000-04:00

It was a wonderful spring craft show season for us and we are enjoying the slightly slower pace of summer. I am going to attempt to keep this blog better updated, but you can also find us on Facebook too! We are gearing up for more shows this fall starting as early as Labor Day Weekend at the beach! For now, here are some of our latest listings full of fresh, summer colors.

Pendleton Jubilee

2011-04-04T22:04:00.000-04:00

We were honored to be selected for the Pendleton Jubilee again this year and enjoyed a great weekend in one of the cutest southern towns ever. The festival takes place on the village green and our tent was on a stretch of about 30 vendors on the side street that borders the green.

a little firebrick red

some lagoon green and forest green

forest green and castile splashed with some goldenrod pieces

our various turquoise blue glazes

royal blue and mottled blue

palladium in the background (a new metallic glaze) and some crosses

Sorry for the Delay!

2010-12-22T20:29:00.001-05:00

Congrats Jenn Stewart!!! You won our latest giveaway!

My apologies for the delay in announcing this : )

Holiday Giveaway #3

2010-12-13T19:15:00.004-05:00

Sorry to our faithful followers...I completely forgot last week's giveaway! Can I use our adorable 6 week old baby as my excuse?

This week we are giving away this beautiful bowl in goldenrod. We love pieces with a story and this is another antique store find. A good friend spotted this beautifully scalloped bowl and thought it would make a great design in ceramic. She was so very right! Here it is in a bright goldenrod glaze and is hand carved around the rim and around the outside edges. It is softly scalloped on the inside and measures 7 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches deep.

Just leave a comment on this post with an email address or link to your blog (we have to let you know if you win after all : ) We'll pick a winner at the end of the week (Friday, December 17)!

Get additional chances to win:

1) post a link to our shop and giveaway on your blog

2) post about this giveaway on Facebook

Just leave additional comments letting us know and we'll enter your name up to three times!

Only available within the U.S. You must leave a way for us to contact you in order to win. Once notified of winning, you have one week to provide a shipping address or we'll pick another winner. Good luck!

Crosses Restocked

2010-12-08T12:18:00.004-05:00

More cross ornaments restocked in the Etsy shop

Winner!

2010-12-03T10:08:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to A! Lucky #6 is our winner this week!

Holiday Giveaway #2

2010-11-26T19:59:00.003-05:00

Our newest giveaway is this turquoise cross wall hanging. It is hand carved and measures approximately 6 inches tall and 4 1/4 inches wide. It has a small ring adhered to the back so it can simply hang on a nail in your wall or if you prefer you can thread a ribbon or cord through it.

Just leave a comment on this post with an email address or link to your blog (we have to let you know if you win after all : ) We'll pick a winner at the end of next week (Friday, December 3)!

Get additional chances to win:

Restocking

2010-11-26T14:20:00.007-05:00

My blackberry was dinging like crazy from the sales last night, so we restocked several items for the rest of the shopping weekend - mini vases, business card holders, deviled egg plates, and the new ring holders.

More deviled egg plates...

Just added these adorable ring dishes in red, blue, and chowder.

business card holders

Last but not least, a few more of those adorable mini vases

Winner!

2010-11-26T12:00:00.002-05:00

Congrats to Cindy (comment #9) for winning our giveaway! Check back later today for another one!

Weekend Discounts!

2010-11-25T16:12:00.005-05:00

We are joining in the Black Friday shopping extravaganza with a sale of our own! Etsy just launched the addition of coupon codes and we are excited to offer a special discount to all of you.

Simply use the code FRIDAY20 when you checkout to instantly receive 20% off anything in our shop!

Coupon code is valid now through Monday.

Here are the latest additions to the shop.

firebrick red carved bowl

spring green serving bowl

coyote blue casserole

New Pottery and a Teaser

2010-11-23T20:01:00.003-05:00

Just added these new items to the shop this afternoon. Stay tuned for the giveaway announcement and a little Black Friday shopping discount coming soon : )

Holiday Kickoff Giveaway

2010-11-17T09:54:00.006-05:00

We are getting in the holiday spirit and hope that everyone else is, too! We're kicking things off with a giveaway this week. It's a quickie, so act fast. A winner will be announced at the end of next week, Friday, November 26. We plan to have a few more giveaways between now and Christmas, so check back often and good luck!

Enter for a chance to win this royal blue orbit necklace. Just leave a comment on this post with an email address or link to your blog (we have to let you know if you win after all : ) We'll pick a winner at the end of next week!

Get additional chances to win:

New Additions!

2010-11-17T09:20:00.004-05:00

The latest from the shop...and a giveaway is coming soon! Watch later today : )

a new oasis blue bowl

a new coyote blue lace plate

more firebrick red : )

And this little cutie sold before I could even get this posted on the blog, but I just had to share! I have a blue one if anyone is interested and Mom may have some more at her house. Just let us know!

Saturday in the Shop

2010-10-23T10:23:00.002-04:00

Saturday morning additions to the shop...

necklace

leaf plate

flower necklace

bowl

New Jewelry and Wall Hangings

2010-10-19T20:51:00.004-04:00

A few new items added to the shop over the past week....

a new red glaze in our jewelry

another new necklace

cross wall hanging

and a carved bowl perfect for the fall

Updates to our Shop

2010-10-10T08:15:00.001-04:00

We are continuing to stock our Etsy shop in preparation for the upcoming holidays. Several new items listed this weekend including these new wall pockets.

New cross wall hangings and more jewelry is on its way to the shop, but we must confess a lot of our efforts are being focused on our craft shows and our latest adventure.....Daly Designs in downtown Greenville! Liz Daly contacted us and we are now one of her featured potters in her eclectic shop right on Main Street downtown. Locals now have another great place to shop for our pottery and the rest of you have another excuse to come visit us in Greenville : )

Fall Craft Shows

2010-10-10T07:59:00.000-04:00

Stone Lotus Pottery is ready for the fall craft show season. Last weekend was a huge hit at the Sunset at Sunset Market in Sunset Beach, NC. Thanks to everyone who came out for such a beautiful day of shopping and entertainment!

Our next show is the annual Mistletoe Market held at the Anderson County Museum in Anderson, SC November 5 - 6. Show hours are 4 - 8:30 pm on Friday and 9 am - 5 pm on Saturday. Get your holiday shopping started early!

Bright and Fresh for Summer

2010-06-02T15:57:00.001-04:00

Here are a few of the latest items added to the shop....

golden sunset carved butterfly bowl

forest green leaf plate

hot textured chowder trivet

shino red large scalloped plate

Casseroles are Back!

2010-04-13T08:19:00.000-04:00

Just added a few new casserole dishes to the shop!

We have some turquoise and a gorgeous dark lagoon green one, too, so just ask if you're interested in other colors.

Spring Cleaning

2010-04-12T11:39:00.000-04:00

After making it through our first two spring shows, it was time for a little spring cleaning in the Etsy shop. Berry bowls are back and are the first to be introduced to the new spring line up.

Go check them out here and keep up this week as we add more casseroles, serving pieces, and a few other surprises!

Spring Fling in Anderson

2010-03-29T21:45:00.000-04:00

Just a few pictures from our show in Anderson this past weekend! We're looking forward to Pendleton next week!!!

Stone Lotus Pottery Giveaway

2010-03-04T09:45:00.001-05:00

Just stopping in to tell you all that a fellow blogger is hosting an entire month of giveaways on her blog. Clemsongirl is celebrating her birthday all month long and today Stone Lotus Pottery is featured with a fabulous giveaway! Go check it out here and enter to win! She's been drawing names daily so you only have today to enter!

Spring Pottery Shows!

2010-02-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

Stone Lotus Pottery is excited to announce our participation in two spring shows coming up in just a few weeks! Time for a road trip anyone?!?! Mom has been busy working since the first of the year and has well over 100 new pieces already made and ready for these shows. More is on the way!

The Spring Fling Market will be held at the Anderson County Museum in Anderson, SC March 26 - 27. This is sponsored by the same board as the Mistletoe Market last November and we are looking forward to being a part of the first ever spring show! This year's event will feature more artists, both indoors and outside the museum. Show hours are 4 - 8:30 pm on Friday and 9 am - 5 pm on Saturday.

Our second show will be the very next weekend and we were genuinely surprised to be included as it is our first year to apply. The Spring Jubilee in historic Pendleton, SC is a prestigious juried show with over 300 applicants vying for 90 spaces! The show will be held April 3 - 4. This is an award winning show in the southeast and will not disappoint. Show hours are 10 am - 6 pm on Saturday and 1 pm - 6 pm on Sunday. We know this is Easter weekend, but for 32 years the festival has been the first weekend in April regardless. (And we still have plenty of time to go to church before show hours on Sunday : )

Both Anderson and Pendleton are about 40 minutes south of Greenville on I-85 if anyone is looking to come visit us for one or both of these shows. We would love to see you!

Winter Clearance Sale!

2010-01-02T16:27:00.007-05:00

It's that time of year!

Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and pottery all on sale up to 50% off in our Etsy shop!

And we're including a free gift with every purchase of $30 or more (before shipping charges).

Here are a few highlights:

leaf earrings
NOW $6
Was $12

spring green and oasis ruffle bowl
NOW $20
Was $30

seacrest wave bowl
NOW $8
Was $15

gray necklace
NOW $10
Was $20

set of 4 red finial ornaments
NOW $10
Was $16

New Casserole Dishes

2009-12-09T17:55:00.001-05:00

These casserole or baking dishes were a big hit at the craft shows this fall, so we're happy to have a few in the Etsy shop just in time for Christmas! We have one in each of our four popular colors and they are all oven safe and ready for baking. Each is hand carved with a "pineapple" pattern along the outside and are deceptively large inside. The large blue one should easily hold a side dish that would serve 8 and the medium ones would hold 6 servings. Of course, they are great for hot dips, baked brie, and other small appetizers and sides.

Trunk Show

2009-12-08T23:01:00.002-05:00

A few pictures from our Trunk Show with Fostering Creativity. We will be adding more items to the shop this week, but Amy has a few things listed on her blog as well. Thanks to all who came out!

Black Friday

2009-11-27T08:21:00.004-05:00

As you can see from the timing of this post, I don't hit the stores on Black Friday - not enough deals in the world to get me out there. But for those of you already done and those of you like me, you can still hit some great sales on Etsy for the entire weekend!

We are offering 20% off orders of $20 or more (before shipping) now through Monday at midnight. I was busy adding new items last night and will be adding more throughout the weekend. We've already sold a few items in the wee hours of the morning!

Other shops on Etsy are running sales, free shipping deals, and other promotions as well. It might be time to go back through all those items you "hearted" and see what would make great gifts or what you just can't live without for yourself : )

Check out the banner at the top of the home page or search for "etsyholidaysale" or "etsyfreeshipping" in the search bar. We've all been busy tagging our items for the big sales this weekend.

New Items

2009-11-23T22:40:00.005-05:00

We've been busy adding new items to the shop getting ready for the weekend rush on Etsy....get a sneak peek now.

Trunk Show

2009-11-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

Because our craft shows were just not enough...

We will be featuring pottery, ornaments, jewelry, home decor, and stationery! Come by and visit, enjoy some food and drinks, and let us help you with your Christmas shopping!

Mistletoe Market

2009-11-09T22:31:00.000-05:00

Here are just a few pictures from our second show, the Mistletoe Market in Anderson! The market was held inside the county museum in and among all the exhibits. We worked our tails off, but had a great time doing it!

(If you see the same item in different photos...let's just say half the fun was constantly rearranging the table : )

Since we're having so much fun, we've also decided to host a few Trunk Shows to help you with your shopping! Stay tuned for details...

Our First Show

2009-10-05T21:24:00.006-04:00

Our first craft show was a big success! Thank you to everyone who came out to visit us and say hello. We had a great time and are thrilled with the turnout. Here are a few pictures from the day...

our tent

the jewelry

rings

earrings

necklaces

mugs

we did a giveaway and got great feedback

we have a new red!

spreader cups, spoon rests, and candle plates

Work Day

2009-10-02T20:45:00.005-04:00

It's been a long day, but we are completely ready and packed for tomorrow's show! I took a ton of pictures today to somewhat catalog what we have in case it all sells tomorrow : ) The first one shows about half of it covering the dining room table. We counted about 140 pieces without counting jewelry!

I will take more pictures tomorrow at the show with it all set up. Wish us luck!

Sunset at Sunset

2009-10-02T08:47:00.001-04:00

To answer Ginger's charges....

Yes, the shop is quite sparse as we get ready for our first craft show! We apologize a thousand times over, but we promise there will be lots of goodies in the shop as soon as the show is over (well, unless we sell it all : )

If you are a local Brunswick County reader, please come out and say hello to us this Saturday, October 3. Sunset at Sunset will feature 70 crafters and artists (only 2 potters, though : ), plenty of music, games for the kids, and food. It's going to be held behind the Village at Sunset in the clearing between Ingram Planetarium and the Food Lion shopping center. 10 am to 5:30 pm!

Stone Lotus Pottery has well over 150 pieces ready for the show - including Christmas ornaments, plates, bowls, spreader cups, spoon rests, coffee mugs, and new jewelry. And we're even having a giveway for a $25 gift certificate to our Etsy shop. We're spending today getting ready, so I will post some preview pictures for you to drool over....

Wish us luck!

Shabby Chic and A Berry Bowl

2009-08-29T21:46:00.003-04:00

I know it's been some time since we posted, but August is just one of those months.

Here are a few new items just added to the shop...

I know I am excited about our white pottery! Here is the first of several pieces we have (email us if you want a preview of any others - we have a 12 inch square serving platter, another small square plate, and a shell plate). The white is just so shabby chic, elegant and rustic, and perfect for those who just can't make a color commitment : ) I love the way Mom let the clay show through the glaze.

maple leaf applique square plate

Another berry bowl for those that missed out in June...

forest green and purple berry bowl

And this is just a great color....

royal blue and grape ruffle plate

First Firing

2009-08-19T21:56:00.004-04:00

I am about a week and a half late in posting this, but forgive me....I was on vacation : ) As you all know, Mom's new garage studio just got a little bit hotter with the addition of a brand new kiln!

She did her first bisque firing and had great success (we showed you those pictures in our first post about the new kiln here). It took almost a full 24 hours (if I remember correctly) to get up to temperature and then slowly cool back down to 100 degrees. See our post on bisque firing for more details on that process.

But if I thought she was excited about the bisque firing, the glaze firing was like Christmas morning. Glaze firing gets even hotter so it took close to a day and a half to get up to temp and cool back down before they could open the lid. The suspense was killing her! But it was worth it. Check out what they found....

Top layer
(new white plates!)

middle layer
(new aqua teal color...loving it...can't remember the name right now, forgive me)

bottom layer
(coasters and jewelry...will have some new rings, button earrings - both clip and post)

Summer Colors: Gunmetal

2009-08-05T21:20:00.005-04:00

Metallics are hot and we are excited to be able to include them in our summer glazes. Gunmetal gray is a gorgeous pewter gray metallic glaze that we are highlighting in a variety of ways.

Gunmetal on its own leans toward the bronze gray metallic side and I just love it on this plate. The modern lines are clean and simple.

gunmetal square plate

Same gorgeous gunmetal with a little softer edge in these coasters.
gunmetal coasters

And here is gunmetal paired with black in a trivet. Love how it brought out the pewter green almost patina look.
gunmetal leaf trivet

Giveaway Winner and A Surprise!!!

2009-08-02T22:17:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to Ginger!!!

She was comment #6. I tried to copy and post the random.org number generator, but it's not working and it's not worth it! Congrats, Ginger! She already had her eye on the robin's egg blue bowl and it's already reserved for her, but we have another surprise for everyone else who did not win this time around...

Anyone who entered our giveaway will receive 20% off any order of $35 or more made between now and next Sunday, August 9.

Just type in "blog giveaway" in the "Message to Seller" box before you finish the check out process in Etsy.

The nitty gritty details....

Refunds will process in the following methods:
1. For PayPal, we will issue a refund to your account if you have already processed payment.
2. If you prefer, we can adjust the Etsy price prior to payment through PayPal and list the item as reserved for you (Although some of you have had items slip through your fingers during an email convo, so we understand if you want to pay first! Those darn berry bowls flew out the door!)
3. If paying by check, please convo us for a revised total before mailing your payment.

All discounts are applied to the purchase price prior to shipping charges (and sales tax where applicable).

The Kiln

2009-08-01T14:16:00.000-04:00

Don't forget our giveaway winner will be announced tomorrow! Last chance to enter to win a $20 gift certificate to our shop. See this post. And maybe we have another surprise up our sleeve for tomorrow as well : )

On to the good stuff...

More than a few months in the making, but Stone Lotus Pottery officially has its own kiln and the beginnings of its own garage studio!!!

Mom and Dad are painting contractors, so their oversized two-car garage has always been home to a fair share of paint, supplies, and large equipment in addition to what everyone else stores in their garages. Earlier this summer, Dad built a new shed on the back of the garage and moved all the painting supplies into it.

All that....to make room for this!

The Stone Lotus Pottery studio is well on its way with a brand new kiln and a cleaned out garage ready for new shelving and storage for all of Mom's clay, glaze, tools, and of course all that pottery in various stages of production! I'll post more pictures as they send them to me, but I hear the studio is really coming together.

And here are a few layers of our very first bisque firing in the new kiln. This is the first firing to get a piece ready for glazing : )

Thank You!

2009-07-30T20:22:00.002-04:00

Many thanks to Glenda from ByHand for featuring us in her Nautilus spotlight! Such lovely company we find ourselves in....

Thank you!

Summer Colors: Oasis Blue

2009-07-28T22:11:00.004-04:00

Experimenting with new glaze colors is one of the most fun and exciting parts of the design process for Mom. I even get input, too! One of our latest is Oasis. On its own, it is certainly beautiful, but we have found layering it with forest green creates the most beautiful oceanic lagoon blue color.

There are several items in the shop highlighting this beautiful summer color.

set of 3 dipping bowls

scalloped dish

shell plate
(we added a little white to this one and at my request, we are doing some solid white pieces soon...can't wait to show you those!)

And here is where it all began. This ruffle bowl was glazed in a progression of blues to greens....starting with oasis at the base, then forest green, then spring green. The result of combining forest green and oasis was a beautiful surprise!

spring green ruffle bowl

one final teaser...a scroll stamped trivet in oasis on its way into the shop later this week.

Birthday Giveaway

2009-07-19T23:37:00.007-04:00

This past Thursday was Jeanette's birthday! In honor of the "birthday week" we are extending a brand new giveaway. In the past, we've done jewelry, coasters, bowls, and other lovely items, but this time we are offering one lucky reader a $20 gift certificate towards any item in our shop!

This one is an easy one. Just hop on over to the shop and tell us your favorite item in the shop. Leave a comment on this post and an email address or link to your blog (we have to let you know if you win after all : ) We'll pick a winner in two weeks on Sunday, August 2 , so enter now for your chance to win! (For those that haven't figured out commenting, see this post or just email us stonelotuspottery [at] gmail [dot] com).

Get additional chances to win:
1) post a link to our shop and giveaway on your blog
2) post about this giveaway on Facebook
Just leave additional comments letting us know and we'll enter your name up to three times!

Only available within the U.S. You must leave a way for us to contact you in order to win. Once notified of winning, you have one week to provide a shipping address or we'll pick another winner. Good luck!

Behind the Wheel: Glazing

2009-07-08T17:14:00.011-04:00

Sorry it's been so long between posts, but it's been a busy few weeks. The last few posts showed my mom's studio and a few different ways of working with clay. Once a piece is finished on the wheel or pressed into a mold, it has to air dry for at least a few hours, if not overnight. The wet clay is allowed to dry to a leather hard state. At this point, she can choose to carve a pattern like this

carved goldenrod serving bowl

She also trims the base of the piece to give it a clean edge and sharpen the lines. She centers it on the wheel (upside down) and holds it in place with a few pieces of clay. Then she can use a few different tools to trim the edges.

Once dried and trimmed, the piece is ready for the first firing. This stage of "bisque firing" is done at a lower temperature and the result is called bisque ware. This first firing removes all the moisture and gets the piece ready to take glaze.

Here is some of the bisque ware at the studio....

Next, she melts wax and dips the bottom of each piece to coat. This forms a barrier so glaze won't cover the bottom. The glaze would melt and stick to the shelf in the kiln during the next firing, so it's a good idea to keep the bottom clean!

Then it's time for the heavy artillery. She uses this compressor to spray or airbrush glaze onto each piece. There are about a thousand ways to put glaze on bisque ware, but she's quite fond of spraying. We've dipped and sponged and painted, too.

She rests the piece on a bat (kind of like a lazy susan) so she can spin it while spraying.
And then starts spraying...
Glaze is simply a mixture of silica, oxides, and colorants suspended in water. Because bisque ware is so porous, it practically soaks up all water from the glaze and you're left with layers of what feels like chalk on your piece. This is where I think it's safe for me to say it takes a lot of skill to glaze well. It's not like you're seeing the bright, shiny colors that will be on the final product. You have to know exactly how much is enough and what the colors will do when mixed without being able to see them during the spraying process.

Hard to believe this already has at least two coats of glaze on it....I wasn't kidding when I said bisque ware soaks up glaze like a sponge!

Heavier pieces will "stay put" while sprayed, but jewelry tends to be so light, she has to carefully hold them in place while spraying : )

You can also layer glazes on top of each other and create new combinations. Below is a picture of some rings glazed in black (on top) and black mixed with gunmetal (on bottom). The black ones are easy to see the dark color glaze in its "powdery" form, but the bottom ones with gunmetal layered over the black are a little trickier. Most glazes look more like whitewash on the porous clay, so it's all about knowing what works and learning how much glaze to layer.

Here are a few other bisque ware pieces with glaze from the studio. Here you can see some of the darker colors stand out, but most of it is just pale whitewash. I keep pointing this out because I was shocked the first time I saw this process. It's just amazing to me how much you have to do by feel and with practice.

Once glazed, the pieces are ready for the second and final firing. This time at a much higher temperature (about 2000 degrees). The glaze firing step is rewarding and challenging. Sometimes a piece comes out cloudy or the detail of the carving is obscured because you put on too much glaze. Other times it's washed out because it wasn't enough glaze. Sometimes the color combinations look muddy rather than blended. Sometimes glaze can "jump" from one piece to another if they are sitting too close together.....you get the idea. This final step is the most rewarding, but also quite challenging!

The two pieces shown as examples (the small bowl and trivet) are now finished pieces and will be in the shop soon. I will do a before and after post just to show the striking difference once I take pictures of them!

And the rings are all but gone...

The two black ones sold already...

But this gunmetal one will be in the shop soon...

And the other gunmetal ring?!?! A certain potter may or may not be wearing her first ever piece of fashion jewelry. So proud!

Behind the Wheel: Handbuilt Pottery

2009-06-28T14:31:00.000-04:00

In our last post I briefly mentioned handbuilt pottery. This name refers to a large variety of pottery that is created by hand and not thrown on the wheel. Sometimes the clay is rolled out flat and then molded into a form or stamped with a design. Other times the clay is rolled into long thin pieces and coiled, rolled, and pieced together to make a freeform piece.

clay molded to a bowl we found at the beach house the other week : )

a similar idea shown in our freeform bowl in the shop

a handbuilt bowl made by one of mom's classmates

Some of our plates are wheel thrown, but others with intricate patterns or specific designs are hand built using molds.

lagoon blue plate

pistachio deviled egg plate

Our coasters and trivets are also hand built.

gunmetal coasters

And of course our jewelry is hand built using carving tools, stamps and various designs.

limeade ring

Next up a look at glazing...

Summer Rings Have Arrived

2009-06-22T22:45:00.005-04:00

I think I'm even more excited about this than Mom! We are introducing rings to our summer jewelry line! We have a few different styles to offer, but all of our rings are fully adjustable (easy for gift giving and easy to change hands or fingers for yourself!) The best part is they adjust at the top rather than under your finger, so no more pinching.

Here are just a few we listed, but continue to check back as we add more...

midnight blossom

lime-ade

hypnotic

vintage blossom

Behind the Wheel: Throwing

2009-06-20T14:12:00.000-04:00

Now that you've seen the studio at Sunset River, it's time to check out the wheel!

We often use the phrase "wheel thrown" in our descriptions of pottery. This is as opposed to pieces that are "hand built." There are many potters who choose only one of these methods, but we find that we can do some very interesting things with both. For instance, some of our plates are wheel thrown and others are hand built using molds.

For this post, I photographed Mom throwing a large bowl on her wheel last week while I was visiting. You will have to imagine the fact that the wheel is spinning quite fast and I'm literally capturing a split second. Each of these steps is done while the wheel is spinning at various speeds, so give us a bit of your imagination and check out what she can do with those hands!

This is the wheel set up in the garage (soon to be her own "home studio"). The foot pedal on the left controls the speed at which it spins, just like a sewing machine. And next to those tools on the table, there is always a large bucket of water.

The first step is kneading the clay to make it pliable and remove any air bubbles. She uses a variety of clays, some dark, red, white, or speckled.
Next, she makes it roughly circular and places it on a bat (the flat plate) on her wheel.
Then, using a good bit of water and a very fast spinning wheel, she uses her hands and her body weight to lean over the wheel and center the clay into the middle.

You can see how fast the wheel is spinning by the amount of water being sprayed out in this shot. It can take a few minutes to get the clay centered, but it's so important to make sure the bowl comes out round : ) And as I've found in my few attempts, it can be the most frustrating and time consuming part of the process : )
Next, she uses a thumb and two fingers to gently press down and form the center. The wheel is spinning about a medium speed or whatever she feels comfortable with.

After the center is large enough, she takes a flat edged tool to smooth the bottom and compress the clay.

Now she's ready for the first "pull." Using the sponge on top for counter pressure, she "digs in" with her thumb at the bottom of the outside edge, and gradually pulls up the clay from the bottom.
You can see her thumb working really well in this shot.

After that first pull using the thumb, she changes her grip and uses her forefinger on the outside and middle fingers for balance on the inside. This continues to draw up clay from the bottom toward the top.
She can continue to pull the clay several times until she feels she's done enough and it's no longer thick at the bottom.

Then she uses a thin metal tool to smooth the inside and out, removing the slip (or the wet clay that can cause the bowl to sag). This smooths it and gets it ready for the next step.

That same metal tool, along with counter pressure from the sponge, allows her to continue to shape the bowl by pushing out the sides as the wheel spins.
Once it is flared out far enough, she can use the sponge to smooth out the rim and give it its final shape.
The final step at this point is to use a thin wire and slice the bowl at the base to loosen it from the bat. You leave it resting on the bat to dry, but slicing it free at this point makes sure it comes loose later. The bat can be removed from the wheel and left to rest and she can put on another bat and start all over. The bowl is allowed to air dry slowly to be "leather hard." Usually this takes over night.

Next step will be trimming, carving, and the first firing....stay tuned.

Behind the Wheel: The Studio

2009-06-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

We thought it was about time for a look at the backstage side of Stone Lotus Pottery -a true behind the wheel experience if you'll pardon the pun. Working with my mom certainly gave me an education in exactly how a piece of clay becomes a glazed piece of art.

Over the next few posts, we thought it would be fun to show you the many steps from clay to art, but first we thought you should see the studio where much of it happens. (To be fair, much also happens in my mom's garage, but you'll see more of that in the next few posts.)

Sunset River Gallery

the studio that is also a very cool eclectic gallery! all of our pottery is fired here while we are working on getting our own kiln to go with mom's wheel in the garage : )

love the inspiration wall in the studio

tools, stamps, odds and ends

after a piece is thrown (more on all these stages in the next few posts), the first step is to air dry and become "green ware"

once dry, it gets fired once to become "bisque ware"

then it is glazed

here are all the glaze samples hanging in the studio

and in buckets

and here are a few pieces glazed (some people dip like the samples shown here, but mom is a sprayer and we'll have pictures of all that to come)

and finally it gets fired a second and last time (at several 1000 degrees) to become beautiful glazed pottery

Ready for the final product? Check out our shop and stay tuned for more sneak peeks into our process!

Berry Bowls and Beach Pottery

2009-06-13T07:11:00.006-04:00

We may have been on vacation this week, but it doesn't stop us from listing a few new pieces to tide you all over. Check out the latest added to the shop that will have you ready for summer.

We're very excited about adding berry bowls to the summer line! Mom gave me one for my birthday two years ago and it sits on our counter to this day. These little cuties are definitely a part of the story of how we started Stone Lotus Pottery....enjoy!

antique jade berry bowl

spring green and oasis berry bowl

your first taste of a little purple (grape)

antique jade and grape ruffle plate

spring green ruffle bowl
forest green and castile serving bowl

We are packing up to head home, but first need to stop at the studio to pick up the latest items coming out of the kiln.....a sneak peek at some jewelry that should be in the mix. I know it's unglazed and sitting on boards while it's drying, but I can't help it...just a little too excited about introducing rings into our line.

On Vacation, but Still Open

2009-06-07T15:24:00.002-04:00

We are on vacation for the week...visiting my mom and the rest of my family at the beach for a week, but the shop is still open. Items won't ship until I return (June 15), but we are still open. One of the deviled egg plates just sold last night even : )

I will be checking out my mom's studio this week and should have lots of great pictures. We're working on a post showing all the steps to creating some of our favorite pieces. Should be interesting, so stay tuned....

Summer Jewelry

2009-06-04T23:57:00.004-04:00

Here is the first taste of some of our new summer jewelry. We're featuring brighter colors, texture, layers, and a few fun surprises. On top of all this, I have another box of goodies to be working on, so there is more to come. A new glaze called leopard shino for all you metallic girls, a brand new puffy "cushion" pendant (love it!), and rings are coming and so worth the wait! We are off to the beach for a week, but I promise to post new things when I can. We're visiting my folks, so I know I'll post pictures of my mom in action and maybe some fun preview pictures. Stay tuned, but for now, check out the latest additions to the shop...

coyote blue paper lantern earrings

aribe and copper layered necklace

black and white helix necklace
spring green teardrop earrings

layered cobalt oxide necklace

We Were Featured!

2009-05-31T19:56:00.002-04:00

A big thanks to Crochet by Momma J for doing a feature on Stone Lotus Pottery! Check out our interview on her blog and look around a bit...maybe you'll find another fabulous Etsy artist.

Spring Colors: Midnight Purple

2009-05-21T06:50:00.000-04:00

Midnight purple is brand new glaze we're introducing this spring. It's a funky blend of blues, purples, and reds with unique "running" pattern when fired. We are highlighting this glaze on a set of coasters and on a large serving bowl available in the shop right now...

midnight purple serving bowl

midnight purple coasters

Spring Colors: Goldenrod

2009-05-19T10:07:00.000-04:00

Nothing says spring and summer like the soft golden yellow of our new glaze, goldenrod. It is bright and fresh and will warm up any room in your house. You can find spoon rests, serving bowls, and even a set of coasters in the shop all ready to brighten your home for summer!

Spoon rests make a great hostess or teacher gift and are also an easy way to spruce up your kitchen for those of you who like to decorate seasonally!

kiwi and goldenrod spoon rest

goldenrod spoon rest

Our coasters have been another favorite in the shop. This set of five is brand new in the shop.

goldenrod sunflower coasters

We heard that many of you were interested in larger serving pieces, so we've worked on making large bowls and platters. Here are two beautiful examples of serving bowls, one in a speckled clay and one in a red clay. Both are glazed in goldenrod, but the subtle differences are there.

large carved bowl in flecked goldenrod

large serving bowl in goldenrod

Spring Colors: Castile

2009-05-17T20:10:00.001-04:00

We are in the middle of our first year of Stone Lotus Pottery and are amazed at how much has changed since just last October! Like many artists, we find ourselves inspired by the changing seasons and how the beauty of creation can be seen all around us. Our glazes and color palette are one way to express this change, so here is our first spring color feature.

Castile is unique glaze as it takes on new life depending on the base color underneath. It is a pale blue, almost a robin's egg blue and the subtle texture it provides is a beautiful way to brighten and highlight otherwise darker colors.

Two interesting combinations featured in the shop are castile combined with forest green and castile combined with black. The robin's egg blue highlight is just what these darker colors need to give them the pop of color for spring and summer entertaining.

The forest green and castile combination creates a beautiful turquoise color, almost a peacock blue teal with loads of texture and interest.

forest green and castile large serving bowl

updated: just sold Monday morning!

forest green and castile divided platter

forest green and castile spoon rest

Castile combined with black is a very modern and graphic contrasting combination. The castile takes on a true robin's egg blue over the inky black.

black and castile pedestal dish (click the link to see the pedestal base in other pictures)

And this one sold in hours of posting to the shop, but for those that missed it we had to share. We love the abstract shape of this large platter, so we may bring it back in another color at some point, but you can really see the pale blue highlights on this piece.

black and castile elliptical platter

Etsy Love: The Corduroy Cat

2009-05-14T13:43:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine opened a beautiful Etsy shop featuring her unique, handmade jewelry. The Corduroy Cat should definitely be on your list of places to go when you need a gift or a pick-me-up for yourself. I own two pairs of her earrings and love the kidney wire designs she uses. They are lightweight, comfortable, and oh so chic. Check out her shop and give one of Etsy's newest sellers some love.

A few lovelies from her shop...

lime green necklace

turquoise necklace

wood bead with green ribbon

And here are the earrings I own, but check out the other earrings she has available in the shop.

Mugs!!!

2009-05-13T22:17:00.004-04:00

We are excited to introduce our latest item....coffee mugs! This mod set of two mugs is now available in our shop...

We added another lace plate and will have more new items coming throughout the week. Don't forget about our spring clearance on jewelry items. It won't last long as we plan to launch our summer line later this month!

A Little Sunshine

2009-05-05T23:21:00.001-04:00

Just listed a brand new bowl in the shop and it can't help but bring a smile....goldenrod is my new favorite for summer! And it's the largest bowl we have in the shop....there is a picture of it stuffed full of fruit for some perspective....3 mangos, 2 apples, and 4 tomatoes!

Taking You Outside!

2009-05-02T22:54:00.002-04:00

The warm weather is here and it's time to take your pottery outside! Our local nurseries are overflowing with summer annuals just itching to be planted on our porch, our deck, in our flower beds, and now in some Stone Lotus Pottery.

iron yellow and tesha planter

A few other items for your summer picnics and your kitchen....

red gold deviled egg plate

pistachio spoo n rest

100th Sale!!!

2009-05-02T08:51:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, we had our 100th sale in the Etsy shop!

Well, actually this customer was our 100th through 104th sales! It was very exciting to come home to see the latest sale of five pieces of jewelry. Of course, there have been many sales outside the shop, but we thought this Etsy milestone was worth celebrating!

Thanks to all of you who have supported us over the past few months. We're looking forward many more!

Spring Cleaning

2009-04-29T21:52:00.001-04:00

It's a pottery sale this time...no reports on our closet situation. Spring cleaning in the Etsy shop is much better anyway : ) We're making room for new summer pieces so enjoy shopping!

All sale items ship free with any other item (including other sale items). And we can just about guarantee delivery by Mother's Day if anyone needs a last minute gift idea. Contact us for details.

Happy shopping!

A few lovelies on sale...

falling leaf necklace

shell earrings

cobalt oxide geometric

New Colors

2009-04-23T23:26:00.005-04:00

I'm in a yellow mood lately....warm spring weather, beautiful spring flowers blooming, lots of sunshine, and apparently I look good wearing the color....who knew? (thanks Ginger!)

So when I sat down to post a few new items to the shop, I went for our yellows first. More to come later, but let this tide you over for now....

Spring Lovelies...

2009-04-15T12:06:00.000-04:00

Here are the latest additons to the shop...

tea dust

cobalt

pinwheel

And here is a preview of what will be listed soon...(not sure why the pictures are so tiny : )

zinfandel bowl

kiwi leaf plate

I'm also expecting a package from mom on Friday, so there will be more spring additions later this weekend....Mother's Day is right around the corner!!!

Etsy Gallery View

2009-04-13T19:03:00.001-04:00

I may be the last one to discover this, but I just found out the best way to view shops on Etsy. You know how cool the front page gallery always looks? Well, you can make every shop look that great. Once in a shop, choose "gallery" instead of "list" for viewing shop items. You can find the buttons just underneath the shop announcement section, to the right of the page numbers.

I love the new view....the pictures are bigger and you can appreciate the artistic look of it all! Enjoy!

A Handmade Spring: Buying Local

2009-04-09T22:54:00.002-04:00

This last idea for your handmade spring isn't exactly handmade. It's more about buying local and finding unique gift ideas that encourage business owners in your own community. I've often heard of folks who prefer to give gifts that encourage "experiences" rather than gifts that sit on a shelf. (Although when done right, hopefully your gift would never go unused : )

Several ideas come to mind and the first is obvious to those of you who know where I work. It's a great idea for Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries, and weddings. Find a local bed & breakfast or an inn and treat your mom, dad, or spouse to a fabulous romantic getaway. Almost any area of the country has B&Bs. Some are downtown or in historic districts near attractions, restaurants, and shopping. Others are off the beaten path and encourage you to leave your electronic distractions at home for a true respite in the country. Whichever your style, know that B&Bs have come a long way in the last 20 years. While some don't, the vast majority offer major conveniences like TVs, DVD players, and even Wi-Fi. And I promise you will not have to walk down a hall and share a bathroom with strangers as you make small talk while brushing your teeth. They are not like a European hostel. Many are quite luxurious and offer you plenty of personal space and lots of ammenities to make you feel pampered.

Other great local ideas include restaurant gift certificates (locally owned, not the big box kind if you're wanting to support small businesses, of course). Or tickets to a play or concert. Or even simply buying your gifts from local shops and small boutiques. The husband and I always talk about how we wish more local restaurants and shops would move into some areas of our town, but it has to be one of the hardest ways to earn a living. You don't have the buying power of the big boys, the financial cushion of a nationwide franchise, or a tried and tested business plan to get you started. Locally owned restaurants and shops are the bread and butter of any community, but it's a hard row to hoe so to speak. So if making gifts isn't your cup of tea or you haven't become an Etsy addict yet, go for buying local instead.

So get out there and give your town a little love.

A Handmade Spring: The Spring Scarf

2009-04-06T23:51:00.000-04:00

Those who know me, know I'm not terribly trendy. Mildly style conscious, yes. Trendy, no. But do correct me if I'm wrong....I think there is a spring scarf trend this year and I think it's fabulous. What a great way to spice up a simple knit tee and jeans. And they also make lovely gifts for the fashion conscious among us, as well as those with timeless style. There's something for everyone.

First up is a "ruffle scarf." If you crochet, let me know, I have a great pattern for this one. I've made more than my fair share this past Christmas and just love it (I'm entertaining taking custom orders if you're interested). Some use a heavier yarn like this one by beautiful bridget on Etsy. But there are so many yummy lightweight cashmere, silk and even bamboo yarns out there, that I could see this one all year long. Love. Love. Love. it.

girly girl by beautifulbridget

rose lariat by gsakowskidesigns

citrine silkscreen by toybreaker

raw silk wrap by bonzie

queen anne's lace by redprairiepress

Weekend Additions

2009-04-05T21:51:00.004-04:00

A few new bowls added to the shop this weekend...

I am also expecting a special delivery of new pieces Easter weekend....Mom's been busy this spring. Check back with us to see the latest. A few new jewelry items coming along as well!

Red and Shiga Angled Rim Bowl

Coyote Blue Lace Dish
Mocha Shino Bowl

A Handmade Spring: Paper Expressions

2009-04-03T13:21:00.000-04:00

Spring and early summer are definitely wedding season and I know there are plenty of you out there with weddings on the calendar or your own anniversaries to celebrate. (Okay, so fall is popular, too, so just bookmark this and come back then : ) But I can't resist sharing a few sweet "paper expressions" from Etsy.

Most of these items or sellers can be found in my favorites on Etsy, which by the way, is a great way to find new shops. Etsy can be quite overwhelming for those of you venturing out there for the first few times. So many artists and so much to see. So sometimes I just find a shop or seller that I like and click on their Favorites (in the righthand side bar on their shop page) and see what they like. It's great fun!

I have a soft spot for this first one since my father-in-law custom ordered our rehearsal dinner/groom's cake is this same theme.

4-Ever Print by SilhouetteBlue

Also a stationery set.

The Way I Am by colorflystudio

Draw Your Own Heart by hijirik

Live What You Love by hijirik

A Handmade Spring: Children's Art

2009-04-01T22:42:00.000-04:00

I shared a few ideas about children's artwork here during our Handmade Christmas series. Plenty of those ideas would make great Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts this time of year as well. We touched on framing artwork brought home from school (which I still love), but what about creating some of your own?

Grab a blank canvas, some finger paints, and let the little ones go to town! Or if you're looking for something more structured, check this out. With a blank stretched canvas and one color of acrylic paint, let the kids cover the canvas entirely (no doubt, themselves in the process, but what are baths for?) While the paint is still wet, grab those little hands or feet for a quick imprint. I love the simple statement and possibilities with this. A series, one for each family member, one for each child....go have fun!

And to make this project even more special, Amy shared this poem with me....

Sometimes you get discouraged

because I am so small

And leave my little fingerprints

On furniture and walls.

But everyday I'm growing

And soon will be so tall

That all these little fingerprints

Will be difficult to recall.

So here's a little handprint

That you can put away

So you will know how my fingers looked

On this special day.

A Handmade Spring: Fostering Creativity

2009-03-31T07:07:00.000-04:00

Do you have someone you know who treasures the lost art of letter writing? Or someone who loves all things preppy and monograms her sheets, towels, stemware, you name it? How about that person who loves decorating to make her house feel like a home?

Fostering Creativity specializes in handmade stationery, custom floral arrangements, home decor items, and even photobooks - perfect for upcoming birthdays, graduations, and weddings.

I, personally, can't get enough of Amy's newest stationery designs. And one can never have too many notecards. She has everything from classic and timeless to preppy and pink. And monogramming them gives them that extra something special.

Rustic Spring

Onyx Damask Collection

Simply Green Collection

More than just stationery, Amy's "passion for paper" extends to invitations, announcements, and cards for any occasion like this one for Mother's Day.

Another great idea for this time of year are Amy's photobooks. They are a great answer for those who want to scrapbook, but never find the time. Amy can put together a beautiful book to commemorate a birthday, wedding or anniversary, or even baby brag books. Find some samples here.

And last but not least, find a beautiful custom floral arrangement for Mother's Day, housewarmings or birthdays. If after the previous post, you still don't feel comfortable making your own, Amy can help you by creating something to fit perfectly in any decor.

A Handmade Spring: Floral Arrangements

2009-03-29T17:30:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite handmade gift ideas. Any excuse to roam the silk floral aisles of Michael's, AC Moore, or Old Time Pottery is fine by me. But don't let them intimidate you. I try to keep it simple and focus on three things.

1. Color - Choose a dominant color and one or two accent colors. Keep it simple.

2. Size - Think about the finished size of the arrangement and choose flowers accordingly. I also like to choose a variety of sizes using smaller flowers and different shapes as accents.

3. Texture - Choose silk grasses, wheat stalks, and "fuzzy" stems to add texture, depth, and interest.

Oh, and don't be afraid to walk up and down the aisles several times, pulling out stems and trying out different combinations right there in the store. It's okay to play : )

Here are a few arrangements I've made as gifts and for our own house. Without assuming my style is your style, hopefully they will give you some ideas for your own gifts. But of course, if you're still intimidated, check out Fostering Creativity and have Amy make one for you! I have two of hers in my house, too!

I made this one for my MIL's birthday last year. Sorry for the busy background. I chose cranberry with sage and yellow accents- a classic combination. The magnolias are the large focal point flower with smaller hydrangeas for variety and all those "fuzzy" stems for accent color and texture.

Here is a potted arrangement I made for our kitchen. I chose all foliage and greenery for this one, but varied the size and variety, brought in accent colors with the striations on the leaves, the purple stems, and the small green flowers.

Here it is on top of the fridge.

And here is one in our bathroom. I wanted a green tonal look for this room as an accent to the navy, white, and slate blue in the rest of the room. The tall green "cone shaped" flowers are the focal point with the cat tails adding texture and the round flowers added a contrasting shape and another shade of green.

One last tip to save on cost is to use the premade "floral bunches" they sell in the store. You will need to cut everything apart when you get home so it doesn't look so fake, but use the bunches to your advantage. They can save you money and give you a dominant flower with several accent stems. In the first arrangement for my MIL, the magnolias and some of the fuzzy stems and grasses were purchased separately, but the hydrangeas, leaves, the fern like stems, and the pale greenish yellow clusters all came on the same bunch. I just cut it apart and mixed it together with the other stems.

A Handmade Spring: Stone Lotus Pottery

2009-03-28T15:20:00.000-04:00

Because I know you were all disappointed when the Handmade Christmas series ended, we're back with a few ideas for your spring shopping. Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations, birthdays, and weddings are all great opportunities to think about handmade gifts.

Gift giving is definitely an art and a subtle one at that. Gifts are always appreciated and should not be expected, but I think it's safe to say we all know the feeling of opening a gift and immediately realizing it was last minute or rushed without much thought. We are still grateful because a gift is a gift and it is the spirit and the intent we should recognize, but couldn't we make it that much better? Take the time to think about the important people in your life. If you know them, is it that hard to think about their interests and taste?

Here's one example: I have a friend who treasures warm baths, a good cup of tea, scented candles, all things cranberry and pumpkin, is in to running and exercise, classic jewelry with a twist, and appreciates a well made designer handbag. Would I send her gardening items or vintage dinnerware just because I liked them? Probably not. But if I found a heavenly scented pumpkin sugar scrub or a cool turquoise and silver necklace, definitely.

In the spirit of finding just the right gifts to tell people how much you care about them, we're hoping this series will introduce you to some new ideas (and of course, remind you of a few you've seen before : )

Of course, Stone Lotus Pottery, is a great place to start. And it's not just us saying that...we introduced lots of new spring colors and designs and all of you like them just as much as we do! Pottery can make a wonderful gift, be it wedding, birthday, Mother's Day. Deviled egg plates and other serving pieces can make your Easter table that much more beautiful. And our jewelry may be just the right gift for that eclectic, artsy friend of yours! We have a wide range of pieces from large platters and bowls to the perfect "little something" like a pair of earrings or a spoon rest for your favorite cook. Shop now and check back often, we are always introducing new pieces.

Here are few items available in the shop now...

Orbit Necklace

Medium Kiwi Green Bowl

Large Red Deviled Egg Plate (you all loved our small ones for Easter!)

Blue Rutile Teardrop Earrings

Look forward to new jewelry designs in the coming weeks as well as more spring arrivals. Mom is busy working with new glazes and designs and we hope you all are as excited as we are!

Commenting

2009-03-28T14:12:00.002-04:00

I know some have had a few issues trying to comment on our giveaways, so here are a few tips. First up, I did turn on the anonymous commenting feature, so you do not need a login or account. You can just leave your name in the comment itself!

To comment, click on the word "comments" at the end of the post. Type your message in the box. Scroll down to choose your identity. For those of you with google email addresses or blogger accounts, you can sign in. For those who prefer to comment anonymously, select the last choice for "Anonymous". Click "Publish Your Comment" and you're all set! Just remember if it's a giveaway and you choose to comment anonymously, include your name/email so we can contact you.

Again, we're sorry for not having this feature turned on. I thought it was a default setting, so I never realized you all didn't have the option! Hope this helps for our next giveaway!

March Giveaway Winner

2009-03-22T22:20:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of random.org, our winner is comment #6....

Shannon!

Thank you to everyone who participated! Shannon, I will get your bowl out to you in the mail this week.

Check back often for new items being added to the shop and more giveaways in the future.

Also, as an apology for those trying to comment "anonymously" without setting up a blogger account, I did not realize that feature was turned off! I fixed it yesterday, but will soon post a short tutorial on how to leave us a comment for some of our non-blogging shoppers. We wouldn't want you to miss out on anything : ) Thanks for bearing with us.

Etsy Love: Karisma by Kara

2009-03-22T22:11:00.000-04:00

Kara is a local gal who I had the pleasure of meeting in person just the other day. She placed a pottery order with us and I couldn't resist taking a peek at her lovely Etsy shop. She is new to Etsy and her shop, Karisma by Kara, is a gem. Her jewelry uses natural stones like onyx, turquoise, and jade mixed with wire and polymer clay. Head on over and give her a little Etsy love.

Here are just a few of her lovelies...

Coyote Blue

2009-03-21T09:45:00.004-04:00

I planned to post a feature showing our two latest coyote blue plates. They made a lovely pair, but I listed them separately (to share the coyote blue love around a little bit more : ) and one was purchased within hours of listing! But here is the other one, still in the shop, and ready to find a new home....

March Giveaway!

2009-03-15T21:03:00.008-04:00

We're having so much fun with our giveaways, we decided to continue into March. So far you've seen earrings and coasters, so it was time for a bowl. This beautiful porcelain bowl is glazed in rich blue and just a hint of ash along the rim. The bright white porcelain clay allows the bright blue to pop. It's a versatile size and could be used as a small serving piece, a simple home decor item with potpourri or small fruit, a great catch all for keys or loose change, or as the base for a floral arrangement. (6 inches wide and 3 inches deep)

Here's a great example of using pottery in an arrangement.
Ready to enter? Hop on over to the shop and tell us about your favorite kind of pottery. If you've purchased from us before, think about what drew you in. If you haven't, think about something you like in our shop. What type of pottery is it? Do you prefer functional pottery like serving bowls and plates with a specific purpose? Does it help if you can imagine it in your own home and know exactly how you'll use it, like coasters or trivets? Or do you prefer to splurge on something unique like our jewelry that is more indulgent and less functional? Functional or fun? Abstract or purposeful? You tell us.

Leave a comment on this post telling us what you think and an email address or link to your blog. We'll pick a winner in a week on Sunday, March 22, so enter now for your chance to win this bowl....

(Note: If you've noticed all of my personal comments, we've opened this up to friends and family who email me an entry.....not everyone is as blog savvy as our faithful blog readers : )

Get a second chance to win if you post a link to our shop and giveaway on your blog. Just leave a second comment letting us know and we'll enter your name twice!

Only available for shipment within the U.S. You must leave a way for us to contact you in order to win. Once notified of winning, you have one week to provide a shipping address or we'll pick another winner. Good luck!

Spring in Bloom

2009-03-11T17:26:00.004-04:00

Just a few lovelies added to the shop today....

Spring Green Bowl

Coyote Blue Fluted Shell Plate

More coyote blue plates on the way....

Facebook

2009-03-07T20:36:00.002-05:00

I finally caved in and created a personal Facebook page, but if you follow our Stone Lotus Pottery blog and have a Facebook account, become a fan with us there as well! Follow this link to see the SLP Facebook page.

Etsy Sale

2009-03-01T22:14:00.003-05:00

Some of the preview items are already in the shop, but also check out the latest sale items. All sale jewelry ships free with any other item. And a few new bowls and trivets on sale as well!

Happy shopping!

Preview Pictures

2009-03-01T17:27:00.008-05:00

So the last post was apparently a little mean. All this talk about new stuff without any pictures, what was I thinking?!? As always, if you see something you can't live without or want to give as a gift, just let me know and it's yours before it even hits the Etsy shop. I will be adding some tonight, though, so speak up!

Without further ado...

Coyote Blue Coasters (set of 4)

Kiwi Coasters (a more subdued design kiwi green and blue- set of 4 coasters)

Square Lace Plate in Coyote Blue

And another plate (both 7 inches square)

Love this Leaf Plate, forest green with the tips done in sunflower yellow and fire red. It's slightly deeper in the center like a candy dish and oh, so lovely!

More spoon rests, although there are two in the shop right now, so you may not see these there just yet. Let me know if you see a color you want, though.

A LARGE spring green and forest green bowl. 8 inches across and a good 3 inches deep

A large, deep bowl in oxblood red and ash on the rim

An abstract square shaped bowl in coyote blue (it will be in the "seconds" due to a small crack in the rim)

Love. Love. Love. Our Fluted Shell Plate in coyote blue.

An abstract lace pattern in coyote blue.
It's a small candy dish size, about 1 1/2 inches deep.
Small carved bowl in blackbird blue and cobalt blue

A new glaze called shino- an earthy brown, rusty red color.
This is a wide shallow bowl.

A wide shallow rim bowl in oxblood red and shiga.
Carved Rim Plate (this time with a green center!)
Scalloped bowl in cobalt and blackbird blue

We're working on our next giveaway, also! Stay tuned.

New Arrivals

2009-02-25T21:37:00.003-05:00

I haven't even had time to take pictures yet, but get excited. I just got two boxes of goodies from my mom.....more coyote blue, spring green, and plenty of plates, bowls, and spoon rests. I say this every time, but I may have a new favorite design. I'll just say, coyote blue....square plates....set of two....texture, texture, texture!

I will do my best to get these pictured and online over the weekend, but I just had to post a teaser....

And the winner is...

2009-02-14T10:45:00.003-05:00

And the winner is Debbie, comment #25....

Debbie says:
I loved the "Iron Yellow" glaze. It looks great on the bowl with the etching around the top. Also I like the bold splash of the "Cobalt Blue" glaze. These are great gifts. gtbdds@atmc.net

I am emailing you right now to get your info and hope you like your new coasters!

Thank you to everyone for participating. Our first giveaway had 8 entries and this one had 31! Amazing. And we really appreciate all the input as it will help us with new colors in the future.

Giveway Update

2009-02-08T09:41:00.004-05:00

ETA: And the coyote blue bowl flew out the door last night! I knew that was coming....it was just so unique. So it goes with pottery, it's all one of a kind in some way or another, but I'm sure we'll try something like that again. We promise : )

For Patty, of course family is still eligible, you are some of our best customers, so it only seems fair. That, and you are family and also a friend, and then some of our friends are as close as family. The line gets a little blurred : )

And Melanie bought the spring green plate last night, so it's gone! All of these glazes came from a special class in January, so it might be a little bit before we see more in the shop. But it looks like coyote blue and spring green are a must have in the future. Mom might have a few more pieces that came out of the last firing of her January class, but I'm not sure. For February, she's back at Jeffcoat so we should see more red then.

I'm out of town for the weekend, but look for the rest of those preview items including the spoonrests to get in the shop early this week.

February Giveaway!

2009-02-06T14:06:00.005-05:00

Time for another Stone Lotus Pottery giveaway. This time we chose this new set of coasters glazed in walnut spice. It is a sample of some of the new glazes and pieces we're adding in February. See our last post for a preview of the latest. They will be making their way into the shop over the next several days. The coyote blue bowl and the spring green plate are already there.

Hop on over to the shop and tell us your favorite glaze color or combination of colors. Is it the bold oxblood red? Or the soothing greens like aribe? Or the glossy black shiga and white in our jewelry? Leave a comment on this post telling us what you think and an email address or link to your blog (we have to let you know if you win after all : ) We'll pick a winner in a week on Friday, February 13, so enter now for your chance to win these coasters....

Get a second chance to win if you post a link to our shop and giveaway on your blog. Just leave a second comment letting us know and we'll enter your name twice!

New Class, New Glazes, New Pieces

2009-02-05T21:09:00.001-05:00

As promised...the latest additions to Stone Lotus Pottery. Mom's studio decided to close for January (a notoriously slow month in retail and just about any business), so she looked for another place to continue to learn and work on new pieces. She has her own wheel at home, but no kiln yet, so she needs a place to fire everything and of course, to continue learning. She found a class at a local art gallery and was able to work with new clay, learn some new techniques, and work with brand new glazes and colors. The results are just beautiful and we hope you like them as much as we do.

These pictures are just previews, taken on the old coffee table I use as "command central" in our pottery room, so forgive me. No natural light, no props, just a preview for our faithful readers. Look for these to be added to the shop over the next week or so, but of course, let us know if you see something you would like for yourself or as a gift.

We're introducing spoonrests....perfect hostess gifts and great colors. I'm especially fond of the new spring green.
More of that fabulous spring green and forest green in a large scalloped plate. This one is a biggie coming in at 10 inches in diameter.

And this bowl is by far my favorite....a super cool glaze called coyote....it is a beautiful combination of blue, brown, and all the shades in between. It's another big one at 10 inches across and over 5 inches high.

And the outside is even better!

Abstract look by brushing on the glaze...another large shallow bowl in antique jade and royal blue, a little over 8 inches across.

Coasters have proven a tad challenging for so many reasons but these are a beautiful speckled set in a walnut spice.

A beautiful plate in royal blue and rafia.

Large, deep bowl in a muted earthtone....will have to work on capturing the color a bit better in pictures.

Another large bowl in a glaze called kiwi....love it! We're working on the bigger sizes that everyone is asking for!

We had a dish similar to this in blackbird blue last fall, but I think the rafia glaze brings out the pattern that much more.

And a little bit of jewelry, of course. More black and white (I have several new black earrings for all of you who have the black and white pendants from Christmas.)

Mom is heading back to Jeffcoat Pottery in February, so we'll promise more red pieces (a special glaze that only fires in gas kilns) and I know I can't wait.

Brand New

2009-02-05T06:58:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the unintended hiatus, but get excited. I just received 2 boxes full of Mom's latest creations. She took a new class at a new studio in January and has some really interesting pieces ready for the shop. I plan to post a mini-preview here on the blog tonight or tomorrow morning (when I finally get a day off). Start thinking about spring birthdays, Mother's Day, graduations....stay tuned. We'll also have another giveway as well!

Wish Lists

2009-01-21T18:24:00.004-05:00

With Valentine's Day coming up, a friend gave us a terrific idea.

Create your own Stone Lotus Pottery wish list!

If any of you have your eye on jewelry or some pottery, send us an email with the item name and the person you would like us to contact with your secret wishes. We can be subtle or downright obvious depending on how much help your significant other might need : ) And we'll even throw in gift wrapping free for Valentine's Day so there's no excuses!

Use the Contact Us button over there in the sidebar on the right or send an email to

stonelotuspottery [at] gmail [dot] com

(without all the crazy formatting of course, we just don't need any spam : )

Best Seller

2009-01-14T23:08:00.003-05:00

This necklace was our best seller during the Christmas shopping season! It sold out several times before I could even get it into our shop, but now is your chance....

Those teal carved earrings from last night already sold, so consider this fair warning : )

New Earrings

2009-01-13T23:52:00.001-05:00

Check out the latest earrings just added to the shop.

Shiga Triangle Earrings

Iron Oxide Shell Earrings

Teal Carved Earrings

Brand New Necklace

2009-01-12T22:46:00.001-05:00

Just added tonight....

And the winner is....

2009-01-11T19:07:00.003-05:00

....Avery & Hailey (aka Beth!)

Congrats on being our first winner! The husband did the honors to keep everything fair. We even used this beauty to hold the names.

Thanks for all the blog love from everyone and stay tuned for another giveaway soon.

Our First Giveaway!

2009-01-05T23:39:00.005-05:00

Edited to add: get a second chance to win if you post a link to our shop and giveaway on your blog. Just let us know in the comments and we'll enter your name twice!

It's about time, right? We've listed new items in the shop to start off the year with a bang. Larger bowls, new plates, small bowl sets, and the return of the favorite deviled egg plate. A few new jewelry designs to come and here's a chance to win something brand new!

Hop on over to the shop and tell us about your favorite item, new or not. Leave a comment on this post telling us about that item and an email address or link to your blog (we have to let you know if you win after all : ) We'll pick a winner next Sunday, January 11, so enter now for your chance to win these carved button earrings....

Etsy Feature

2009-01-05T07:56:00.000-05:00

Stone Lotus Pottery was featured on Blue Moss! Check it out here.

I've posted about Blue Moss before, but Michelle deserves another mention. She is a local Greenville gal and makes beautiful things that give you that just-have-to-have-it kind of feeling. Check out her shop and one of my favorites....

make mine sparkly

End of Year Sales!

2008-12-26T16:11:00.005-05:00

Not to be left out of the end of year sales, check out Stone Lotus Pottery for our newest sale items as we make room for our 2009 inventory!

As time permits, I'll be updating our shop with more sales on select items and reduced shipping on others. For now, check out our sale section and great deals on Christmas ornaments. Tuck these away for your tree next year, or to give as gifts to your neighbors, teachers, or as hostess gifts.

These are sets of 3 for $4 or $5 a set!

And these medallion ornaments are just $2 each. We have 5 each in iron yellow and iron oxide and they are beautiful together. Reduced shipping on each additional ornament you buy, so grab a set. If not, they'll be on my tree next year : )

Friendly Reminder

2008-12-13T11:15:00.001-05:00

I've been busy adding the last of our jewelry and pottery pieces to the shop. I just wanted to remind everyone, we set Monday as the deadline to guarantee delivery by Christmas, but we will take orders as long as they keep coming in. I know someone other than us is still doing Christmas shopping, so feel free to stop in and see what's new.

For my own sanity, I'm done posting everything we plan to include in the shop before Christmas. I have to spend a little time on our own shopping, baking, and Christmas cards, so the Stone Lotus shop is fully stocked for Christmas. Mom and I are planning to discuss our plans for next year when we see each other at Christmas. We have so many new ideas and directions we would like to explore, so stay tuned in the new year! (Hopefully some rings and some wall hangings and other home decor items! You know you're excited!)

And it goes without saying, my mom and I send a big thank you to all of our family and friends who have supported us this year. It's just amazing to see the response from all of you and we are truly grateful!

Merry Christmas from Stone Lotus Pottery!

A Handmade Christmas: Baking

2008-12-11T10:13:00.002-05:00

Another easy type of baking to do during the holidays is brownies and bars. My mom and I have made these raspberry bars before and my dad loves them. You can substitute any flavor preserve or nuts, so mix it up depending on what you have an what you like. Bars are quick and easy and like breads, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Cut them into little squares and package them in cellophane bags with a bow and you're all set. These also freeze well. Use tupperware or disposable metal pans to layer the bars between wax paper. Cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.

Raspberry Bars

1 recipe makes an 8x8 pan, double for a 9x13

2 1/4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup softened butter

1 egg

10 oz. raspberry preserves

Combine all ingredients except preserves. Beat at low speed for 2 -3 minutes. Coat pan with nonstick spray. Press half of the dough (roughly 1 1/2 cups) into the bottom of your pan. Top with preserves and remaining dough crumbles. Bake at 350 F for 42 - 50 minutes. Should be just lightly browned. Watch the edges and turn down to 325 F if it's browning too quickly around the edge. I like to use glass pans so I can see what's going on.

New Finds

2008-12-09T21:22:00.001-05:00

I've been busy adding new items to the shop for all of you still shopping (that includes us, too, so don't feel bad!) Don't hestitate, though. Our shipping deadline is fast approaching!

A Handmade Christmas: Baking Part 3

2008-12-06T16:40:00.000-05:00

I know you all have been busy baking and squirreling away all of your sweet treats in your freezers. Cookies and breads and candy. No? That's okay. I just started on Thursday night, so you have plenty of time. I baked enough for 3 packages Thursday night and thought it would be a perfect time to take pictures for all of you since I promised some packaging ideas. Just a few extra touches will make your packages stand out. It's worth a little extra time. This is your handmade gift after all : )

Here are my loaves of bread, cooled and wrapped in plastic wrap.

Then you'll need a few supplies. Ribbon, of course. This year I found the top and bottom ones at Sam's Club (only $8 for 50 yds - a steal) and the middle one is a Hobby Lobby staple and I catch it when it's 50% off, so only $4 for 30 yds.

A few gift bags or boxes, some clear or colored cellophane (not the shrink wrap gift basket stuff, just plain cellophane), gift tags, and cards if you send Christmas cards.

Some tissue paper or I've even used Christmas napkins.

Start with a piece of cellphone (it's clear so it's hard to see), a layer of tissue paper or the colored napking (face down of course), and your bread. You'll need more than you think. Give yourself plenty of material to work with, you can always trim the tops later. This one is about 2 to 2 1/2 feet long.
I find it's easiest to grab two opposite corners and scrunch first.

Then grab the other two sides. Not sure why, but this is much easier than grabbing all four at once.

Tie with ribbon and slide on a gift tag so you can write what it is. Surprises are fun, but with so many food allergies out there, it's better to be safe on this one.

I like to leave the ends tall, you'll see why later.

I also wanted to add a few pumpkin muffins to this bag, so I reached for these cellophane bags. I prefer not to use zip top bags. The cellobags are readily available at craft stores like Hobby Lobby or even stationery stores like If It's Paper and it will really complete your gift!

Use these bags for mini muffins, cookies, or candy. They come in a variety of sizes, but remember you will need to leave the top half or so empty to have enough room to tie them up.

Put your goodies in a gift bag, or a decorator box, or get creative. Baskets, mixing bowls, stockings, and pottery could be used just as well. I've found fun boxes at World Market, Garden Ridge, and Hobby Lobby. And look for sales on gift bags at stores like Old Time Pottery. I found these for only $.60 plus 50% off. Remember the long ends? It means I need less tissue paper in the bag.

I can't always find clear cellophane and this time of year, green and red looks great, too. Here is a green one I did. Love the ribbon on this one.

This one was for our neighbor, so I added some stationery from Fostering Creativity and the package was complete.

Some may argue that all this packaging is wasteful and unnecessary. I argue that if you're going to give a gift, it should look like you took a little time to put it together. You can choose recycled products, reuse gift bags you received, and search your closets for other baskets and containers you might have on hand already. Presentation is half of the gift, and it's the first half. Make a statement and let the recipient know you care. Plus, I find all the ribbons and paper fun, so I love it!

Have fun baking and wrapping. I'll have another good recipe for Raspberry Bars next.

Knock Outs

2008-12-03T01:30:00.002-05:00

Proven quite popular already, check out the new additions to the shop