Special Delivery

Two new card designs. Sidesaddle for a bon voyage, and Be still my heart, because its almost June and you know what that means. Love is in the air.

Blueberry Moon

The first (and only) time I visited Paris, my husband and I were on a finite budget. My only purchase was a card I found on a rotating rack right on the Rue de Nord. I only have to look at that card again to see wide streets, smell the bread baking from the boulongeries and remember gawking at Pissaros and Sisleys while it rained outside the Impressionist Museum.

Now I make cards. Each one is assembled by hand, signed and dated. I like being a small part of the long tradition of this affordable craft.

Freshly Sprouted

I think I've found the perfect bowl slump mold. It's from the forties, and at 8 1/2 ", it's low and wide enough for cereal and fruit, chicken and dumplings or can be used to serve a side of spring green peas. Since its molded, that means the bowls are pretty much uniform and stackable. The pitcher is slab-made too, and scalloped at the rim with an added spout to make for better pouring. I'm making two deliveries this week, one to Bonnie at Birds, http://www.2birdsofafeather.com/ and one to Hands Gallery in San Luis Obispo. More on Hands Gallery in my next blog entry. For now, would you please pass the peas?

Here Comes Spring

Sleeper Awaken. There's an entire extra hour each day now to plant out vegetable seeds, bake an indulgent dessert for your paramour or watch the birds zip around your garden. Every year I have a pair of bluebirds inspect a birdhouse under a pine tree, hoping they'll set up house. They are a true harbinger of spring and besides, they bring fierce good luck. Hope one visits you soon.

Spring Show in Cambria

On March 1st, my pottery will be included in an annual show at Birds of A Feather in Cambria, California, right here in my home town. Bonnie finds wonderful things, homey, farmy and charming and there are homemade snacks too. She is celebrating Spring, and the anniversary of the opening of her delightful shop. Hope to see you there. In case you can't make it, Bonnies' Web site is www.2birdsofafeather.com

Christmas Time is Near

I'm spinning as fast as I can! Deli creamers are one of the first vessels I made. They are small, about two to two and one half inches, just the right size for Maple Syrup, cheese sauce, individual olive oil or vinegrette. They can be heated to hold warm Chocolate sauce too. Don't forget the brandy sauce for your Christmas pudding.

Old and New Friends

Yeehaw, what a great day. If you made it you know what a friendly group of people attended the Tancredi and Morgen show on Saturday. I enjoyed my rare visits with Anna Ball, Nancy, Gerry, Carolyn, Marsha and Meegan Alldis, who shared cheese facts from working at the Cowgirl Creamery in San Francisco. Note: True Gruyere is from Switzerland and not France, and should be aged in a cave to acheive culinary greatness. I met Molly, Pam, Louise, and Vallen Queen who has a chatty and fun blog, queenlythings.typepad.com/

There must be a connection between making pottery and baking, because I find rolling out a piecrust as satisfying as throwing a soup bowl. My prize from the show is Tartine, a baking book with real-deal recipies for pastries and breads. The first thing I'll make is the chocolate souffle cake for my husband, who toted every single piece of pottery from the trunk to my table with the resident light in his eyes and never a grumble.