WillowAK Pottery

  A dmittedly, I do love making pottery when inspired to do so. It's satisfying to wire off a slice of porcelain from a 25# chunk that has traveled from Tacoma to Alaska. In the past, I would order a palette of porcelain that came by barge to Anchorage, by Span Alaska to Wasilla, and finally to Willow in our Ridgeline. Each 50# box contains two 25# bags of porcelain.  Once unloaded and stacked under the studio, I was set with a good clay supply for months. Keith would deliver the bags as needed.  R ecently, we shifted to a USPS delivery of only a few boxes at a time, not knowing how long the hands, back and joints will hold up, and not wanting Keith to navigate the outdoor stairs year-round to retrieve boxes of clay from under the studio. So now, it's fewer boxes at a time, stored in the garage for easy  access. Although Flat Rate helps, just getting the wet clay to Willow is expensive, but isn't most everything these days?  I'm grateful we get it here as easily...

🎶🎶🎶🎶 ... said the night wind to the little lamb These are lyrics from a Christmas song "written in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis as a plea for peace. The lyrics reflect a hope for peace on Earth..." which is our hope for people around the world. The lyrics, by Noel Regney, conclude with, "The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night, He will bring us goodness and light, He will bring us goodness and light."  That, too, is our hope for the future: goodness and light!   Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.   May we all spread goodness and light in 2025!  Keith and Carol 🎶🎶🎶🎶   🎶🎶🎶🎶   🎶🎶🎶🎶 ___________________________________ What I see tonight are tables loaded with pottery in my studio.  All you see here are made  of porcelain. Samples of recent pieces should enlarge when clicked. Small rectangular dish Disks for floral arrangements Butter crocks or butter bells Covered container, mug, shallow dish, vase  Yarn bow...

Today, the final kiln of 2024 was unloaded! New pieces. New forms. New glaze combos. Come see. The plan is to post images here on Dec. 15, showing some of the new work.  The studio will have lots of "open" time between now and Christmas.  Some hours will be announced, but there's no need to wait for that. Simply send a text to be sure we are at the studio and we'll agree on a good time for you to come.  (907-360-3696) We are on Shirley Lake, less than 10 minutes from the Willow Library and Community Center. (25879 W Southlake Dr.) Do you want to select...or do you want to  invite and enable  someone else to select for themselves?    If the latter appeals, consider:     That's all I will say, now.  Check back in a couple of days for photos of new work. There's likely someone on your list who loves pottery. Many do! 😊                  Hope to see you soon. Thanks. ~ Carol  

 Wow!  Thanksgiving was wonderful!  Hope yours was as well.   How soon the calendar turned to December, though!     Please check previous postings on this blog to see samples of finished pottery pieces.   Tonight, I'm showing only paperwhites in our garage and  the bisqueware in the studio to be glazed and fired this week.          Yes, there are new pottery pieces underway!  Available soon in a studio near you...if you live in MatSu! Or, drop me a note for more information if you don't live near our Willow studio. I will post images of these pieces, glazed and fired again, when they are completed. Thanks for checking back in about a week.  ~ Carol

 A new batch of clay has arrived, the "to do" list has grown, and it's time for the potter to focus. Much as I love studio time, I am doing less of it these days.  Too many other community involvements, perhaps,  one distraction after another, and yes, the pace and productivity have slowed. After this weekend of CERT training, my goal is to shuffle priorities a bit to spend more time with clay....new ornament designs, nativity sets, mugs, trays and bowls of many sizes, butter crocks, and more. Have some colored clay accents to try and there is a growing list of requests to address, including some promised donations.  So, you ask, why are you sitting at the computer typing? Too late for clay tonight. Hmmm....maybe I should make this blog a progress report of what I'm getting done in the studio each day. Can't start until Monday, but will give it a try next week. I do like lists and the satisfaction of a  ✅. Monday:  Veterans Day, recuperating from two-day CE...

 I like to show a few of the newest pieces from the kiln so you have a better idea of what to expect in the studio on the Willow Garden Tour...which happens TOMORROW! This is a design you will see on many of my pieces  going forward. Carved, stamped, Alaskan. "Spruce and Moose" is the theme. Think small pitcher, heart bowl, toothpick holder, treats or coins. Or think anything you'd choose to put in these pieces. Vase, covered dishes, holder for large sponge. Floral arrangement bowls or mosquito coil holders. A French butter dish assembled. It takes two parts: water in bowl on the left; butter pressed into the one on the right, which is flipped over onto  the bowl with water. Leave on the counter, without refrigeration and with soft butter. One fish, two fish, three fish platter for treats. Matching coasters to place under liquid treats. Cream-colored bowls.  Clean and simple.                 s "Spruce and Moose" mug up close. T...