WillowAK Pottery

Another successful social and sales event last Saturday -- the Willow Holiday Studio Art Tour.  Thanks to all who participated in one way or another. We  have some winners to announce: Marian Charles, Sue Schachle, and Sue Gress had their names drawn for door prizes or gift certificates; Patty Bills and Shannon Morgan were high bidders on the silent auction items, which will benefit Willow's Grow Your Library Fund.  Thank you, bidders, for supporting this effort, and congratulations to all the winners! Our three studios will have some open hours during the holiday season. Please check to make arrangements when you don't see an "open" sign at one you would like to visit. Bonnie's Aurora Borealis   (907) 715-8011 Willow Creek Studio  (907) 229-6422 WillowAK Pottery (907) 360-3696  Thanks, again, for coming out for the Holiday Studio Art Tour...and Happy Holidays to All! 

Took some quick photos around the studio this afternoon and decided to post some to give you an even better idea of what you can expect to find here on Saturday.  Yes, the Willow Studio Art Tour is THIS coming Saturday, Dec. 3, and  includes three studio stops. If you're new to the tour, start at Willow Creek Studio at mile 69.5 for details -- otherwise start at any of the three participating studios.  In the last several posts to this blog, I've shown pieces awaiting you at WillowAK Pottery on Shirley Lake; here's a peek at a little more of what you'll see: Bill's beautiful cutting boards. In a variety of beautiful woods. and with fine craftsmanship, is a collection of cutting boards.  Yes, that is the hammock and snow covered lake out the window. Willow is a winter wonderland all of a sudden! Along with the cutting boards, Bill has introduced a family of Willow birch snowmen to the tour, and they'll be a nice addition to the homes of those who app...

Porcelain Ornaments ... something for everyone! Yes, creatures of Mother Nature are ready for adoption. Certainly you have friends who would like a handmade Alaskan ornament to remind them of a previous or planned visit.  Think hostess gift, housewarming gift, thank-you gift, stocking stuffer, get-well gift, baby gift, happy holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and "random acts of kindness." The images below show some, but not all of the ornament styles available. Several of these can be personalized with names if you so desire:

There's a fox in the fog and snow if you look closely.   Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Love that it's all about family, friends, and food, without being as commercialized as other holidays.  Over the years, friends who bake wonderful pies have revealed that they often don't get their pie plates returned; those clear glass Pyrex pie plates somehow get added to a stack of similar pie plates in a kitchen away from home, so replacements are needed.  Sound familiar?  I've had requests for "personalized pie plates" and other requests for any pie plate that will stand out from the Pyrex collection.  Unloaded a few like that from the kiln yesterday: Same snowfall... enjoyed by a rascally rabbit. Not much snow outside in Willow yet,  but it was time to make some happen in the studio.   Although these are referred to as "pie plates," they serve well for baking rolls or brownies, for serving cookies or bars, for prese...

Come One...Come All.  All three studios have LOTS of new work to show you!  Keith just selected a favorite mug today and, after testing it out, gave it his verbal stamp of approval declaring, "It's great!"  Yes, he may be a bit biased.  Here's what he chose: You, too, may find a new favorite mug on Dec. 3!

Wow...I just received photos of pieces Melinda has ready for the Dec. 3 Studio Tour in Willow, so want you to see these beauties, too.   Table runner, hot pads, mug rugs, coasters, etc.  Cute! Hummingbird...note the detail!  Elegant! Approx. 10" circle. Table topper. Festive! Approx. 15" octagon. Wall hangings.  Alaskana! Approx. 14"x16". After viewing these images, scroll down to see Art Tour Sampling - Part One , also posted Nov. 10. We plan to have something for everyone by the time Dec. 3 rolls around.  See you then?

You know there will be lots of pottery at the WillowAK Pottery Studio on Dec. 3 -- date of the Willow Holiday Art Studio Tour, and if you've come in the past, you know there will also be a fun collection of quilted pieces created by Joan Edwards and by Melinda Dale, as well as wood pieces by Bill Dale.  Yes, felted clogs will also be available. Here are a few photos to give a sampling of new wood, quilted, and felted pieces created for the tour shoppers:  In addition to what is available at WillowAK Pottery, there is beautiful work at Willow Creek Studio and at Bonnie's Borealis Glassworks.  Are you planning to visit our three studios on Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:00- 5:00?    Hand knit clogs of 100% wool have been knit and felted to provide a toasty footwear that molds to your foot.  If there is a special image you'd like to see on a custom pair,  now is a good time to let me know.  Some like them plain, some like them with a pop of c...

The temp is in the twenties tonight -- and it's time to talk pottery once again.   I have been making work since last posting and am now gearing up for the Dec. 3 Willow Holiday Studio Art Tour.   Mark you calendar now, to save the date!   We studio artists are committed to making it worth your while to visit the participating studios -- for a good time and great gift selections . A look at some new work: Silk screening adds interesting images from Mother Nature. You'll see screened images on many different forms -- plants, animals, and birds. Yarn bowls are back in town! Berry bowls have returned, too. Some yarn bowls are headed to your local yarn shops Others await visitors to the studio. It's not too early to select for holiday giving! The mug rack is full -- with variety in shapes, sizes, and glazes. Glazing yet to be done on large trays. Trays of various shapes and sizes. Glazing yet to be done...

If you missed the earlier posting with Studio Art Tour winners, here they are: Gretchen Stoddard - Willow Creek Studio Fran Lynch - Bonnie's Borealis Glassworks Alea Sidelinger - WillowAK Pottery Congratulations!  * * * For folks who did not get to the recent studio tour, here are some of the ornaments and buttons now available.  Check with your local gift shop or yarn/quilt shop -- or contact me and I can tell you where they are available, in addition to at my studio in Willow. All are made of porcelain ... with a generous pinch of personality added.  On most of the ornaments, I am happy to add a name upon request, if you want it personalized. Button cards typically sell for $12,  moose ornaments $15, fox and fish $12, all others $10. No charge for personalizing at the studio, but there will a shipping cost if you can't stop by.  Unique, handmade, affordable gift items. 

Last Saturday turned out to be a great day in Willow, indeed.   Those who participated in the 5K Fun Run reported nice conditions and good exercise, with plenty of time remaining for the Studio Art Tour and the Plant Sale Fundraiser for the library.  We saw lots of familiar faces as well as new faces on the tour, and folks seemed pleasantly surprised by what was being offered in the way of handmade pieces of glass, wood, fiber, clay, etc.   Won't go into a lot of detail, but by the end of the day many creations found new homes, folks had shopped for gifts --wedding, birthday, housewarming, hostess, and more -- and selected pieces for their own homes and collections. In many ways it was a beneficial event, thanks to those who came out to see and support artistic and fundraising efforts in the community.  Lots of socializing and positive spirit along the way.  Yes, three gift certificates were awarded; congratulations to our winners:  • Gretchen Sto...

Yes, the fiber and wood arts are displayed and ready for Saturday's tour.  If you missed seeing something in an earlier posting, this gives you another chance to preview the beautiful pieces made by Melinda, Bill, and Joan. I may not have the captions just right, but a picture is worth 1,000 words...right? Beautiful boards Colorful table runners Totes, baskets, bags Rolling pins, earring rack, cutting board Wall hangings More totes  and table runners Quilted placemats and woven mats A collage of color!