tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885477920220496492024-03-05T00:37:11.022-08:00 Cheryl M. Takata: a blog about my pieces of clayCheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-31032491779492866462015-12-13T14:17:00.003-08:002016-10-24T00:10:15.182-07:00Happy holidays<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvOjoYyvMSpDLJ0iktnDCQBtTzew-BakH6zrAQkt32lLHIEHxZKMs27DaigeGtR_2z1ljUubmUJycapG-kEDAQAzgugY-HnMobdB6YRU-ZVsvshvC8Fhyphenhyphene4ZqcXRIZjwvpfIBAFNpQyo/s1600/3AnimalJars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvOjoYyvMSpDLJ0iktnDCQBtTzew-BakH6zrAQkt32lLHIEHxZKMs27DaigeGtR_2z1ljUubmUJycapG-kEDAQAzgugY-HnMobdB6YRU-ZVsvshvC8Fhyphenhyphene4ZqcXRIZjwvpfIBAFNpQyo/s400/3AnimalJars.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood-fired stoneware animal jars</td></tr>
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Here's one last post for the year. This fall I was able to produce a sizable amount of work to provide for the holiday shopping season at both the Toledo Museum of Art store and Hudson Gallery in Sylvania. I hope you have time to check out these places. There's so much by so many talented artists there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nmFrYu-FlD9u5NdaQqdFQAlVYfaJCQsPe6I194WA4BVea87sXLZVFTH1B5gFbKvLByaKPOCKGek7I45X_ZKYtZ5LI2GA0UCJFyBIFTM2-uCUMKKNxdwi6g7rPVDbP08DYvP2rJqwb3k/s1600/5Bowls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nmFrYu-FlD9u5NdaQqdFQAlVYfaJCQsPe6I194WA4BVea87sXLZVFTH1B5gFbKvLByaKPOCKGek7I45X_ZKYtZ5LI2GA0UCJFyBIFTM2-uCUMKKNxdwi6g7rPVDbP08DYvP2rJqwb3k/s400/5Bowls.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sgraffito porcelain bowls</td></tr>
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<br />Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-69707687105809468802015-08-31T14:29:00.000-07:002015-08-31T17:07:35.921-07:00Gallery opening this FridaySomething for everybody and everyone is invited.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZ_WaDdmJ8AogtvhRABSgdN4bXgSOOo6kwU5QqMH7fCyYbR5PgxNkoDB52Ol5pyKMDjRB8O3VJOBJfvB5sOHif_izUIE1oPqNfFHscq9fZWQQkqjuzR6PMigQpZ_Rez53-2IkGhVugD0/s1600/Double-Dozen-back-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZ_WaDdmJ8AogtvhRABSgdN4bXgSOOo6kwU5QqMH7fCyYbR5PgxNkoDB52Ol5pyKMDjRB8O3VJOBJfvB5sOHif_izUIE1oPqNfFHscq9fZWQQkqjuzR6PMigQpZ_Rez53-2IkGhVugD0/s400/Double-Dozen-back-2015.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tNdz4q3JH2yAjfnDvyEAr2OEJhHaHDZTYeqzSUIqzKY2qqWL_2jOGPs1Z6fAsy_UcMLZW4BbCA0Di3q1iiW8goH1MCS1LVw8UeSaB_WFlV3-XU9zmCnb-wTjqIbLtLpD_48ukpGTY_I/s1600/Double-Dozen-Front-Sept-201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tNdz4q3JH2yAjfnDvyEAr2OEJhHaHDZTYeqzSUIqzKY2qqWL_2jOGPs1Z6fAsy_UcMLZW4BbCA0Di3q1iiW8goH1MCS1LVw8UeSaB_WFlV3-XU9zmCnb-wTjqIbLtLpD_48ukpGTY_I/s320/Double-Dozen-Front-Sept-201.jpg" width="292" /></a><br />
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Too bad the hot weather has returned. Kiln openings, kiln firings and drop offs of new work, all on tap for this week. Keep cool.</div>
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background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-7303260381043663142015-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:002016-10-24T00:08:00.484-07:00That's a Takata, December was good.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWPmF07ZnK43zXVmHUP43RYOJjlg2zZllJR6w9uhaLaZABlmPq0bVyr7LZ5lkpeGk3NZUanJ2i3biQXCbWKaDGIRzFpEQpCyFKhxiiRSbzqCFQboQMAFhfRXyJUsYYdCx7JXa74AEMu8/s1600/AnimalGroup-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWPmF07ZnK43zXVmHUP43RYOJjlg2zZllJR6w9uhaLaZABlmPq0bVyr7LZ5lkpeGk3NZUanJ2i3biQXCbWKaDGIRzFpEQpCyFKhxiiRSbzqCFQboQMAFhfRXyJUsYYdCx7JXa74AEMu8/s400/AnimalGroup-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work from the Manabigama wood kiln</td></tr>
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I recently realized what is important to me is that it is not what I aspire to be but rather what I want my art to achieve. I often shy away from personal recognition or flattery however accolades that might be said for my work is gratifying. It is the reason why I create. If my work can please someone else, then I have done something worthwhile. So… "Hey, that's a Takata" is a whole lot better to hear than "Isn't she Takata?" Exhibiting in a show or a gallery setting focuses the attention on the work rather than myself. When people ask me why I don't do direct sales or art fairs, I guess I prefer that my public doesn't see me. Faintly aloof or maybe shy, in any case, I hope you can enjoy my art.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7wDqfUyLiXaMEC9esfDQpkGJcATYatUkBKS4q7ouYnDZ6hQAj8OvDEdsi9te7l87Ty6z2gKAIsrphCGJfyErfTu8FzDBOhTfelgjBlE2x9eS2mrcOIjzcXBKnITbZ6HwAKS0gs-SA3E/s1600/LongDog_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7wDqfUyLiXaMEC9esfDQpkGJcATYatUkBKS4q7ouYnDZ6hQAj8OvDEdsi9te7l87Ty6z2gKAIsrphCGJfyErfTu8FzDBOhTfelgjBlE2x9eS2mrcOIjzcXBKnITbZ6HwAKS0gs-SA3E/s1600/LongDog_4.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Dog #1</td></tr>
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A departure from making my "art bowls" is my new animal series. A little quirky, somewhat graphic and humorous, these animals are my prints in 3D. They have been fun to create.<br />
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When I started this post last month, I had just finished up probably the most labor-intensive period since I began working with clay. In addition to these critters shown, I still did make lots of bowls. My bowls seem to have the broadest appeal and I have always enjoyed their shape more than any other functional piece of pottery. This past November/December sales at the galleries seem to be my best period yet so it was worth the effort. I feel grateful and fortunate. With the holidays behind us and the decorations stored away, it's time to get back to work and build up some inventory. It would be nice to have actual inventory and be able to have time to reflect on the pieces I make. The holiday hiatus is over and it's time to get back to work. Winter is good for hibernation and working at my home studio.<br />
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I have been quite sporadic in my posts, I plan to be better. I do this blog as much for me (a cathartic journal/record), as to share them with those interested in my process. My next post I plan to dwell on the subject of being creative (or trying to be). Also, tiles! Happy 2015!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wkDEBFRfPcWGTPeHkWxnwSkKl1daOZQM2X-AsAova_aicCAjHyCAKZzSnmb4gTFZwnGdr-5VKtdNToGOa9AkziXSuf90z5IX7ub575splgYpqT5mMii_cR_aOTNvit1wqD0FbtR3t64/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wkDEBFRfPcWGTPeHkWxnwSkKl1daOZQM2X-AsAova_aicCAjHyCAKZzSnmb4gTFZwnGdr-5VKtdNToGOa9AkziXSuf90z5IX7ub575splgYpqT5mMii_cR_aOTNvit1wqD0FbtR3t64/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D588547792022049649%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D730326038104366314&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-qzcqoYjvnjE%252FVJez3YgiB5I%252FAAAAAAAAAsE%252FTqGpdvElTjw%252Fs1600%252FIMG_0475.JPG%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D588547792022049649%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D730326038104366314&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-qzcqoYjvnjE%252FVJez3YgiB5I%252FAAAAAAAAAsE%252FTqGpdvElTjw%252Fs1600%252FIMG_0475.JPG%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-89141796150662470512014-06-01T18:53:00.000-07:002016-10-24T00:32:45.651-07:00My ultimate studio<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELcz3PtZO8EPKa-QAOxGrXXCRQpXGKFk2hueDp1p0wliNPDQKCVbIAf5Th-1cCRORaAUXk3KpA5-wWrl1KyGDvIO6IHjtxOOlkTquNFiEuR0uRkAb9YWgqOdb0J0JiQDffqKo104SWJ8/s1600/3Bowls-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELcz3PtZO8EPKa-QAOxGrXXCRQpXGKFk2hueDp1p0wliNPDQKCVbIAf5Th-1cCRORaAUXk3KpA5-wWrl1KyGDvIO6IHjtxOOlkTquNFiEuR0uRkAb9YWgqOdb0J0JiQDffqKo104SWJ8/s1600/3Bowls-LR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latest sgraffito pieces available at the Toledo Museum Store</td></tr>
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After pondering for some time on whether to splurge or not, I finally went ahead and got the last two things I was wanting for my studio—<br />
a clay extruder and air conditioning. Christopher did another fantastic job with the installation on both. I feel very fortunate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpA9lxwE1Hz3ZCXRE0ueW1nRkob2YusdJAN260EAJkkwUU4_f_ih4s57Qj52L44d5spyrLXhUhyD8q4fCn95yWihBYv09ZK4fPMsiP49bqnYK3qr6sMtSivvlSJ0Kfm6mz7kl4iWRJqA/s1600/extruder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpA9lxwE1Hz3ZCXRE0ueW1nRkob2YusdJAN260EAJkkwUU4_f_ih4s57Qj52L44d5spyrLXhUhyD8q4fCn95yWihBYv09ZK4fPMsiP49bqnYK3qr6sMtSivvlSJ0Kfm6mz7kl4iWRJqA/s1600/extruder.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay extruder</td></tr>
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I ended up choosing the Bailey clay extruder with the new stainless steel body because it was recommended if using porcelain and white stoneware. With the addition of this piece of equipment, it is my intention to try some different techniques that I haven't done since I was in 577's ceramics studio.<br />
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The temperature-controlled air conditioner is really quiet with a remote control. The unit is wall hung so it doesn't impinge on my limited space and windows. This summer I will have no more excuses of being too hot. I'll now have to find some new reason for not getting work done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR8rbL2hhUvazHn0kYOLMU9mabi1Vz5NU1VRkb1zpMQwea6XJILLHkQ3hXT_6jshiY6Nin35tDW1WBMRrDPuZJoT99ox1PldEyeQ1XvWF3hTAhvw1aSLDOLq_8WwmKpCGNR82-jFL0_A/s1600/AC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR8rbL2hhUvazHn0kYOLMU9mabi1Vz5NU1VRkb1zpMQwea6XJILLHkQ3hXT_6jshiY6Nin35tDW1WBMRrDPuZJoT99ox1PldEyeQ1XvWF3hTAhvw1aSLDOLq_8WwmKpCGNR82-jFL0_A/s1600/AC.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air-conditioned comfort</td></tr>
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<br />Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-89965918652516414402013-08-27T11:21:00.000-07:002013-08-27T11:21:19.341-07:00Playing catch-up/Recent work<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9yLZ1kbdQhWb7Oy2jkdMwCe_UxJfAhV22VmrsLH6d6bgKsZoYvG9yaPuot5FGNxs_plob3wp5sbIEN_kDaKGCkkoDRFRr8x-Sq3Vi1SipeHzr-bTTUddTShKsidqLIjQ1ijPnqFmcuk/s1600/2Nekos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9yLZ1kbdQhWb7Oy2jkdMwCe_UxJfAhV22VmrsLH6d6bgKsZoYvG9yaPuot5FGNxs_plob3wp5sbIEN_kDaKGCkkoDRFRr8x-Sq3Vi1SipeHzr-bTTUddTShKsidqLIjQ1ijPnqFmcuk/s400/2Nekos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Maneki Neko (Beckoning Cat) is a common Japanese figurine which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. Since the Edo period (1603-1868) a cat is depicted with a paw upraised in the Japanese gesture of beckoning, drawing good fortune to individuals and businesses. </span></div>
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It's been over five months since my last post but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. Despite a family crisis, I have managed to keep working although I wish I could have been more productive. Any potter might agree that until your pieces have been through the multiple firings, you can't measure your success. I did some experimenting with new glazes and clay bodies and saw both failure and success.<br />
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I have been recalling and researching some of my Japanese heritage and letting it reflect the direction and themes of some of my recent work. Ceramic animals as sculpture and as functional pieces will continue to intrigue me. This past summer I have worked mostly in stoneware, rather than porcelain, for both wood-fired and electric-fired pieces. During this time, I was able to participate in two wood firings at the Manabigama Pottery Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Pleased with the outcomes and responses through sales of the wood-fired work, this encourages me to continue this avenue of working.<br />
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There are many things Japanese that are symbolic and thought to bring good luck. These are focus of some of the things I am creating. It is also my hope that my Japanese-inspired work that I sell at the Museum Store will complement the upcoming Japanese art prints exhibit coming this fall at the the Toledo Museum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH66jEoOr5CXCH7TSYor7D1GjO34-zWy7JURHaogtNBLXE8p8H1_ExXmoVFaQZ4FsnMGFZ0m-2nFQvHSHuKKPzpzrkBS-brjua8aMlU_k-Sk4as7Wr4i22ic-hqL10hdPRicN3c-BcW4s/s1600/MPCfiring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH66jEoOr5CXCH7TSYor7D1GjO34-zWy7JURHaogtNBLXE8p8H1_ExXmoVFaQZ4FsnMGFZ0m-2nFQvHSHuKKPzpzrkBS-brjua8aMlU_k-Sk4as7Wr4i22ic-hqL10hdPRicN3c-BcW4s/s320/MPCfiring.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latest work was unloaded from the Manabigama kiln last week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I commissioned John Thies to make this two magnificent <br />pots on which I added the surface details. <br />The pots were salt-fired in a wood kin.</td></tr>
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<br />Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-88586608563299175792013-03-16T19:03:00.000-07:002013-03-16T19:03:58.774-07:00Latest wood-fired results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mozzie the dog as a bowl. Photo by Tim Barret.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Tim Barret.</td></tr>
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Since there wasn't an opportunity to do a wood firing at the 577 Foundation for quite some time, it was fortuitous that John at the Manabigama Pottery Center offers drop-off wood firing. It couldn't been easier, you drop off your bisqued work and less than a week later, voila, it's done! Since I had not done any wood-fired work since August of 2011, it was a nice change of pace not to be concerned with slips or glazes. John was very accommodating in getting my work positioned in the kiln as I wished and I am quite pleased with the results. </div>
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Tim and I picked my clay order at the Guild today. I'm now ready to do lots of pots. I must admit that I am quite fortunate that I have a photographer as a spouse and one who also hauls clay!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AY4tujtDJTN4DT0z1w9AGTLj8EsGSxUD0sxT9xYKgpM5xKNwcSTZ0KzVZNa1N3As19goVsRLxyDe-rEWpo8ghZH7Xl8u_r_TYGp6AFQNaDXrEXxMr0-L8cHgrPJlYeEMi9Ad42V8798/s1600/web-gardenpots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AY4tujtDJTN4DT0z1w9AGTLj8EsGSxUD0sxT9xYKgpM5xKNwcSTZ0KzVZNa1N3As19goVsRLxyDe-rEWpo8ghZH7Xl8u_r_TYGp6AFQNaDXrEXxMr0-L8cHgrPJlYeEMi9Ad42V8798/s320/web-gardenpots.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>
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Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-19623775397738287372013-02-19T22:45:00.002-08:002013-02-19T22:45:29.494-08:00Good fortune<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkyI8ReRxY9hg1exhjsVCDr7N6hVUCZEgB432F9z5oVTzDOhyphenhyphen1Pali5vN9eViL9YZA4oEkrjJOehC_u0mGGBj5DCFAFggliPOEH54zR-pafvyKzrjv7CEwa29gCzZ567sWsiLZFknYpU/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkyI8ReRxY9hg1exhjsVCDr7N6hVUCZEgB432F9z5oVTzDOhyphenhyphen1Pali5vN9eViL9YZA4oEkrjJOehC_u0mGGBj5DCFAFggliPOEH54zR-pafvyKzrjv7CEwa29gCzZ567sWsiLZFknYpU/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My stoneware fortune cookies that are selling for $10 each at the Museum Store.</td></tr>
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It has been a while since my last post but I am happy to report that I have been back at work in the studio since the holidays ended.<br />
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The year started with making stoneware fortune cookies. I had given one as a gift to Heather, the retail manager of the Museum Store, right before Christmas. I had made it a long time ago at the 577 Foundation and she loved it so much that she asked me to make some to sell. I packaged them so the prospective buyer would know what fortune was in the cookie. The fortunes were mainly love sentiments, so they would be timely for Valentine's Day. I first brought in 24 cookies which nearly sold out and they asked for more. I made and brought in an additional 24 more earliler this month. They were featured in the Museum's email newsletter, ArTMAil. The cookies turn out to be a lucrative project. I was pretty "fortunate."Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-85903480973480643082012-12-18T07:29:00.000-08:002012-12-18T07:29:47.570-08:00Taking a clay break<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x61u5HtQFPKDJqW0Agu_QDXGhg-FHVF6tRKqOJcAlbJfVbJzA3KOXmzemViK4TlU5LfgHS7gQLwCkh3C9RNpbfAuSSVMSTMOiFgM4bTBv2z28yZiiKaAoziBKbHUBBaCK5XcYsr5lfM/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x61u5HtQFPKDJqW0Agu_QDXGhg-FHVF6tRKqOJcAlbJfVbJzA3KOXmzemViK4TlU5LfgHS7gQLwCkh3C9RNpbfAuSSVMSTMOiFgM4bTBv2z28yZiiKaAoziBKbHUBBaCK5XcYsr5lfM/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought I would be posting a pic of a snow-covered studio <br />but Mother Nature and Climate Change thought otherwise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Success</b>: My animal bowls made their <br />introduction in the galleries this season. <br />They included bunnies, birds, a dog, <br />a sheep and a ram.</td></tr>
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All is quiet in the pottery studio. After months of working at a frantic pace, the time to sit back and regroup has been long overdue. It's now time to reflect on both the successes and the failures that occurred during this holiday season. It's one thing for me to like something and another, to have a customer agree. Since sales have been really great this past year, it boosted my confidence on certain designs that I wasn't sure would suit my audience. I also rotated a few of my pots from one gallery to another when they were pulled from their inventory and they all<br />
sold immediately.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Unpopular</b>: I may end up with a <br />cupboard of these pieces.</td></tr>
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A series of pots that don't seem to be popular are my rust and white wax-resist pieces. I had made these at the potter's guild and they are made with terra cotta clay. I like them but judging from sales so far, I might be the only one. I also had some technical issues with some of them since it was a clay body I had not used before. I experienced some blistering, most likely due from too fast a firing. Back to the drawing board on this one.<br />
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Thankful that my work has been received so well, it provides the impetus to carry on and assures me that I was not crazy in having a studio built in the backyard last year. I look forward to experimenting with a few new techniques, new designs and improving on things I have tried before but not yet have abandoned. Bring on the new year—<br />
happy holidays!Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-59578941645339205282012-11-08T18:38:00.002-08:002012-11-08T18:38:41.450-08:00Where's the hand cream?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just out of the kiln!</td></tr>
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Most potters this time of year are working at a frantic pace to<br />
get work completed for galleries, shows or holiday gifts. I belong<br />
to this group, working to all hours and running my kiln twice a week. Working like I have and the onset of winter, I am constantly using<br />
hand cream to replenish the moisture the clay has drawn from my sandpaper-like hands. I remember when I was a youth, there was a Jergens hand cream commercial— "Would you shake hands with a hairbrush? A lobster claw?"<br />
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I have just started to make my rounds to drop off lots of new work at<br />
the three galleries which carry my work (listed in the right column).<br />
Currently exploring some new glaze colors, clay bodies and surface techniques, I am hoping that they are well received. I have also continued to do some of the motifs that have been popular in the past. </div>
Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-85100076260607706372012-10-06T17:22:00.001-07:002012-10-06T22:41:10.373-07:00Some new work<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGzqEW-Nz4f0q2JFH_VpmXuA3f0wkcXoWkVxUDlcmBIc_OkjcMc1lJZ1QjNTboz_OqBVGsadlk4CiOI2KLdS6Nr0MzcHv3ZQLRNJTfP9vVEGSRyky2Vg9Ta6C_BDBays9ZPxJQm7Mza0/s1600/2BirdBowls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGzqEW-Nz4f0q2JFH_VpmXuA3f0wkcXoWkVxUDlcmBIc_OkjcMc1lJZ1QjNTboz_OqBVGsadlk4CiOI2KLdS6Nr0MzcHv3ZQLRNJTfP9vVEGSRyky2Vg9Ta6C_BDBays9ZPxJQm7Mza0/s320/2BirdBowls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porcelain bird bowls for sale at the Museum Store.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiu-Ju7PfIFu4-Nw0UGekIneFaPeLcRIA9FIxscUihkqOCeZ1npQTdX1tQv-Myfupqp3a19MnxMT5j0yEuf9yaoKi7H0w5liRUrdq4VvN331bmKP14Jz_TfndBftQW7kq1oYv6ljMZbc/s1600/1BunnyBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiu-Ju7PfIFu4-Nw0UGekIneFaPeLcRIA9FIxscUihkqOCeZ1npQTdX1tQv-Myfupqp3a19MnxMT5j0yEuf9yaoKi7H0w5liRUrdq4VvN331bmKP14Jz_TfndBftQW7kq1oYv6ljMZbc/s320/1BunnyBowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunny bowl from the new stoneware animal bowl series.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkjVO_DZRz695Qce0uDaVq4bySaCUtOrJJx1CY_ociNjKhJd2O7lunbOtt_aqN54PVOZ5Qm5E_-GC92SLpvqzbWaqTHfd6BfhyphenhyphenhuOolihq8GmsanFwZL8NacfGQZM6DL5qvCbvmbGRlQ/s1600/1MozzieBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkjVO_DZRz695Qce0uDaVq4bySaCUtOrJJx1CY_ociNjKhJd2O7lunbOtt_aqN54PVOZ5Qm5E_-GC92SLpvqzbWaqTHfd6BfhyphenhyphenhuOolihq8GmsanFwZL8NacfGQZM6DL5qvCbvmbGRlQ/s320/1MozzieBowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bowl freaked out my dog Mozzie when I first<br />
made it. He obsessed over his likeness and tried to bite it!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSSFH_SDl6j2UyJNP-cYy8hwyjd5S4vPSFocdj0UxGbDUdRslu0DTuUuV4iEt1y8Utn4zcAuqW3xT5pWQ4krXXcanGUWK8Aj9kHgfBHZtlALEzOETf2VOb4FsWFt5S-TV-yCKULtq2Us/s1600/2birds-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSSFH_SDl6j2UyJNP-cYy8hwyjd5S4vPSFocdj0UxGbDUdRslu0DTuUuV4iEt1y8Utn4zcAuqW3xT5pWQ4krXXcanGUWK8Aj9kHgfBHZtlALEzOETf2VOb4FsWFt5S-TV-yCKULtq2Us/s320/2birds-face.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall plaque for sale at the Museum Store.</td></tr>
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<br />Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-70459974623028456252012-07-24T07:54:00.001-07:002012-07-24T08:36:48.096-07:00Summer funkNot sure if it has been the heat-causing laziness, an ailing mom, a new dog, or a focus on gardening, I just know my creative juices have not been flowing this summer. Or perhaps I have been spending too much time pinning on Pinterest. While it is a great resource for getting ideas, tips and hints, can it be that it is creating an inspiration overload?<br />
Or perhaps it was just time for a rest from my normally obsessive pottery passion. I just know that there are five in-progress pieces that are being regularly misted so they don't dry out before I finish them.<br />
C'mon creativity!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G1aW6hUVV19wvlQaZ-2rc7uM0svFdwdXNuvwNwBQNubcWdC7Fnq147eHvwpOppDyLAXk7nVI518H-WWdwyPeC2n3qOoZWBkbGLhiROuhMkEjIWKWd41JsnnpdIBqHwdYp0ts3oJxK_Q/s1600/BirdBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="<meta name="pinterest" content="nopin" />" border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G1aW6hUVV19wvlQaZ-2rc7uM0svFdwdXNuvwNwBQNubcWdC7Fnq147eHvwpOppDyLAXk7nVI518H-WWdwyPeC2n3qOoZWBkbGLhiROuhMkEjIWKWd41JsnnpdIBqHwdYp0ts3oJxK_Q/s320/BirdBowl.jpg" title="<img src = "foo.jpg" nopin = "nopin" />" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
From my last firing, a gift for my aunt for her 90th birthday.</blockquote>
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</tbody></table>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-20782519927821375992012-05-26T18:38:00.000-07:002012-05-26T18:38:31.006-07:00Ding-dong, garden bells!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My latest pottery jag is making hanging garden bells. They are fun to make—incorporating a little throwing, some big hand-built animal and round beads, and some Pacific coast driftwood. This bird bell measures 11-inches from the top of the bird to the bottom edge of the bell. It's the biggest one so far. Besides birds, other animals include a chicken, rabbit, fish and dog. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhczLm75YhUf78z-xLtmWCjJxSo0P6IGGWFBs4YxkUyQufNhZl7TZq8PoR6s0kirg0ayonYWTGNkdtNNZlb_pXWxkp_5w3yNF_0EXqK_FygT98i3xjAFadBpKpMstCPrlpbtHLUWVpzE/s1600/big+bell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhczLm75YhUf78z-xLtmWCjJxSo0P6IGGWFBs4YxkUyQufNhZl7TZq8PoR6s0kirg0ayonYWTGNkdtNNZlb_pXWxkp_5w3yNF_0EXqK_FygT98i3xjAFadBpKpMstCPrlpbtHLUWVpzE/s400/big+bell.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-56479738103436142732012-05-13T22:22:00.000-07:002012-05-14T06:28:48.270-07:00I cleaned house!It's hard to believe how many pieces of pottery that I have made and accumulated in this house over these past two years. Pieces that I deemed flawed, ugly or unsellable in galleries, were included in this weekend's spring pottery sale at the Potters Guild. The sale which coincides with the Toledo Botanical Garden's annual plant sale brought in a steady crowd. At first I was reluctant to participate however it was worth the effort monetarily and I got rid of a lot of excess inventory. Fifty to sixty pieces were sold at mostly bargain prices and I only brought home about 8 pieces which will now be donated to the 577 Foundation's Harrison Rally Day sale. Although I am very happy with the outcome, all in all, I still dislike peddling my pots and prefer letting the galleries do the selling for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnTT5X1IaCgtNpjHBsHIZ4EbkqzM4X7DGqIdfDfipei_z521mry2vA33ceKBLmAID1G9iukWQA6F6U4Y840eNZ6dXHjtzaE7EF77dImTVTJILEFM1qx3rpni5c_fhcfaJTRhEFpwvft0/s1600/sale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnTT5X1IaCgtNpjHBsHIZ4EbkqzM4X7DGqIdfDfipei_z521mry2vA33ceKBLmAID1G9iukWQA6F6U4Y840eNZ6dXHjtzaE7EF77dImTVTJILEFM1qx3rpni5c_fhcfaJTRhEFpwvft0/s400/sale.JPG" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott & I intermixed our work on these tables at this weekend's sale.</td></tr>
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<br />Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-42368942677956977132012-04-19T10:12:00.001-07:002012-04-19T15:27:43.132-07:00Busy April plus save the date!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-weight: bold;">Angelwood Gallery </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">celebrates spring </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">with art for your garden and home!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Printemps 2012</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica;">Opening: Saturday, April 28, 7 to 9 p.m.</span></div>
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I've been constantly busy since this seems to be the time of year "my" galleries are restocking their inventories—the museum store, Hudson and Angelwood galleries. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I lost some studio time when I was in Rhode Island visiting family so in hindsight it </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">was fortunate that my Florida girlfriends trip fell through due to flight cancellations.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I am debuting my wall plaques this month that I started working on this past winter. I like them and how often does that happen? I'm hoping others will too so I can keep making them. The plaques allow me to do the type of images that are similar to the linocut prints I had been making.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Angelwood </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">has an "garden-theme" opening on Saturday, April 28. It is always the "in" place to be that evening with food, friends and a stocked gallery. All the artists' best works are usually sold that evening. On Mother's Day weekend the Toledo Potters Guild has a seconds and clearance sale that coincides with the Toledo Botanical Garden plant sale. I'm just faced with the dilemma of selling what I consider to be seconds and clearance versus not selling and just discarding those pots so no one ever sees them. I'll have to decide soon but I did volunteer to work a few time slots during the sale.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Working in the my own studio is really the best—I can keep check on the kiln firings and pots drying, work at any hour and when something should go wrong, I am the only one to blame. However it has been fun working at the guild with Scott, Stan and all the ladies (too many to name) that I've gotten to know. It's really nice to eat out with, bounce ideas and learn from the other potters. At the guild, I am using stoneware, oftentimes brown, so it keeps it out of my home studio so there's no cross-contaminating. I am experimenting with different surface techniques, using their extruder and learning to make my own glazes in their chemicals lab. Up until recently, I have only been using the costly prepared glazes. My goal is to develop a few reliable glazes that can become my "signature" colors. It will save me a lot of money and I'll be able to depend on them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">In addition to being productive in the studio, these past months I took the online course on surface techniques with Diana Fayt. Although I did not keep up with the suggested projects, I did pick up a few worthwhile tips and some techniques that I had not tried before such as mono-printing on clay. It really was a great way to have a workshop without traveling and times when I wanted. Questions were answered, feedback on posted student work was given and there was chat group on Facebook. Diana also seems to be someone whose company I would enjoy. I'd do another if offered.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I really need to get out and start working in the garden however I've been told I have an OCD and it's clay-making!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVS-WrJPQY7bRLf_ubTmjbc7CTtUOOvIm2V2hKhFQv7KK-I6LIKwN9QkQQgq9IN9kTYlDBPPwBkfyDcdgswDnbLcLAQs7X9j4Pfvt42q_jD3A5SXufZDFqW8KQi6418FQtW_-g2b1XVc/s1600/HearNo+SeeNoCats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVS-WrJPQY7bRLf_ubTmjbc7CTtUOOvIm2V2hKhFQv7KK-I6LIKwN9QkQQgq9IN9kTYlDBPPwBkfyDcdgswDnbLcLAQs7X9j4Pfvt42q_jD3A5SXufZDFqW8KQi6418FQtW_-g2b1XVc/s320/HearNo+SeeNoCats.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't Ask Us, No. 2. </i>Remember my no. 1, a linocut print?</td></tr>
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</div>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-64405569149612235442012-03-12T17:58:00.000-07:002012-03-12T17:58:18.448-07:00New toy!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzouKNQFamN4JT2THh-yijMEwghOlswaCC1ZWAYxdIhuqmm9qH_h92F6urb39QlC47ySHbhFS2ymzV5BPedN_qLGAbkcr84N-uh0LH72dpvU32s3kN26YpZfK1Mb28GcWDUZN-MkZ1CMY/s1600/slabroller.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzouKNQFamN4JT2THh-yijMEwghOlswaCC1ZWAYxdIhuqmm9qH_h92F6urb39QlC47ySHbhFS2ymzV5BPedN_qLGAbkcr84N-uh0LH72dpvU32s3kN26YpZfK1Mb28GcWDUZN-MkZ1CMY/s400/slabroller.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New slab roller (ignore the mess in the background, it's my basement)</td></tr>
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Have neither time (or is it patience) to write on this blog right now. However, I am enjoying my (new to me) slab roller. I was able to buy it from Maggie, a fellow potters guild member, and it is in excellent shape. I could have managed without one but it sure is nice to have it. It makes perfect slabs. I plan on doing larger handbuilt pieces and this will come<br />
in handy.<br />
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This starts the third week of my e-course on ceramic surface techniques with Diana Fayt. I am picking up a lot of good ideas but have not been diligent about doing all the projects. Hopefully I will have more to post later after my Florida trip next week and the next wood kiln firing.Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-24680280675294729172012-02-11T20:01:00.000-08:002012-02-11T20:01:25.745-08:00A lot of fun going on!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc-lbCVBfSUWGsxUA069XJggcDGyd1OdPAhyOXcUohb05Ej3-BmJKbEsbVe4Efj5G49pUzdLrmKjfV-XAoPt8uboCsYLUUSG7J3KZaaddRJDs9cABJ6Ff6cesr4d3dm9BNPudC0YqKRk/s1600/432346_373109332715643_120144958012083_1480901_1829707215_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc-lbCVBfSUWGsxUA069XJggcDGyd1OdPAhyOXcUohb05Ej3-BmJKbEsbVe4Efj5G49pUzdLrmKjfV-XAoPt8uboCsYLUUSG7J3KZaaddRJDs9cABJ6Ff6cesr4d3dm9BNPudC0YqKRk/s400/432346_373109332715643_120144958012083_1480901_1829707215_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cups of Fire: 2012 National Ceramic Cup Exhibition </span></td></tr>
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It's already February and so much has been keeping me busy since the start of the year. Last month I made and dropped off 18 new pieces to the museum store last month. Sales have been excellent and I am so happy to be represented there.<br />
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Last month I was officially accepted as an active member at the Toledo Potters Guild located at the Toledo Botanical Garden. I attended my first meeting and have met some very nice potters and I now get to see some old friends as well. It's as much a social club as a place to do pottery. It is my intention to try some different clay bodies and experiment with different techniques since I have access to lots of chemicals and equipment there. So far, I've made several pieces and had several lunches with friends including long-time friend, Scott. I am also able to order my clay through them so I can get the maximum large-order discount. I expect to get about 500 pounds of clay sometime next week.<br />
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Tim and I went up this past weekend to see Cups of Fire: 2012 National Ceramic Cup Exhibition at the Clay Gallery in Ann Arbor. They did a wonderful job setting up this show. I am happy to have three cups included alongside the work of some notable ceramic artists. <br />
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You might have noticed that I renamed this blog, formerly <i>Cheryl Takata Ceramics</i>, to<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><span style="font-style: italic;">Bits of clay</span>, to differentiate it from my website which bears the same name. I also did it to distinguish this blog from my other blog, <a href="http://print2clay.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>yackety-yack</i></a>.<br />
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Recently I have been at the 577 Foundation making a few pots so I can participate in the student wood kiln firing that will be done in March. It is always a fun time. All these activities have not deterred me from working in my favorite space, my own studio. In fact, my newest projects are wall platters/plaques. I love making them and it is my hope others will like them as much as I do. We shall see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFyXD4uordGnodj7huZPO7eWtVu4nUUq02XICsgVblg7pc96eHkC_C2wuD4ImWxnkEY6juvlXm7FxLGLGL4Dn-I-ETxv72YLN8i-ag1mQsnvfyhb0NeL2838Qa1QXpabAcKY3oBn4qvM/s1600/RabbitPlate1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFyXD4uordGnodj7huZPO7eWtVu4nUUq02XICsgVblg7pc96eHkC_C2wuD4ImWxnkEY6juvlXm7FxLGLGL4Dn-I-ETxv72YLN8i-ag1mQsnvfyhb0NeL2838Qa1QXpabAcKY3oBn4qvM/s400/RabbitPlate1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New work:<i> Running Rabbit</i> wall plaque </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-39533936180187360772012-01-24T22:56:00.000-08:002012-01-24T22:56:27.653-08:00Enrolled in a ceramics e-course!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimriKOKIrIL3_PGXn9YbZUTkwST-F2mOcRELbSKbHvS54eTQA31qAxyeMcha0coWY6enFQ5T_NBTLRFh7ORKZblCx7WzMX0mMSv-Z4wrYIRrnC149zAAK2Sc-uAHbY2VFWqIhKk_vbadE/s1600/The+Clayer-Button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimriKOKIrIL3_PGXn9YbZUTkwST-F2mOcRELbSKbHvS54eTQA31qAxyeMcha0coWY6enFQ5T_NBTLRFh7ORKZblCx7WzMX0mMSv-Z4wrYIRrnC149zAAK2Sc-uAHbY2VFWqIhKk_vbadE/s1600/The+Clayer-Button.jpg" /></a></div>For the past year I have been following the work of a California artist, Diana Fayt. A potter friend, Ginny, got me started when she gave me an old <i>Ceramics Monthly</i> (June/July/August 2009) which featured Diana's work on the cover and an inside feature. She thought that I'd relate to her work and she was so right and I have often wondered about some of Diana's ceramic surface techniques.<br />
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Then potter Kristen Kieffer posted a link on Facebook to Diana's e-course offering on ceramic surfaces. It was just the professional development I was looking for—hands-on projects, work from home (no traveling), on my own schedule, instruction and feedback from someone whose work I admire. The course lasts 6 weeks and starts at the end of February. I'm not sure exactly how it all will work but it appears Diana has it pretty well organized. I'm already enrolled, have seen the suggested supply list (which I already have most items), joined the private Facebook group to interact with the class, joined the private Flickr group to share images of group's work. I'm psyched!<br />
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If others reading this are interested, please check out Diana Fayt's site:<a href="http://theclayer.typepad.com/"> http://theclayer.typepad.com/</a>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-26030896494652573532012-01-13T14:41:00.000-08:002012-01-13T22:22:02.153-08:00A good start in the new year<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG6OmjM9GBb-AiFES-9cs6sIiqZ4mUddczodDQppGfvuKeOS-lGKnTfrgNnxk5QlTDEYZunIVkfZknesop2q_RJNZ69GDnqUmSQD_AuYqUUICyRkvwHDQ2IC2xZPBhTHYh-fQ8stNHeg/s1600/fauxbois.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG6OmjM9GBb-AiFES-9cs6sIiqZ4mUddczodDQppGfvuKeOS-lGKnTfrgNnxk5QlTDEYZunIVkfZknesop2q_RJNZ69GDnqUmSQD_AuYqUUICyRkvwHDQ2IC2xZPBhTHYh-fQ8stNHeg/s400/fauxbois.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New pieces featuring my latest faux bois pattern.</td></tr>
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It's mid-January and I am still making a lot of pots! The museum store requested 10 or more new pots so that was good news since the holiday buying season is now behind us. Several decent checks have come in from November and December sales and I am pleased. It is certainly an incentive to keep at it.<br />
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Membership in the Toledo Potters Guild is juried in January and this year I finally decided to apply since they had had a hold on new members for the past year or so. Fortunately I was one of the three that were chosen this week. I was juried in as an active member which means I can participate in all guild activities and sales. The Toledo Potters Guild offers workshops and studio facilities including gas, electric and<br />
raku kilns, wheels, extruders, slab roller and glaze chemicals to members<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; white-space: nowrap;">. </span></span>This should come in handy for the occasional project. That and the camaraderie with other potters was the impetus for joining now.<br />
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This weekend I drop off my three cups that were juried into the Cups of Fire: National Cup Competition at the Clay Gallery in Ann Arbor. I look forward to see the other submissions however the show does not open until next month.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiqjdIODav9KZF5InXYLkwiHK4jdXC1ABq5rUlSbeaFyXkMfVcxppil2tgyGGUp7v6F5PvxHGbgQSim3ZZ1TBFkSNh_O0Jq-bpIpSbFrqkrJwyFAYNqCcgYu2IEPTBIutQ5HRtNjbkeQ/s1600/Jan.firing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiqjdIODav9KZF5InXYLkwiHK4jdXC1ABq5rUlSbeaFyXkMfVcxppil2tgyGGUp7v6F5PvxHGbgQSim3ZZ1TBFkSNh_O0Jq-bpIpSbFrqkrJwyFAYNqCcgYu2IEPTBIutQ5HRtNjbkeQ/s200/Jan.firing.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I just emptied my first high-fire kiln of 2012. I just love having a home pottery studio!Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-63978033352915379952011-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:24:41.899-08:00Got a website!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPJRmbiYPqWYPzjik57iiMj3PdP2n1OfBklerLDBOeUwQJGvw7Uuid5yj4nYvxqjqJP2WSdPpnxgnAW4eYgiHoD0rvj3sez-NxuUyTvkuglTDebbke-InA6AtYLY1vYHKD66boEE3vrc/s1600/BlackBirdBowl-sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPJRmbiYPqWYPzjik57iiMj3PdP2n1OfBklerLDBOeUwQJGvw7Uuid5yj4nYvxqjqJP2WSdPpnxgnAW4eYgiHoD0rvj3sez-NxuUyTvkuglTDebbke-InA6AtYLY1vYHKD66boEE3vrc/s200/BlackBirdBowl-sq.jpg" width="200" /></a>First, it was to learn how to make pottery. Thank you instructors! Then, my obsessive nature took over—build a studio, make pots, then get them in shows and galleries. It was a busy autumn and things have gone very well. My next step as a professional was to self-promote. First a page on Facebook, then this ceramics blog and finally a website to showcase what I do to the general public. So after hours sitting at my computer this weekend, I finally got a domain, built a site and got it up online. It is only a three-page site<br />
but for now it includes everything I wanted. I even ordered new<br />
business cards.<br />
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Check it out: <a href="http://cheryltakata.com/">cheryltakata.com</a>Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588547792022049649.post-58647999406985404892011-12-09T00:04:00.000-08:002011-12-14T11:37:22.018-08:00Art makes a wonderful gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcuV-y4W194B3a3HqqG8hknU7Lb4qOP0LhfTcTCr5_1AW_gmYzbm71fkmnZjtnmvVL5Pk4mVA6Qi8tPYMQT0twlSQQnStQ9YG0prOTTYx817PMolyNCJw3Pk-6uX9vJXff_rcTejoGYc/s1600/Tak-GrnGingko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcuV-y4W194B3a3HqqG8hknU7Lb4qOP0LhfTcTCr5_1AW_gmYzbm71fkmnZjtnmvVL5Pk4mVA6Qi8tPYMQT0twlSQQnStQ9YG0prOTTYx817PMolyNCJw3Pk-6uX9vJXff_rcTejoGYc/s400/Tak-GrnGingko.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are lots of opportunities to holiday shop locally and to support your favorite area artists this month. I know it will be hard for me </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to resist buying something for myself while I'm out and about </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>This year I am very happy to say that I have met my goal of having my pottery represented in area galleries—Hudson Gallery in Sylvania, Angelwood Gallery in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and most recently the Toledo Museum of Art Store Collector's Corner. I have worked frantically to create enough inventory to spread around since the completion of my pottery studio this past fall.<br />
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It has been an intense learning experience to work on my own—from stocking the studio to working with new clays, glazes and equipment. Owning my own kiln was something I am so happy to to have and use. Up until now, everything I made was fired in kilns by and with other potters. As a result, there were occasional issues with firings that arose which were out of my control. Now if there is a problem such as glaze issues, I can more easily isolate and address it. I am so thankful to Julie Beutler for getting me started on this pottery journey and for helping<br />
to program my kiln, to Christopher Jones for building a wonderful<br />
studio building, and to my husband Tim for his support with this<br />
whole project.Cheryl M. Takatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09057534823014801878noreply@blogger.com0