happy holidays!

I made this ceramic snowman
last year at the 577 Foundation.

Christmas is this Sunday and it really doesn't feel like it's the end of the year.  Apparently northwest Ohio broke an all-time record for rainfall this year. It does seem like it is raining all the time. Right now it's unseasonably warm and the ground in the the backyard is saturated and squishy. There also hasn't been any snow yet this season. At least no snow means no shoveling.

Here's another year we don't get to go to New York for Christmas. I feel bad that I don't get to see everyone out east more frequently. Right now it is impossible to board or leave our lone dog, Benny, with anyone. At 13 1/2, he's now diabetic with twice-daily insulin shots, completely blind, almost deaf and is having trouble with his hind legs. However he is still alert, has a hearty appetite and has seemed to adjust to life without his brother, Jerry. He likes walking all around in the backyard because he's less likely to bump into things as in the house. When the quality of Benny's life deteriorates more, we'll have to make the tough decision at that point. We dread that day and it could come at any time.

Still cranking out the pottery although the busy holiday season for the galleries ends tomorrow. Now I am simply trying to build up some sample pieces and have on-hand inventory. I am extremely pleased how much was accomplished these past six months—from starting to sell my pottery, to building a great studio conveniently located in the backyard, to producing in it, and then having my work represented in 3 top area galleries. Sales have been very good.

This is my last entry for 2011 and I am wishing that all my friends and family have a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012!

and now a new website too!

Not only did I create a second blog last week, this past weekend I launched my own website. After much discussions with others and online research on pricing and building sites, I happened to find a cost-free way to get a domain name and build a 3-page business site through Ohio Get Online. It's free for the first year and is sponsored by bunch of Ohio organizations, Google and Intuit. I was able to alter the Intuit templates to arrive at a satisfactory design and was limited to three pages. I managed to fit what I wanted by doubling up some of my areas. After the first year, the monthly costs are reasonably priced and there is no obligation.

Check it out: cheryltakata.com
Can you tell that Art & Marketing were my majors in college and that I worked in Marketing & Communications for way too long???

please check out my new blog

This month I decided not only to make a page on Facebook dedicated to Cheryl Takata Ceramics, but to create a new public blog for my pottery as well. It is my intention to keep this blog going so friends can read whatever is on my mind while the new one will focus just on my ceramic work. It will feature some of my newest works, announce where my work is available and other related events. We shall see how this works out. I would like to build a
web site at some point but I am still trying to figure a low cost way to
do that.

My new ceramics blog address is http://takataceramics.blogspot.com/

Last of the fall harvest

Kitchen garden is ready for winter with
 mulched leaves from the backyard trees.

Fresh-picked leeks. Heard they are sweeter
after being touched by frost.

Swiss chard and leeks still thriving
in November.

Pottery studio is done!

The studio sits behind the kitchen garden.

The finishing touches were added the other week and
I'm proud to report that I love my studio and have been happily working in the space. Christopher and his brother Jason did a wonderful job in making my vision of the perfect space a reality. The building is clad in cedar shingles which should weather to a natural gray, similar to the cedar trellis gate
of the kitchen garden. Christopher's attention to detail and his knowledge of pottery making made the project go very smoothly and I finally have a "second home." Everything fit inside as was planned and my brand new Skutt kiln is up and running. With the helpful advice I got from Julie, I did my first cone 6 firing it on Friday. It really is so nice to be able to just walk out the kitchen door and have it all right there.

Next posting: Results from the kiln, perhaps.

A outside shelf was added
so I can put pots out in the sun to dry.

The kiln is just the right
size for my work.

A counter provides additional workspace. 

Made the sign at 577 and
couldn't wait to hang it.

A place for everything!

Love my Shimpo wheel!

Got this sturdy worktable at
the Borders closing sale.

On a sad note…

Jerry

Still filled with so much sorrow, I have to mention that our 13 1/2-year-old dog, Jerry, died on Sept. 15. He was always so sweet and such a trooper, enduring the last four years of twice-daily insulin shots and the nasty side effects of diabetes. My friend and vet, Tiffany, had the unpleasant job of euthanizing him but could not have been any more compassionate. I am truly thankful she was there and she reminded me that Jerry did have a happy life. These past weeks have been difficult especially for Benny, whose own health has seemed to deteriorate in his brother's absence. I can't help but reflect on the days when they were both so young and active. They will always be my babies.

Brothers and best friends

Benny (left) and Jerry on the backyard snow path

Art exhibit this Saturday, Oct. 1

Hudson Gallery • 5645 N. Main St. • Downtown Sylvania

I'm hoping some of you can stop out and say hi at the exhibit opening at Hudson Gallery this Saturday. Located in downtown Sylvania right on Main Street, the opening runs from 4 to 6 this Saturday, Oct. 1. This lovely gallery always presents great exhibits and this one promises to be no different, featuring 9 local all-women artists in a variety of media. If you can't make it Saturday, the show runs through October. Hours are 10-6 Tuesday through Friday, 10-3 on Saturdays. They now have a selection of my sgraffito porcelain pots, some wood-fired stoneware and soon, some of my prints.

Studio underway!

Last Friday Christopher was working on the soffit while Jason (not shown)
was working on the roof. Temperature: 95 degrees!!!

Tomorrow Christopher and Jason start Week 3 of the studio build. It appears they are just about where they expected to be at this time.
I think it's looking good, it's quite a presence in the yard however I believe it will be just the right size. I've ordered my Skutt Kiln after much deliberation as to what size to get from Bennett Pottery. The kiln should deliver just after I return from my family visit to Rhode Island. I decided to buy a kiln that is a size smaller than what Julie has but I think it'll be adequate for my needs.

I have been laying out a lot of money for all sorts of building materials, exhaust fans, etc. This has me a little stressed but I keep telling myself it will all be worthwhile and really nice in the end. It's actually pretty exciting. I decided to forego taking classes at the museum this fall since it appears I'll be busy enough getting the studio up and running. I also realized that I have gotten spoiled working on my own wheel in my own space. I'll just have to visit those people I will miss.

Tim and I went up to Ikea last weekend so I could purchase some shelf brackets I had seen online and counter legs for a side counter that'll be inside the studio. I have tentatively planned the layout of the 12 by 16-ft. space. Today I bought a solid wood (I think it's maple) table that I plan to use as a work and wedging table island. I got it for a good price from Borders bookstore during their liquidation sale. They will be closing in three days. (I'll miss Borders.)

Autumn in the kitchen garden.

Despite the 95 plus temperatures we had a few days ago, it has now cooled off. You can feel that fall is approaching and the garden has reached its peak. It was a great summer for my tomatoes, herbs, zucchini, zinnias and sunflowers.

On a sad note, Ben and Jerry are really having a tough time lately. Jerry's sugar levels have been quite erratic and at times he has had seizures, temporary blindness and trouble walking and eating. Of the two, he is having the most difficulty. Ben is now blind and has to be lead around. Both dogs are nearly deaf. It seems Tim and I may have to make some very difficult decisions in the near future. I hate that they age so quickly, it breaks my heart.

Great summer for gardening

Sunflowers at my 577 garden. These are the short variety, only 5-to 6-ft. tall.

Lots of tomatoes! A much better crop than last year. Must be the hot weather. Grew all sorts—Super Marzano, grape and several yummy heirloom varieties. The Brandywines are so large that one slice fills a slice of bread. Been eating lots of tomatoes in Caprese salads and sandwiches. Will be making and freezing some pesto and tomato sauce soon because the herbs are flourishing as well. The 577 volunteers also harvested my eggplants and beets that I grew for the food bank.

Loading the wood kiln at 577 on Friday and firing on Sunday. Tried some new ideas, should be interesting.  It'll be fun and even better if the weather cooperates.

Visited the ceramics studio at the museum last week when I dropped off my work for the show. I can't decide whether to re-enroll. Enjoy the people there but my studio should be finished by the middle of the sessions. Work gets started next week on my pottery studio, can't wait.

These days Ben and Jerry loved to go outside at dusk when the locust are the loudest. This also brings out lots of bats. Their swooping gives me the creeps!

Bad news and good…

First the bad news… I've moved out of John and Tiffany's studio. It was an unexpected turn of events. It's unfortunate that Tim and I just moved 600 pounds of clay into the space the week before. It would have been nice not to have moved it in only to move it to our back screened porch.

Right now I'm planning to return to the ceramics class at the art museum this fall. As a student there I can participate in their Christmas pottery sale. It worked out very well for me last year.

The good news… Tim and I discussed the plan of building a separate studio in the backyard and figured I might as well start planning it now. It's a little sooner than I had anticipated but it's feasible and it'll be great! Fortunately Christopher is willing to take on the project and understands my needs as a potter. We have already discussed my wish list and he's working on an estimate now for building the structure and contracting out the electrical work. If all goes well, I can move in sometime this fall.

Another good piece of news is that one of my pottery pieces was accepted into this year's Toledo Area Artists Exhibition (TAAE). I feel fortunate to be among the 66 out of 757 entries that were chosen. My pot no doubt will be among the smallest and most reasonably priced items in the show. This also now means I'll be able to submit my pottery pieces for sale in the museum store. Previously they would only accept my prints because I had exhibited that medium in previous TAAE shows.

I was able to finally high-fire a good portion of my work at the studio. It was my first solo firing and it took a lot of pieces to fill the large kiln of
John and Tiffany's. As in all firings, in my eyes some pieces are fine, others flawed. Tim just photographed select pieces. A few are shown here.

Peak season

The allium is done flowering but I really
like the seed pod in this monochromatic
shot. It provides good inspiration for
the carvings on my pottery.

The Buttercrunch lettuce is not only
thriving but delicious too. 

Several zucchinis are now forming.
The kale is larger than expected this
early in the season.

There are potato plants flowering
and growing in large pots and the
herbs and garlic are doing great.
The plants must like the compost
from Hirzel Farms.

Mother Nature is at the top of her game right now. Some of my favorite flowers are blooming and the vegetables have really taken hold. I have been harvesting my lettuce for salads for a few weeks now.
I finally found the lettuce varieties that are tasty and
not bitter as in years past.

The kitchen garden has been worth all the time, expense and effort. I can get up in the morning when it's cool and poke around to weed and water all before I even get dressed. I made plant markers and the garden gate sign out of red clay at the 577 pottery barn. Barb's metal printer's type made short work of the lettering. My garden has become a source of personal pride and pleasure.

One of the plant markers
in my kitchen garden.

Note the clever gate handle that
Tim installed for me.

Nice weather finally!

The first planting in my kitchen garden that was put in last fall.

Pretty much everything that needed to be planted now has been
done in my kitchen garden, the garden at 577 and my containers.
Now that the weather has finally warmed up, the flowers are
blooming, the vegetables are growing and spring is looking glorious.

The kitchen garden as seen from the back kitchen door.

For the past several years this clematis has produced many
blooms on both the front and back sides of this trellis patio fence.

Patio view of the clematis.

Yard view 

The rose bush in the front yard.

This rose bush has always been a favorite of mine.
A few years back a landscaper wanted to take it out and
I wouldn't let him. He was looking for some balance or symmetry in the landscape. Didn't agree and never regretted that decision. I love nurturing it.

The boxwood bed in the backyard has my favorite tuteur
(trellis) that Tim made for me quite a few years ago.  

So glad that it's over…

Suki, the resident cat at the studio,  is also happy that
the commotion of the open house is over.

The trips to RI and Florida, the open houses at Angelwood Gallery and the Manabigama Pottery Center, are all behind me now. I am looking forward to "down time" to focus on making new pots, working in the garden, and seeing some friends.

I'm ready to garden however the unseasonal weather has made for muddy conditions. It hasn't even been necessary to water any sprouting seeds which I planted a few weeks back at the Foundation. The seedlings and plants now just want a little more sun. I need to check on them today and hope to get the tomatoes and peppers planted this week there and in my kitchen garden. What I fear is that we will get instant heat once this weather breaks. Wouldn't it be nice if the weather found a middle ground?

Green sgraffito pots that have
found new homes. The Gingko leaf design
is shown on the left.

I couldn't be happier that my debut as a professional potter went so well. My sgraffito porcelain pots sold so well, I know for sure that this is my niche for time being. I enjoy making them and there appears to be a market for them. Income from the sales has paid for several months rent for the studio so I can't complain. I'm currently working on a series of gingko leaf pots since there have been requests for them.

I now need to take some time to try out different clay bodies. Since I have not decided on a specific supplier or clay brand, this needs to be decided upon. My former printmaking prof in grad school is the local Laguna Clay supplier. I recently stopped by his studio to pick up an assortment of clay and it was a pleasure to see and chat with him. He always has words of wisdom to share that pertains to what I'm doing. That's a good teacher.

Events reminder for you local folks…

Event  One on May 14

Event Two on May 21 & 22

Hope everyone around here can make it to either or both events.
Julie always has a nice food spread at her Angelwood Gallery events.
John and Tiffany also are busy making lots of pots, some great stuff! Plus it's my big debut!

Another diabetic dog… RI… new studio

John and Tiffany's chickens at the Manabigama Pottery Center

It never fails. Just before I am about to head out of town, one of the dogs starts acting out of sorts. This time it was Benny and our suspicion was confirmed, just like his brother, he now is diabetic. It's now a balancing act trying to figure how much insulin he needs. Excessive thirst, upset stomach, won't eat, hyperactivity were some of his symptoms. He's starting to feel better but is now sleeping a lot more. I should be grateful it didn't happen until now. It has been four years since Jerry started taking insulin and so Ben was genetically predisposed to get it too.

My 1.75-lb. lobster in Newport.
Note the plastic cup—my kind of
place to eat a messy meal

Just returned from Rhode Island after a visit with my mom and aunt. As usual, we did a little shopping and ate well. Just before I flew home, Gregg and Margaret came up from NY for a quick visit. I was able to see them for few hours before they took me to the airport.

While I was away, the potter's wheel I ordered was delivered to my new studio space. Fortunately John and Tiffany were there to receive it.

New wheel and shelves

Since I have been back, it has been so much fun setting up my new pottery studio. John surprised me and built a large, L-shaped work table and shelves for my space. This was so much more than the wobbly card table I had temporarily planned to use. All is good—the Shimpo wheel, so shiny and new, works like no other wheel I've used. Now if it would make me a great thrower, that would be a dream machine. Saturday was the wheel inauguration when I threw four pots in porcelain. What a luxury it is to have all my tools, pots and supplies arranged the way I want. Not having to pack everything up every time I work and being able to resume where I left off when I return, that's what a personal studio space can allow. Can't wait to get back down there tomorrow and the next day and the next…

My space complete with work table

Today we met Tim's family and others at Bravo's for an Easter dinner. On Friday I leave to see Bob, Terri and Becky in sunny Florida. Wouldn't it be nice if it felt like spring here too.

First pots to be thrown on my new wheel. Hopefully I will
be willing to show them again when completed

April already?

My biggest pot to date. Gas reduction cone 10.

My potting frenzy at the museum has waned somewhat now that we are just finishing up existing projects. I was needing a break from my intense obsession of making pots and experimenting with different techniques as much as I could.

These days I am still going to pottery at 577 for both
the camaraderie and clay. I don't think I'll be giving up going there any time soon. This week I've been working on non-challenging pieces there—plant tags for my kitchen garden and pink bowls.

Last Sunday was the potager (kitchen garden) workshop with Vicki. It has me now on the garden planning track. She provided some great pointers as well as a great assortment of seeds and a chive plant. Recently I've been stocking up on organic fertilizer, compost and bug control products in preparation for what I hope to be the prettiest and best yielding growing season. I also bought asparagus starts, onion sets and lots of seeds. Some will be planted here at home and the rest at the 577 plot.

Christopher is back working on another house project—replacing screens and building new frames on the back porch. It was one of those projects that has been on the list and I know he'll do a great job
as always.

Been web-browsing for my new potter's wheel. Saw Tiffany and John yesterday and I should be all set to work there in my own studio space by the end of the month/beginning of May. Now I'm figuring out all that I will need although I pretty much have most everything except the wheel.

In addition to all of the above, a lot will be happening this month. Will be making a long-overdue visit to Rhode Island to see family mid-month and at the end of the month, going to southwest Florida with Becky to visit Bob and Terri. Never been to Florida, I hear it's already 85-90 degrees there. I hope I don't melt.

Porcelain pieces painted with underglazes. Cone 6.

Perfect, pretty, clean, and some new stuff

^5 thrown & sgraffito

Since this is my last week of working in wet clay, I am frantically taking full advantage of the ceramics studio. I heard we are supposed to have a 300-lb. limit of clay. I have no idea how much I've used but I do know it's been a lot. The last class is April 18 so after this week I'll just be glazing and finishing my pieces. This won't require too much of my time so I'll be able to turn my focus on my gardens, catching up with friends and getting set up in my future pottery studio. Perfect timing!

^10 thrown & altered

Last week I broke down and purchased an iPhone4. For someone who never even bothered turning their cell on, this is quite an upgrade. I had been considering an iPod Touch so I could get music and Wi-Fi access but realized I really wanted was anywhere access, iTunes, text messaging, a camera (with optional flash) and a phone. I am now accessible, can make hands-free calls in my car and have an iPod
in my phone. Pretty cool!

Now the downside of this purchase was that my MacBook Pro's operating system was too old to run the newest iTunes which was on the iPhone. This necessitated an installation of the Snow Leopard OS. I had actually installed it before. I had purchased it years ago only to find that the printer-drivers were not yet available for my printer and had to revert to the original OS. So last week I tried to upgrade the system again. Long story short, apparently this caused my hard drive to crash beyond repair losing everything. Aggravation and $230 later, I now have the most current hard drive with about twice the space I had previously. I believe I now have all my apps re-loaded. Clean slate!

^10 thrown & carved

Tim spent today photographing Julie's new wood-fired pots plus a sampling of my latest work done at the art museum. Here's some new stuff of mine.

Is it spring yet?

Who else is ready? Some positive signs—it's finally March and Daylight Savings Time starts in 11 days on March 13, followed by the first day of spring on the 20th. The 577 community gardeners also gathered on Sunday for the annual garden meeting. Although I did not attend, Tim, my favorite garden assistant, attended on our behalf. And where was I? Where else have I been nearly every day for over a month?

Making pots at the museum ceramics studio. Not sure if I have ever been this consumed with an activity before. Definitely being obsessive-compulsive about attempting to perfect this craft. I am also trying to
take advantage of the facility by using the equipment/materials and learning as much as possible while enrolled in this class. I've met some really good and creative people there and I'll miss seeing them when I'm done there.

I still manage to get over to the 577 pottery barn every once in a while. It's always nice to see those friends and getting there is never an issue when the weather is bad. There, I have been exploring different designs and techniques with small wall plaques (tiles). One of these days I'd like Tim to take some photos to document my progress then I'll post them.

Made another visit to the site of my future studio in BG—now named,
the Manabigama Pottery Center. Tiffany and John have accomplished so much in such a short time. Chris J. and I finally found a good day to go down there and we both returned with some great wood-fired pots
of John's.

Vicki's potager class is this month. This should really push me into garden planning and re-directing some of my focus. As of now, I just know I'm growing eggplant (my assignment) for the food bank.

Baby, it's cold outside

In case you missed this photo on Facebook.

We were fortunate and escaped the worst of the snow. It's also a good thing to have a snow blower and a spouse who willingly takes on the job of clearing the driveway, walks and dog paths. Ben and Jerry have become truly house dogs and dislike the snow and cold and really couldn't manage without those paths. They're ready for spring. Something else to be grateful for—not having to get up and drive to work when it's a mess outside!

Ben, the photogenic one.

Just signed up for a potager class in March with Vicki, the 577 horticulturist, and bought tickets to go to Florida in March with Becky for our annual trip. This year we are visiting college friends, Terri and Bob, in Cape Coral, near Fort Myers. It's been about 30 years since I've seen Terri and about 20 since Bob came out this way. It's my year for reunions. These events will be my harbingers of spring.

Love my shelves!

Christopher finished my shelves in record time and I'm thrilled with the way they transform the dining room. More floor space to walk around without the buffet and the wall I never knew how to fill can now hold more than I imagined. Prudent editing will be the key to a good display so I am slowly filling the shelves.

Classes began again at the art museum and I plunged right back into the porcelain clay. It was good to see the same classmates have returned. When I have my own studio space, I will miss the camaraderie here and at 577. I think of that while I ponder on which wheel to buy. I've narrowed it down to 2 brands—Brent or Shimpo. Hmm. Meanwhile, Tiffany and John have been busy building the Manabigama wood kiln at my
future digs.

Never thought the east coast would get more snow than here. My mom says they got 19 inches the other night and I heard more is on the way. Yuk!