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!