Sand in the Clay

Our blog has moved...

2013-05-08T21:03:00.001-04:00

Our blog has moved! Come join us!

www.blog.josephsandpottery.com

Summer Kiln Opening, Blog move and Baby News!

2012-08-04T21:40:00.000-04:00

Joseph and I are expecting our first child! Crazy news, right? Yep, but a huge blessing, too. Not much to report except that I'm almost 17 weeks along and we'll be finding out if our little one is a boy or a girl on August 16th.

For our next kiln opening, we're doing something special and revealing the gender of our little Sand-ling by providing the appropriately colored treats. Come join us and help us celebrate!

August 18th from 9am to 5pm

August 19th from Noon to 5pm

Also, our blog is moving to our new website: www.josephsandpottery.com. Check it out!

Solo Show

2012-07-05T22:01:00.004-04:00

Joseph's work will be featured in a solo show at the Randolph Arts Guild: Sara Smith Self Gallery in Asheboro during the month of July. The show runs from July 5th through July 26th.

Opening reception will be held Tuesday, July 10th from 5:30 - 7:30pm.

Please join us!

Preview for Spring Kiln Opening

2012-05-03T00:13:00.001-04:00

Spring has sprung and what a beautiful backdrop we have been provided with for our spring kiln opening. Overall, we are pleased with what we have to offer, with a few new items that may knock your socks off (don't worry, all socks can be collected as you check out!). Joseph has created some really lovely wall pockets, perfect for that sweet bouquet, gobs and gobs of juice cups (with a Mint Julep?!? I don't mind if I do), as well as a sizable troop of bud vases. Also, there are two new glazes that he played with that are quite lovely; a matte blue chun and a rich brown-red celadon.

Please take a look-see at the beautiful pots and the debut of our new gallery space. Better yet, come see us in person! Also, the lovely, talented Brenda Hornsby-Heindle of Liberty Stoneware will be showcasing her fine wares just next door in the workshop.

Spring 2012 Kiln Opening

Saturday, May 5th from 9am to 5pm

Sunday, May 6th from Noon to 5pm

Saturday, May 12th from 9am to 5pm

Sunday, May 13th (Mother's Day!) from Noon to 5pm

Time for the Spring Kiln Opening!

2012-04-07T17:45:00.001-04:00

*****************
Recently overheard on the street...

Betty: What are you doing for Mother's Day?
Sally: Well, I don't know. The kids are coming into town, but usually after everybody has eaten lunch, we're pretty bored and everybody just sits in front of that darn TV set.
Betty: Well, I'll tell you what! My husband and kids are treating me to a ride out in the country to go to Joseph Sand's kiln opening. In fact, we're going to go during the first opening weekend and on Mother's Day weekend so I can be sure to get what I want!
Sally: My, that sounds swell, Betty! I'm going to be sure that we're there, too. I don't want to miss out!
*****************

The spring kiln opening is just about upon us, so mark this on your calendar:

May 5th - 9am to 5 pm

May 6th - Noon to 5pm

May 12th - 9am to 5pm

May 13th - Noon to 5pm

Joseph has been really inspired by the works of potters past and has put that energy and focus into a sizable troop of stoneware jugs.

There will also be a fine selection of vases, short and tall....

An, apparently, infinite number of jars, short and squat, or...

Large and elegant.

There is sure to be a size, shape, and color for everyone!

We will also be featuring the works of guest potter, Brenda Hornsby-Heindl of Liberty Stoneware. She writes a wonderful blog and is a wealth of knowledge on early kilns and kiln furniture.

We're expanding!

2012-01-22T16:12:00.003-05:00

For those of you who have attended our kiln openings, you have seen that our gallery has always been a rustic, hodgepodge of a setup in the workshop. It's been kind of like having relatives come to visit a few times a year and they get to stay in your bedroom, forcing you to sleep on the couch. Your room needs to be cleaned up, or at least the piles of junk pushed under the bed and into the closet, before it is considered presentable. We've decided that is about time we add on so that the finished pots no longer have to share a space with the unfinished, disposing of any jealousy or hidden resentment. The finished pots are getting a space worthy of their beauty.

Joseph has been working uber hard, as he always does. I've been constantly amazed at his structural creations and how incredibly talented he is with a hammer. Neither cold winds nor sleeting rain has stopped this man from working on this new building. It is gorgeous, and just happens to be bigger than our house. No kidding. But, it is an exceptional building and will show off the pots in the light they deserve.

Joseph is almost done with it, and has just run to Lowes to get a few more small items as I write this. We hope that next time you come out to visit us that you will find the new space more inviting with an ample dose of charm and elegance.

Holiday Kiln Opening Preview

2011-11-23T22:09:00.003-05:00

Well, Joseph has done it again; he has exceeded his expectations and produced some spectacular beauties. It truly has been our best firing, yet. Right now, we're 4 for 4!

Here is a sneak peak to wet your appetites (for turkey and stuffing and...pottery!):

Come out and see us this weekend! Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm. Happy Stuffing Day!

Save the Date and other Noteworthy events

2011-09-07T21:45:00.003-04:00

It has been too long since we have written an update here, but, unfortunately, this post will only contain the skimmings of events to come, not of the juicy details of days that have come and gone. That will be for a later date, after we get a few of the big festivities out of our hair....

Sept. 10th - If you have nothing to attend to this weekend, think about visiting us at the Pottery Invitational at the Mint Museum in Charlotte (click the blue-linked words - we're going high tech on you!). There will be 40 seismically talented potters present selling the fruits of their labor. Come support an artist and buy local; you'll be glad you did!

Evening of Sept. 10th - We have donated a fine piece of pottery to auction off at to the annual Zoo to Do located at the NC Zoo in Asheboro. This year's theme is "Moonlight Masquerade," and with it preceding the Harvest Moon by two days (Sept. 12th), what better way to enjoy a roaringly festive saturday evening than among friends and furry beasts. Please contact the NC Zoo for more information and to purchase a ticket to attend. Proceeds benefit the NC Zoo.

October 1st and 2nd - Joseph and I will once again be in attendance at Fall Festival just in nearby Asheboro. The crowd is always fantastic and we plan to bring a wheel and some clay and throw a few pots, maybe even a big 'un! We will also have pots for sale, both in traditional, salt-glaze form and some new reds from the small and mighty wood-fired glaze kiln.

Finally, the biggest news yet...SAVE THE DATE! Holiday Kiln Opening: November 26th-27th and December 3rd-4th (two weekends, that's right!). Looking for something to do with your relatives or for an excuse to get out of the house, away from all the hustle and bustle of cleaning dishes after eating turkey five ways from sunday? Come look at some beautiful pottery! We will feature salt-glazed wares from the large kiln as well as some stellar red glaze, lava glaze, whites, and blues from the new glaze kiln.

Summer 2011 Video Preview: First Impressions

2011-07-12T19:37:00.000-04:00

Upon our first glimpse into the kiln after the new wood-fired glaze kiln took its maiden voyage, we were stunned, perplexed, and pleased all at the same time. Some of the glazes were a complete flop and needed a new firing technique, some showed a glimmer of hope and promise, and others looked fantastic (and those surfaces and textures, we subsequently realized, were difficult to replicate). The pieces shown in the following video and still shots are a result of diligence, some serious sweat equity, and a tiny ounce of insanity.

We look forward to seeing you on

July 16th - 11am to 6pm

With burgers, beans, cake and ice cream from 11:30-2pm. Quantities (pottery and food) are limited!

The Bold & the Beautiful

2011-06-30T22:00:00.001-04:00

Joseph has fired this new kiln twice now. The first firing, we got a minute glimpse into the possibilities that could spring forth from the tiny beast.

This second round, the beast breathed fire, and produced some absolute gems. We were ecstatic once the door was un-bricked; the belly of the kiln revealed sights unseen at Joseph Sand Pottery. Temperatures of the actual pots were hovering around 180 degrees so gloves were a must. We couldn’t resist the temptation to dive into this treasure trove. Before I clutter this all up with words, what you’ve really been waiting for follows:

View Full Album

We’ll keep you posted as we continue to fire this new kiln. A preview video will be coming soon.

See you

July 16th

(11am to 6pm, with lunch from 11:30 to 2!)

A teaser

2011-06-19T20:02:00.004-04:00

Well, firing one of four has been completed, and, WOW!, some interesting and gorgeous results came forth from the little beast of a wood kiln. Because this is a test kiln, everything in this first one was an experiment. Joseph tried a lot of glazes on an array of shapes and sizes; some turned out, some failed miserably. But, that's how it goes sometimes.

Here's a sneak peak of some of my favorite surfaces. Enjoy!

The Next Kiln Opening: A most festive occasion…

2011-06-05T22:10:00.001-04:00

Save The Date!

Photo courtesy of Dennis Pearman

One day only

Kiln Opening and

Joseph’s Birthday Party

Come join us:

Saturday, July 16th from 11:00am to 6pm

Joseph will be debuting some really exciting, never before seen test glazes created in his newly-built wood kiln (smaller than the other, yes, but no less substantial). Thanks to the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro for the grant that made it all happen!

Lunch will be served from 11:30 until 2, and will include fresh, high-quality goodness from Fresh Cuts Butcher & Seafood in Asheboro: Burgers with all the fixins, beans, slaw, chili AND something sweet to top it all off!

The quantity of pottery will be very limited, so come early and come ready to eat.

We’ll see you then!

Spring breathes life

2011-05-10T20:02:00.001-04:00

Here in central North Carolina, we are blessed with a wondrous bounty of beauty in spring. The senescence of winter forced all of us to hunker down, ride out the chill, and contemplate what color t-shirt we will wear once the temperature is just barely above the freezing point. Now that we have finally packed up our winter belongings for another year (don't forget to put cedar wood in that tub to keep the moths away!), the world has come to life.

For the first 25 years of my life, I was the most fortunate member of my immediate family in that I was not branded upon birth to be cursed by allergies to many things wonderful, some that are not.

But, that all changed last year. I must have been bombarded constantly by the individual yellow pollen wads from the pine trees (literally, it rained out of the sky. You could wake up in the morning and need to run your windshield wipers to see) and the tiny particles of oak and hickory. Last year, I could not mow the yard without a mask and sealed goggles, because, god forbid I get one spec in my eyes. They would literally puff up as though I was the dough boy (or girl). Because of last year's experience, I thoroughly dreaded this spring, despite the wonderful colors and smells it brings (oh, the honeysuckle!). The pine trees taunted me as I worked outside, pointing up their new growth as though they were giving the middle finger. The daffodils came and went....and nothing happened, well, almost nothing. I made it through this spring with just one encounter, and it wasn't terrible. I know that it was because we ate better, I got more sleep, and I was just generally healthier than I was last year at this time.

Joseph has been busy, building himself not one, not two, but four sheds over the course of the winter and spring. He just finished his most recent one (I don't dare call it the last one, because I'm sure it's not!).

We're going to end up with more square feet of roof area than we are lawn, I guarantee it! The new shed is providing shelter for our newest kiln. Joseph was a recipient of the Regional Artists Grant through the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, which is going towards the construction of this new kiln.

He’s done all this with the accompaniment of the 13-year peak of the Cicada population (if the player doesn’t work for you, then click here: Cicadas!)
Listen!
As these lovely creatures fly about in the tree tops and shed their winter skins, I believe everyone is celebrating this season of growth and rejuvenation!

A Glimpse at the inventory…

2011-04-06T18:44:00.001-04:00

Up for your viewing pleasure is our preview video showing the shiniest pots we have ever produced.

Spring Kiln Opening

April 9th from 9am to 5pm

and

April 10th from Noon to 5pm

See you then!

www.jsspottery.com

Best Firing Yet

2011-03-27T20:56:00.001-04:00

Thanks to all who contributed their services to this last kiln firing. We had the greatest results come out of the kiln that we have seen to date. They truly are spectacular.

Thanks goes out to….

Lennie Maynor and Levi Mahan for doing the heavy lifting.

Smudge for providing snacks.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Pearman

Brenda Hornsby-Heindl for rocking the front chamber. She is now the official “Anagama Mama."

Lucy for providing a welcome break and a quick snuggle.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Pearman

Dave York and Trish Welsh for their steady hands and loyal service.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Pearman

Ms. Amy from Jersey for her enthusiasm and eagerness to jump in (good luck on the AT, Amy!). And to Dave Stumpfle and Santiago Ramirez for their tireless efforts to fire the beastly kiln at ungodly times of the night.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the shiniest pots we have ever produced.

View Full Album

13 days and counting until the Spring Kiln Opening. Don’t forget to put it on your calendar! Get it while it’s hot!

Photo courtesy of Dennis Pearman

Spring Kiln Opening 2011

2011-03-13T20:33:00.001-04:00

Wow, has it really been that long since we last posted? Spring daffodils and crocuses (croci? What is the plural of crocus, anyways?) are up and ready to soak up the joyful sun and rain.

Another kiln firing is upon us, and we're ready!

April 9th from 9am to 5pm
April 10th from 12 noon to 5pm

We will have lots of flatware this time, planters with coasters, and big pots. And plenty of mugs, bowls, vases and jars.

Please stay tuned. The actual firing of the kiln is fast approaching, so we will have plenty of photos and a sneak preview video to come soon.

Year of the Show

2011-03-11T18:02:00.005-05:00

2011 is the Year of the Show. We have a generous amount planned, and we're looking forward to all of them.

Coming up shortly is the High Point Market: April 2nd through 7th. We will be situated in the Suites at Market Square building. http://www.highpointmarket.org/

May 21st we will be at the Old Salem Pottery Fair. The fair is held in conjunction with the Art in Clay: Masterworks of North Carolina Earthenware exhibition in the Old Salem district. More info can be found here: http://www.oldsalem.org/programs-and-activities

In September, we will be at the Mint Museum's Pottery Invitational in Charlotte. It's happening on saturday, the 11th from 10am to 4 pm. For more info click Here

October is the annual Asheboro Fall Festival sponsored by the Randolph Arts Guild, which we thoroughly enjoy doing, probably because we are setup very near the booth that has waffles and bratwurst: Fall Festival Info

Somewhere in there, we need to take a vacation and also have another kiln opening. It's a full set-list, but I honestly can't imagine it any other way! Love what you do; do what you love.

2nd Kiln Opening Video Preview

2010-12-01T13:12:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone! We're gearing up for this weekend and we wanted to provide a little preview of the beautiful wares that Joseph made this go-around.

Check it out:

Almost There…

2010-11-24T18:22:00.003-05:00

The kiln fired beautifully. Everyone put in their all, and we finished on time without a hitch.

Firing a kiln must be similar to sailing a ship: if the captain is not certain of the destination and the means to get there, all will be lost. Thankfully, that didn’t happen and Joseph was the ultimate leader.

We unloaded last weekend and the pots are G...O…R…G…E…O…U…S... gorgeous. Because we cannot wait to share them with you, we are including a bit of a teaser in this blog.

Stay tuned next week for a video preview, up close and personal, of the pots. At this opening, we will also have available some holiday ornaments, ranging in shape from snowmen to stars to little dogs. ALSO…As a special gift, the first six customers in line will receive a mug, the number on the mug corresponding with their place in line. Hope to see you on Dec 4th and 5th!

Last pots of 2010

2010-11-06T19:14:00.001-04:00

So, this is it. It’s crunch time. Joseph’s been in the pottery non-stop the past few weeks just trying to get everything made that is on our laundry list of things we would like to have available at our Holiday Opening (Dec 4th and 5th, don’t forget!).

This round, Joseph made some really sweet little teapots. Come check them out, because they are truly adorable.

He also made a couple boards worth of pitchers, and more than a few boards of lidded jars. Pitchers will come in two sizes, and jars will range in size from small to large.

New this cycle, just for the holidays, we made ornaments. And, I do really mean we this time (as VP of the pottery, I don’t really get my hands dirty very often). You will find a range of ornaments for your holiday tree, including camels, reindeer, snowmen, chickens, angels, stars, a lion or two, and schnauzers (seriously!).

Finally, Joseph wrapped up his production cycle by cranking out a plethora of mugs. We should have plenty for everyone. And….for those that show up early on saturday, we have made, especially for you, commemorative mugs for the first 6 customers. They are playfully decorated with the digits 1 through 6.

This weekend, he has been busy cleaning up around the kiln with the help of our good friend Dale Hall. He has been a devoted laborer here at the pottery and I know that Joseph is grateful for the additional help around the place. The kiln is clean, shelves and posts have been prepped, and the pots are ready. The firing schedule is made up, posted up on the fridge. Loading starts tomorrow and ends on wednesday, with the first sign of flame in the kiln on thursday. Temperature, and anticipation, will only build from there….

Finally, our good friend Daniel Johnston held a very special kiln opening, where he made 100 big pots. It was incredible to pull up early and see a very substantial line, selling out of pots before we could even pick out one we liked. Congratulations to Daniel, Kate, and John for a stellar feat!

And it just so happened that a flock of current and previous Mark Hewitt apprentices were at the event.

Pictured, with date of apprenticeship at Hewitt Pottery: John Vigland, current apprentice for Daniel Johnston; Seth Guzovksy 2010-Present; Brad Lail 2010-Present; Daniel Johnston 1997-2001; Carol Hewitt; Joseph Sand 2006-2009; Alex Matisse 2008-2009; Matt Jones Fall 1999; and Eric Smith 2000-2002.

2010 Holiday Kiln Opening

2010-10-27T20:42:00.001-04:00

Here we are at another kiln opening. We can’t believe how quickly this time has come upon us. It feels like we just fired the kiln. It is a vicious, glorious cycle; one that is thoroughly enjoyable and worth every minute. It is not for the faint of heart. Joseph works long hours in the pottery, moving countless pounds of clay, followed by a few hours of splitting wood before coming in at dark.

The last kiln opening taught us so many things: about sales and marketing, how to throw a party, time management, and a lot about ourselves individually and how we function as a team. This next opening should be smooth sailing now that we have our first one under our belts, right?

Please come and join us for our…

First Holiday Opening

December 4th, 2010

9am to 5pm

December 5th, 2010

Noon to 5pm

For more information and directions, please visit our website: www.jsspottery.com

P.S. Stay tuned for a special sneak peak of the pots coming soon to this very blog…

Much Needed Vacation

2010-10-23T21:06:00.001-04:00

Joseph and I are exhausted. We were told that a vacation is a requirement in the business of self-employment; take care of your well-being first, your family’s second, and your business last. Wise words from a wise man, Mark Hewitt. We decided to take him up on that and made a trek to the glorious mountains in their fall splendor. It has been so desperately dry this year across the state that the colors, even though they were changing, were seeming a bit dull and crunchy. But, nevertheless, it was a vacation!

We made a stop to visit our friend, Alex Matisse. He recently finished the construction of his kiln and had a get-together to celebrate. It included a pig pickin’ (a southern tradition that I had never been privy to until now) and some other fine delicacies. He has a beautiful place up in Mars Hill, NC, just outside of Asheville. Check him out when you get a chance, he writes a fantastic blog and makes beautiful, functional wares.

Alex needed to borrow some muscle, so Joseph was eager to help.

Alex raised this pig on his own property, so we knew we were eatin’ good that night! Congrats Alex and all the best in your endeavors!

Back at it again…

2010-10-09T19:19:00.000-04:00

Well, as many of you know, we had a fantastic turnout at our kiln opening, proceeding to completely sell out of pots. What a bummer, right?!?! We had plan B and plan C all ready in the wing to take up the extra inventory we assumed we would have. So, when the Asheboro Fall Festival rolled around, we were a little unsure of what to do. Finally, we decided it would be most important for us to be present at the event, but what to do about pots? We had to dig up all the pots we had set aside for ourselves to keep (include a few that the family members from Minnesota had purchased), packed them VERY carefully, and drove to the festival.

The large pots were delivered the night previous, with the help of our neighbor’s pickup truck. Ours was on the mend at the time, with a stubby tire (i.e. standard) substitute for the rear wheel, since the tires one-by-one had the treads literally explode off of them while driving. The tires on the truck are those super-duty all-terrain kind that tell passers-by that this is a “serious work truck.” Just the day previous, I had to go and rescue Joseph in Seagrove because this very thing had just happened. He had just stopped at STARworks to pick up some clay and other materials and made it about 10 miles before disaster ensued. Luckily, I was available so I popped down to help him replace the tire, moving about 300 pounds of clay into the trunk of our diesel VW Jetta.

Needless to say, we made it here to downtown Asheboro with no problems. The event turned out really well and we had a great response from those that visited our booth. We did a giveaway of one of our pots we had set aside, which was really fun. A lot of people signed up for that one.

Joseph has been busy in the workshop and around the pottery lately. We only have about a month to finish up pots before the firing. It’s coming up fast, but we’ll be more ready for this one, having experienced one firing and kiln opening already.

When Joseph wraps up making and glazing in the workshop, he heads out to one of his many wood piles around the place to get some chainsaw action. Nothing like good work to help you fall asleep quickly at night!

A little time for friends

2010-08-29T20:15:00.004-04:00

Last night, we had the pleasure of visiting the home of our friends, John and Sally Burris, in Raleigh. They came out during our Buy a Brick sale last friday evening, and purchased a very special big pot. This pot had been thru one other incarnation, which subsequently broke in transport during the making. It also happens to be my (Amanda speaking) favorite pot out of the whole firing. It is now resting peacefully in its new home, and Joseph and I couldn't be happier! The location is stunning. We don't think we could have brought a better house warming gift!

After unloading the pot, we were treated to a lovely outdoor dinner, good conversation and a scattered shower. Our meal included Caprese with pesto (yum!), fresh bread, corn on the cob, cole slaw, a boil including shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and to top it all off, lobster. Dessert was a peach and raspberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It was absolutely delectable. I had never had lobster before, let alone have to learn how to open it up and basically tear into it. You appreciate your food so much more when it still has its animal appearance on your plate. There's nothing like staring into the eyes of your lobster as you eat its claw.

Anyways, the conversation was fascinating, with their daughter Margaret having done some freelance work in tv and film production. She shared with us insider details on the many tv shows she has worked on prior to enlisting back in grad school at UNC last year to get her MBA. We were also joined by two other MBA students and a gastroenteroligist. Needless to say, we had a lot to talk about!

John and Sally, thank you for a fantastic evening!

Sold Out! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

2010-08-21T21:35:00.000-04:00

Joseph and I are quite literally overwhelmed by the great success of our first kiln opening. We had a wonderful crowd of people show up and we are proud to have sent home many lovely pots to great new homes. It was a pleasure meeting new people and seeing our old friends again. We hope that you return for many more of our kiln openings.

Our first kiln opening has been so successful that we actually sold most of the pots by noon on Saturday. We still have the opening advertised as running from noon until 5:00 on Sunday. If you didn’t make it out today and plan on coming on Sunday, please be advised that there are very few pots left, mainly large ones. We would love to have you visit us and look around the pottery, but we apologize for the lack of pots. We would welcome you to come to the next opening which will probably be in the first part of December.

Joseph will be busy this next week starting on the next cycle of pots. We look forward to seeing all of you for the next kiln opening!

Sand in the Clay

Our blog has moved...

Our blog has moved! Come join us! www.blog.josephsandpottery.com

Summer Kiln Opening, Blog move and Baby News!

Solo Show

Preview for Spring Kiln Opening

Time for the Spring Kiln Opening!

We're expanding!

Holiday Kiln Opening Preview

Save the Date and other Noteworthy events

Summer 2011 Video Preview: First Impressions

The Bold & the Beautiful

A teaser

The Next Kiln Opening: A most festive occasion…

Spring breathes life

A Glimpse at the inventory…

Best Firing Yet

Spring Kiln Opening 2011

Year of the Show

2nd Kiln Opening Video Preview

Almost There…

Last pots of 2010

2010 Holiday Kiln Opening

Much Needed Vacation

Back at it again…

A little time for friends

Sold Out! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Our blog has moved! Come join us!

www.blog.josephsandpottery.com