Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Training seminars have been scheduled all across the country over the next few months. Slots are filling fast. This certification is by the Ceramics Artist Guild (CAG). If you are interested in becoming a certified judge for ceramics competitions, contact the Cag at www.ceramicartistguild.com
Here is the current schedule:
Vallejo, CA 6-10-2010 Salt Lake City, UT 6-15 (tentative, it may get moved to Phoenix) Denver, CO 6-18-2010 Oklahoma City, OK 6-22-2010 (FILLING UP FAST) Atlanta, GA 6-26-2010 (ALMOST FULL) Washington DC 6-29-2010 Boston, MA 7-1-2010 (FILLING UP FAST) Buffalo, NY 7-3-2010 LaCrosse, WI 7-8-2010
Bismark, ND 7-10-2010
Friday, March 12th, 2010
The CAG (Ceramic Artist Guild) will be presenting a series of workshop/seminars to train experienced Ceramists to become certified judges for sanctioned ceramic competitions.
If you have a background in ceramics and would like to participate and expand your own horizons, you may want to consider becoming a judge.
Some of the upcoming class locations and dates include:
PHOENIX, AZ – 3/18 BOISE, ID – APRIL VALLEJO, CA – 6/10 SALT LAKE CITY, UT – 6/15 DENVER, CO – 6/18 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – 6/22 ATLANTA, GA – 6/26 WASHINGTON, DC – 6/29 BOSTON, MA – 7/1 BUFFALO, NY – 7/5 (Including our friends in Toronto, Canada) LACROSSE, WI – 7/8 BISMARK, ND – 7/10
BOISE, ID – PHASE II CLASS – 7/14
The CAG is also offering portions of the three phase training seminar online for those who are unable to personally attend a live session.
You can find out more about these training sessions by clicking here.
I encourage you to sign up early as space is limited.
Friday, March 5th, 2010
As you know, I went to the recent Atlanta Show. While there, I had the opportunity to add a few more molds to my already bulging storehouse of items. Yes, it is an addiction, what can I say? However, who can really blame me? All of the Doc Holliday molds I picked up have been discontinued, so I just could not pass them up – could you have?
When they are dry enough to cast – about a week from now, I will be able to provide bisque, greenware or finished items for the following acquisitions:
Doc Holliday – Santa on Polar Bear Doc Holliday 1777 – Protector of Innocence (Dragon with female rider) Doc Holliday 1836 – Angel of Peace (Angel riding Lion wi/lamb) Doc Holliday 1939 – Large Plain Gourd Birdhouse Doc Holliday 1741 – Dragon Plant tenders Doc Holliday 516 – Unicorn Pillow Vase Doc Holliday 1874 – Moon Maiden (with dragon)
Crest 167 – large bottle slumper to make glass slump molds.
After having been closed down for the winter, I am now gearing up for my ’season’; so its time to get your orders in before things get busy around here.
Send any inquiries re these molds or any of my other 5000 plus molds via the contact us link on this page.
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
I was greatly saddened to find that many of my favorite glazes and underglazes are being discontinued.
Mayco/Ceramichrome and Duncan are discontinuing a large number of their products. What is left will be a very small selection which I find very limiting to my creativity.
I understand part of why they are cutting back. It is the economy and the fact that the ceramics industry has fallen into a real depression. If a product does not sell, they cannot keep producing it. It is up to the consumer to support the manufacturers. The same thing has been happening to the mold manufacturers and the suppliers of all related ceramic products. That has been happening with all the ceramic shops that have gone out of business over the past few years.
This is a very sad thing and I hope that all of you will make a concerted effort to help revitalize the ceramics industry with your enthusiasm, support and efforts. We all have to fight forward and do what we can to support all aspects of this industry.
Knowing that many great products will no longer be available, I encourage you to contact your favorite suppliers and even new suppliers and stock up on any of your favorites that you find are being discontinued.
Go paint something today — have fun in the mud
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
I was very excited to attend the annual Ceramic Show in Atlanta this past weekend.
It was wonderful to see an increase in exhibits as well as the number of people attending. Ceramics is indeed growing again.
Walking down the aisles, I was inspired to present a number of new products and new themes to this site and will do so over the course of the next few weeks, so check here frequently to see what is revealed.
There were many new molds, exciting techniques and new products (well, new to me). Hopefully, they will be new to you and will excite you as they excited me.
Friday, February 19th, 2010
It is not too early to make summer plans.
I always operate on the premise that a business person, especially one in retail, needs to plan a year ahead. Well it’s not a year ahead, but if you have not already done so, it is definitely time to make plans and preparations for Summer and children’s day camps.
When you have children’s groups, you cannot ignore the needs and preferences of your regular clients. You need to keep in mind that not everyone wants to work around children and that many of your shop dwellers come to escape children and family distractions. With that in mind, you may want to schedule as many children’s activities as you can during the summer months, but leave plenty of time for your ‘regular’ customers. You must keep it clear that summer camps are NOT a baby sitting service; but rather a scheduled activity. Your resources for recruitment of potential students are virtually unlimited.
Suggestions for types of camps
The open workshop camp – Parents register their kids for particular time slots and pre-select various projects within a budgeted amount. Kids are dropped off and work on these projects in an informal, yet supervised setting. Usually for older children who can primarily function without constant attention.
The Structured Camp – Parents register their kids for a specific course that would be developmental and all kids enrolled would work on the same or similar projects under the supervision of the counselor/instructor. Usually 1 – 2 hour blocks of time, often multi-sessions for several weeks.
Closed groups sessions – A group of parents or counselors from other programs would bring in their group of kids to work on specific projects or an assortment of projects from a pre-determined list on a scheduled basis. Usually 1 – 2 hour blocks of time and usually only one or two sessions.
To read more about Kids Day Camps, click here
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
I see you are still with us. That proves to me you have commitment or are insane. In a way, though, it is true. To start your own business you have to be committed and self-motivated. There are a lot of brick walls and barriers that need to be scaled in order to be successful. In many ways, running your own business is a lot more work than being an employee somewhere else. There is another side to the coin however – The rewards are often unbeatable. Where else can you ‘play’ and make some money doing it.
Remember our checklist in Part 2? Let’s see how we are doing.
Create a Name – Check Secure a web domain – Check Make a budget – Check Obtain a checking account – Check Licensing, legal matters and accounting – Check Secure a location – Check
Lay out floor plan – Check
So far, so good. We are getting there. Now, it is time to set-up the store.
To read the rest of this seminar, click here
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
All the Legal Stuff
Well, its about that time. You cannot go much further in planning your business venture without taking care of all the legal and foundation matters.
Yes, its those icky taxes, licensing, etc.
Now that you have your location, you need to make sure you have your business license and your tax licenses. You also need to get your insurance in place, get your accounting methods established and decide if you want to be a corporation or sole proprietor. While you are at it, make sure you have socked in your web domain name.
Which one to do first…wow, so many important things that need to be addressed.
To read the rest of this seminar, click here
Monday, February 15th, 2010
The technique of salt glazing was discovered sometime in the 14th century in Germany. The process was originally used with low-fire ceramics, but quickly became a favorite technique with stoneware. Western Europeans used the salt glaze process in salt kilns quite extensively during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Americans have produced salt ware since early 1700s in Pennsylvania, Virginia and American Stoneware became the predominant American houseware during the 19th century. Today, North and South Carolina are well known for continuing salt fire production.
Salt firing is one ceramic process that was created outside of Japan and carried to their culture in the early 1900s. This method is one that is continuing to be used for experimentation and creativity in the field of ceramics and pottery. Modern potters and ceramists continue to explore many of the old techniques. One should keep in mind that this method is hard on contemporary electric kilns in that the fumes are corrosive and destructive to the kiln interiors. Most craftsmen opt to use gas kilns, specialty or home made kilns when using various salt methods.
To read more about this process, click here
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
By now, you have some idea as to what kind of venture you want to tackle. And you have pretty well determined where you want to locate your new business. Of course money is going to be a strong factor in how much space you have to begin; but I encourage you to not cramp yourself too tightly because this kind of business can grow by leaps and bounds.
Break your shop into sections. The number and kinds of areas will be determined by the needs you will have to perform the kind of business you are wanting. Imagine if you will:
an area for mold production, an area for firing, an area for greenware, an area for bisque, an area for supplies, a classroom for open workshop, a classroom for formal training/classes, areas for display of projects or featured activities, or promotions, a check out area, a possible lounge area, a possible children’s corner,
an area for finished giftware
To read the rest of this seminar, click here