Dorie Mickelson on fri 31 dec 04
Brenda, FYI, for some professional tile pricing references, check out
the beautiful tiles at Motawi Tileworks http://www.motawi.com/ and
Pewabic Pottery http://www.pewabic.com/tile_catalog.htm (two very well
known pottery/tile businesses in Michigan). For instance, some of
Motawi's 4x8 art tiles are $43-$47 each...of course, these are
absolutely exquisite polychrome tiles (very beautiful high quality tiles
and very labor intensive to produce) and worth every penny (IMHO), and
clearly enough other people think so too as Motawi has been running a
successful tile business for some years. Less elaborate tiles (such as
relief tiles and the even simpler field tiles) are, of course, less
expensive. Pewabic's 3x3 relief tiles, for example, are $13, their 4x4
tiles are $18, their 6x6 tiles are $36, and their 8x8 tiles are $50,
just to give you some idea.
When a friend of mine wanted to commission me to make her a bunch of
tiles with a "unique and beautiful design" about a year ago for a
tabletop installation, I declined the commission (since my focus is in
wheel thrown work and not tilemaking) and directed her to Motawi
Tileworks and Pewabic Pottery for her purchase. Someday I would love to
learn how to make beautiful tiles myself but I have long since learned
that for me, taking on commissions for things I don't usually make is a
recipe for diasaster!
Dorie Mickelson in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where we are having a wonderful
dash of warm weather and just about all of the snow has melted! (And no
relation to Motawi or Pewabic, just a fan of their work...)
www.FreeSpiritCreations.com
> Brenda Funk wrote: On a slightly different
thread, I have been asked to do tiles for a kitchen backsplash, by a
lady for whom I just did a dinnerware set. I made sushi plates -
rectangular, about 5 x 12 inches, and priced them at 20/each. She wants
similar tiles, about 4 X 8, without a lip, of course. I can't expect her
to pay 20 per tile.
bonnie staffel on sat 1 jan 05
Dear Clayarters,
Happy New Year to you all. Let us hope the economy recovers to make us all
RICH!!!!!
I made stoneware sinks for a while and decorated/fired them as I do my
functional work at Cone 9. Then several customers also wanted back splash
tiles or counter tops to match, I was in a quandary. I did not want to make
my own tiles so purchased the standard ones available but which did not fire
to cone 9. I usually work on edge for any project, so decided to go for the
Cone 9 anyway. I went ahead with the glazing and decorating and put some in
my next firing. Well, they shrunk (or is it shrank?) a lot more than the 6"
but they looked great. I had a few shelves with a slight arch and those
tiles took on the shape. To cover my butt, I then made a lot more tiles
than needed. They were cheap enough to waste. So got enough flat ones to
fill the orders with some left over with a slight warp. Bought some tile
frames, put some grout around, Voila!!! had some decorated tiles to sell.
Only have a few really warped ones left and plan to break them up for
mosaics some day. "Waste not, want not" "When life gives you a lemon, make
lemonade" all good rules to live by. Of course I was a child of the
depression even though I wanted for nothing. However, the lessons were
taught.
Warm regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
Charter Member Potters Council
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