Liz Willoughby on fri 28 jan 05
Dear Claybuds,
Was doing some serious cleaning yesterday in the studio, and while
mopping and sorting odd bags of clay, I got to thinking about all the
things that I have bought at Ikea for my studio or showroom. In
their Marketplace area they have galvanized plant stands on rollers,
that are wonderful for buckets of glazes and clay. They are cheap,
around $8 canadian. Also unpainted plate racks out of wood, about 3"
by 36", with hooks to hang on the wall, and grooves for the plates.
I use these for plates, but also for small items, like mugs, small
tumblers or small jugs. They also have various sizes of shallow
bowls made out of strips of bamboo, that I have used for molds, using
a cloth between the bowl and clay. And of course all the shelving in
my studio is from Ikea.
About teapots, I have always been fascinated with their function, and
the aesthetics of the form. I usually have a few in my showroom.
Pricing them is the hardest part, as I want them to be used, but I
also want to get enough money for them to cover the time that I spend
making them.
I think that if you are good at making teapots, they will sell. So
many customers complain to me that commercial (expensive) teapots do
not pour. So if you are good at making them, you do have a market.
I agree, with Paul Herman, it is a personal thing and I like being
part (as the maker) of a "quiet time" when people "have tea". For
me, it is better than nuking a mug of water for a tea bag. There is
the pot, the handle, and the pouring. Then the serving and sipping.
Very civilized.
Years of work, will improve the forms that you make, along with the
functionality of the work. The best work is when the forms are
creative, still keeping the function foremost in the mind. Marrying
the two is what I strive to do, and it is not easy, hard work, but
satisfying work. A challenge. I think that is really why I like
making teapots.
Dan, I almost always sell mugs and teabowls, creams and sugars
separately. Sometimes, I have a request for a set, but rarely.
Ilene asks:
>All this talk about teapots... do you all sell a bunch of them or is it a
romance with creativity and a beautiful vessel?
Richard replies:
I can't say about others, but I sell a few of them. I make them because I
enjoy blend of form and function, the challenge of producing ones that
function superbly, and well, because they are something that potters make.
Unfortunately, they are an item that most households have in abundance
(unless the owners are teapot collectors), such as bowls, plates, vases,
etc., and so I tend to sell fewer of them than other items.
I would be curious to hear from others who sell functional items for a living.
Paul says:
A teapot is a very personal thing. When making them I try to think about
their destination, on someone's table in the morning or afternoon.
People use their teapots during quiet times, at home. To me, that is
where the essence of functional pottery comes into play. And it's a
place where other art forms sometimes miss, that daily use and touch.
It can be a thing that offers grace and comfort in an insane world. It's
there when a friend visits, or when dawn breaks.
It's a good place to communicate through, a teapot. Endless
possibilities for subversion.*
Meticky Liz from Grafton, Ontario, Canada
You must believe in Spring
Dan Dermer on fri 28 jan 05
I too picked up some of the Ikea "plant glides", that is, garbage can lids
with casters attached. They are excellent making glaze buckets (or,
clay-reclaim buckets) more mobile. Linky below.
Thanks for the insights on whether to sell teapots and teabowls separately
or together. I'd been selling them as sets, but will try it the other way
for a while...
-Dan
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101
&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=25984
Jennifer Boyer on sat 29 jan 05
Aghhhh! No Ikea anywhere near here and I need some of those! They are
an "instore only" item My goal is everything in my studio on wheels.
But there's hope: An Ikea in BALTIMORE!
See you folks at NCECA. Maybe we can arrange a group trip.
On Jan 28, 2005, at 4:37 PM, Dan Dermer wrote:
> I too picked up some of the Ikea "plant glides", that is, garbage can
> lids
> with casters attached. They are excellent making glaze buckets (or,
> clay-reclaim buckets) more mobile. Linky below.
>
> Thanks for the insights on whether to sell teapots and teabowls
> separately
> or together. I'd been selling them as sets, but will try it the other
> way
> for a while...
>
> -Dan
>
> http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?
> catalogId=10101
> &storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=25984
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
Earl Brunner on sat 29 jan 05
The really heavy duty Rubbermaid trash cans have a wheel assembly that
screws onto the bottom of the cans. You can get them at Home Depot or some
kind of janitorial supply. They work great as well, just not sure on the
price.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Jennifer Boyer
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 3:47 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Ikea, teapots
Aghhhh! No Ikea anywhere near here and I need some of those! They are
an "instore only" item My goal is everything in my studio on wheels.
But there's hope: An Ikea in BALTIMORE!
See you folks at NCECA. Maybe we can arrange a group trip.
Frank Gaydos on sat 29 jan 05
I just ordered a dolly for a 32 gal. can for $42.00!
And that's cheap!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Earl Brunner"
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: Ikea, teapots
> The really heavy duty Rubbermaid trash cans have a wheel assembly that
> screws onto the bottom of the cans. You can get them at Home Depot or
> some
> kind of janitorial supply. They work great as well, just not sure on the
> price.
>
> Earl Brunner
> Las Vegas, NV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Jennifer
> Boyer
> Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 3:47 AM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Ikea, teapots
>
> Aghhhh! No Ikea anywhere near here and I need some of those! They are
> an "instore only" item My goal is everything in my studio on wheels.
> But there's hope: An Ikea in BALTIMORE!
> See you folks at NCECA. Maybe we can arrange a group trip.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
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