by

My Blog has Moved to LucyFagella.com

I am writing this post to let you all know that my blog here on wordpress.com has moved over to my own website. I liked wordpress so much that I got myself a new website at wordpress.org. Now I can have my website and blog all rolled into one!
This is my third website since 2005 (my how time flies). I am very excited about this new website… not that I didn’t like my last one, it’s just that after four years, it became outdated with the leaps and bounds in technology that have been happening.  So this new website is mobile friendly, and connects to my two shops… “Shop Lucia Urns”, and “Shop for the Kitchen.”  Both are secure sites which take all credit cards through Squareup.com.
For those of you who follow me here, you will no longer get your automatic email notifications when a new post comes out… but the good news is that you can sign up on my website for a monthly update of studio news, classes, workshops, events, sales, and blog posts!
Take a look at my new website at www.LucyFagella.com. and follow me there by signing up with your email contact!

LuciaPottery.com

by

The Pottery Trail is this Weekend

All the throwing, all the glazing, all the achy body parts that go with it. It’s such a build up to this event, our 11th annual Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail… and it’s all worth it!

Each year more and more people go on the Trail, taking the time to visit each of the nine studios, the host potters and their guest potters.  Experience all the goodies we have in store. It’s not only about buying great pots, it’s also a celebration of food, friendships, music, and demonstrations! So if you haven’t been on this great tour through the beautiful valley of Western Massachusetts, now is your time! Check out our website here, and please don’t forget to support our sponsors for great food, and a place to stay!

Here is what is in store at my studio this time around!

Berry BowlsCreamy White Salt CellarAmber and Blue Bowlsfor the trailDSC_0013 - Version 2salt and asparagus lucyfagellaPlatter Lucy FagellaGalaxy Urns Lucy FagellaCheese Dish Lucy Fagella 2Two Cups Lucy FagellaAmber Salt CellarsAmber Pitcher

by

Urns Honoring a Loved One

Today there was a really nice article in our local paper about the ceramic urns I make.

Cremation urns have been part of my pottery business for ten years now. The article tells about why I chose to do this as a potter.

See it here at, The Greenfield Recorder.

White Petal Urn

by

Making Asparagus Trays

I call these Asparagus trays, but the reality is that they can be used for anything from fresh cut bread to clementines.

I thought it would be nice to share some photos of how I make these oval, long handled trays!

Freshly made.

Freshly made.

 

Block Printing Tool from India

Block Printing Tool from India

Circles becoming Ovals

Thrown bottomless, then made into oval.

Cut Bottoms to Fit the Oval

Joining the top to the bottom.

 

Asparagus Trays Drying

With handles, drying on worktable

 

 

 

by

The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail

So exciting it’s our 11th Year!  A tour of 9 potters at their studios, each having at least one guest potter! If you haven’t made this tour yet, now is the time.  It is going to be a good one!  Make reservations to stay at one of our sponsor B&Bs, and enjoy some great local food.

Take a look at our brochure and see for yourself!

2

1

See our website here. http://www.apotterytrail.com.

by

Getting Pots Made for the Pottery Trail

The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is coming up in six short weeks!  Our date this year is April 25th-26th.  In between getting pots made for that, I am spending time getting all of my information and photos to my web designer for my new website!  Hopefully it will be all up and running before the Trail.  My current website was made in 2010, even though it’s nice, it is antiquated.  It’s time for me to have a responsive website since a good percentage people use mobile devices to search sites.  Maybe I will share some sneak peeks of the website soon, but for now I will give you a peek of the mugs that will be ready for the Pottery Trail.

Last week I was working on mugs and cups, I was getting tired of trimming the same old foot. I was also dreaming of warm weather and flowers… zinnias to be exact, in the studio garden to be more exact.  So before I knew it these happy feet started to appear!  I always like to have texture on the bottom of my mugs (usually made with a wiggle type wire).  I think it’s fun to hold a mug and have something different to feel on different parts of the piece, and you can’t leave out the bottom!  We will see if this foot design becomes part of my repertoire or if it’s just something to get me through till the zinnia’s are in bloom.

Mugs DryingDetail of flower footHappy Feet

by

Patterns and Optical Illusions

Patterns, just love what they can do.  Repetition, movement, optical illusions.

I have been making these little treasure boxes with different patterns and glazes… here are some of the blue ones.  I have included the images of the process… how I draw the pattern using a square grid, then apply wax resist to the pattern.  I love the way they look glazed but not fired.  But what I really want you to look at is the optical illusion that occurs on the finished blue piece.  Do you see a leaf/petal or a diamond shape?  I see one first, then the other after awhile.

These will be available soon on my new updated website, and in my etsy shops… I need to have a long photo session, and get all the new stuff up!

DSC_0008 DSC_0015 DSC_0022