Clay Baskets and Chocolate Eggs

While vacationing in North Carolina this past summer, I visited Seagrove.  In their shop, I spotted a wonderful little clay basket. You can see it on the bottom shelf in the photo to the left. 

I thought: "You can only make that in clay!"

When I began to create my spring collection, I knew I wanted to include a basket.

My interpretation... wheel thrown and pinched.  
Hand pulled handle across with a swirl stamp.

I like the contrast between a soft white "liner" and 
a strong colored glaze for the exterior. 

The baskets hold flowers.  They would work well as a gift for Mother's Day.

I can imagine a flower girl in a wedding using one. 

The Easter bunny arrives on Sunday morning! 

Hop on over to the Dedham Square Artist Guild to pick up your Easter basket 

complete with a bunny tag!

The Food & Pottery Connection:

CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG RECIPE

http://www.painlesscooking.com/easter-candy-recipes.html

• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 6 oz melted semi sweet chocolate chips
• 3 oz softened cream cheese
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 ½ to 3 Tbls hot water
• Dash salt
• 2 lbs melted dipping chocolate
• Candy decorations

1. Blend ½ pound powdered sugar with melted chocolate chips, cream cheese, vanilla, hot water and salt.

2. With hands, work in remaining 1/2 lb powdered sugar.

3. Shape mixture into small balls; then shape balls into egg shapes.

4. Dip eggs into melted dipping chocolate; let set to harden.

5. Decorate for Easter.

Food: chocolate Easter eggs

Pottery: candy baskets

Make a bunny workshop-
I will teach kids, 1st grade an older, to create a bunny from clay. The workshop will teach pinch and pull, plus scratch and slip techniques.

Sign ups are open now for Wednesday, April  18 class through the dedham guild.

Public Art and Rabbit Food

During the spring, crouching rabbit sculptures will be painted & placed across Dedham.  Each sculpture will be painted by a juried selection of local artists – and will be sponsored by local businesses, individuals and organizations. 

I've be thinking about submitting an application to participate in the Dedham Public Art Project. The deadline is this Thursday...

  

Marietta Apollonio, an artist painter and co-founder of the Dedham Square Artist Guild is painting the first of 15 bunnies for the project.  I love her work and her bunny, which she has named David B. Unny will be yet another wonderful creation of hers. She shares her palette but not her ideas...smart lady!

Why a Crouching Rabbit?
The Dedham Public Art Project will feature a crouching rabbit - an iconic form found on the historic Dedham Pottery, which was produced in Dedham over 100 years ago. The pottery was characterized by a signature crackle glaze and border designs in thick cobalt blue. The most common and recognizable design is a repeating crouching rabbit officially referred to as “the Dedham rabbit.”

During the Dedham Square Valentine's Day event, I went to check out the first bunny who was on view at the Dedham Community Theatre. 

"He" wasn't as big as I thought a 4ft bunny would be.  I guess it's his ears that really add the height.

Next door to the theatre is Heart of the Square.  I noticed they had real Dedham Pottery and had to have a closer look.  They were nice enough to let me take a few shots of my favorite pattern: the Azelea flower.

Many artists are submitting ideas.  I can't wait to see what they'll come up with.  As a potter, I'd like to see a Dedham Pottery Bunny.

At the conclusion of the public display over several months, the completed sculptures will be auctioned off to support the proposed Mother Brook Arts & Community Center slated for the old Avery Elementary School. 
 

My husband picked out Dedham Pottery as our every day ware when we were registering for our wedding.  

We've been using "bunny" plates and bowls and mugs and dishes for all our married years.  It's not the real stuff but Dedham Pottery is with us at almost every meal.  

The pottery I have was slip cast and hand painted in Concord, Ma at the Potting Shed.  What's makes my collection special to me is that each piece has the year it was created painted on the bottom (hint: my wedding year).

One of my favorite Dedham Pottery pieces is my egg dish. One could use it for painted Easter eggs or deviled eggs.  For the food and pottery connection, here's a recipe for deviled eggs...

• 1 dozen eggs
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• Lawry's Salt (which has paprika in it)

1 Hard boil the eggs. 

2 Peel the eggs. Using a sharp knife, slice each egg in half, lengthwise. Gently remove the yolk halves and place in a small mixing bowl. Arrange the egg white halves on a serving platter.

3 Using a fork, mash up the yolks and add mustard and mayo. Spoon egg yolk mixture into the egg white halves. Sprinkle with Lawry's salt. Makes 2 dozen.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR The Dedham Public Art Project for ARTISTS IS MARCH 1st

 should I?

Dedham Square Artist Guild

Yesterday, I delivered some of my handmade pottery to a cooperative artists guild in Dedham Square.  I'm looking forward to working with this great group of artists who create in many different mediums!

What is DSAG?

The purpose of Dedham Square Artists Guild is to provide an environment for artists to show and sell their work and to enrich the cultural life of the community. The collection of work will encompass a diversity of styles ranging from realism to abstract. All media are welcome including: acrylic, assemblage, beaded jewelry, bird carving, ceramics, collage, fiber arts, handmade books, lampwork glass, lithograph, mixed media, note cards, oil, sculpture, pastel, pencil, pen and ink, photography, relief printing, scarves and watercolor.  

Shop Hours

• Thurs 12-7
• Fri 12-8
• Sat 12-8
Sun 12-5 

Location

553 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026.

Stop by the shop in Dedham Square. Support local Artists.