Please pass the ...

When summer transitions into fall, there are so many more opportunities to reconnect with friends. Art openings, book club gatherings, put lucks of all kinds that have little dishes of this and that to sample from.  The way I think...the friends, the events, they all circle back to pottery and what those tasty tidbits will be served on.

Please pass the.... food: tiny tomato tarts on the pottery: see below 

Dish with Leaf Motif

Please pass the.... 
food: chewy caramel apple cookies on the pottery: see below

"Stripes and Dots" oval plate

 
Please pass the....
food: eggplant, pesto and goat cheese pizza on the pottery: see below 

Square Plate with all over floral design

My Plates (for passing) are one of a kind, dishwasher and microwave safe, and for sale at my guild's gallery: the Dedham Square Artist Guild in Dedham, MA. One could be the perfect piece to serve your favorite food on at your next gathering. (And no one else will have the same one...)

Connections

Visit me at the Dedham Farmer's Market on Wednesday, August 15th from 12-2.

I will be demonstrating on my pottery wheel

...a vase, a bowl, a plate and bowl (chip and dip), spoon rest and tumblers!

I'm a Potters Place potter and a Dedham Square Guild Artist.  Ask me about both!

Potters Place is my cooperative pottery studio in Walpole, MA.  I make my work here with 22 other clay artisans.

Dedham Square Artist Guild is my cooperative gallery where I sell my ceramic art with 28 other artists. It's right down the street from the farmer's market at 553 High Street.

Purchase your fruits and veggies, plus a lot of other wonderful fresh options (seafood, bread, ...) at the Dedham Farmer's Market.  Think about serving these items in locally made pottery.  That's the food and pottery connection!

Memorial Day Weekend - what to bring?

Memorial Day Weekend in New England means jumping in the car and heading to the beach. That's what I plan to do because I hear the weather is going to clear up and be beautiful...yeah!

Votive with leaf decoration. (Dedham Square Artist Guild).

 Arriving with a hostess gift is a great way to make a good impression.  Whether it is family or friend, my colorful votives make a nice affordable gift.  Stop by the Dedham Guild to see the other colors.

Candles aglow in wheel thrown hand stamped and decorated votives.

Food and Pottery Connection:

Easy-Peasy for a weekend of fun in the sun New England style

Make this:

Shrimp Salad - 

Heart of the Home Cookbook by Susan Branch (Notes from a Vineyard Kitchen)

Large size cooked shrimp, chopped

Avocado

Fresh Pink grapefruit sections

mayonnaise

orange juice

Put an equal amount of chopped shrimp, cubed avocado and pink grapefruit sections into a (handmade) bowl.  Dress with a little mayonnaise sweetened and thinned with orange juice. 

Serve Chilled In this:

wheel thrown hand trimmed bowl in dark green/blue glossy glaze

If you really had a nice time, wash the bowl and leave it for your host... I'm sure you'll be invited again.

One of a kind dark green/blue glossy bowl is available at the Dedham Square Artist Guild at 553 High Street in Dedham, MA.

Mother's Day is Sunday

 Ideas for Mother's Day:

A beautiful vase filled with her favorite flowers.

A tiny dish with the word "LOVE" stamped in it.

A handmade mug for her morning coffee.

A beautiful serving dish for her favorite meal.

ART for anyplace she might need a Mother's Day reminder after the day has come and gone.

The Food and Pottery Connection:

Serve This:

... because I'm a Mom and vanilla ice cream is my all time favorite

In This: 

wheel thrown hand painted bowl with floral motif  - yes, it's my very own...

I'll be working at the Dedham Square Artist Guild on Saturday, May 12th from 2pm-6pm.  Stop by the shop at 553 High Street in Dedham, MA.  There are many beautiful things to make your Mother's Day one to remember after the day has come and gone.

The HAND made connection

Over the weekend I decided to make homemade pizzas.  It was a first time adventure for our whole family.  Making the pizza dough was so much like working with clay, I must admit I was having a hard time sharing.  I found a great recipe in a new cookbook I bought recently called Cooking for Teens.  

Here's the recipe for pizza dough (found on page 92)

kneading dough

Sprinkle 1x1/4oz package dry yeast over

1 3/4 cup warm water. 

Set aside for 10 Minutes.

Combine 6 cups white bread flour,

1 tsp salt,

1 tsp sugar,

2 Tbs Olive Oil then add water/yeast.

Knead 10 minutes on a floured surface. 

Oil bowl, place dough in, cover, rest 30 minutes til doubled.

Divide into 4 balls. Cover and rest 1 hour.

wedging clay

Such Similarities!

When the dough had risen, we each made our own pizzas and shared with each other.  Our favorite was the Margharita.   

Here is the recipe for Margharita Pizza:

Preheat oven to 425. 

Roll out ball of dough to 10 inches.

Place on greased cookie sheet. 

Spread with pizza sauce. 

Top with slices of mozzarella cheese and torn fresh basil leaves. 

Bake in oven 12-20 minutes. 

Sprinkle with extra torn basil leaves before serving.

The Food and Pottery Connection:

Food: Making Pizza!

Pottery: Play with Clay!

The Hand Made Connection!

Try your HAND in clay at one of my workshops this week:

Create a Clay Bunny/Animal on Wednesday and Carve a Clay Tile on Saturday.  Signs up are still ongoing so Sign Up! Come Play with Clay with me in Dedham this week!

Photos for this blog were found using search on google images.

Vacation snacks & Pottery workshops

This Friday marks the start of school vacation week in Massachusetts.  It can be a challenging time for families not going away on vacation.  Parents look for things to keep kids happy, active and having fun. Dedham, Massachusetts, for the third year, will institute "no TV week" It's a great idea that encourages parents and kids alike to think outside the box, literally, and get out and about.

On Wednesday, April 18th from 10-11am, I will host a make a clay bunny workshop for kids first grade and older. Parents too!  

Learn to make a bunny out of clay by pinching and pulling.  Then add details like ears, eyes, feet and a nose using the scratch and slip technique. 

bunny with glaze awaiting kiln

I will dry your bunny, give it a clear glaze (see above) and fire it in a kiln at Potters Place

When your bunny is done, you can come to the Dedham Guild for pick up. It takes a little while, but I'll let you know when you can take your clay pet home.

meet "Flora", my country bunny

Sign up through the Dedham Guild. Click here for more information.

Kids need snacks to keep them fueled for creating!

Also called GORP

GOBBLEDY GOOK

4 cups chex rice cereal
1 cup peanuts
1 cup raisins
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pretzels
3 tbsp. margarine, melted

Place all ingredients in a 2-quart re-sealable plastic bag, seal and shake until mixed. 

 The Food and Pottery Connection:

add colorful m&ms to the mix

now they're ready to play with clay!

I'm also offering a tile workshop for teens and adults.  Click here for information on my Saturday, April 21st workshop through the Dedham Guild.

Some of the above photos have been added to illustrate my ideas.  Search google images for photo credits.

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.

70 and Sunny

Star Magnolia

It seems spring has sprung and just in time to celebrate Mom's 70th birthday!

First daffodil of the season in my yard.

Between the daffodils and the forsythia, yellow is everywhere.... 

(it's Mom's favorite color too!)

I have a great ap on my iphone called foodgawker.  You can search for recipes via photos.  Clicking on a photo takes you to a blog.  I typed in "Yellow" and found this delicious looking recipe that I know Mom would love for her birthday dinner.  If you click the recipe, there is a link to the blog called Big Flavors From a Tiny Kitchen.

 Salmon with Snap Peas, Yellow Peppers, and Dill-Pistachio Pistou

Bon Appétit August 2009

yield: Makes 4 servings

A chunky pistou with full pistachio flavor adds depth to this fresh salmon dish. Want even more vegetables? Slice lemon cucumbers (a wonderful farmers' market variety that looks somewhat like a yellow tomato) and add a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of dill to make the perfect starter.

1/3 cup chopped fresh dill

1/3 cup finely chopped green onions (about 2)

1/2 cup shelled natural pistachios or almonds, toasted, finely chopped

1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons pistachio oil or extra-virgin olive oil

2 yellow bell peppers or orange bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch strips

1 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed, strings removed

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup water

4 6-ounce salmon fillets

Mix dill, green onions, pistachios, and 1/4 cup oil in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Pistou can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and sauté until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add snap peas, garlic, and 1/4 cup water; sprinkle with salt. Sauté until vegetables are just tender and water evaporates, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1 rounded tablespoon pistou. Transfer vegetables to platter; tent with foil to keep warm. Reserve skillet (do not clean).

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side down, in skillet; cook until skin is crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn salmon and cook until almost opaque in center, about 3 minutes longer. Arrange salmon fillets over vegetables. Spoon some pistou down center of each fillet and serve, passing remaining pistou alongside.

Lisa WB Walker Daffodil Bowl

I think this recipe would be lovely served in my Daffodil Bowl, don't you? It's for sale at the Dedham Square Artist Guild located at 553 High Street in Dedham, MA.

Happy Birthday Mom!