Happy October to all! We’re welcoming the fall with open arms as we eagerly await our December 8 show! This month we’re talking show setup, showing off some pieces from our kiln unload, and sharing a beautifully written poem by our very own, Gunnel!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!: On November 14, Marilyn will be guest bartending at Cork Wine Bar, owned by our very own, Erin Mattingly. Please join us for a beautiful evening of community, charity, and wine! This event will support Backpack Snack Attack in Warwick, an outreach program that feeds the public school children of Warwick Township.
– Marilyn
What’s Happening at Warwick Pottery – News, Studio Time, and Showtime!
Mark Your Calenders!
I am very excited to put a checkmark next to something on my bucket list.
Our very own, Erin Mattingly, has invited me to be a guest bartender on November 14 at her wine bar, Cork, in Florida, New York (EEEK! An absolute dream of mine!)
Cork is beautiful! With piano players, music, wonderful patrons, and charcuterie boards that are beyond delicious- Cork checks all the boxes for a lovely night out AND it’s for charity! This event will support Backpack Snack Attack in Warwick, an outreach program that feeds the public school children of Warwick Township.
Come on out for an evening of delicious food, drinks, and company all in the name of community and charity!
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Cork Wine Bar
24 N Main St, Florida, NY 10921
www.corknewyork.com/
– Marilyn
Studio Time on Thursday!
Please sign up on the website for open studio time on Thursdays. Here is the link to sign up.
Open Studio time will be available on Thursdays until the show on December 8. Morning sessions are available from 10AM – 1PM and afternoon sessions from 1:15PM – 4:15PM. Studio time is $20/session.
Website Updates – Studio Rules & Etiquette, Refund Policy
Our website’s Studio Rules & Etiquette and Refund Policy pages have been updated. The refund policy has been updated with revised contact information and our Studio Rules & Etiquette page has been updated with revised wording surrounding damaged pieces and holding periods. Please review both pages.
A Call for Volunteers – We need your help!
I want to send a huge thank you to Howard Steng. He’s single-handedly saved my mental health last year. Thank you, Howard. You are an officer, a gentleman, and an excellent potter!
We are looking for volunteers for all 3 committees. These committees will be led by Howard Steng and will help us set up and break down the show. If your significant others, friends, or people in your circle would like to give a helping hand, please let us know! Please click here to sign up as a volunteer.
VOLUNTEER ROLES NEEDED
Set-Up Assistance
– Will take place Saturday 2PM-4PM
– Placing the tables
– Putting the potters’ names on the tables
– Putting up signs
– Cleaning
Show Assistance
– Providing direction to attendees. This will include reminding guests that there are more pots upstairs/downstairs, or to the left/right
– Answering questions from attendees about potter placement
– Runners that will be responsible for supporting potters with whatever they need
Break-Down Assistance
– Folding up and moving all the tables and chairs to their home downstairs in the community center
– Sweeping of each room and the hallway
– Cleaning up bathrooms
– Setting up the spaces for the community center’s use
– Taking down signs
– Taking out garbage to the dumpster in the parking lot
Life is Better When Centered – a poem by Gunnel
Life is better when centered, said Marylin.
I thought about it.
•What did she mean?
I take a big breath, in through my nose and then a long exhale as I tried to stay focused.
I sit tall and steady on my chair, I lean forward, my nose over the clay, -the wheel is spinning.
Next breath I start feeling more focused, I purse my lips as I exhale.
My mind keeps saying, -I need to be more centered.
My legs are wide open, my elbows rest sturdy on my thighs, my hands bounce on the clay.
I take another breath, I start feeling cool, calm and collected. My hands are steady and strong. I hear Marylin‘s voice
“ -stay in Center and notice each moment with calm serenity”
Next breath my hands stay in the center of the wheel, holding and pushing the clay, suddenly the clay feels soft. Yes, the clay is soft, and centered! Yes…I am in charge!
Now I know what Marylin meant.
“Life is better when centered”
Thank you for the beautifully written poem, Gunnel!
ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING POTTERY SHOW
- Business cards
- Receipt paper for sales and orders
- Payment Method Information (Venmo, Zelle, Checks, Cash)
- Table linen(s)
- Table scaping materials
- Bags
- Protective paper/tissue to wrap your ceramics in before placing in the bag
- Tape to ensure wrapping stays in place
- Pens
- Sticky labels for pricing
- Notebook [keep notes, inventory list, price list, etc.]
- Phone
- Small bills for change & bag to keep cash safe
- Risers/Shelves
- Water bottle
- Your beautiful smile and sense of humor
- Pack table materials and saleable pieces the night before set up to reduce last-minute stress.
- Set up is Saturday 12/7 from 4PM to 7PM! Don’t be late! Ensure any electronics’ batteries are charged and wireless as outlets are not guaranteed!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS OFFERED TO FIRE IN THEIR HOME KILNS. WE ARE SO GREATFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
5 Quick Tips for Setting Up a Table
- Gather the basics! You’ll need linens, risers/shelves, and items to decorate. The tables are rectangular (unless otherwise noted) and measure 6ft long and 2.5 ft wide.
- Use the triangle method. Using your risers/shelves, create focal points by arranging your table in triangles and making use of vertical space. Below is a great examples from last year.
- Sign your table and include some promotional material such as business cards, stickers, or a QR code that directs to your website or social media.
- Use bright colors to draw visual attention and interest to your table! Remember your embellishments; flowers (real or fake), branches, Holiday or winter-themed decorations, electric candles, ribbons, mirrors, etc.
- Make sure your pricing is visible by using stickers. Keep a list of your inventory and its prices to ensure you can replace any lost price tags!
Marilyn’s Notes Before the Show
BUSINESS CARDS: Business cards should minimally have your name, the word “pottery” and your contact information. Local printing companies and online companies will help you create a wonderful product.
BAGS: Paper bags can be purchased from Amazon, craft shops such as Michaels, or the dollar store. You may wish to have various sizes of bags. Wrapping paper can be tissue paper, craft paper, and/or bubble wrap.
RISERS: Risers can be as simple as decorated cans of various heights to place your items, wooden boards supported by simple bricks, beautiful rocks, sturdy boxes, or slatted boxes available at craft shops. Personally, I stay away from offering food at my table, but some people swear by it… Please be very sensitive to nut allergies if you wish to offer any treats at your table.
PRICING: Please be mindful that this is an indoor wholesale show at a community center. That means that if you know that your bowl can be sold for $30 at a store, your price should be $15. Our customers are local people looking for beautiful items at very reasonable prices.
SET UP: Set up for the show is Saturday, December 7, from 4PM-7PM. The show starts at 10AM-4PM on Sunday, December 8. Breakdown of your table may start no sooner than 4:05 PM on Sunday.
FOOD: Breakfast offerings will be provided by the studio for you and your helper. Coffee, tea, and various snacks like muffins and rolls will be available. Lunch offerings will be pizza and seltzer. This year you will be able to go up to our usual studio space to enjoy breakfast or lunch. The door to the studio space must remain closed. Last year, guests visiting us thought our food and drink were meant for the public (uh oh!).
GALLERY: This year, I’m inviting each potter to place a fabulous pot in a gallery area (the location is yet to be determined). The pot does not need to be for sale. The gallery area will be manned. This area is for those pots that you might not want to sell because you love them so much!
Thank you very much for participating in this year’s show. It’s my delight to gift this to the student body. Putting yourself out there as an artist can be frightening and filled with artistic doubt. Rest assured… Like every moment of your experience with Warwick Pottery, where you can hang your heart, you will find yourself elevated as you place your work on a table. It need not sell. That’s not the point, nor is it a measure of success.
Your success comes when you take your beautiful pot, which takes months or years to learn how to make, and place it up to scrutiny. That is the true moment of success. It is then that you can exhale, knowing that you’ve surely done your very best, a feeling that is a satisfaction beyond the beauty of any gem.
Thanks for reading, we can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to in November with you! Only one month left until our annual show! As a reminder, this year, our show will take place on Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 10AM to 4PM at the Doc Fry Community Center. Admission is free and open to the public! Click here for the official announcement.