Perspective

The Inspiration Behind Our Deer Serving Platters and Bowls

We took the deer to the lake today. Thought she might like it.

     We see deer all the time here in Truckee, CA. Mule deer to be exact. Well, actually we really don't see deer in the winter. At our elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountains it gets pretty darn cold and snows a lot. Did i say it snows a lot? Over 700 inches this past winter. So when it dumps the deer head down towards NV just outside Reno where the weather, and the gambling, is just a bit better in winter. 

Everyday - Any Meal Bowl

     However, in the spring, summer and fall we see deer right outside our studio. But that's not the deer that inspired our platters and bowls. Nope. Our muse is a piece of art hanging in the pottery studio. Our friend's mother created a beautiful block print of a deer and it's reflection in the water it's bending down to drink. 

A deer and her double printed reflection. Cool.

     For our platters and bowls the silhouette is created by painting wax resist onto the dish; then glazing around the deer. We like the contrast this creates both visually and texturally between the speckled calico clay body and the white glaze. 

7.5" X 7.5" x 3" 

     Inspiration is all around us. We hope this little post helps to inspire you. If you like what you see here the platter and bowl are both available in the shop or online below with an option for pick up if you live near by:

 

Deer Platter

Deer Bowl

The Stars Shine Bright In Truckee

You can count the stars by candle light.....

     

If you've been following us for awhile you know we don't usually do handled mugs. But we do get asked to do them all the time. Well...... Voilà, Poof, Bam, Presto! We just unloaded the kiln with a small batch of coffee cups with handles and image transfers. Three different images in 5 colors. 

1. The Stars Shine Bright In Truckee

2. Cricket Playing Fiddle

3. Bike

Most of these are headed into the shop today but we did set a side a couple for the web.

You can buy a green Stars Cup here : http://www.alannahughes.com/shop/stars-cup-with-handle

And a blue Cricket Cup here : http://www.alannahughes.com/shop/cricket-cup-with-handle

Cricket Playing Fiddle

A great sized coffee cup that's actually wine and juice safe too!

Sweet serenade....

Botanical Pressed Mugs Are Back

Botanical pressed mugs are back. Aspen Leaves, Lavender Flowers, Mules Ear Leaves, Indian Paintbrush Flowers and Yarrow Flowers inspire. We've crafted these mugs in the past using rolled slab clay to hand build a slender tumbler. This time around we decided to wheel throw stoneware buff clay in the shape of a coffee to go paper cup. The idea is to stop using the paper cups. And these new mugs will fit into your car or beach/camping chair cup holder so you don't have to leave them at home when your on the go or hanging out under the stars. These mugs are going into the shop today at  http://riversideartstudios.com/ . You can also contact us here on the website via email. 

Next week we will be firing some new tall tumblers with image transfers. 

 

 

All five designs.

 

Mules Ear Leaf with Yarrow in the background.

Indian Paintbrush in our greenhouse with strawberries growing up.

 

Fantastic Fox Platter

We've been making fox platters for about a year now. Usually we draw the outline of our fox with pencil on a dark or calico serving platter, paint the body with wax resist, glaze and then fire. The end result is a colored serving platter with a raw clay body fox silhouette. Which has been great. But sometimes people ask " Is that a fox or a coyote "? So we decided to paint a fox with oxide stains to add a bit more life and settle the dispute once and for all. 

What does a fox say......

Summer Stroll: Shop & Sip

Looking for something to do today Wednesday, June 21st? I will have a pop up shop at a beautiful Lahontan home from 2 to 7 p.m. Enjoy a glass of wine, savory snacks and gathering of friends while shopping an extraordinary array of artists and vendors offering jewelry, clothing and gifts. A 20% share of all vendor sales goes to the Lahontan Community Foundation. Graciously hosted by the Estes, Jones, Myers & Hamilton families at their residences on Gooseneck Reservoir. 
Friends and guests are welcome! 
12317 Garwood Dean, 12320 Garwood Dean, 
8810 George Whittell & 8820 George Whittell
(Maps will be available at the Gatehouse)

Family Art Studio

     We are always telling Indigo that she can be and do anything in the world. Her response is always that she's going to be a potter. That or a horse rider. We shall see. She loves being in the studio whether she's watching or creating.

     Here she's watching Alanna throw a custom set of Sierra Soup Bowls. These are made by wedging light and dark colored clays together so that when they are thrown and trimmed you get a beautiful layered spiral pattern. 

Indigo watching Alanna throw Sierra Soup Bowls

Indigo watching Alanna throw Sierra Soup Bowls

Custom Sierra Soup Bowl

Custom Sierra Soup Bowl

First Blog Post

We've finally gotten around to a blog page on our website. Yay! In addition we now have a ready to ship tab on the website shopping page. Now if we can only get around to cleaning the house. 

Our daughter Indigo holding one of our new olive oil cruets.

Our daughter Indigo holding one of our new olive oil cruets.