Striped Teapot featured in Bon Appetit Magazine!

The February issue of Bon Appetit Magazine is out on the stands and includes my Yellow Striped teapot in a line up with brands like Merimekko, Ralph Lauren Home and Hermes.  Wow!
This past week I pulled out a few striped teapots from the kiln and have been busy trying to re-stock the shop, which now includes striped teapots that are Yellow, Orange and Turquoise (with Blue on the way soon!).  I'm in love with them all!

Herringbone Collection in colour!

The Herringbone Colour-way pattern was one of the designs that came out of the work I did for the Kindred in Blue show that Krystal Speck and I created for the Bookhou shop in Toronto last June.  I was working in shades of blue and came up with this design for a number of pieces that sold at the show.  It was one of my favourite designs, and I couldn't wait to try it with other colours! I launched the bottle vase design (with my own photos) in 5 colour-ways back in the fall, but for this photo-shoot I honed in on 3 that were my favourite, the yellow-green, the blues and the orange-red.  I also thought the design might look great on a couple of bowls in shades of blue, and I'm so glad I tried it. 

This design really reminds me of the west coast.  I see the mountains in the blues, trees in the yellow-green and orange sunsets in the orange-red version of the design.  There is something really architectural about the pattern that fits in with my architectural paintings.  I couldn't help thinking about perspective and angles when I first started playing with it and I can really see myself pulling it into a painting... if I ever get time to do that again.

This is one of those patterns that I have to take my time in glazing.  Each zig-zagged area is hand-painted with glaze after I've mapped out the herringbone lines in tape.  Then a resist is applied so I can dip the white glaze onto the piece. A bit more resist and the herringbone tape gets removed with a lot of touching up as I go.  I quite like that those lines are a bit different then the white glaze, so in some cases a soft grey blue or with the orange, the clear glaze in those herringbone lines finishes it off nicely.  I'm looking forward to seeing this design evolve and move onto other pots- like a teapot would be pretty sweet too.  Next photoshoot- I promise!

Welcome to the studio and new work!

Oh, there will be lots to share over here in the next little bit, but for now, just a taste of the great photos that Curtis Hildebrand took of my new studio and my work late December!  Curtis has taken my website photos since I started dahlhaus in 2007 and it's been great to work with him all these years.  I can really only manage/afford one photo session a year, so the photos we take really decide the work I make for the next 8 months as I use them for my online shops and wholesale line sheet as examples of glazes and designs.

Speaking of which, I have just sent off my wholesale line sheet to a number of inquiring and existing shops, but if you have a b & m shop and would be interested in carrying my work, I am now taking orders for spring! I'm looking forward to creating work for some pretty great shops this year, so drop me a line at heather@dahlhausart.com and I'll be in touch with an email and link to view my line sheet. 

Here's the set up to create such lovely photos- all done in the comfort of my studio!

Around the house and our expanding view

Well the sun showed itself after much much rain and dark, so I finally had the urge to pick up a real camera (not just my handy phone) and take a few photos around the house after picking the boys up from school.  My sister and her little 3 year old collected all sorts of little mosses and twigs to make an airplant terrarium for me for Christmas.  So lovely, I'm enjoying it lots. And a few postcards from friends and artists I admire make an empty spot on the wall look fun.  I also love my new calender from Rifle Paper with sweet drawings of major cities and landmarks. 
And we have a room with a view (remember that movie?).   Anyways, there have been a few trees that were taken out giving us a bit more to look at over yonder.  One day that big California Redwood tree smack in the middle of our view may have to go.  As the neighbourhood story goes, there were a bunch of redwoods planted by a kindergarten class 50 years ago.  They are all so huge, so it's easy to see them and imagine little 5 year olds planting tiny trees in their back yards.  Little did they know that 50 years ago they would be the hugest trees on the block! 

Hope your year has started off well.  We are all looking forward to the weekend!

rhythm 'n blues

Well, here we are in January, fully back in the swing of things and I can't say I'm as happy about it as I should be.  I think with the 2 weeks of fever/cold thing I got the week before Christmas, I was not quite prepared to get back to the rhythm of work and school.  I have been meaning to blog, but every time I wrote something down it came out like a list of complaints.  Kind of like my boys who seem to have a whole host of complaints for me when I pick them up from school:  Why do they have to walk home instead of drive?  Why did I have to give them a sandwidge for lunch?  And why do they not get paid more money for setting the table at dinner like all their friends do?  And why can't they have everything they ever wanted for free????  I'm sure you get the idea.   So anyhow, today I resolved to put my own complaining behind and approach the year with a more positive attitude.  That doesn't mean I won't occasionally write about some of the challenges I face as a working ceramic artist, but I just wanted to be sure that I don't sound as annoying and entitled as my boys do when they forget all the great things they have and are doing in their lives. 
Here's to a rainbow kind of year.  They keep popping up everywhere so I'm sure it's a good sign!

Skating on the Pond

Hello! We are back from a lovely time in Vernon, where we played in the snow and lived in a winter wonderland over New Years.  Twice a year we make the 6 hour drive to visit our friends who live in Vernon- it's a trip we have been making for over 10 years now.   Our kids (they have 2 girls) are the same ages- born months a part so they are like cousins.  Friendships that span through the child-rearing age are often hard to keep up with so we really value the time we spend with them, once in the winter and once in the summer, with their family coming out our way a couple of times in between to visit too.
The boys went up to Silver Star Mountain to snowboard on our second day and then on NYE day we  went ice skating at the pond.  The sun was out- despite the fog down below and it was snowy and lovely (only about -3 so not too cold).  At one point my son lay on the ice and pointed to a 'rainbow' in the sky- kind of this upside down rainbow that was all sparkly and faint like it was made with sparkly snowflakes.  What a treat to see something this beautiful in the sky at the end of a great year, giving hope and promise to a new year dawning.  After lunch it fogged up again and the misty fog came out reminding me how quickly and constant change is in life. 

Views from the top

I hope you are having a great holiday! These are a few photos I took while snowshoeing at Mount Seymour (a local North Shore mountain) this morning.  These whiskey jack's kept coming by hoping for treats and attention! 

We still have a bit more family time to take part in and then will be heading up to Vernon to enjoy more snow and mountain top adventures!

Wishing you a Merry Season!

Hello and Happy Holidays! 

I've been hunkered down mostly getting over a nasty bit of flu/cold that hit me last weekend, while getting the last of the orders shipped off, cleaning the studio a bit, and then starting on my own Christmas shopping.  It's been a busy week that felt emotional as I thought about all the families and teachers affected by the recent tragedy.  Watching my own kids' Christmas concerts made me realize how precious and delicate life is, that we have to enjoy and cherish every moment we are here on this earth.

I had a lovely bit of holiday cheer with some studio mates yesterday.  I am so grateful for this community of friends and makers that I have met along this path of life and am so thankful for the ability to share here on my blog the little bits of news and thoughts I have with you.  Thank you for being part of this process and I wish you the very best of the season with family and friends.  Peace, hope, joy and love to you and yours!

Sincerely,
Heather

A little on my lately

Well 2012 is wrapping up nicely.  I spent the past few weeks socked in the studio, finishing up my last glaze firing for the year, cleaning and organizing (check out the new shelves!!) the studio for a photoshoot and then finishing off my last show of the season! It was so great to see everyone at Shiny Fuzzy Muddy this past weekend- what a stellar line up of other designers and makers to be part of.  It felt good this year to be part of small shows, not a really big convention center show.  Something about the intimacy of these shows feels right at this time in my life. 

I'm currently wrapping up with orders being shipped off and have a very little bit of work left.  You will notice that my online shops are pretty bare as shipping costs start sky-rocketing in time for the holidays.  I don't really like to stress about other people's packages arriving in time for Christmas so I would rather not feel that pressure. Usually at this time of year I take the remainder of what I have left to the Gallery of BC Ceramics- which I might still be doing towards the end of the week once the last few local people have stopped by. 

Once again I am so thankful to have local people who know about my work, continue to purchase it for themselves and others.  I know there are really very few people who need another mug in their cupboard or another vase or bowl in their already full houses.  While I sometimes almost shame myself for making more 'stuff' that this world really doesn't need more of, I still believe that objects that are made from the heart and hands have an authentic story and connection to share with those that bring them into their lives.  From the look on people's faces when they come up to my table at a craft show, to the stories of how people use my work over and over and enjoy it, to the phone call I got from someone in Dubai wanting me to send work to his home in Germany in time for Christmas, I continue to marvel where my story and work continues to take me.  These are the little moments I shake my head and wonder and feel really blessed and thankful.

Anyways, today is the 12th day of the 12th month of the 12th year so it seems like a good day to post.  Hope you are well and that you take a moment to pause at 12 just to think how amazing it is to be alive in this rapidly changing world we live in. 

Shiny Fuzzy Muddy Lucky 13 this weekend!

The Shiny Fuzzy Muddy Show is happening this coming weekend!  Please do come out and support artists and makers from BC and Alberta who have been hand-picked by the founding group of artists! The show is free to check out (always a bonus!) and there is an amazing contest going on right now in the Georgia Straight to be able to win a $250 shopping spree at SFM13!  Sign up online for that (don't forget to find out the skill testing question on the SFM Blog!) and while you're there, have a little look through the amazing artists and designers that will be at the show! Please do come by the show and say hello to me! I managed to get in a couple more kiln firings before this weekend, so there will be some new work ready for the show and I can't wait!

Room6: Holiday Open House this Friday!

Well I'm pretty much in over my head getting the last of the last, of the very last work out for this year! I did want to give a little heads up about one of my very favourite and first ever shops, Room6.  It's the cutest little shop in Deep Cove that is completely full of the most lovely gifts for all the special people in your life, including you!  I usually drop work off, spend about an hour talking to the very lovely Megan, and then proceed to walk out with a few new things (it's like a trade, ok?).   Room6 was one of the first shops that really took an interest in my work and believed that it was special, and I truly do give Megan a lot of credit for giving me the chance to sell my work in her beautiful shop on and off over the years. 
This friday evening she is hosting her 8th Annual Open House (has it really been 8 years already??), and you will find the most lovely gifts for everyone in your life, including some very, brand-new work by yours truly, created especially for Room6! 
photos from here!

Eastside Culture Crawl 2012 re-cap

A quick little photo re-cap for you of the Eastside Culture Crawl, which I've spent the week recovering from.  It's always great to clean up the studio and get everything looking spiffy for people to see my work. I try to hide some of the distracting 'tools of the trade' for the day because it's a little less cluttered to view the work without buckets of glaze and slip hanging around.  I guess one of these days I'll have a studio open house where I'll actually do a demo and have my wheel or casting table exposed, but for the Crawl, there's so many people in and out of the studio that it's too hard to have it all going on in the same space. 
This year the Crawl felt quieter but perhaps the soggy weather kept everyone home and under covers.  All the same it was so lovely to say hello to many familiar faces and friends.  Truly grateful for this event, all the press I received this year, and the many compliments and encouraging words!

Eastside Culture Crawl 2012!

Lots of pots are being pulled out of the kiln for the Eastside Culture Crawl that's happening this coming weekend, November 16, 17 & 18. I will have lots to choose from my floral lines, as well as a great selection of pots with new patterns and designs!  I'm really excited to get my new studio ready for visitors too- it's going to be a great weekend so please do come  by if you are in Vancouver!

The Eastside Culture Crawl is a 3 day studio tour and show taking place on the Eastside of Vancouver.  There is a large map in the insert of the Georgia Straight so grab one when it comes out on Thursday so you know which studios are open.  The beauty of the Crawl is that you are visiting working artists in the studios where they produce work.  There are over 300 artists opening their studio doors for the Crawl weekend- everything from painters and sculptors to jewelry and hand-bag designers, to ceramics, glass and furniture designers.  The whole event is free to attend! It gets quite crowded with parking on Friday night, so you might want to consider taking transit.  The Mergatroid Building (where my studio is) and 1000 Parker St. are the largest studio buildings in the zone, so if you just have a few hours they are great buildings to check out.  Of course, please do come by and say 'hello'- look for the turquoise door on the ground floor of the Mergatroid Building, 965 Vernon Drive.  Hope to see all the local Vancouver people there- it's such a fun event and worth the extra effort to come out!!

Gwyn Hanssen Pigott at the MOA

I braved the rain on Saturday to get to the Museum of Anthropology for Gwyn Hanssen Pigott's talk that she gave as part of her exhibit called 'pleased to meet you, introductions by gwyn hanssen pigott'. It's a beautiful and inspiring show whereby Gwyn surveyed the entire collection at the MOA and created installations and groupings based on her aesthetics, interests, and ideas from within her own practice.  Her porcelain groupings of bottle forms, bowls, and beakers are stunningly simple are inspired by the still life paintings of Geogio Morandi, as well as Bernard Leach, Lucy Rie, Michael Cardew, and Hans Coper- all potters that she met and was mentored by in her in her early years of setting up a studio practice in England, France, and then in Australia.  Still an incredibly prolific and highly regarded ceramic artist at 77, I feel pretty in awe of her humble and honest approach to making work.  While appearing understated, her work clearly required a lifetime of skill to achieve such subtle line, curve, and luminosity in porcelain.

This subtle and simple approach was noted as she carefully considered each installation and chose how museum objects would converse together in cases interspersed with her work.  With all the historical information such as dates, places, makers, and context only available in the catalogue, each installation became about a conversation of hand-made objects and the careful consideration and choices made by the artist. Tools, jewelry, wooden boat models, clothing, paper-making materials, ukranian painted eggs, a fan, figurines, and of course, pottery were re-contextualized as the concept of 'parade' or 'transparency' or 'colour' brought them together within a new frame or case.  Clearly the possibilities to organize or bring together objects was endless with 38 000 objects to choose from and only 4 days to do it in!   

Probably my favourite installation included the wooden boat models with Ukranian Easter Eggs carefully nested inside.  The fanfare and celebratory grouping seemed to symbolize Pigott's recent residency and experience in India, where she saw masses of people in brightly coloured sari's and outfits on a pilgrimage to a religious festival. This mixing of her experience in different cultures in the place of handmade objects felt as though it was creating new meaning and memories, especially for objects which no longer function as they were once intended for.  

The Clay Studio Shop, Gifted Exhibition

I'm really honored to be part of an exhibition that opens tomorrow through The Clay Studio, called 'Gifted'.  I sent a batch of work to the Clay Studio in September that includes a range of pieces, from teapots to mugs to some very large and lovely bowls.  Some of the work is expected to be included online, but if you happen to be in Philadelphia, please do check out the three galleries above that are hosting the exhibition. It's sure to be an amazing display with the work of over 100 ceramic artists from all over North America.   Here's the write-up:
 

Gifted

Reed Smith, Harrison, Bonovitz Galleries

November 2 - December 30, 2012 

Opening reception, First Friday, November 2nd, 5pm - 9pm

 GIFTED, has over the years, become known as THE exhibition for one to purchase the finest original hand made ceramic objects available nationally. Hand made objects have an incredible ability to speak, interact and relate with their user. The subtle joy in selecting one's favorite mug for morning coffee is a ritual that should be shared by all. Those momentary pauses to appreciate the creative expression of the maker, the form, design, feel and or surface of the object they created, are meaningful and enriching, truly adding to the quality of one's daily life.GIFTED is the perfect opportunity to experience this not only for yourself, but for those you love.