on the farm
We had a surprise four weeks ago. This unexpected early birth gave us an idea of what’s to come. Ry has become a shepherd. He has started a herd of Katadhins with a neighbor and we will be lambing in March.

Winter break was fabulous – we hibernate into our studios – making, reading, writing and planning, we drop out of the social scene for a while and give our heart, mind and body some dedicated alone time and to build a WOODSHOP – to insulate we used a new product that is made from recycled denim fibers – it is environmentally friendly and safe!
A few things indicate winter break is over – maple trees are being tapped,

onion seedlings have emerged, and next year’s firewood is being split and stacked and a few other things

paper studio
Andrea taught an Advanced Paper Making course at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago during the January Interim a 3 week intensive course, not leaving much play time in the studio but work still was being made. Andrea has been working on a new series of pulp drawings looking at macro and micro views of the environment and the female power within.
Black Walnuts were collected in the fall, husked, dried and stored for winter dying. The husks are boiled in water, the rich brown dye is strained and the dying commences. 

Andrea is teaching workshops in our studios this spring and summer. One of the workshops is a week long adventure,
“In the field: A natural fiber professional paper making workshop, June 18 – 22”.
This workshop is designed to experience and understand all aspects of natural fiber paper making. We will be examining sources of materials, which plants to choose, why and complete identification. We will be looking at the ideas of growing, wildcrafting, and other collection methods, as well as storage of dry fiber. We will be using multi cooking solutions……..see website for details for all spring and summer workshops/experiences. Teachers can earn continuing education units at Hook Pottery Paper.

ceramic studio
Jon has been working on new plate moulds using an impression of a Queen Anne’s Lace flower head. Queen Anne’s Lace is a plant that only flowers once in it’s second year – a biannual. Selection can take a couple years.
He selects a sturdy and large flower and makes an impression in clay to start the mould. He is making a 2 part plaster mould and utilizing a homemade clay press, a design he found in a tile making book, “Handmade Tiles”, by Frank Giorgini. This spring Jon will be making a Queen Anne’s Lace ash glaze from plants he collected last fall.

Jon will be opening his studio for small intimate workshops – wheel throwing and hand building, new and traditional ash glazes and sustainable firing methods will be used.
see website for details.