Nibs! 100 Days of Recipes, Day 50

Or rather, Return of the Nibs! And let me take a moment to acknowledge that I finally reached the half way point of what didn't seem to be such a grand undertaking at the beginning. I also remind you, gentle reader, that it's not necessarily a daily undertaking, and that some days will just be on the Instagram feed. But I digress...

I ran out of cacao nibs a little while ago, and didn't think much of it, until I went to make a smoothy. Out of nibs, oh well. Hmm.... not quite as wonderful as it usually is. Went to make a salad. Out of nibs, oh well. hmm... it's just missing ... something. Thought about making cookies for someone. Out of nibs - that's a deal breaker now for my chocolate chip cookies, so it finally dawned on me that I needed more nibs. I was a nibs needer. 

Cacao Nibs, from The French Broad Chocolate Lounge

I know that nibs have become one of the new foodie darling trends, so they are much easier to find than in the days of yore, when after explaining to someone what they were, you had to then explain to them WHY you wanted them. And if you didn't know, cacao nibs are cacao beans that have been roasted, separated from their husks, and broken into smaller pieces. There have been all kinds of nutritional benefits that actually date back thousands of years, both for the nibs and the dark chocolate products that are made with the cacao bean. That's all very attractive, but my own experience with nibs started with a visit to The Happiest Place On Earth, which of course is the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. It was there I first tasted the 'Nibby Brownie' - dark chocolate goodness that would be a fine brownie just by itself, but the added texture and flavor boost from the nibs just puts it over the top. I tried nibs myself for the first time in a chocolate chip and dried cherry cookie, and I was hooked. When I read about the nib's 'super food' qualities, I looked for other ways to add it to things, like my smoothies and salads. When the Chocolate Lounge started selling nibs, it was an even happier day as I knew they would be sourced with as much love and care as all the products (including my mugs!) that they sell.

I toodled on down to the Chocolate Lounge yesterday, determined to end my nib drought, but when I went inside Chocolate + Milk, my heart skipped a beat - No Nibs!!! Lucky for me, the Manager, Melissa, was there and somehow she sensed my distress (not sure how, I'm sure I was so subtle!), and she called over to the Chocolate Factory and learned that they had some precious nibs. Double win - I would get my nibs AND I would get to visit the Chocolate Factory. I'm sure you can add years to your life just by walking in the door of the French Broad Chocolate Factory and inhaling deeply. Two bags of nibs in hand (along with a bar, and a bag or two of the truffle packs by the register - such chocolate pushers they are!) later, I was on my way home to revel in a nib-filled world.

All that (and it did go on!) to say, I have nibs, and the next several entires in my 100 Day Project may indeed feature ... wait for it ... nibs.

Today's entry, and one of my favorite dishes:

Fruity, nibby salad

One grapefruit, sectioned and sitting in its own juices, plus a handful of walnuts, some frozen blueberries, a handful of nibs, a drizzle of pomegranate vinegar, and a light sprinkle of large-flake salt. 

Happy Hump Day to all, and may you always have nibs.

What a Summer, and What a Fall!

I was amazed to see my last post here was in June, and more amazed to think about all that's happened since then:

Glaze testing continues on the Potters Mark glazes. I may have mentioned it's a slow process. I may never match the glazes, but I'm getting close to getting ... something.

recent tests for Potters Mark Red

I feel grateful every day that I am working at what I love to do, and even more so that I get to do it in a studio with people I love and respect. Studio traffic has been steady and Gallery sales continue to grow as we prepare to celebrate our third anniversary at The Village Potters, I am happily working hard just to keep up with inventory demands. It gets even better when I look through the work I make for my clients, who are all inspirations as business leaders and as people. If you're in my area, you should check them all out:

These little piggies are on their way to Cúrate!

New design for Biltmore Village Inn! (photo by Camilla Photography)

Asheville Bee Charmers, where you'll find an incredible honey tasting bar,
along with some of my mugs, honey pots, and even these sweet necklaces.

Can't wait to see the new boutique at the new
French Broad Chocolate Lounge location!

Have a nice cup of tea after your mass-aaaah-ge
at Sensibilities Day Spa!

And add to that, The Village Potters have been named Finalists for Martha Stewart's American Made Awards in the Crafts Category. It's an exceptional opportunity, and we are humbled to be considered and thrilled to be among so many fine Makers. Did you know you can vote six times a day? 

You know I believe "homemade tastes better on handmade", and I've been fortunate to have some good experiences on the 'homemade' side a bit more lately. I cook regularly at the studio, to a ridiculously receptive crowd, which only makes me want to do it more (hmmm... I see their plan!). And I was honored to cook a love-filled special meal for a good friend, and with a good friend. It got even better as we got to pick from the absolute cream of the crops and design the entire meal around what was fresh from the Farmer's Market. Watch the homemade tastes better food blog for recipes from that.

And now I'm off on another culinary adventure: I'll be cooking for private groups of eclectic folks gathering to study the hammered dulcimer, and I'll be doing it for three weeks at Virginia Beach. A reasonable question would be 'why am I leaving the studio for three weeks?!' In the final analysis, I tried out two statements: "I got to cook for folks for three weeks at Virginia Beach" and "I passed on a chance to cook for folks for three weeks at Virginia Beach". Adventure wins. And this wasn't a bad motivation either:

Sunrise at Va. Beach (photo by Laurie McCarriar)

And when I get back to Asheville and back in the studio, I get to dive into crazy production to make pots for the holiday season and refill inventories. It will no doubt be highly stressful, extremely exhausting, and at times a tad bit frustrating, but I still wake up every day and think "I get to do this!"

Lisa's Tile Weekend - the lost pictures!

Well there have been a number of things keeping me busy these past weeks, but always on my mind has been to share some pictures from my tile workshop weekend with Lisa .. but where are the pictures?!  Well I finally remembered that my camera was battery-tired and/or not with me, so I took many with my telelphone.  Great discovery, now to get them off the phone!  Sometimes bluetooth likes me, sometimes it doesn't, but I eventually charmed it to work for me and got the pictures onto the computer.

Usually the phone takes as good a picture as my camera, but we were often in dimmer light, so some of these are a bit fuzzy.  What was abundantly clear, however, was the fun we were having, and I can't wait to hear about and see what Lisa does when she goes home to take over Matt's studio! ;)

Lisa & Matt - Matt did a workshop with me last year,
and Lisa wanted a turn this time!

Lisa, sketching out a tile design

fuzzy but good look at several techniques we played with:
slabbing, stamping, slip inlay

lots of techniques, lots of tests, lots of fun!

Lisa's final project was based on a set of tiles she found
in a magazine.  #1 was a bee...

I think our visit to Holly deSaillan's studio inspired this beetle tile...

...and the firefly.  I love how she used many of the techniques
we played with in each of the tiles

On an extra piece of slab, Lisa first rolled a piece of lace into
the slab, then when it set up, she stretched it out, then
gave it a nice push into the foam with a block.  The lace had some
slip on it which also adds some nice texture.

And no workshop is complete without a visit to the
French Broad Chocolate Lounge.  It was a late
birthday celebration, so we all had the Theros Chocolate Cake,
and we each got our own little piece of edible art!

first firing in the new studio

Ahhhhhhhhh ..... it feels good!  We opened the kiln today on the first firing since moving the studio, and now it officially feels like home.  It's the same kiln I've been firing in over the past two years, but this firing cycle was completely different as everything happened here.  No running back and forth to get the brush I left at my old studio, or check on students or a bisque there, or cramming a decorating session into three hours.  This time, I got it all done with time to spare.  I got more work done during the firing, and more importantly I was in the studio for the entire firing, not running in and out to do a turn up or peek at the cones before running back to work in the other studio.

I also used a new firing program this time around, one plucked from the kiln log and fired by friend heather in her last load.  The 'St. Pete' method, and it worked beautifully!  Here are some shots of our first efforts - now to get busy to fill the next load in a few weeks!

after two firings with questionable results, it's nice
to see the trees look the way I want them to look again

because I have to figure out how to make things more complex and
time consuming, I tried the 'carved' design in wax resist ...

actually writing this blog from the ChoLo, where I just dropped off
a new supply of mugs

and new mugs went to Roots earlier today ... 

... along with some sexy new plates for their sumptuous fare

 wine cups that are headed up to
Mountainside Wine in Spruce Pine

the carved trees in mugs ... hopefully some of these will make
it to the Tree Gallery this time ...

one in this batch has an 'easter egg' that studio member
Rebekah Newton is hiding on some of my pieces ... see him?

pieces by studio member Matt Clark -
nice, creamy mamo sake set!

pieces by studio member Helen Wadino -
the business card holders are so cute, and dig the design on
her mini pitcher!

pieces by studio member Rebekah Newton -
mushrooms for her garden, and a bigger version
of that 'easter egg'

pieces by studio member Katie Hadden - so happy to have
her back with us - we missed her beautiful designs!

coming soon to a shop near you ...

... well, as long as you're in Asheville that is.

Some fun with a new design and a new fun place to show fun & functional pieces for the kitchen (fun, fun, fun!):

aromatherapy 'tree' diffuser

Sensibilities Day Spa has been carrying my aromatherapy diffusers for a while now, and the lovely owner Jen inspired me to try the new tree pattern on them.  We likey, and soon you'll find the first couple at the downtown store, along with more of the other glazes as well.  If you've never been to Sensibilities, you need to go!  I feel more relaxed just walking in the door, such is the environment created by quality products and more so by the people.  You just know when you're someplace people love to be, and everyone at Sensibilities loves what they do, loves where they do it and they make you feel like they've been waiting just for you to come in - every time!  The same is true of the Biltmore Park location as well as the exquisite Sparrow Spa at the Biltmore Park Hilton. 

oil bottles & inverted salt cellars

I was so happy to see Moda Boutique open just a few doors down from Echo Gallery, not only to welcome another locally owned business to the strip, but also for all the great finds inside the store.  And then to meet owners Sharon & Lauren was yet another bonus.  What I said about Sensibilities - ditto - these ladies love what they do and you know it as soon as you walk in the door!  And while you may know them first for clothing and accessories, they have a small but growing area of goods for the kitchen and home, including some very nice olive oil that is bottled just for them.  And soon, you'll find my olive oil bottles and inverted salt cellars added to the home collection.

And I didn't even have time to take a picture of the last batch out of the kiln, but new mugs are making their way downtown to the French Broad Chocolate Lounge with the cool, new logo.  More are going into the kiln this week, so maybe I'll get them chronicled for the archives before they get snatched into service.

fig & port truffle from the Chocolate Lounge ... O. M. G.

And another batch that got out the door before the camera was charged: new soup bowls for Roots Cafe, with more salad and entree bowls in the works.  Cheryl at Roots did take this lovely shot of one of the new bowls in action, and it's a bit fuzzy as I lifted it from their FB page:

veggie chili special at Roots  (today in fact!)

If you didn't already know that the ChoLo and Roots are two of my favorite places in the world, well then you clearly haven't been paying attention.

As you see at the top of the blog,  I'm a '3/50' business, and I try hard to support other 3/50's - I'm so proud and grateful that my client list is made up of other brick & mortar businesses, and that I get to do business with people I admire both personally and professionally.  Get out and support YOUR local businesses! xo

First Friday Fun

There's always a little transition, after a firing cycle, where I spend a small amount of time bumping around the studio, getting things in order for the next cycle of work. This time I feel like I've been bumping around a little longer, maybe because I did several firings pretty close together, stuck in a show, some deliveries and a few other 'out of studio' distractions...and the past two days have been an earnest effort to get back into a 'making' cycle. But there's still some bumping...meetings, bookkeeping, marketing, working with one of my fab new assistants and finally getting the studio to look like it wants to be dirtied up again.

This morning I've still got fun 'business' stuff to take care of, but I've got Nina Simone on Pandora, a nice curry brewing in the rice cooker for a cooler, rainy day, and I've just made my 'do' list. So it's off to pick up some printer toner, a bit more clay and then hands back into the mud!

All that being said, I'm motivated to get it going because today is the first Friday of the month, which means gallery openings and events. Just like I try to keep one day a week where I'm out of the studio, I try hard to make this one night a month one that I'm out of the studio and in as many galleries or other studios possible. Here's my punch list for tonight, and I expect I'll find other events along the way:

Clay Space Coop returns to Clingman Cafe - I just closed out a group show at Clingman, and tonight officially opens the third month in a row of clay work in the dining room gallery space. I know I'm biased, but I really do think clay work looks the best in there! The Clay Space show has been up for a few days, but the reception is tonight from 5-7pm.

American Folk Art Framing & Gallery downtown has a special show for Shawn Ireland and Ann 'Frantic' Morley. This pairing looks amazing, and I've usually gotten to this gallery after everything's been sold and gone, so I'm looking forward to the chance to see and fondle! Opening reception from 5-8pm



The Asheville Area Arts Council is celebrating doubly tonight, as they cut the ribbon on their newly expanded space and present a show of 'New Work' by four artists. One of the artists, Katherine McGinn, also exhibits at the nearby French Broad Chocolate Lounge, who will have some of their sweet treats at the opening reception. So when you're done checking out the great new work, you can go around the corner to the ChoLo for more chocolate, because I guarantee what they put out at the reception will be gone fast!

I also just got word of an event at my neighbors, Harvest Records - an art showing and reception tonight I believe from 7-9...can't put my fingers on the details but if you're in this area and go there, you'll find out and have a great time!

If I keep looking through emails and announcements, I'll find more, but if I want to get out the door to see any of it, I need to get the fingers in the clay! Happy Friday - and don't forget all the great Market action this weekend - check my other posts or the link on the right to Asheville Street Markets for all the details!

First Friday Fun!

This is more of a public service announcement, because if you haven't started getting out to the First Friday gallery events, tonight is a perfect time to start!

I'll be in the studio till 6pm, so of course anyone who'd like to start at my studio, we're not having a show, I'm just saying I'll be there and you're most welcome to stop by. But once the doors close, I'll be checking out as many openings and exhibits as I can before they close - here are a few that are on my list, I know there are more - add to it if you want!

New Spring Work - opening at Clingman Cafe, 242 Clingman Avenue in the River District.
Work by Heather Tinnaro, Courtney Murphy, Patty Bilbro, Julie Covington & Jennifer Hoolihan
Opening reception 5-7pm
(insert plug here: I'll be among the exhibiting artists here in May!)

Ceramic Artists: Perfectly Paired opening at Woolworth Walk, Haywood St, downtown
Featuring the work of Heather Knight & Dawn Dalto
Opening reception 5-7pm

Ariel Gallery: Seventh Anniversary Celebration - 19 Biltmore Avenue downtown
new works by cooperative gallery members, and anniversary celebration from 5-8pm!

Others I'm going to try and hit:

American Folk Art & Framing - 64 Biltmore Ave downtown - celebrating their love of framing this month

Gallery Minerva - 8 Biltmore Avenue - new paintings & sculptures. One of the featured artists, Cassie Ryalls, is a good friend. Opening Friday 5-9pm.

And if you end up downtown, a great compliment to crawling around and soaking up good art is to crawl into the French Broad Chocolate Lounge for a nice brew, some incredible chocolates all hand made with love and lots of other good stuff. They also have a new cheese plate, featuring lots of local products, and they always feature an area artist on their walls (oh, and my mugs on the shelves!).

Lots of great work to see, and with the opening receptions, you also often get the chance to talk with the artists. Oh and yes there's usually a little refreshment action happening too. Get out and have an art walk!

holla out for some freakin' good chocolate!

I've said it before, the only thing better than seeing another local small business get some well deserved props, is when it's a friend! Holla for the French Broad!

If you click on the image, you'll go to the Verve website where you can read the full article. You'll also find other great articles, including one about another group near and dear to my heart - Manna Food Bank.

What a great way to start out a Brand New Day! peace.

more welcomes and other studio news

The welcomes continue, although Teva got in and out without me getting her picture (and she even cleaned the sink trap, which would have been such a great glam shot!). I'll get her next time she's here to do her own work.

But I did manage to get one new face logged!

Katie S (we have two Katies, if you're keeping count) joined the
studio last month and is getting her own 'art therapy' after
a day of counseling others

And in other studio news, yours truly was filmed for a web-based 'documentary' that's being produced at the website Our Next Thing, which chronicles the adventures of people who have made career changes and subsequently great life changes. Greg and Brooke were wonderful to work with, and made chatting incessantly about myself actually seem relevant! It never occurred to me to take out my camera and document my own documenting, so you'll just have to wait for me to get a copy of the trailer. But here's a shot from our first interview...

...soon to be featured on a website near you!

And a special shout out of thanks to Dan & Jael from the Chocolate Lounge for coming over during the shoot to take part, and to Heather Tinnaro for also hanging out and being extremely gracious to throw beautiful bowls for the camera (that are now designated for Empty Bowls). My friends rock!

In other exciting studio news, I've finally taken the Etsy plunge! I've only got a few things listed, and while I should be putting the studio back in order from the film shoot, and getting back on the wheel to start on mugs for the Chocolate Lounge, I'll be on the Etsy site soon to add more items. You can check out the page at a link somewhere over on the right side of the blog.

OK - cleaning up the studio and throwing some mug bases before I have to go home and start sorting things for the yard sale (right - if you're in Asheville, check out the yard sale listing for details and come on by!). peace.

October 16: World Food Day

I don't think this is in the official 'Hallmark' calendar of celebrated special events, but today is in fact World Food Day, and it's also the day of the annual Empty Bowls luncheon to benefit Manna Food Bank.

I got off a couple of snappy photos, but then the doors opened and it's all a fabulous blur of people streaming by and bowls streaming out. I'll report the official numbers once I get them, but we estimated starting the day with close to 800 bowls, and when I left the number of bowls left fit on one table, and the Collector's Corner had been run through faster than a blue light special.

Some quick highlights, then I'm off to bed for an early rise and packing. Tomorrow I open/unload/pack the kiln and head down to Atlanta. If you're in that area, come by and see me at the Smyrna Fine Arts Festival on Saturday!

Some of the day:

These sporty aprons feature artwork by Asheville potter Paul Frehe, who also donated many, many bowls with the same dancing bowls that quickly danced out of the room. A special note about the aprons - these aprons were given to the volunteers who helped keep the event running smoothly, and it was thought they had a sponsor to cover the costs, but as it turns out Manna will be billed for them. Because everything (bowls, food, space) is donated for this event, all proceeds go directly to Manna so they can do what they do at the food bank, and funds were not allocated for the aprons. So if you missed the event but still want to help out, you can send Manna a donation and designate it for the 'aprons' (you may even be able to buy one if you want, they're quite nice!) - if you do, Manna will send you a thank you letter for your donation. Bring it by my studio and you can pick out a bowl!

You may recognize this bowl from my open house, it's the one decorated by Sam Rattigan. I wanted to make sure his mom got the bowl, so I 'borrowed' it to have my lunch in before the doors opened. It nicely held the lentil soup from Corner Kitchen, and as the spoons weren't out yet, I can also attest to the slurping quality of the lip (she said with no modesty at all, realizing it's a bowl she made herself).

More pre-show slurping, with Heather Tinnaro, who was one of the Bowl Project guest potters as well as event day volunteer, and John Hartom, our fearless if not somewhat sleepy leader (both sporting much sought-after bowls by one J.Hartom).


In a rare, dual public appearance outside the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, both Dan and Jael Rattigan came to support Manna and claim their prize! This was pretty much the last picture I could take - the crowds just didn't stop and I didn't look up till it was time to go!

I left the lunch, sped downtown only to take a leisurely drive around the block several times to find a parking spot so I could run (almost literally) through the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at the Civic Center. The Odyssey booth looks great, and while all too fast, I did get in quick hellos (but no pictures darn it!) with several friends and just enough time to wish them well before dashing back to the studio to get ready for the afternoon class. My students are most patient and accommodating as the studio continues through its growing pains and close quarters - today we did hand building demos and putting the slab roller together does all sorts of interesting things to the space! The poor studio does look a bit ransacked right now...and no there are no pictures of that, thank you! If you want to see nice studio shots, check out Kyle Carpenter's blog - he came to the open house and posted some pictures from his visit. While you're at it, hop down to Clingman Cafe to see Kyle and is Clay Space Coop (including the above mentioned Heather Tinnaro) studio mates in a wonderful show in the Cafe. I ran down tonight for the opening reception just before it closed - the show will be up for the rest of the month, and while you're there grab a bite, the food and coffee are great!

The laundry is churning and I'm soon to catch up on some sleep. Tomorrow has an ever-growing to-do list, but I'm only thinking about opening that kiln! peace.