Now Available At The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Shop, August 30th, 2016

Here are pics of work dropped off at The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia shop in downtown Halifax today.  I'm super excited to have some pieces here again!  These are all from previous firings, though the pics were taken this afternoon at Cable Wharf on the waterfront with Amos Pewter in the background.  

Lidded Vessel: crow with nest of three baby crows

Four larger figurines:

Polar bear, snowy owl, bunny

Puffin

 Smaller figurines:

Buffalo

Turtles

Sled dog

Two crows, which made me think of a Local Xpress article about the soon to be opening if it hasn't yet Two Crows Brewing Company pub downtown which looks super cool.  The articles mentions a "One [Crow] For Sorrow" nursery rhyme I had never heard of before!

 

Rooster

Polar bear and brown bear

Two bunnies 

 

Snake

Barn owl and beaver

Bowls!  All of the pieces in this group are white mid fire stoneware, as with all my functional ware, these bowls are foodsafe.  They are also technically dishwasher safe, although handwashing is recommended.

Large crow bowl

Two rabbit bowls

Snowy owl bowl

Suffolk sheep bowl

I'm still working away on a kiln full of new stoneware sculptures and functional/sculptural pieces, including some new designs, coming along as soon as possible!

Now Available at Jenny Jib, December 7th 2015

Here are pics of the pieces that I dropped off at Jenny Jib in Lunenburg this afternoon! 

First pic is a stoneware Whale Tail Fruit Cake Stand, along with 14 egg nog/hot toddy cups with relief carvings: mostly whales and dolphins, one polar bear and one tree.  

We 'test drove' the stand in our kitchen and it is perfect for presenting a special fruit cake - the delicious one in this photo came from Lunenburg's Thursday morning farmer's market. 

 The stand is $125, foodsafe, with handwashing recommended.  Cups are $20 each, foodsafe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe.  They're an ideal size for a cup of Christmas cheer. 

Top of the Whale Tail Fruit Cake Stand

Before heading to Jenny Jib I stopped to get a few pics on the Lunenburg waterfront.

Lobster trap Christmas Tree that now adorns the Lunenburg waterfront!

There was a convenient stump nearby, a great place to get another photo of the Whale Tail Fruit Cake Stand

and here's a close up of one of the cups, with Christmas trees and the water of the harbour in the background

"Rodney the Walrus" selfie in front of the tree

Rodney's profile, with the harbour in the background

Next up are the ornaments, I took in 26 new ones to add to the ones left from the last firing.  

Like the others from this season, these are $25 each, and as always, are handsculpted/hand carved without the use of any type of mold.  Jenny also has an assortment of my older stoneware animal ornaments at $12, $15 and $18 each.

Three Killer Whales, aka Orcas.... "Orcaments!"

a close up of the orcaments - all of the ornaments hang nicely from trees, and come with a ornament hanging wire as well as a tag, but with the wind it was much easier to get photos with them resting on something

Three dolphins and two whales

Four humpback whales

A lion, a Christmas vulture and a camel.

the lion was my favourite ornament from this season

lion side view

Two pelicans, a crab and a swordfish

A cheery yellow seahorse

two sea turtles and a lobster

 

A fox, a bunny and a raccoon

Jenny Jib is open everyday up to and including December 24th for your holiday shopping pleasure!  

Hours are: 11-5 everyday until Christmas, shutting at 4pm on the 24th.  There are also some extended hours along with other Lunenburg retailers as part of Christmas in Lunenburg.   The shop is open til 8pm on Friday the 11th and 18th, and til 8pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday December 21st, 22st, and 23rd.  

As a "welcome, holiday shoppers" bonus, Jenny is offering her stylish regular stock tax-free during the evenings she's open 5 - 8.  This doesn't apply to consignment pieces like mine and other art, as her rate is already super generous!

Parking is free in Lunenburg for December, perfect for a relaxing, scenic seaside shopping trip away from crowds.  

As of Christmas day, Jenny Jib shuts down for the winter, with a spring reopening date to be announced. 

Irritated Oyster - a poem

Irritated Oyster

by Susan Paczek

Irritated oyster
Go on, give it a whirl 
Take your source of bother
And turn it into a pearl

Irritated seahorse
When trouble comes don't stay
Abruptly change your course
And quickly swim away

Irritated turtle
Your enemies know full well
There's only so much you'll handle
Before retreating in your shell

Irritated starling
Don't be scared to sing your truth
Take a deep breath, darling
And shriek it from the roof

Irritated porcupine
If a creature wishes you ills
Grit your teeth, arch your spine
And pepper them with your quills

Irritated chimpanzee
After you've been burned
Try thinking positively
Find the lesson to be learned

Chimpanzee Mugs by Susan Paczek - stoneware, not fired or glazed yet

The Turtle - a poem

The Turtle 

by Susan Paczek 

Last night I dreamt that we were sitting out at a picnic table
When I saw a turtle walk towards us as fast as he was able

He was only small, he didn’t look very old

His shell was turquoise-blue, his stomach shiny-gold

To reach the sea there was a hill that he kept trying to climb
But he would get near the top and flip over backwards every time

“Tsk” I said and picked him up to carry him to the sea
But then I heard a loud voice and it said this to me:

“If you want to help that turtle then you have to put him down
If you carry him his legs will be so weak that he will drown”

So we sat and cheered him on until the night sky filled with bats
We fed him salad for supper and we sheltered him from cats

In the morning he met his challenge with renewed energy
He crested the hill at last and joined his friends out in the sea

Earthenware Turtles by Susan Paczek