Studio Sale May 11th!!
One of the main reasons I created this pottery business was so I could be home to be a caregiver for my husband.
This past week has shown how incredibly lucky we are that I can be there for him 100% of the time when needed.
I am going to push the restock forward 1 week to have a little more time to finish inventory.
Thank you for all the love, understanding and support!
-Danielle
Website restock April 10th, 9 am.
www.danijohawkinspottery.com
Cheers to a new year of possibilities.
I spent the first few days cleaning and reorganizing my studio and it felt great to start working in a fresh space!
You wouldn’t know it now. After a few days of working there is clay and new pieces everywhere. Freshly made, drying, bisque fired…it is an exciting time for me when I am in a creative mood like this.
I hope the beginning of your year has started with some cleaning up and clearing out. And a new perspective of goals you wish to achieve.
My next website restock should be the beginning of February. I will know the exact date soon and will keep you all posted.
Stay safe, love the ones you are with and keep creating!!
Danielle. -DaniJo Hawkins Pottery
The next website update will be October 24th!
A great time to start your Holiday shopping.
There will be one more update in early December also.
Thank you for all the love and support.
Hi, EVERYONE!!
My first ever “take home” workshop. This is for anyone who is local or is willing to pick up and drop off at my home/studio in Durand Michigan.
Sorry, there will not be availability to ship finished products with this workshop
Creating Christmas ornaments at home that you will bring back to me to be fired and glazed.
In each box you will find a rolling pin, pin tool, slip and detailed instructions. Along with clay, of course.
Instead of making a minimum or maximum of ornaments, I am going to allow you to buy as many as your household or group would like to do. They are $10 each so you decide what you can afford and how many you would like to create. This will allow for everyone who would like to create to be able to. (I suggest at least 2 per person, it is a very quick project but that is always up to you!)
I will be adding 1 rolling pin, 1 pin tool, 1 container of slip and the appropriate amount of clay needed per purchase. If you require more than that, please purchase your orders separately. One of each tool will work for individuals and families. But if you are planning a group gathering, you may need more.
I would rather you didn’t use rolling pins from your kitchen because they are hard to clean the clay off (unless they are plastic). But all other decorations will be things you find around your home. Cookie cutters work GREAT! Also, anything that has texture like old doilies, stamps or pine tree needles and pine cones. I have even used plastic mistletoe! SO get creative!!!
You will have the choice of these glaze colors for your ornament. Each ornament will be ONE color.
Christmas Red, Green, White or Silver. Please specify when returning your box which ornament will be which color, otherwise I will pick the color I like the best. (sometimes that is fun)
Rules (sorry, there has to be a few)
Ornaments can only be 6 inches in diameter
Ornaments can only be 2 inches high
All Ornaments MUST be from the clay that is supplied!!!!
All ornaments should be delivered back to me within 2 weeks of the pick up date.
All tools and leftover clay should also be in the box when returned.
There will be 2 phases to this workshop so that everyone has a chance to create and also if you decide to make more you can!!
All sales will be available on my website for 1 week after the date specified.
The first will go up for sale on October 1st.
Pick up will be by October 9th
Delivery back to me by the 23rd
2nd phase
Sale will start November 1st
Pick up by November 13th
Deliver back to me by November 29th (this allows a couple more days after Thanksgiving)
I have had interest from a lot of you that live in similar areas or are having group parties, I can make sure to have all the boxes ready if one individual would like to pick them up!! Each box will be individually packed with the purchasers name on it.
Please do not hesitate to PM me if you have questions. I tried to think up any question and answer appropriately. But there may be some I didn’t think of and I will add to this description if necessary.
Otherwise start gathering up your supplies! Check out some yard sales or your local art supply for cookie cutters and texture and get excited!! This is going to be fun!!
August 28th at 9 A.M.
Next update will be in Late September.
Friday, June 26th, I will be updating the website at 9am with new pieces made during this extended period at home!
This will be the last update until at least August. My family will be celebrating my youngest son’s high school graduation and maybe driving North for some Michigan summer fun!
Thank you for the amazing support during the crazy shift in the world . Not having workshops or summer shows has been a huge change. But I have never felt more supported and creativity is at an all time high.
Much love,
D
Kind of an open ended title, isn’t it?
It is where I find myself at the beginning of every year. (Danielle, it’s March! We are 1/3 through the year!!)
I know! I know!
I have a thousand ideas running through my head. But sometimes the $$ comes from doing the same thing over and over again. Which is awesome! It is my bread and butter. But because of that, my muscle memory gets stuck and I can’t switch out of it. And I have to remember that show season is just around the corner and not everyone has the same taste.
I really try to create different styles and use different glaze colors to appeal to many people. This has helped and harmed me in the past. I have come home from a show with a lot of the same color that just didn’t sell. My friends can attest to this. They own a lot of these pieces now… (I hope they love them!)
So here I am, pondering what to create next. What color is going to be a hit this year. If there are really that many people that need yet another mug.
Hoping that this “handmade movement” isn’t just a fad and that everyone will still see the value in buying for the craftsmanship in years to come.
I think all artists and “crafters” have this same dilemma of sorts. I can’t be the only one.
So here goes nothing, I mean A LOT of somethings.
Or something like that.
AND as always!!! “BUY LOCAL, BUY HANDMADE! “
I always have a plan when it comes to my business. I think that derives from the years of working for businesses that required me to do just that.
I have 4 calendars, I spend time writing out and planning and honestly, that makes me feel “stable”. The thing about this process is that sometimes, the feeling to create just isn’t there.
So this week, instead of making mugs and bowls, which was my plan. I worked on new ideas and glazing and just spending time in my studio just studying the space.
In the early morning when I first wake up. I always first turn on the light and then I make coffee. I think I need that moment to access what needs to be done. Once the coffee is finished, I walk into the studio with one of the many “not so perfect mugs” I have saved for myself and I am absolutely overwhelmed with the space. How did I get so lucky to have this inspiring workplace??
The windows make me feel like I am outdoors, the wheel is in the perfect spot, the butcher block my parents found in a dumpster in Detroit in the 70’s feels like it was made just for me to glaze on, the table my friend made me is so perfect and the shelves full of pieces that are drying or ready to be glazed remind me what needs to be done and also what I have already completed.
I am learning to not shame myself for changing the plan. I know I will make even more the next time I am inspired for that part of my pottery world. Today, my part was glazing, loading the kiln, cleaning the studio and just spending a quiet moment to appreciate the space I have to create.
I am a lucky girl.
Tomorrow or maybe Saturday I will fill up a bucket of water, grab some clay and create something new. Until then, I am proud of what was accomplished today. Mostly the accomplishment of learning to be grateful.
”Gratitude turns what we have into Enough”
I came into this pottery world a novice. And I ardently believe that I still am. There is so much to learn and I spend my days watching and learning and researching.
The thing about pottery is that it is a “craft”. The making of pieces that feel good and are functional is something that needs to be developed over time. At least, for me.
Nothing came natural. Every single thing I have learned, I have done just that… LEARNED!
Early on in my life, I heard an instructor tell me. “Practice doesn’t make perfect, Practice makes permanent.” (Thank you, Mr Birch!) And I think about that constantly as I learn new skills. Making sure that I listen to my instructors and when I work, I work with purpose. I put my hands where they taught me, I think about the speed of the wheel, I clean my hands after every pull, I measure the bottoms, the sides and I make sure that the handles look as good as they feel.
Pottery has taught me patience and it has given me the knowledge that if I want to learn something new, I can. As long as I put the time into it.
Lately, I have been pushing my limits with clay and glaze and firing techniques in the hope that I can learn so many more skills and maybe even other crafts to bring to my pottery world.
I hope you enjoy coming along this ride with me. On to the next adventure!