WORKING WITH WHAT YOU GOT

In January I starting receiving jobs from multiple shops across the country, well three. One order which is larger than any that I've ever dealt with before. After moving 1500 lbs of clay into my basement "studio", a tiny space I carved out between the washer, dryer, and water heater, I started throwing pot after pot. I ran out of room in the basement quickly and pots moved upstairs into the dining room, then the garage space, then finally I moved them in batches to a community shop space that I rent to store and fire my refurbished kiln. It's been a challenge to manage the work load with a three year old in tow, but I think I have never been more happy. I love to work, but I am looking forward to a daylight, vented, clean studio space on the same property as my living space. That is mine. 

Bedside Carafes drying in the basement. The finished product and pots just thrown.

Using my dining room mantel as a drying rack for the overflow from the basement studio. 

KNVL ETSY SHOP

New shop items on Etsy. It is a limited supply of mostly one-off pieces, seconds, and prototypes under the shop name KNVL.

And Finally.

Collaboratively designed with Alyson Fox, this set of custom place settings came out beautifully. It was sort of a struggle to complete, cracked plates, relocating studio spaces mid production, and glazing mishaps, but I am happy with the end results and the lovely combination of texture and color.

Bedside Carafe

I've been trying to design a great bedside carafe for a long time. There have been numerous prototypes, but I feel like this one is just about right. I can also envision it sitting on a desk or studio table in place of the plastic or aluminum sport bottle.

Add caption

Dyeing with Mushrooms

Large dyer polypore found on a mushroom hunt near Mt. Hood, Oregon. It was approximately 12"wide x 6" tall. I diced it up simmered it in water for 30 minutes or longer to make a dirty yellow dye bath.

I made up some resist techniques based on traditional shibori practices. The folded canvas between two boards created the pattern below. The fabric I used to make the cushion was dipped and soaked in the dye bath for 4-8 hours.

I also used alum as a post mordant, which brightened the yellow a bit. This is the result. 

-NEW WORK-DRYING ON THE SHELF-

Standing by to be fired. I needed to document the pieces before firing this time, due to the fact that the whole last batch was destroyed by my own glazing experiments.....

I am super excited about some of these pieces, and going back to my original theory that less glaze is better unless you are creating your own or using a wood fired kiln. Someday I will have access to one again. I like to see the firing prints on the pots, maybe this electric kiln is just too clean. I am also experimenting with texture and combining the white and brown clay bodies, I hope they turn out.

ALMOST THERE

The last batch of ware for these orders come out of the kiln today, what a load. Most of these pieces will be available for sale at Spartan in Austin and online. The bottles and small cups will be available at Prism, in Seattle.

MY ACE ASSISTANT

FOR THE KIDS

Stacking Breakfast Dishes, Partial Set

I designed these serving pieces for Ray so she is better able to help herself. They also stack up for storage in limited spaces, like ours. I've also designed and made a fruit drainer, mugs, toast/pancake plates, and syrup decanter to go with these to make a complete breakfast set. I will be posting photos of the full set soon...

WORKING WORKING WORKING

I have been working day and night to fill this wholesale order. I am so excited that I get to do this, but next time around I think I am going to narrow these clay bodies down from 4 to 2 and commit. Lesson learned: changing clay bodies really slows down the work flow in a bulk order like this. 

THE FINAL PRODUCT: Commissioned set of dishes for my wonderful friend Katie Nash. The salad bowl didn't make it, cracked in the final firing, so it will have to be remade, but I am very pleased with the finish on this set.

I really like the edge on these plates, they kind of hug your meal. I wish I would of taken some photos with food on the plate before Katie picked them up....

In the future I will be offering commissioned sets of dishes, possibly a large and small version of the following:

4(small)-8(large) place settings (dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, cup) 

large platter or bowl,

pitcher,

creamer/sugar decanter.

I am working out the details, stay posted at www.kativonlehman.com. 

Commissioned Set of Dishes

RAY MAKING RAINBOWS AND MUSTACHES

BRAND NEW WEBSITE!!

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CHECK OUT THE GALLERY, READ ABOUT ME, INQUIRE ABOUT WHOLESALE AND COMMISSIONED WORKS.

ONLINE SHOP COMING SOON!

BISCUITS IN STONEWARE