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Click the photo to see what piece Kevin is throwing. |
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| Greetings! |
Welcome to the latest issue of News & Notes. It's October, one of my favorite months of the year. I love the cooler weather, shorter days, and fall colors... the russets and rusts of the oaks, the intense scarlet and orange of the maples, and the yellow and golds of the birches and ginkgoes. I love how the bright colors of the leaves contrast with the intense blue of the sky on a sunny day and with the deep gunmetal grey on stormy days that hint of coming snow. October skies are uniquely beautiful, just like our new "October Skies" Reserve Edition and the October Sky glaze that adorns it (see below). I'm not a huge fan of the holiday, but I do enjoy Halloween. Not having trick-or-treat-age children, I mostly enjoy my memories of trick-or-treating as a kid and photos of my costumed niece and nephew running through their neighborhood on their quest to be the first to fill their treat bag. This year, I'll be handing out candy at our gallery at the special trick-or-treating event sponsored by the downtown merchants in Lake Mills. It's always especially fun to see the little kids toddling along in their cute costumes, often with winter jackets or snowsuits underneath (this is Wisconsin, after all).
And what would Halloween be without bats? They're fascinating creatures, and I respect and admire them for the important role they play in the ecosystem. They are in peril due to White-Nose Syndrome as well as man-made issues that threaten their existence. It's not good for them to be in your house, however, unless they are on a pot (or a tile). The gorgeously sculptural bats on our new Reserve Edition piece can inhabit your home quite nicely, quietly and cleanly. This newsletter talks a little bit about the holidays, and there will be much more about that next month. Until then, enjoy autumn in all its beauty and bounty. Savor the sights, smells, and colors. Do some leaf-peeping. Take a walk in the sunshine. Rake some leaves and then jump in them... or let the dog play in them. Eat a fresh apple, maybe dipped in caramel. Slow down a little. Have some fun.
 Creatively yours,
Kristin Cramer
Ephraim Faience Pottery
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New Reserve Edition: October Skies |
 | | October Skies Approx. 10.25"h x 4.50"w $298 (+$25 s/h) |
October skies bring gray clouds, brightly colored leaves, and dreams of Halloween. Here, three bats rise and turn on outstretched wings in the swirling autumn wind with the grace of choreographed dancers. Cut-outs between the bats and at the rim add depth and drama to this sculptural piece.
October Skies is a Reserve Edition, created in a numbered edition for only a very short time. Orders will be taken online and by phone until noon CDT on Thursday, October 31. After that, the edition will be closed. The number of orders received will determine the size of the edition.
Click here to go to our online store to place your order. If you would like to pick up your order at our Lake Mills gallery, or if you have questions, please call our office (1-888-704-POTS) or email Laura Taylor. Thank you! |
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Employee Spotlight: Leah Purisch |
Leah Purisch joined EFP two years ago this month. She has been focusing on designing tile and pottery and developing handpainted effects with new glazes. She is the artist behind our new custom portrait plaques (see sidebar at right). Leah's creative spark, coupled with her artistic talent and unique perspective, ensure that you will see more interesting work from her in the future.
Q & A with Leah
How did you get started in ceramics?
I became involved in ceramics for the first time when I came to work at Ephraim as a painter. Until this time I had worked exclusively in two-dimensional art mediums and mostly as an oil portrait painter.
What attracted you to Arts & Crafts?
I am attracted to the classic and organic aesthetic of Arts and Crafts pottery, but the ideals of the virtue of making objects by hand in a world where cheap, machine-made "things" have become ubiquitous resonates strongly with me.
What is one thing you know for sure?
One thing I know for sure is that there is nothing that I know for sure. The older I get, the less black and white the world has become. The range of experiences that come with raising my children and getting older in general lead me to see the world in ever increasing shades of grey.
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| Coming Events |
THIS WEEKEND!
October 19-20
11:00 - 6:00
Admission: $10
Pasadena Convention Center - Exhibit Hall A
Pasadena, California
October 1-31
Cambria, California
Come see Ephraim's entry, "Old Goat," based on our own John Raymond!
Ephraim Pottery's 14th Annual Holiday Pottery Fest
December 7
Admission: Free
NEW LOCATION! Cambria, California
See article below, left.
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| Contact us | |
Ephraim Pottery Office & Studio
203 W. Lake St., Lake Mills, WI
Website & Online Store
Orders & Customer Service
Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00 CDT
Toll free 1-888-704-POTS (7687)
920-648-5269
Ephraim Pottery Gallery
NEW ADDRESS:
130 East Lake St., Lake Mills, WI
Tel. 920-648-3534
Hours: Tues-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
Ephraim Pottery West
728 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
Tel. 805-924-1275
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
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| Portraits in Pasadena | 
We will have examples of our new custom portraits on display at the Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend show. Artist Leah Purisch (see profile at left) will be on hand to answer your questions.
Having a good photo to use for reference is very important to creating a beautiful portrait. Leah will be available to take reference photos to use for your portrait commission between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Take advantage of this opportunity to commission your portrait without having to take your own photo - bring the person you'd like painted to the show with you and have Leah take the photo! Email ephraim.portraits@gmail.com to reserve your time slot, or inquire at our booth at the show.
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| Changes coming to Holiday Pottery Fest and Winter Holiday Series | 
This year our Holiday Pottery Fest will be held in Cambria, California, the home of Ephraim Pottery West. There will be a different schedule of events this year that will be appropriate to the new location. Our gallery will be hosting an evening open house on Friday, December 6, in conjunction with Cambria's Holidays in the Pines celebration. The sales event will be held on Saturday, December 7. Experimental pieces, ornaments, and miniatures will be offered. Exact hours for both days are to be determined. More information will be available in our November e-newsletter.
We will be creating a Winter Holiday Series piece again this year. Instead of offering the piece for sale through a buyers' drawing and at the Holiday Pottery Fest as we have done in the past, it will probably be offered in a format similar to our Reserve Editions. We will announce the specifics in November when the piece becomes available.
As more details become available, we will announce them by email and posts on our Facebook page. If you have any questions, please contact Kristin (info@ephraimpottery.com). Thank you. |
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Grand Re-Opening fun, memorable |
On Saturday, September 28, we celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of our gallery in our hometown of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, in its new, larger location. The celebration started early with a larger-than-anticipated crowd of customers excited about getting their special commemorative tile. Thank you to everyone who came early for your patience as you waited in line. We officially kicked off the event at 2:00 with a well-attended ribbon cutting (see above). Studio tours and throwing demonstrations followed, along with a hands-on tile sculpting workshop in the park across from the gallery. People loved having the opportunity to sculpt their own tiles and we had great participation, with over 50 people of all ages sculpting a tile. (Note to participants: Your tiles are
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Tile sculpting in the park |
glazed and will be available to pick up at the gallery this weekend.)
We wrapped up the festivities with an evening reception held in conjunction with Lake Mills Main Street and the Arts Alliance's Paint The Town event. Reception-goers were treated to amazing chocolate truffles made by Kevin's wife, Kathy. Attendees also had the chance to enter to win one of our new framed custom portrait plaques. Jennifer Popowski from Lake Mills was the lucky winner. Congratulations, Jennifer!
Thanks to everyone who came out and helped make our Grand Re-Opening such a fun and memorable day! We hope to see you again soon at the gallery. |
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