Handmade Tile Association Newsletter

January
2014

Our 15th Year

Happy New Year! Welcome to the 15th year of the Handmade Tile Association newsletter. It is a major achievement for any organization to persevere through many changes. A constant throughout our entire existence is the HTA directory. It was the reason for the organization and continues to be its best and most distinctive asset as we move forward with new marketing and communication concepts.

The new directory has arrived and we are looking for a few volunteers to help mail and distribute the directories to all of the artist members on Friday January 10th. Also we need a couple of volunteers to distribute to local art centers, galleries, design centers, and local businesses. If you are interested please contact Josh to get on the list.

Thanks to everyone for being part of the 2014 Handmade Tile Association directory!

In This Issue

The data from the Vote and Questions to member

Thank You Laura!

New Artists to the Directory

Thank You Advertisers and Members!!!

Spotlight on Artist Schedule

Welcome New and Renewing Membership

The data from the Vote and Questions to members

Elfstone Tile

Members have reelected Jan Hohn, Roger Mayland, Norma Hanlon, Christine Nelson and Josh Blanc to the board. To see the graph of the vote click here.

The cover was selected and is featured in the opening welcome.

We asked a question"What would YOU like to see the Handmade Tile Association focus on in 2014?" Below are the answer to the question from the members who voted.

Marketing & expansion.

Connecting with designers.

Continue to build engagement from the membership.

Not sure.

Expand membership.

I have no opinion on this matter.

Sales techniques for new vendors.

More dialog :questions/instructions between artist.

Keeping up a great website.

Ways to increase awareness of handmade tile.

Strong MN base in U.S. for tile.

Reach out to more design/build companies.

Continue promotion and support for tile artists.

A meeting that focuses on creative development.

how artists can promote their work

Hands on tile making classes and community tile.

Network to tile contractors.

A push toward Commercial business.

Small business workshops.

Small satellite bimonthly sales events.

Thank You Laura!

Laura McCaul, a ten year board member going back to 2003, made the decision to not run for the HTA board for 2014. Laura has been a great board member that made the commitment even after she moved from St. Paul to the Wisconsin Woods to continue to be a board member for years even with the 2 plus hour drive to the meetings. She gave a voice to all members who did not live in the city about what ideas could best help as many members as possible. Laura was a regular at the tile festival and even hosted a meeting with a demo of her distinctive Blackware firing. She organized a gallery show at the Phipps Center for the Arts. She did all this even while she was making amazing tiles that have won awards and praise from all quarters of the tile world.

Laura firing her tiles

Laura is an original member of the Handmade Tile Association and hosted our very first meeting back in 1999. Thank you for all that you have done for the organization! We look forward to seeing you at meetings and upcoming events.

New Artists to the Directory

Welcome our new 2014 artists members. We look forward to seeing all of your new work this year. Click on the images below to read more about them. Click here to see our entire artist list.

Native Tile

Motawi Tileworks

Drumboden Tiles

Moravian Tile & Pottery

Thank You Advertisers and Members!!!

Thank you to all of the advertisers and members for being part of the 2014 Handmade Tile Association directory. With out you there would not be a Handmade Tile Association. The directory started in 1999 and was a hit even before the first printing. People from around the country were contacting us asking for a copy. The directory moved to a full color version by 2001 and was a first of its kind to showcasing handmade tile artists in the way it does. It has grown from a band of 12 artists to showcasing over 60 businesses and artists. We distribute 10,000 directories annually all over the county. Thanks we could not have done it with out you!

Sincerely,

Josh Blanc

Handmade Tile Association, LLC

Quick Links! Check out all the new info...

Spotlight on artists for 2014...
If you are next,

gather any new images, information or news you would like to be highlighted. Send them to the HTA by the first of your month.

Native Tile and Ceramics	January
Bon Ton Designs	January
Barbara Schmidt	January
La Alameda Press	February
Suzanne Crane Fine Stoneware	February
Weaver Tile	February
Moravian Pottery and Tile Works	March
Drumboden tiles	March
Sight Line Tile	April
Mercury Mosaics	April
SOMI Tileworks	April
Clay Squared to Infinity	May
Lea Way Design	May
Sheryl Tuorila	May
Tina Schowalter	June
Earth Wood and Fire	June
Kathleen Mellin Grubbs LLC	June
Elfstone Studio	July
Deb LeAir	July
Stone Hollow Tile	July
Ceramic Chinn	August
House on the Hill	august
Hohn & Hohn	August
Belvedere Art Tile	September
North Prairie Tile	September
Syzygy Tileworks	September
Fay Jones Day	October
Martha Coursey Mosaic Tile Works	October
Tile Restoration Center	October
Pewabic Pottery	November
Untapped Resource	November

Welcome New and Renewing Membership

Friend Membership
Chris Madsen

Business Member

Tile Restoration Center

House on the Hill

Super Member

Sligo Creek Tile
Bloomington Art Center

Volunteers needed!

Looking to get involved in making the Handmade Tile Association better? We will need some people to help us with a variety of projects from office work, writing, social media helpers, distribution of directories. If you are Interested? Click here to help.

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Thank you to the

Sponsors

of the Handmade Tile Association

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