For the last two weeks I’ve been a guest instructor at the University of WI-Madison.  When I was asked by my former professor Jenny Angus to teach her class, I was honored!  She is truly an amazing and accomplished artist known internationally for her works as a textile designer.  You can see some of her work here, although there were just too many beautiful images to pick from.

Jenny’s new book/exhibit:  A Terrible Beauty

Make sure to visit her website for more beautiful images and to learn more about her work with insects and design.

Welcome to my art room!  Here are a few pictures I snapped last week while I was working on some textile designs.  Usually I’m sitting in here working on my computer full time, whether it’s for my business, or my other side job as a freelance textile designer.  Well this week was different!  I was inspired to get out my brushes and paint when a former professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, asked if I’d be interested in guest teaching a class.  I was honored!  Now, I just had to re-teach myself everything I learned in college in the world of hand painting.

So of course, being the artist that I am decided before I do anything, I must procrastinate first.  So here are some pictures I took of space around me in which I work.  I am happy to report, I did paint, I did teach the class, and had a very fun and successful time doing so.  I will post about my experience at the University teaching the students hand-painting soon!  First I wanted you to see my art room.  I like this famous quote by the artist Alice Neel:  ‘When I work, I work very fast, but preparing to work can take any length of time.’ I hear ya sister.

While I was deciding what to write about I was also thinking about what to do that would be special for my Dad’s Birthday.  Then it dawned on me, why not write about him today and all of the ways he’s influenced my life!  So here’s Happy Birthday to the best Dad ever!

Dad is the head honcho behind the pottery company Dodge Station Pottery. He’s been making pottery for over 30 years-as you can tell by the black and white photos I found.  He and my mom have been creating pottery for as long as I was born.  My brother, sister and I grew up running around the shop and playing in the clay.  If you’d like to see Dad throwing a pot click here..

Dad is also a painter, and a fine artists of all mediums.  Whether it be drawing, sculpture, etching, or screen printing, he’s taught me so much!  Well I guess I haven’t mentioned that besides being my dad, he was my high school art teacher…maybe I picked up a thing or two in class…

I’m sure everyone else is with me on this one when I say-  Happy Birthday Dad, from your family!  You’ve always been a great instructor, coach, and craftsmen to those you’ve educated in school and in sports.  But to us you’ve been our biggest teacher and fan!  Thanks for all you do!

Love,

Your Family

Today is a very exciting day for Dodge Station Pottery.  We are launching the 1st Annual Bowls with Benefits!  It started as a little idea in our head when Dad was throwing bowls to help the school with the charity ‘Bowls for Hunger’.  And I, being his new student, was helping him.  (Well I only made 10 one day and haven’t been out there since!)  We were brainstorming ideas of what we could do to help give back and that’s how this little campaign came about.  Everyone could do more to help others, and in the spirit of the upcoming holidays, let’s all do our part to give a little of ourselves to help someone in need!  Please help me spread the word, let’s make this big!  Together we can help make a difference.

I will be posting everyone’s stories of sharing, giving, and creativity here.  The person who has the most inspiring, or heartfelt story will win a $100 gift certificate to Dodge Station Pottery-just in time for the holidays!  Here is the newsletter below:

Do you know someone in need of a warm dinner, help preparing meals, or just a little company? Could you use an excuse to make someone’s day and preform a random act of kindness? Well, for a limited time we are giving you one free bowl to help give back to others!

Order your bowl in any color or pattern and get an additional green bowl to give to someone else. In your package you will also receive a list of suggestions and ideas on ways to share your bowl.

It all started in 1997 when Jeff Napp of Dodge Station Pottery was teaching high school Art and founded the charity ‘Bowls for Hunger’. He threw 500 bowls and the students got to hand-paint them. When they were all done, they hosted a supper and the community gathered to pick out their bowl, eat soup and chat. All of the proceeds went to the Marquette County Food Bank, to help one of the poorest counties in the state. Since then he has retired from teaching at the high school but the charity continues on growing every year…

This year Dodge Station Pottery got to thinking, what can we do to help those in need? Besides those who are less off, there are elderly that are home bound with no one to talk to, there are people who need assistance preparing meals. The ideas kept on coming, and we decided to start the 1st Annual, Bowls with Benefits! What can YOU do to give back?

Share your stories, ideas, or pictures. Send us an email or letter and we will share everyone’s stories here on the blog. The person who has most creative, unique or heartfelt story will,

Hello Everyone! Welcome to ‘In the Shop’, Dodge Station Pottery’s official blog, well, as seen through my eyes that is. I hope to be able to share with you things that I find inspiring with a possibility of sparking an idea in someone’s head. We have a lot of fun things that go on in and around the shop. And because we are just beginning to blog now, you’re missing an amazing summer, filled with pottery, art shows, campfires, kayaking, and much more. So before I start writing about the glorious fall colors, and the delicious smells of warm bread baking and holiday pies, I thought I better give summer the proper goodbye it deserves. Here’s summer at Dodge Station Pottery in pictures! I’ll save the really warm beach vacations, and days sailing on the lake for the dead of winter!

Above:  A windy country road outside of town, the potter’s wheel, an old farm truck across the street, Appetizer Serving Tray $75, Relish Tray $42, Oliver the Cat, Priceless

Above:  Mugs after one firing, Pictures around shop, Family vacation to Door County, Handmade Berry Bowls $40, Our new pottery shop, All of us

Food & Wine Magazine did a beautiful Ice Cream Party story and featured our pottery.  You can check out the whole story here. Or you can take a peak at our dessert bowls at our store.

As the style editor for Food & Wine, Jessica Romm gets to combine her twin passions for excellent food and amazing design. Every month she tracks the best in tabletop, choosing stunning plates, glasses and other serving pieces to showcase in the magazine. To start off a new series of Food & Wine summer party picks, she shares a few of her favorite nautical Etsy Finds for the perfect clambake.  We were lucky enough to be featured by the magazine!  Click on the image to view the story on Etsy…

We were honored to have Duluth Trading Company come out and do a photo shoot at our shop.  I was the model for the fall catalog and boy was that day a steamer.  We were shooting for the fall book and it was 90+ and humid!  Let’s just say, I wasn’t thrilled about wearing the wool cap on top of the turtle neck and jacket.

What a fun day we all had though.  Rock star photographer Nick Berard did the shoot.  Melissa, Kristi, and Sopa were the women with the vision.  And Mom and Dad made everyone feel at home and want to stay.  When they left they were sent away with pottery and some of Dad’s of home brews.  We would love another visit from the Duluth crew anytime!