my blog has moved

I now have a new blog. For updates about my work, upcoming shows and other musings go to www.margitnellemann.com/blog

For information about our teafarm, teas and other tea related activities check out our new tea blog
www.teafarm.ca

See you there.

Launching Cowichan Valley Artisans

Last week's launch at the Benchmark Gallery in Duncan was a huge success. I would like to thank everyone who came to the opening reception. We had a wonderful evening.
The exhibit runs until July 13 (Benchmark Gallery/Excellent Frameworks, 28 Station St, Duncan).
It was also great to meet all the people who made their way to our studio and tea gallery during our inaugural Cowichan Valley Artisans studio tour.

Cowichan Valley Artisans

Here is one of the reasons why it's been very quiet in my world of blogging....

Together with six other fellow artisans, I have been involved in creating a group to help promote food and art in the Cowichan Valley. The Cowichan Valley Artisans consist of 13 creative souls, who have dedicated themselves to their craft, be it glass, woodwork, clay or food, and who have now joined forces making a visit to the Valley even more alluring.
We are celebrating the launch of our year-round studio tour with a reception at Benchmark Gallery 28 Station St. in Duncan, June 30th, 5 - 9pm. Brock Windsor, one of our food artisans from Stone Soup Inn in Lake Cowichan, will be preparing some delicious appies for the event. There will be wine to accompany the food and Victor will be offering some tasty teafarm teas to top it all off.
We have created a beautiful brochure with map and website - www.CowichanValleyArtisans.com - to help guide people to our studios.

To debut this new group, all studios and venues will be open July 1st through 4th from 10am to 5pm. The studios remain open throughout the year. Please check each individual studio for their open hours.

See you on the tour.

Spring Clay Classes

With our recent studio renovations mostly behind us, I am happy to be offering a round of Spring clay classes.

Starting in May, I will be conducting three different handbuilding sessions.

The two Core Handbuilding classes are on Tuesdays - one in the morning and one in the evening.
Thursday evening I offer a Teapot Building class.

These spring sessions are the only classes I will be offering this year.

I look forward to hearing from you and to claying together this spring.

If you have any questions give me a call 250 748 3811
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Ceramics by Hand ~ Spring 2010 Class Schedule

Core / ClayPlay
This six-week course will explore the basic principles of hand-building as well as experiment with various methods of decorating and glazing techniques.
Open to all levels.
Time: May 11 – June 15, 2010 Tuesday 9:30 am -12:00 pm Tuesday 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Course fee: $195 + GST – includes 15 hours of instruction, clay, use of tools, glazes, bisque and glaze firings.
Deposit: $75 at registration. Non-refundable.
Maximum enrollment: 8 per class, pre-registration required.

Teapot Building
This course takes place over 6 Thursdays. You will create your very own tea set using different hand-building techniques. We will explore teapot design and decoration.
Previous experience with hand-building required. Tea served (of course!).
Time: May 13 – June 17, 2010 Thursday 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Course fee: $195 + GST – includes 15 hours of instruction, clay, use of tools, glazes, bisque and glaze firings.
Deposit: $75 at registration, Non Refundable.
Maximum enrollment: 8 per class, pre-registration required.

studio closed for renovations

So I realize the blog has been very quiet as of late. A quiet blog usually means a very busy studio. I have been completing all sorts of clay projects and, on top of it, the gallery and tea area is getting a new floor. I am still able to work in the studio but since everything is upside down and not looking its best, we have decided to close the tea bar and studio until April 8. We promise it will be worth the wait and I really look forward to showcasing all the brand new pieces I have been working on. If you are visiting from a far and really want to come by, please give me a call @ 250 748 3811.

cups of good health

After the grand cup production and the busyness of the Victoria Tea Festival, I managed to come down with a very stubborn cold. While this may be a good excuse to get some rest, I also feel drawn to the studio and the many unfinished projects I have on the go. Thinking of all the many projects and plans I am keen to get started on, I drink lots and lots of tea to get healthy quickly.

attacked by tea cups

It is true - my studio has literally been taken over by tasting cups. A while ago, we offered to create and donate some 800 tasting cups to the Victoria Tea Festival and with the festival coming up this weekend (February 13 + 14) everything we do seems to revolve around cups.
In between kneading, wedging, extruding, shaping, trimming, drying, firing and glazing, I try to fit in some teapot time as well. And yes, there will be new and cool teapots available at the tea festival. Come have a look if you are at Crystal Gardens.

Art of Craft

Last week, I went to the opening of the Cultural Olympiad exhibit 'Art of Craft' at the Museum of Vancouver. The exhibit, a cultural exchange between Canada and Korea, features craft artists from across Canada as well as Korea.

These are the three parts represented at the museum -

Unity & Diversity: Selected Works - 75 pieces from across Canada recently on display at the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in the Republic of Korea.

By Hand/BC and Yukon - 51 pieces from Canada’s West Coast with a focus on the artists’ creative processes and studio environments.

Craft from the Republic of Korea - 47 pieces demonstrating the excellence of traditional and contemporary crafts.

I am honoured to have one of my tea sets in the By Hand/BC and Yukon part of the exhibit.

If you find yourself in Vancouver between now and April 11, I highly recommend you have a look at this exhibit.

www.museumofvancouver.ca/exhibition.php?id=15

a new year steeped in tea

It is back to work week here at the studio. With the up-coming Tea Festival in Victoria (February 13+14), I am making teapots again. Big pots and small pots, fun pots and new pots. I have some different designs in mind that I am looking forward to trying out. I will keep you posted here.

Happy & Merry Holiday Wishes

The studio remains open December 22nd - December 24th, 10 am - 5 pm.
Click on the link below if you need directions, or simply give me a call at (250) 748 3811

www.margitnellemann.com/contact.php

We are open again Saturday December 26 & 27, 10 am - 4 pm.

Wishing you a very blissful holiday season. May the new year bring joy and peace.

and the teapot goes to .....

Yesterday was International Tea Day and at the end of the day while mulling over a cup of tea I sat down with all the entries I have received during this past month and drew a number.
The lucky winner of this year's Win a Teapot draw is:

Pamela Welgan of Vancouver, BC

Pamela gets to take home a teapot hot off the kiln similar to the one in the picture.
Congratulations!

Thanks to all of you for participating and playing. I look forward to International Tea Day 2010 when we will do it again.

Happy International Tea Day!

I know, I know. It is getting kind of late and I have been meaning to share a moment all day. I have been glazing teapots and cups and drinking tea most of the day. Hope you have enjoyed many a lovely cup today thinking of all the great tea workers across the globe. I am forever thankful for their contribution to the wonderful world of tea.
Stay tuned for the teapot draw. I will be back with more....

Working on it

The little tea creatures just keep coming. I started working on these teapots before heading into Vancouver for the Circle Craft Fair. They have been patiently waiting for me to come back to the studio to give them life. Two firings to go and they are off into their new worlds.

CLAY + GLASS exhibit and sale

4th annual Artfarm open studio CLAY + GLASS exhibit and sale

Margit Nellemann HANDBUILT CERAMICS
decorative and functional clay pieces
ranging from distinctive lamps to vases
to exceptional teapots & tea ware

KilnArt Glass Studio
Jo Ludwig's palm-of-the-hand sized glittering glass vessels
and Peggy Brackett's finely crafted colourful glass jewellery

+featuring also luscious local teas and a wide variety of locally made decadent sweets+

SATURDAY + SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 + 6 10am – 5pm
8350 richards trail (westholme end) north cowichan
250.748.3811
www.artfarm.ca

Back at it

After two exciting and busy weekends in Vancouver and Victoria, it was nice to come home and set up the studio again. I really enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by my booth during the two shows.
I am back claying and hope to complete another couple of firings before our up-coming open house Dec 5+6.

Fair Season

Just back from a great Circle Craft Show in Vancouver this past weekend, I am already gearing up for my next show. This coming weekend, I will be at the Out-of-Hand fair in Victoria. Do come by for a visit if you are anywhere near Southern Vancouver Island.
Remember to put your name in the draw for one of my teapots.
See you at the Crystal Gardens November 20 - 22.
The hours are:
Friday 12–9
Saturday 10–6
Sunday 10–5
http://www.outofhand.ca/

Studio Hours

So we are off to Vancouver for the Circle Craft Christmas Fair. The show starts Wednesday Nov 11 and runs until Sunday Nov 15. After Circle Craft, I will be in Victoria for the Out-of-Hand Christmas Show, Nov 20-22.
My studio and gallery will be closed during these two fairs. I will look forward to seeing you during the shows and at my studio starting again Nov 26. Don't forget to come by my booth to sign up for the teapot draw.

Win a Teapot

I have decided to turn last year's 'Win a Teapot' into an annual affair.
In honour of International Tea Day December 15, I will draw for one of my teapots (similar to the one in the picture). What you need to do to enter is to come and see me at the Circle Craft Christmas Fair in Vancouver, Nov 11-15, 2009, Out-of-Hand in Victoria, Nov 20-22, or at our Open House here at the Artfarm, Dec 5-6.
See the following links for more information -
www.circlecraft.net/page129.htm
www.outofhand.ca
www.artfarm.ca
The draw will take place at my studio December 15 and I will post the winner here on the blog.

a lot of building going on

After a very full summer with farming, tea and a lot of studio visits, late summer came and went in a heartbeat. It's hard to believe but the christmas fair season has arrived.
My studio is upside down with last minute projects. I am working around the clock creating, firing and glazing. There just aren't enough hours and minutes in the day. It seems like late night firings have become the norm.

Cowichan Valley Wine & Culinary Festival

Later today we will be setting up for the Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival, September 19+20, 11am - 5pm. This year we have a booth at Cherry Point Vineyards along with Quails Nest Studios and several other Cowichan artists. I will be showcasing my work as well as our wonderful Artfarm loose leaf teas. There will be tea for sampling so come by my booth for some tea after your wine.
For more information, please check out the links below.

http://www.artfarm.ca
http://www.cherrypointvineyards.com/index.php
http://wines.cowichan.net/video2009.htm