pottery workshop day 2

Twas a nice hot and sunny day today, so I expected all the members of this group of young people to take advantage of the opportunity they were being offered, and attend the workshop in there numbers. As it turned out by the end of the session there were nine young ladies in attendance. I went over some of the activities from yesterday with the newbies....drawing exercises, history of pottery and pinch and coil method of pottery. The girls from the previous day were already immersed and almost completed, their drawing exercises by the time the new girls arrived at around 10.15am. I gave the new girls the previous day's activities while the other girls went on to complete pieces made the previous day. By the end of the session, the new girls with the exception of one, had caught up in terms of number of pieces made because I decided to work on two pieces at a time....in that way got got to get immediate practice on creating a pinch pot then using coils of clay to grow a pot and create a shape. Some weren't as happy as others, but for those who were boastful I cautioned them, that until the pieces survives the firing don't wast time boasting about their accomplishment. Pottery making is very humbling and they are already beginning to experience that.

teaching pottery again

For a couple months now this lady had been trying to talk me into running a pottery workshop for the young people in her group. Honestly, I didn't know much about the group and I didn't ask. I only knew that she had asked me before and after I submitted a budget there was some mind change. So this time around, taking time out my schedule to prepare a budget again seemed like a chore. I was also in recovery so I didn't want to overtax myself. If I was really honest, I would realize that I just didnt want to change my routine to accommodate teaching! One day, out of the blue, I started responding to an email she sent and the budget just came to me.....it just simply flowed! It's like my spirit said, you have done this before, you know what to do so just do it!

The workshop started today, and the young ladies who showed up today, despite the rain were quite enthusiastic about learning this new skill. I felt good and it felt great, imparting my knowledge of the craft to these young people. Teaching can be exhausting and it requires patience, but because it is creative everyone benefits including me! Today I taught a brief history of pottery, techniques in drawing which allows a person to see, as an artist does....to tap into their creative side...they were amazed at the drawing they produced, but the rushed through an exercise which was really meant to show them that will happen to the mind when it properly applied. I showed clay preparation (wedging the clay), pinch pot and coil methods.....quite a challenge but we kept practicing until..... By the end of the session all the particpants had created a cylindrical or bowl-like shape utilizing both methods. They will continue work on these pieces tomorrow!

The joy of making pottery

I have spent quite alot of time, this past week and a half, producing pottery. I feel a sense of calm as I go through the process of preparing the clay. I place a couple huge mounds of clay on my wedging board, then I begin wedging. My mind drifts off..sometimes, I notice the sounds of the ocean, waves crashing on the beach not to far away....I can hear the wind russellin through the leaves of the palm trees in both mine and the neighbour's yard. in the distance. My thoughts drift to my things that are impacting my life. I allow the thoughts to come and go as I enter into a rythmn with hands, body, clay and board. It's a consistent rocking back and forth as clay hits the board over and over again. I am in my own world! When the clay is at a point where I can feel, through experience, that it is ready, I then proceed to my potter's wheel to 'throw' a few pieces. Depending on the time of day, I wrap the clay if airtight plastic bags and I head downtown to my new gallery space. Once I am settled, I sit with clay and press molds at hand, and I begin pressing pieces. I get lost in the activity. Though much easier than throwing, when the pieces have reached leatherhard stage, I have to spend time carving and cleaning them. The feeing I get upon completion of my work, regardless of the technique, is one of pure joy.....that's a welcome feeling and one I should continue to capture alot more! The peace and joy of pottery making!

Carla Astaphan

ready...set...go

Okay. I am writing tonite to ease my way to punching these keys to say something which may or may not make sense.

In the last week I have had to opportunity to spend time glazing pottery. I had two successful glaze firings which I did up at The Crafthouse. Yes St. Kitts has a place to 'fire' up pottery. So.... having moved house and studio, I didn't have to worry about getting my work completed. In the weeks prior to moving, I made as much pottery as possible. I think I did about two bisque firings before leaving my old studio at Camps. I knew from past experieince that moving would lose me time getting my kiln set up. At some point the idea hit me to call the GM at The Crafthouse and ask about the cost of firing a kiln load. The price was quite affordable. Then I had another brainwave.....why not take all the bisque pottery to The Crafthouse and do the process of designing and glazing the pottery there. So I did! I spent three days designing and glazing the pottery, to fill the two loads. I am so relieved that I now have some new pieces to show. I must give thanks to a little lady from Canada, who came to visit the island and somehow found me...she said she has read 'all' about me...so I guess she read this blog too....anyway 'Jewel' thanks for the time you spent assiting me and for the new designs you were able to add to my existing collection. Now I am set to go! I sell again, to produce again, to be creative!!!

The results....FINALLY

Well, it's been a few days since I fired up my electric kiln to complete a glaze firing of pottery which had been created over the last few weeks. It is indeed a process, the making of pottery, from opening a bag of moist clay to seeing the actual piece glazed and fired. I told someone

today, while at the Amina Craftmarket, where I sell my work primarily to cruise ship and stayover visitors, that no one asked me to make pottery or to put a particular design and colour on them. I am inspired by the spirit, something within me that moves me to see, create and do things in a particular way. It allows me to observe and interpret what I see around me and I execute it in my pottery. I also said that no one has to buy it but they do. A potential buyer comes to my gallery or my table at the market, the piece they will eventually buy speaks to them and inspires them to walk away with it. That makes me feel good!!

I am quite happy with the results of this firing, including the pieces which were glazed with the 'wrong' glaze. We unpacked the kiln two days after I fired up the kiln. At my sales event later that night, and again today, the newer designs which I decided to try were the first to 'fly' off the table.

For the pieces which I've sold the process is totally complete. In my gallery and my 'travelling bin' (the container in which I carry my pieces), there is a whole new stock to be sold..the process of pottery making complete! Now, it's time to sell, sell, sell!!!

finishing up

I woke up energised and ready to complete the process of glazing the pottery pieces that we had completed over the past few weeks. I choose to use glaze colours which I believe speak to me as a Caribbean potter. I love using black, blue, green, yellow and red. During my meditation to decide what colours to use and how to execute the designs, I decided to return to use a combination I used years ago, and also one which I returned to from time to time. What I call the 'liberation or Caribbean colours'...red, green, yellow and black. I also decided to do some faces and locks as a background design for some of the pieces. I have always loved playing with faces in my work. And the locks well you know...I am inspired by it too.

I promised photos to tell the story this time around.

I began working on the pieces seen below. After the clay is fired is reddish brown. I have just completed putting on the yellow glaze. At this stage it looks whitish. The real colour of the glaze will be evident after it is fired.

There is quite a number of pieces to complete. Some of the pieces were done last night. Some still need to be glazed on the inside.

As I worked a couple of ladies visited the shop. They purchased a couple pieces. I also received a phone call from one of my sisters in the US. Since I working alone and I had a meeting with a potential client, I had to stay focussed on completion. After applying the glazes and cleaning the bottom of all the pieces, I signed each piece before packing the kiln for the second firing.

You can see the little turtles which are going along for the ride between cups and bowls. I use these to make windchimes. It was an extremely hot day. I kept going back and forth from the house to the studio. I packed pieces into a box to make the process easier both on my legs and my flagging energy.There are shot glasses, boxes and bowls.

The top shelves got the plates and coasters.

I say a prayer and let it rip. The timer on the kiln was set for ten hours. I looked at the clock, it was 1.35pm and my meeting was scheduled for 1.30pm. I heard my phone going off. I couldn't find it. By the time I located it...a missed call from the prospective client. I called them back and told them I am on my way. I quickly washed my face, and some other parts of the body which was dripping with sweat, towelled of quickly, hunted for a dress, packed the three sample scounces and was out the door.

Two of the scounce samples.

The kiln fired for eight hours. I took a peep in it a few hours ago to see the results of the firing. The kiln was still quite hot eighteen hours later.

You'll see the results of the firing in my next blog.

How I started selling my pottery

When I first started making pottery about sixteen years ago, I didn't envisage that I would have been able to make a living out through the sales of pottery. My first sojourn into sales of pottery, came through a girlfriend, Dale Isaac, a hat designer. She invited me to come with her to the Four Seasons Hotel in Nevis. I was very nervous about taking that step. She had seen my pottery lining the shelves at my house and felt it was time to make a step into selling. I wasn't so sure about that. That uneasy feeling remained with me as we boarded the Four Seasons boat at the mariner. Other artisans and boutique owners, most of whom I knew, were also making the trip. The show we were heading to was called 'Charlestown Marketplace'. It was an event put on by the Four Seasons for companies who were bringing their top people to the island for a holiday. This was my first of what would be many events like this over the coming years. As I recall that day, I sold two pieces of pottery. By the next day however, I received a call from the owner of The Golden Lemon. At that time this was one of the premier hotels on the island. It had made the 100 best small hotels in the world list and many natble people had stayed there, The Royals of England and other places, Oprah Winfrey and many other very wealthy people. So you can imagine how I felt when I was asked to bring my pottery so that he could see it, possibly to carry it in two of his three shops, the Palm Crafts in downtown Basseterre and the shop at The Golden Lemon. My emotions ran the gamut, from nervousness, to excitement to loss. I had made these pieces from my heart and soul and selling them wasn't something I really wanted to do. The Golden Lemon is located in Dieppe Bay, St. Kitts, about 15 miles from the town of Basseterre, driving in either direction, east or west. I decided to go there, driving on the east coast and return via the west coast. I arrived in the small village, drove down the lane towards the beach, parked my car under the tall coconut palm trees. I walked through the gate into the beautiful landscaped gardens. I recalled, the wedding luncheon that me and my now ex-husband had there in 1987. I was greeted by Martin Kreiner, who was part of the group at Four Seasons. As it turned out, he had observed my work and decided to share his 'find' with his friend and partner Arthur Leaman, the owner of the hotel. The couple had started the hotel, as it turns our in the same year I was born, 1963. I was offered a drink, as we chatted about my sojourn into pottery. As I seeped on my drink, my eyes feasted on the beautiful antique furniture and exquisite ceramics and other works of art. My training as an Interior Designer, brought home to me the fact that this elegant place was indeed very worthy of its reputation, as one of the best small hotels. The question as to whether these people would like my work crip into my mind and I am not so sure. I unwrap each piece of pottery to the 'ohs' and 'ahs' and 'oh how interesting' or 'beautiful'. I feel better but I am still nervouse. Arthur, asked me the prices on the pieces and we made up a list. The pottery I made at that time was one-of-a-kind handbuilt pieces, some highly burnished with smooth stones, made using local clay which I had dug up in Nevis and I had fired it using dried coconut fronds, dried coconut and wood. Some of the pieces I had at the time were left with that natural look - dark red and black. Mr. Leaman bought ALL the pieces. I went home with a nice check, happy but sad!!! I wondered as to whether I would be able to remake these pieces. I had taken photos of the pieces but I just wasn't sure that I could do it again. I also now had an order for more faces and whatever other pieces I would dream up. Was I going to be able to dream up new pieces? I just didn't know. He had also mentioned wanting to see some colour on my pieces...Oh boy, I had work to do now and I had no idea whether I was going to be able to do it. The year was 1993.

Today, as I sit here typing this blog, two groups of people have already visited The Potter's House for the day and it's not yet noon. I was successful in selling to one group. The other group said they were just enjoying the flitting by areas of interest on the island. I have had a busy past week, selling my pottery. I normally sell at The Marriott Hotel, St. Kitts on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am - 3.30pm, X's Shiggidy Shack on Thursday nights 5pm - 10pm and the Amina Craftmarket on Saturdays 8am - 4pm. The sense of nervousness at selling what I make still assailes me from time to time. I am sometimes unsure as whether what I am making will appeal to my patrons. When I receive a large order, the feeling returns to haunt me...do I have the ability to complete it. In the end, I produce and I sell and I get lots of great reviews, the most popular one is 'what pretty pottery'. I smile and I continue, because somewhere, within me there is a great guiding spirit which takes over and does all of this great work for me. I give thanks to the Creator who works through me and for me.

Carla

It aren't easy to get 'work' done!!

I woke up tired from a rough night which included sponging my baby girl and administering medicine to her. She woke up in the middle of the night with a temperature. I had planned to produce pottery but I felt more like crawling back into bed. I had to take the baby to her daycare since she was in great spirits cause keeping her home would mean that I would get no work done. I had to take my older daughter and the french exchange student who is visiting us, to the Alliance Francais for their summer program. A friend called to say he needed me to transport him to The Marriott Hotel at Frigate Bay, where we sell our crafts. I told him I wasn't sure I could do that since I wanted to leave home early. I had planned to pick up Steve, my ex living partner and the father of my baby. He and I had discussed him coming back to work with me so that we could produce pieces. And today was the day to start. After all, I had taught him quite alot and he knew my routine plus he had also taken part in a thirteen week pottery course which was held locally at The Crafthouse here in St. Kitts. We had had quite a lot of personal drama over the past months but I was willing to put it aside now so that we could 'work together'.

As I set out from The Potter's House with my children and the young french boy, I heard a strange sound. Lo and behold, I had a flat tire. I looked at it. I looked around. There was no help insight and sorry to say, maybe I do know, somewhere in my head, how to change a tire, but there was no way I was going to attempt that. I decided instead, to drive slowly up to a mechanic's shop, a short drive up the street. As I endured the sound of the flapping tire I wondered if I was doing more harm than good to it. At the top of the road, I stopped and walked the rest of the way to the shop. The mechanic, a friendly rastaman with the same make of jeep as mine but very well taken care of and nicely sprayed a hot shade of red with Lions and Haile Selassie and other artwork tastefully done on it, was there. I scolded him for the fact that he didn't answer his cell. Yes, I did try calling him before I dragged my vehicle up the hill. Anyway, no problem, he had forgotten his cell in his jeep, he said as he picked up the necessary tools to assist me. We walked to my vehicle, which was parked on the main road and he quickly changed my tire for me. He took the flat one off to fix it. During the changing of the tires, a girlfriend on her way into Basseterre, took my daughter and the boy to their destination. I no longer had that stop to make. I quickly called my friend and asked him if he still needed my assistance and he said yes. In the meantime, Steve is texting to find out why am I taking so long and I let him know I am dealing with a flat but I will be there soon. I tried to calculate my time, because I was losing time. Doing pottery today, doesn't include driving around. I drop off the baby, then I pickup my friend...it's a long drive to the hotel, well at least ten minutes both ways but that seems too long. On my way back, I notice my radiator is overheating...What a day!!! I know I put in water before I left home but this old buggy just can't take long drives and fast driving I slow down a bit. I get to Conaree, the village where Steve lives. He is sitting peacefully under a huge Flamboyant tree with his bag of tools slung over his shoulder. I tell him that the radiator is overheating so we'll need to wait a while before we head to The Potter's House. After a few minutes, he decides to remove the radiator cap to release the pressure. Later he adds water, while the jeep is idling. I make a mental note to ask him later if this is the best way to add water to the radiator, since I normally do it early in the morning. Later, I do get to ask him and he explained that I must only add water with the jeep idling when the radiator is hot. Finally, we head to the house to work. I don't want to tell you what my head feels like, it is about to burst and sleep would be my best friend right now.

This is the reason why working with someone is so important to getting work done. When you work where you live, your bed is nearby and so the temptation to go into it is very real. Of course there are also many other distractions but today, I want to sleep and I want to work and one of the two has to win. This day has had enough distractions already and I am running way behind the time I had hoped to begin work. But it's all good... We are here and ready finally to work...I think.

I take my time over a bowl of cereal, while Steve cleans his work station. He normally works in an area in the gallery, behind one of the shelving units which he constructed a few years ago, for the gallery. He grumbles under his breath about the mess I have created at his table. I ignore him, after all it's been a while since he was last there, and I had been using there to work. I take a walk out to my studio and decide to prepare some clay for us to use. I place some soft clay on the wedging board. It is too soft to work with so I leave it to air out, and instead I focus on wedging (kneading the clay into an airless ball) clay which was just the right consistency and was ready to be used. As I wedge a five pound ball of clay I decided to start by producing some items which would not be to taxing on me given my sleep deprived state. I return to the house and I search for one of my plaster of paris press mould. I succeeded in pressing about four dozen small pieces. These will be used later, after they are fired and glazed to make wind chimes. Of course, I didn't sit there and press them in one sitting. I chatted with Steve now and again, I ate a couple times. Steve produced some clay coasters and made some picture frames. He uses a slower and more time-consuming process for the production of his pieces - The slab method. I think the day was successful, but I did hope to make some pieces on the potter's wheel before I picked up the children but it wasn't to be. The clay was still too soft. Tomorrow we will continue. Now, to get some sleep please!!!

living, working, playing!!

I've had the opportunity to live, work and play at this house, actually it's an old great house which dates back a couple of centuries, back to the time when 'sugar was king' on St. Kitts. The house was part of the estate yard on a typical sugar plantation. Today, this house is a remnant of those days. The architecture is typical of the time in which it was built, and it would have been lived in by an estate owner or manager. It has been home to many families over the centuries. So, I was able to find this house through some friends who were living here. The husband was an artist. When their own home was completed, a beautiful wooden house on a mountain overlooking the town of Basseterre, they contacted me about the availability of the house. I moved here February of 2004 and have been here since.


I had been running my pottery studio and gallery, The Potter's House, for a few years, 1999 - 2004 on the West Bay Road, in the town of Basseterre. I had loved listening to the sounds of the sea on calm days, but it was hellish when the storms came. I also loved the view and sounds of Basseterre. It was a lovely little two-storey house and my studio occupied whatever space I could find both in and out of the house. I utilized the back porch, the back steps, the small space under the steps and a little area of space at the foot of the steps. That's where I kept my potter's wheel and Kiln. I had covered and paved the area. Gosh I had forgotten that I did that. I guess the next set of tenants benefited from that added construction. Anyway, that is how it is. I like to live with my work/play so I have had to use my creativity wherever I live to make the place work for me.


The discovery of the estate house was a wonderful find. I was able to get a girlfriend to share the living space with me for a few years. It is a large, sprawling house, with two very large bedrooms. All wood floors except for the bath, kitchen and laundry area. The large yard, boasted quite a variety of fruit trees. An old stone building, with a galvanised roof, in the backyard, excited me. I knew that this would be a perfect place for my pottery studio. There was also an additional room, first used for junk but later served as a guest room or residence for family and friends.


I have been able to both create and sell my pottery from this location. I converted the very large living room space into a gallery and in the dining room area there was enough space for both my suite of living room furniture as well as dining. I have had birthday parties, summer pottery camps and workshops, I brought home a new baby, there have been organised viewing tours and I've been photographed, videographed and interviewed for print, radio and television at The Potter's House. There has been joy and saddness, break-ups and make-ups. Tons of creativity have flowed from me and my former partner, my daughter and friends. Almost everyone who has spent time here has had a chance to play with clay. My daughters and their friends play run around outside, they get on my nerves when they run inside. I shudder at the thought of a pot falling of the shelf and crashing to the floor. I remind them the not to run around in the house. My work lines the shelves of the gallery. Equipment and clay fill my studio. Visitors come by every now and purchase that special piece that catches their eye. I give thanks for that. To be able to live, play, work and make a living at the same location is a blessing!!

We sit under the many trees in the yard, we play, we laugh, we cry, we even, sometimes, get some exercise here at The Potter's House.

Soon we will have to move, but The Potter's House will continue, wherever we move to.

Carla