As suppliers and potters, we're always on the hunt for new pottery tools that really make it a game changer in the studio. It's tough, but someone has to test out the gadgets... *smirking*

For us, the newest find was the Drawing Ribs by Mudtool. If you love texture on your work, this is the new "treat yo'self" gadget. Adding texture to your work really helps with your glaze-game, especially in conjunction with Celadon glazes. If you're into applying slip on the inside or outside of your work like me, the sharp, precise edges of these Drawing Ribs work best to carve into the slip. Check out this guy's video (at 4:15 minutes) of him creating texture with slip.

Although the Drawing Ribs may seem similar to the amazingly-priced, practical, hard-working serated rib (my favourite tool if you can't tell), the Drawing Rib differs with its spacing and pattern of grooves along the edge, allowing more variation with line.  And bending the Drawing Rib can help distort the grooves even more!

Sorry serated rib, you're just a little too boring for texture.

But, I think the real magic in all of this is its ability to curve on the INSIDE of a bowl... Now that's a game changer!

There isn't really anything else out there that has the fine detail or metal grooves to bend effortlessly around curved objects like the Drawing Ribs. Not even a potential idea for a thrifty-do-it-yourself-pottery-tool my brain could muster up. I'd say, give 'em a try! Especially because they're all on sale right now. Oh, did I forget to mention that?

Expires March 1, 2017.

We're always on the hunt for a great handbuilding project, and our teacher Yuko Body shared with us a stunner of a project (perfect for collecting the falling leaves this time of year)!

How you ask? Slump molds all the way!

Tools you’ll need:

•  A ceramic slump mold (hand-thrown bisqueware or a homemade mold using Plaster of Paris)
• A scratch tool 
• “Magic Water” (aka slip with a little extra *magical* chemicals)
• Sponge 
• Found leaves (oak and maple are our top picks)

Roll out a slab of your favourite hand building clay (maybe try 436 for a white clay or 613 for a red clay). You want the slab to be about 1 cm in thickness. Let the slab stiffen up a little bit beforehand. 

Trace some found leaves on the slab and cut them out. For a nice clean cut, we suggest this style of knife. As you cut them out place them in the slump mold. Decide where you want the next leave to go, score and slip both leaves with Magic Water and stick them together. You can soften the seams with a whip-out tool. Continue doing this until the whole bowl is full of leaves.

Detail the leaves if you so desire, and you may want to finish it with our faithful white Mudsponge to get it nice and smooth and press it down into the mold further. Let it dry slowly, and you should be able to pop it right out of the mold as it shrinks.

Ta-dah! That’s it.

Let us know how you did, we love seeing customer and student work! Tag your masterpieces on Instagram @amaranthstoneware to show 'em off.

This piece is glazed with Pistachio Shino.

I sat down with none other than Jackie Jamieson earlier this week for our Meet The Locals Series to talk pottery, life and what it’s really like being a creative entrepreneur.

Born and raised in Kingston, Jackie headed to Vancouver after studying at St. Lawrence College to work with addicts living on the streets. She found an outlet for this draining work in pottery and soon joined the Vancouver Potters Guild. Inspired by a local artist creating small figurines, she began a life long love affair with the arts.

Back in Kingston, Jackie focused her efforts on design. Most Kingstonians may remember her stores All That Jazz - where she handmade clothing for retail but also outfitted Kingston's very own The Tragically Hip and her bead store Carriageway Beadery - a Kingston first.

All photos curtesy of Jackie Jamieson

Jackie returned to pottery in 1994 and hasn’t looked back. Immersing herself in pottery books, conferences and classes, Jackie happily admits she is a self-taught potter and her undeniable talent and diversity is apparent in everything she touches. You could easily call her famous. Having sold pieces around the world, many of her clients have become collectors, some owning up to 30 pieces.

The characters she creates are not only beautiful, but they are creations that come from her soul. She is inspired by nature and creates pieces that are inspirational and provoke mindful imagery.

All photos curtesy of Jackie Jamieson

Her style is unique but so is her process. As a self-taught potter, Jackie bucks the norm and has raised a few eyebrows along the way but is never bothered by the chatter. She loves to teach beginners and she herself learns and grows  through their work. She teaches some of her throwing class with her eyes closed to reinforce the importance of feeling the clay noting that everyone throws differently. She describes teaching as "a bowl of granola, you reach in and never know what you're going to get."

When I asked her about the difference between pottery and the characters she creates, Jackie said that the pottery was like rehearsing lines for a play, but the characters were like being on stage; a true artistic release. Art is definitely in her soul and she can't help but create. Not having a day spent creating would probably induce a massive amount of anxiety.

All photos curtesy of Jackie Jamieson

Although Jackie has her own home studio, she loves to refer people to Amaranth Stoneware to fire their pieces if they don't have access to a kiln. She loves the relaxed attitude and believes Amaranth is a place where potters can let it go and focus on creating their pieces.

All photos curtesy of Jackie Jamieson

What's next for Jackie? She’ll be throwing at Fort Henry starting June 2017 for her not to be missed solo show.

I could have listened to Jackie talk for hours! I left our meeting inspired to create and hoping our paths would cross again.

I can't be the only one having a kitchen dance party over the end of summer, can I?

There has been no love for the oven this summer but I've been on a cooking and baking spree all week thanks to the cooler weather!

First up? Apple crisp, of course! 

I brought home some Amaranth pottery to try out over the weekend and thought the Firebrick Baker would be perfect to tackle the crisp.

Handmade from durable stoneware and lead-free glaze this Baker tackled the crisp like a boss. It fit 2 large Gala apples perfectly (could have added more but we enjoy a greater topping to apple ratio) and was exactly what I needed to go from oven to table.   

I envision using the Firebrick Baker for things like zucchini and corn bread in the future and with Fall finally here, nothing can stand in my way! 

These sweet Bakers are $10 off for the month of October and would make a great Christmas gift for the baker in your life. 

I pick up the bunch of bananas I swear I just bought and an army of fruit flies scatters into the kitchen. What’s the deal with fruit flies, I say in my best Jerry Seinfeld voice as my 4 year old stares at me blankly. 

 
Did you know these little suckers can travel to your home on the produce you buy? They lay eggs on the skin of very ripe fruit meaning those bananas I took home were potentially harbouring the newest generation of fruit flies. GROSS.

Lucky for me, Amaranth Stoneware just so happens to offer the EXACT thing I needed to exterminate my new roommates. Behold, the Fruit Fly Trap (aka: The Shroom of Doom).  

Simply fill the base with your choice of bait (sweet wine, fruit juice or apple cider vinegar) and add 1 to 2 drops of dish soap. Add the mushroom cap and leave undisturbed in the kitchen. 

Proceed with extermination dance party.

via GIPHY