Yellow Queen's Cup...$38.oo

Yellow Queen's Saucer...$25.oo

Sold together...$55.oo

This fanciful teacup and saucer are handbuilt from porcelain slabs, with added embellishments. Both pieces are glazed for use and are sturday enough for the microwave. I recommend handwashing.

(to order, click the email link on the CONTACT page)

(be aware that all work will vary slightly in color, form and embellishment)

December 7, 2010

the *NEW* and official KC Clay Guild facebook page is: KC Clay Guild (with the logo)(not the building).

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KC-Clay-Guild/133792773345434

November30, 2010

MORE PICCYS

November 30, 2010

YAY!!!
Unloaded a kiln yesterday and I am pleased with all of it...FINALLY! Kilns are such fickle things, expecially when they get theirelements replaced. All my blues came out...even the new one(although it wasn't put on thick enough).

No red stain burnout either~!

It's time to ell me what you think...I am wondering ifI need the 'insert' of texture and color...maybe the cup has enough texture on itself...maybe leave it off the saucer.

HMMMMMMMMMMMM

I like the added second color. I learned a wonderful technique at a Julia Galloway workshop. I need to refine it, but I like it. The technique makes for a longer glazing process, but I sure do like the outcome.

November 28, 2010

Tomorrow is my little Duncan-dog's 8th birthday. I am going to get him a Quik-Trip hot dog. Loooooove my puppy dog.

I am currently firing a glaze kiln load of cups...new cups...cup I constructed, shellaced and washed away excess texture. I glazed them with Higby Water Blue on the inside and in deep crevices on the outside.
To the smooth places outside I glazed:

• tinted liner
• Ron Roy's black
• yellow liner

We'll see how those come out. I am going to /\5 as I don't have a /\4 cone to use. I tried /\3, but I felt those were underfired.

November 19,2010

I went to the 'Ladies Night' at Sav*Art gallery last night. Lots of wonderful art to look at and BUY! I hung out with my buds, Cinderelish Andrew Johnson (and Ted), Robin McIntosh. I ate a few yummy snacks and a little wine (and Bailey's in a chocolate cup!)...and sold a few things. YAY!

I also met some other artists, Tammy Smith of 'Homemade Circus' and Christy of 'Dirty Cupcakes Pottery'...going to meet them along with Cindy at Chez Elle for lunch today. I also met Cale, a painter. Everyone was really sweet and we had a good time hanging out.

November 14, 2010

I am home after a Saturday at the University of MIssouri-Columbia. I took my bf, Terry ("Mr. KU") to an MU football game and a tear around the campus. He indulged me even though he was kinda sick. We should have left right after the game, but he further indulged me and ate at one of my fave pizza places ever...Shakespear's Pizza. It was a lucsious taste treat. I hadn't had any since the fall of 2006. YUM, YUM, YUMMY!

odd fact, today is Prince Charles' b-day. I don't know how old he is...just...older than me. Is he 63?

I spent the day Friday making pots and pieces for my little galleries. I bisque fired them yesterday and today I must stain and glaze them. I really need to go into the studio and make other things on my list.
Go, Susan, go! Go make pots!

November 11, 2010

Lovely morning at Terry's and the Leavenworth Veteran's Day parade playing pipes with friends.

Just want to say 'thanks' to Sav*Art on the Plaza...for the opportunity they've given me. I made my first sale...a big Santa BoneGuy! I am off to make more and rescue a few others on a shelf downstairs.

November 09, 2010

3pm: I refined cups and saucers by adding shellac edges. I also made ornaments for the Xmas sales at KC Clay Guild and Eclectics...snowmen, Xmas trees and snow globes...10 each.

10pm: I will go out to photograph and uncover the work I made the last few days.

Today: I went down to the Plaza and into Sav*Art. I talked to Jenny Meyer* and walked around the store. I can't believe my artwork is in a store on the Plaza! There are other great artists and friends there...Chari Peak, Andrew Johnson, Gayle Martin...and of course Mike Savage. (*I had never seen Jenny Meyers work. It is fantastic.)
More on this endeavour later.

November 7, 2010

Hello clay world,
Gearing up for the holiday season...making work, testing glazes, [trying to] figure out the kiln issues and creating a newsletter to inform customers and friends.
I went to STUFF to see my friend Amy Meya do some demos. Cinderelish and I met there and quizzed Amy about a wholesale market she and another potter go to in February. I think Cindy and I will attend and go to some workshops to learn all about the market.

I decided I like the Xmas trees that are finished. I refined the form and made some more today...5 of them. I will make ornaments and Snowmen and some cups, saucers and ice cream bowls this week.

*pictures to follow*

November 1, 2010...again

Did I fail to mention that I did create some pretty cool cups and a small teapot using my techniques plus the shellac technique I saw Julia Galloway use in Lawrence a few weeks ago at the symposium at Lawrence Art Center.
I think I will love it. It will give me more opportunity for color on the outside of the pieces.

*PANIC* Ya know how much I dislike the glaze process?...this will just add to the stress.

November 1, 2010

Firing again...refiring I should say.
Yesterday, I had to throw out an entire kiln load of cups and my new tumblers for over firing AND some unattractive residue from some shellac I used.
*sigh*
I am so tired of messing with this kiln. Ever since I had it rewired, the firings have been haphazard and unpredictable. I fell like I have to continually adjust the kiln sitter and fire it empty to see what it will do.
*argh*

I am taking what I can to SAV*ART on the Plaza tomorrow...crossing fingers on this kiln load AND that it will be out early enough so that I can go to Terry's on time.

October 28, 2010

Pots...lots of glazing today...firing...and making some new things.

Ok...off to do something a little new, BUT I feel like I've been trying something new for 35+ years. When and where do I find a...vision(?), a statement to make in clay? I go, I learn, I see...try something new again and again and again. Whattup? I know it is a never ending process, but DAMN, I feel like I re-invent the wheel continually.

I like what I make, but they don't sell well. I hate making some item and they DO sell. JeSUS.
The art world is a fickle, fickle, unpredictable place.

*sigh*

October 27, 2010

Went to Cinderelish's house today to work on pots. Cindy did some carving and I did mason stain washes on my pieces. As I dug out my pots form the travel bucket, I had several broken pieces...candy man and 2 Santas. *aaaaarhhhh*

After a yummy cheeseburger and tater tot lunch at the RetroBowl in Liberty, MO, we talked about improving our respective work. I love it when I can get a second opinion. We deduced that my work is too fragile...too much breakage from the extreme elements and thinness of my pots and their body parts.

I might:

• add text
• change forms
• eliminate *some* work, especially the extremely fragile stuff
• change up some of the decorative elements...add more...change the shape of those elements
• work on color
• work on new pieces to round out the bulk of my work
• make more molds to press into

*WOW* looking up /\ that seems like a lot to do.

October 25, 2010

In the clay world...
I made some glazes today. I repllenished my Higby Water Blue and my Yellow Liner. I am going to do some glaze tests on alternative colors with the base of HWB.

I think I am going to do the same with my YL. I have already reduced the amount of Talc by 5% and increased the amount of Flint 5%. My line glaze was a little too cloudy. I am trying to reduce the cloudy by reducing the Talc. I am not much of a chemist, but that sounded logical.

October 24, 2010...later

I made a bunch of small bowls...18...an inexpensive price point. Most of them are alike, but one has a snowman face. Cornball.

I altered the centers a bit after I took the picture. I left an 'empty' spot in the center. I thought there was just a little too much texture. I needed some contrast. A few have triangular centers, from sprigged detail to detail.

I am making glaze tomorrow after my busy day working my random day job, riding my bike, picking up rat poison and visiting my dermatologist.

I am mixing my beautiful Higby Water Blue and some variations (tests), Yellow liner glaze and and some clear with a little yellow stain it it.

I found an article by Vince Patelka I want to read about stains, patinas and glazes. Sounds interesting. I don't want to use Terra Sigs or *just* slips. I can't wait to read and try it all out.

October 24, 2010

It is Sunday and I spent a great weekend at Lawrence Art Center...at a ceramic symposium. My favorites were Julia Galloway, Matt Long and Dave Hintler. Got lots of great piccys and ideas. I bought a Matt Long shot glass and a multi-media piece. The piece is an edgy image of a Lawrence artist by a Denver artist Jouvelt...look him up.

I think the funniest and fun potter was Matt Long...sweet work with slips. My video won't upload, but I have some images.

October 21, 2010

Getting ready for the Xmas season.

I will have work at Sav*Art on the Plaza

beginning early November.

Sav*Art will be located in the former

Banana Republic (next to the Gap Store).

I will also have Xmas themed artwork at

Eclectics and the KC Clay Guild

Holiday Pottery Tour and Sale...more

on that later.

October 21, 2010

I've been working alot more the past week. Perhaps going to the gym and riding my bike on a regular basis is helping my attitude. Despite the fact that I got rejected by an online ceramic artist's gallery this week, I am trying to keep a positive frame of mind. I think I am past getting rejection notices, but I am afraid it still throws me.

I am trying some new forms. Here's a sample that included tumblers...not sure about the the foot. I keep thinkking they need to have a wider bottom to the body so that the foot will not so dainty. Hmmmmmm.

I am trying new impressed textures and shapes in the walls of my cups, too.

I include some candy jars with serving trays...and Santas.

October 18, 2010

I am pretty excited, but I am gonna hafta bust my butt. I contacted a gallery and they want work by November 2. Yikes! I will be in the Plaza SAV*ART gallery (http://www.sav-art.com/)

I spent most of the day in the studio. It was hard as it was a beautiful day yesterday. Spent a lot of the day, Saturday doing the same.

I made boneguy snowmen with lids, a couple of Xmas trees, a some boats/wagons with wheels to set the bone guys in.

October 16, 2010...pottery slut...was that too harsh?

I forgot a piccy of my work at the Cone Box...thanks for looking!

October 16, 2010...pottery slut

Terry and I went to the opening of the 2010 Orton Cone Box showlast night...lots of friends there. My piece, Miss Havisham's Wedding (Cake) was an award winner...a purchase award from the Bracker family.

I also purchased two pieces. Here are photos of the two pieces I bought. The little flower t-pot is by Susan Beiner of Tempe, Arizona and the figure bottle is by Glenda Taylor from Topeka, Kansas. Love, love, love them.

I also bought a Pete Pinnell teabowl at the other show in Lawrence Art Center, since I missed getting one at the KC Clay Guild Teabowl National last June.

We also had a lovely dinner at Esquina in Lawrence, Kansas...yummy fish tacos and ultra yummy chips and salsa. I think that salsa is my favorite anywhere! I also had a yummy bottle of Jaritos Grapefruit pop.

I can't wait until the symposim at LAC next weekend. Two days of pottery!

October 14, 2010

attached are some pix from my demo/workshop last Saturday at Bracker's Good Earth Clays. I had fun and the day went quickly. I can't believe I made pots for 5 hours without a break.

Thanks to everyone who came out to watch...and thanks to the Bracker family.

KC Clay Guild has just opened their new sales gallery. Work by KCCG members will be for sale during regular business hours. Come check it out!

October 7, 2010

Just a quick 'hello'. Still haven't made a pot. I feel like this teapot.

I will get to that today or tomorrow in preperation for my workshop at Bracker's this Saturday, October 9, 10-3. Come watch for a minute or and hour or all day!

Gotta limber my fingers up!

Raku Night is also happening at KC Clay Guild (200 West 74th, KCMO) this Saturday evening...5 pm, the first pot goes in then! Food, fun, fire and flame & music...oh yeah, Boulevard Beer!

September 23rd, 2010

I had every intention of going into the studio to work today, but never made it...always something else that must be done. Plus, I am pretty UNmotiviated at the moment.

Maybe...tomorrow?

I did sort through my Ceramics Monthlys to get them ready for some magazine file-holder-thingees. Yee-ha.

day 30...September 15, 2010...7pm

I am gettting ready to start my ETSY store.

Having trouble with all the images.

I have plenty of artwork to sell.

Just gotta get it organized and uploaded.

day 30...September 15, 2010

I will be conducting a workshop on October 9th, 10-3 pm. My workshop is part of Bracker's Good Earth Clay's 2nd Saturday series of workshops. The workshop will take place in the 'backroom' of Bracker's store in north Lawrence, Kansas. There is not cost for this workshop and you can come and go as you please.
I will demo my handbuilding techniques, texturing methods, staining and slip methods. I may also demo the way I create my slump molds.
Check out http://www.brackers.com/ or their facebook page for more information

day 29...September 14, 2010

I need to clean up my studio so that I can actaully get back to making thngs. Actually, it looks pretty clean at the desk, but the rest is UNorganized. I want to bring some colored slips up tot he work studio so that I can use them. I want to add multiple layers of color and texture to my pieces

day 28...maybe I'm on a roll!

I did the Art Westport this last weekend. I wanted to share with the viewers a new cup by a newish, local potter named Roberto Lugo. I immediately fell for the form, the colors and especially the image of Alfred Hitchcock on one side.

Roberto told me his tecnique involved slips, stencils, and even a little sgraffitto. Yummy.

As a friend of mine would say...'lickable'.

day 28...another post!!

go to the KC CLAY GUILD!

new show by Susan Kemp!

day 28...two days in a row!

I won't get much done in the way of clay today...going to be a substitute teacher...5th grade.

I finally got the front desk 'furniture' and most of the consignment gallery going at KC Clay Guild (http://www.kcclayguild.org/). KCCG is taking applications for the OFF-CENTER GALLERY from members and it can be downloaded from our site and from me). I guess I will be the first to be juried....hmmmmmm, jury myself.

day 27...Art Westport

Ugh. It's over...another Art Westport. It was my worst one ever...barely made the 'booth'.
I met some nice people and had a repeat customer, Gina. I met Kathy DeFord. She was sweet enough to put me in her blog, along with some other artists at A.W. Check out Kathy's blog at: http://2thefari.blogspot.com/

I am still musing over my future in pottery and art fairs. I am totally bummin' over my lackluster season and my teaching situation. I am deflated that my desire to be a 'potter when I grew up' isn't quite gearing up like I thought it might. Hmmmmmmmm.

Looking for suggestions from fellow artists, potters or anyone who looks at the artwork on my blog, my website and at art fairs. Be honest...but be nice!

I think I will go eat some ice cream with caramel, fudge and nuts....mabye a candy bar cut up in it. That will make me feel better...or maybe another Mojito!!!
Later...

day 26...it's Sunday

I am still taking a break from making. Just a week or two longer...I'm exhausted.
I got back from Minneapolis's Loring Park Art Fair. I don't want to be mean, but it was an unpleasant experience. It was horribly hot, the crowds were thin and they were there to purchase bargain basement stuff from 'grandma's church bazar', not artwork. Sour grapes? Nope, just a long way to go for a sub--standard art fair.

I *did* have fun with my travel buddy, Kathy. If you have never been to Nye's Polonaise Room (nyespolonaise.com) , ya gotta go. It's just east of the Mississppi on Hennipen Street. We had drinks and sang along with the 'World's Most Dangerous Polka Band' (according to David Letterman). Went there with Cinderlish last year and had a blast...even sang with the 'piano lady', Lou Snyder.
Also hit must see's...Northern Clay Center (northernclaycenter.org) and Ragstock (ragstock.com) for kimonos and obis.

I will be at Art Westport the weekend of September 10, 11 &12. I am ususall across from the Foundry on Westport Road. Come see me.

day 25...Orton

Got back from Cherry Creek a couple weekends ago. Thanks Denver for giving me a record breaking weekend of sales. My booth was next to Andrew Johnson (digital stichery) and he also had a record breaking weekend. Congrats!

I am gearing up for Loring Park in Minneapolis the first weekend of August...can't wait...I love that town!

Also letting everyone know that I got accepted into the Orton International Cone Box Show. It will be held at the Lawrence Art Center in Lawrence, Kansas. There will be an opening reception on Friday, October 15th. See you there!

day24...revisited...found something cool

Check it out mannnnnnnnnn,
www.facebook.com/CherryArts

and scroll down 'til you get to 'Ceramic Artists 1'.
I have been juried into the Cherry Creek Art Fair in Denver, Colorado. I had no idea they advertised so extensively. I like it.

day 24...home from 'wintering' in Laumeier

yeah...Went to Laumeier Art Fair in the spectacular Laumeier Sculpture Park (http://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/) this past weekend. It is in the St. Louis area and I did all my fave things while I was there...Ted Drewes Custard, the Chocolate Bar (chocolate martinis!) and visiting my sister Mindy her family.

Wintering, yeah man, it was COLD and WINDY on Saturday. It is a good show, but teh weather there was less than stellar. I hunkered down in the back of my tent much of the day. When you get cold and there is nowhere to get warm...it makes for a long day...and sales were worse than BAD on Saturday.

I sold my 'Marie A' (Marie Anoinette) teapot on day One...nice surprise and some other things I do not have pictures for. Some KC artists I visited with while I was at the art fair were: Judy Thompson (pit fired pottery), Makenna Bartel (silver jewelry). I also spoke with Jennifer and Nathan Falter (Springfield...potters) and Caly Hobgood-Lemme (Champaign-Urbana...still-life photos) and Carrie Hoffnagle (Des Moines...silver jewelry). Google their names and check out their work.

Anyway, I am home and I am going to go make some glazes.

day23...reviewed at eREview!

In the midst of a pretty horendous week of auto accidents, kiln over-firings, art fair display problems and accidentally deleting a very important file from my computer...someone told me about being reviewed by Steve Brisendine of eREview online magazine. What a fabulous surprise?!?! Drop on in to Steve's blog where he reviews the arts and artists every day.
http://ereview.org/2010/05/01/where-fun-meets-funk-tion-susan-speck/

I am getting ready for The Laumeier Art Fair this weekend in ST. Louis. Visit me there if you are in the nieghborhood. I still do not have a booth assignment, but I am not under a big tent...but on the outskirts.

day 22...not much going on

Whew!! Not much going on in the studio this week. Got home from NCECA on Saturday afternoon, caught some kind of bug and have been sick the last couple of days.

I have spent the last few days at the computer loading CD's and creating a slide show for the juror of KC Clay Guild's Teabowl National. It has been exhausting, but fun to see all the work made by potters across the country...lots of soda and wood fired pieces.

Thanks to all who have entered...the work is amazing. Don't foget to pencil in the June 11 opening reception with the juror, Pete Pinnell. It will take place at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center in KCMO from 6-8 pm.

day 20...actually keeping up!

I wanted to post a photo of a teapot inspired by They Might Be Giants' song...well, I think it is "A Little Birdhouse to your Soul". I made a a series of three. I also made some small variations in teapots, pitchers and lidded boxes.

day 20...starting again...again

Just got back from NCECA and I am hyped to make pots and glazes...but I also have to get my art fair thing going. Here are some piccys of some pots I bought. XoXo is by Stepanka Horalkova. The 'twins' are pots I bought at the end of the Cup Sale at NCECA...2 for1...by Harmony Chapman...they were the ones I coveted all week and I got them!
I cannot remember the woman's name that made the 'bunny plate'...she was at the vendor booth and had a pet rabbit in a carrying case.

I went to KCCG and discovered I had a whole bunch of new entries for the KC Clay Guild Teabowl National. I'm stoked! There are over 140 pots entered! I brought all the CD's home and downloaded them and then set them in a PowerPoint for Pete Pinnell, our juror.

day 19...a new year...humphf

Haven't really done much in the clay world at my house. Getting blase' about clay again....humphf!
The studio is too dog-gone cold. Even the space heaters haven't been helping. It is way to cold to go and stain or glaze in the basement as well. Twenty or below...ya just can't warm up an older outbuilding...(dreaming of a new studio...maybe next summer!!!)

I *have* done quite a bit for KC Clay Guild lately. I/we have organized a painting weekend and the place looks fabu. We are mapping out a consignment/retail area behind the desk, bought display shelves and painted some shelves.
We have purchased new ware shelves for the handbuilding room and moved furniture about. Dale is also installing the 'new' sink near the front rooms. We are going to install a better system of clay sludge collection, too.

I need to go down to the donjon to stain a piece for KCAC (Kansas City Artists Coalition) today. It is 4:30 and I need to leave for rowing at 5:15...maybe I can get this done.
Here I goooooooooooooo.