Fractured Glaze Comes to Life

Tiles pictured above are loosely laid out in the studio before shipping/installation.

Move over 2x2 accents!  For the first time, thanks to HomeTech Renovations (Fort Washington, PA), we can feature this unique finish as part of a large scale mural!

This mural was created using the Teres 5x5 tile design.  Teres, meaning 'elegant' or 'rounded' in Latin, has a raised border along the edge, making it perfect for the Fractured Glaze finish.  Subtle almond accents highlight the design where the interaction of Buttercream glaze and Ice Fractured glaze come together.  'Ice' Fractured finish makes the design sparkle as light reflects on the surface of each tile.

The finished kitchen will feature this mural amid handmade 4x8 subway tiles in Buttercream.  Hopefully we can bring you the finished kitchen installation soon!

How Medallions are Made

Somehow a lump of clay turns into a tile, and tiles into a mural.  Here's how tiles are created and pieced together to form a cohesive single work of ceramic art. Step 1:  Turn clay from a 25-pound chunk into a smooth, even slab

Step 2:  Press the clay onto the wood mold.  We always HAND PRESS every tile--no mechanical presses involved.  Truly handmade tile.

Step 3:  Refine the Design

Step 4:  Create the surround.  The surround is typically a 4-part combination of plain tiles cut to the client's specific size needs.

Step 5:  Build the Frame/Moldings.  Moldings are made from castings of antique picture frames and moldings, and are also hand-pressed.

Step 6:  Finished mural dries slowly in the studio.  When the clay is dry, every edge will be smoothed with a sponge, then all pieces fired in the kiln; what is called a 'bisque' firing.  This takes two days, and fires to 1945 degrees.

Next Steps:  After the Bisque firing, the tiles are hand-glazed by dipping into or pouring the glaze over tiles, the backs of each piece cleaned of glaze, then fired a second time to 2100 degrees.  This melts the glaze and fuses it onto the tiles.   More to come about glaze...

NEW Fractured Glazes!

Happy 2013!  Clay Decor just developed a new line of crackled glazes.  This glamorous new selection of 9 glazes adds a pop of color and sparkle to any interior.  Combine small tiles to make a large medallion, or create jewels with smaller decos around the wall--the possibilities are endless!

Fractured Glaze is a specialty glaze with a different personality than our regular finish color offerings.  Additional charges apply per square foot (on pricelist 'Policies' page).

Here are some guidelines and options:

• Use on wall tiles only
•  Can be applied to tiles 6x6 or smaller
• Used only with tiles with raised borders on the edge
• Small tiles can be pressed into a larger piece of clay to create this border needed around the edge
• Choice of Bone or Gloss White glazes for background/edge/border
• Custom Fractured colors available, inquire about samples and availability

Glaze-to-Go!

At Clay Decor it's all about custom handmade artwork, made to order just for you.  We created a shortcut that trims couture from 6 weeks to GUARANTEED TO SHIP IN 2 WEEKS! Clay Decor has created the most popular designs and bisque fired them.  From here, the tiles can be easily custom-cut in the studio on the wet saw and glazed in any of our hand-created glazes:  http://www.clay-decor.com/finish-colors.php

Below, are pictures and quantities available.  Quantities will be updated Monday-Friday from 8 until 6 PM real-time so you can be certain of the availability.  Check back regularly for new designs and updated information.

Concordia:  13 1/2 x 20 1/2   Quantity Available:  4

Quies:  10 1/2 by 6 1/2 Quantity Available:  2

Aurelia Horizontal:  18 x 13  Quantity Available:  2

Aurelia Horizontal Surround:  4-parts, 15 1/2 x 26 (or smaller to your specs) Quantity Available:  2 sets

Quies Imperial:  20 1/2 x 10  Quantity Available:  1

Pomarius:  15 x 13  Quantity Available:  1

Fruit Tableau:  15 x 18  Quantity Available:  1

Irish Lace:  13 x 18  Quantity Available:  1 

Fruit Tableau Surround:  19 x 22  Quantity Available:  2 Sets 

MOLDING/FRAME OPTIONS:  All pieces can be cut to frame the other tiles in the Glaze-to-Go selection (cut to length and mitered corners).  Quantities are not posted because we always have plenty on hand in the designs pictured below.

Chair Rail: 2 1/2 wide by up to 14 long

Kallisto Molding:  3 1/2 x 10

Pics From Pottery Plus in Syracuse!

Happened: November 15-18, 2012:  Delavan Center, 501 W. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY Here are some snap shots of the Pottery Plus event in the Syracuse Ceramics Guild studio this past weekend.  If you missed us, be sure to come to Th3 December 20, same location!

Visitors got to feast on a fabulous selection of handmade sculpture in ceramics, glass and metal.  Thank you to all who came and made this event a huge success!

Just in case you're wondering, there was a whole additional area (including Clay Decor work) which was not completed at the time I took these photos...and before my camera battery ran out of juice. :)

Up-cycled Studio

I am a HUGE fan of architectural salvage.  If awesome old homes are going to be destroyed, at least craftsmanship from the past can be preserved in pieces.  My favorite source is Gothic City Antiques in Buffalo, NY. Our latest project for the studio involved taking apart an old stair banister & spindles and reconstructing them at a different slope, adding salvage newel posts, and melding an exterior railing/spindle to the works.

Join Us for Th3 in Syracuse!

Join the Syracuse Ceramics Guild in our gallery at the Delavan Center in Syracuse for Third Thursday, a community event with dozens of open galleries; 5-8 PM!  The SCG entrance is on Wyoming street.  Anne will be exhibiting both pottery and glass, as well as works from Denise Dowdall and Pam Steele.  We'll also have fab finger food and good company!

For more information on the Syracuse Ceramics Guild:  http://ceramicguild.com/

For more information on Th3 in Syracuse:  http://www.th3syracuse.com/

Ithaca Arts Trail GOING ON NOW!

OCTOBER 6-7 AND 13-14, 2012; 11AM TO 5PM EACH DAY Join us for the Greater Ithaca Art Trail, featuring the open studios of 45 artists!  Download a map and brochure at www.ArtTrail.com (or pick up one at my studio when you visit :)).  This is an amazing opportunity to see how the artists create their work and to purchase unique fine art items straight from the studio!

Come and see us in the Clay Decor studio!  I will be demonstrating how I make tiles and murals, and possibly working on carving a new wood tile mold.  There will be plenty of work for sale, and even some discounted seconds.  Relax and enjoy with homemade cookies and coffee/tea!

Syracuse Pottery Fair

AUGUST 18 & 19, 2012: Thank you for joining us for the Syracuse Ceramic's Guild Pottery Fair!  http://ceramicguild.com/pottery-fair/

Here are some fun pictures from the Fair.  From the large selection of unique artwork to exciting interactive Raku activities and children's make-your-own-pottery, the fair was a tremendous success!!

Thank you for supporting the Syracuse Ceramics Guild!  The guild is a wonderful non-profit resource for artists, providing educational programs and service to the local community.  Syracuse Ceramics Guild:  http://ceramicguild.com/

Ithaca Artists Market

Come see our artwork at the Ithaca Artists Market:  Friday, July 27 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM in Ithaca, NY at the Farmer's Market.  http://artspartner.org/news/story/spring-writes-literary-festival-this-weekend.html  Clay Decor will be in Booth 35. This is a juried show of 70 fine artists, and also includes food, wine (we're in the Finger Lakes wine country), music and boat tours.  Come and have access to handmade art locally created and one of a kind!

Featured in Remodeling Magazine

The current trend in remodeling is to personalize your space.  Our dealer, HomeTech Renovations (Fort Washington, PA), has highlighted the idea of using local artists for the ultimate customization of a space.  The article, by Nina Patel on page 85 in the June 2012 Remodeling Magazine, features comments from David Cerami (gotta love that name...) :), President of HomeTech  about how local artists can come together to make a space totally unique.  Not only can you guarantee an interior different from your neighbor, but it's also a great way to support artisans in your country and community!

Amazing Barn/Studio

For those of you who have ever met a potter, many of us have our studios in barns.  Pottery requires somewhat bulky equipment and room to move with the clay.  The bigger your work, the more room you need!  My studio is in an 1850 barn (original section was built around 1800, I think :).  I'm also an old-house nut, so working in a historic building with wonderful old bones gives me inspiration and comfort.  My work is traditional because I love history and tradition.  I am surrounded by that which was built by another craftsmans' hands 2 centuries ago--how cool is that??!!

Most recently, I decided to refurbish the old floor boards from a damaged section of floor we had to take up, and will use them as wall coverings (not that the insulation isn't attractive....). :)  I did need to pressure-wash 100 years of grit and grime, so I took a picture of the boards drying.  Keeping with the salvage/re-use theme, I also had my hubby cut one of the old hand-hewn beams (severely damaged on one end), and I made a bench-half-wall out of it.  Upstate NY winters require somewhere to put on your boots!

I kept as many of the old elements as I could when converting the barn into my studio.  The original floor with it's 18-inch wide planks wherever possible, the interior doors (check out the door to my glass room), exposed beams, etc.  Although the restoration of the studio/barn is an ongoing/constant thing, I would say I am most fortunate to have such a lovely place to work all the while!

Featured In Central Jersey House and Home

Clay Decor's backsplash is featured in Central Jersey House and Home interior design magazine this month (June, 2012)!  The article (page 46) "Timeless Kitchen Trends" by Beth Puliti, features an entire installation of Clay Decor Tiles on page 47.  This amazing installation (courtesy of HomeTech Renovations in Fort Washington, PA) includes Imaginatio tiles with Chair Rail frames and custom 4x8 handmade tiles.  Imaginatio and all 4x8s are in Earthly Plum glaze, and the Chair Rail is in a light application of Antique Bronze glaze.

Ithaca Arts Trail

A new year just started with the Ithaca Arts Trail.  Come and visit artist studios in and around Ithaca, and browse the amazing variety of artists on their site:  http://www.arttrail.com/  I'm participating in this event, although the Clay Decor studio is still undergoing some repairs until we are officially visitor-ready.  Hopefully we will be able to swing a first Saturday at the end of Summer. :)  If you want to experience art firsthand, this is the way to do it! There is an open house weekend October 6 and 7 (2012), and certain studios open the first Saturday of each month.  Otherwise, you can contact the artist and make an appointment to visit their studio.

This is a juried exhibition put together by the hardworking folks at the Community Arts Partnership of Tomkins County.  Also, keep in mind this Arts Trail overlaps the Cayuga Lake wine trail...I'm just saying... :) http://cayugawinetrail.com/

Dear Friends, Fabulous Artists

Artisan tile is a small world (artisan, as in--tile handmade by actual artists, not carried by hand from a pressing machine to the kiln...).  These three artists (spouses included) are very dear friends and brilliant artists.  Their work is unique and beautifully formed.  We exchange technical information, moral and artistic support, and important gut-checks about shared experiences.  I cherish the connections with these amazing artists! Bella Vista Tile:  http://www.bellavistatile.com/   These tiles are a feast of color and texture woven into stunning compositions.  Check out the Tile Gallery on their site, it'll blow you away.

B.A. Schmidt Arts:  http://www.baschmidtartstiles.com/  Barbara is a wonderful, talented sculptor.  These relief sculptures are thoughtfully created with beautifully hand-applied finishes.  Her Yoga Tile Collection is amazing, but truth be told I like all her work so much I can't pick a favorite.

Also, new friends Oscar and Izzy: http://www.oscarandizzy.com  These super-nice folks were next to me at the recent Coverings Tradeshow.  But I'm not putting them in the post because they happened to be my booth neighbor...their work is FABULOUS!  Oscar and Izzy's bold retro designs feature luscious colors and outstanding compositions.  Modern and whimsical, this brilliant graphic designer is super-on-trend!

My Favorite Magazines

#1 Ceramics Monthly:  This fabulous magazine has been a staple since I graduated from college.  It features inspirational work of other ceramic artists, as well as a wealth of technical information.  If I need a new glaze, I usually find it from Ceramics Monthly.  Also a great place to find workshops and equipment. #2 Veranda:  Oh the luxury of this magazine!  And I'm not talking the ads.  The photography in this magazine is a feast of color and composition.  Just seeing the cover gives me an idea of what colors/shades are trending.  The articles give a peak inside classic designs in the most elite environments.  It's not that I want my work to be a bastion of the wealthy, rather a translation of the look and feel of this magazine in some small way.

#3  This Old House Magazine:   I LOVE old houses.  The architecture and attention to detail, especially carved embellishment, never fail to fascinate me.   This magazine is a celebration of craftsmanship by hands of the past and present.  I find wonderful ideas for restoration and re-use of salvaged materials for modern living.  As most of my work is inspired by designs of the late 1800s and early 1900s, I love the historical connections this magazine provides.

As an aside, I have tried to read fashion magazines...yawn...  When you dress in T-shirts/sweatshirts and jeans to work in 'dirt' everyday, one tends to loose interest. :)

Stuff I Love! What Inspires My Work

I'm starting a new blog category to share all of the influences that inspire me on a day to day basis.  As an artist, I hungrily consume visual and kinesthetic (touch) experiences. I love color, rich saturated hues (not white, not tan..blech).  I'm so happy those kitchens with white cabinets and splashes with my Gloss White glaze have gone out of vogue.  Not that it was an ugly look, it was very clean.   Those subtle colors just seem to subdue my large designs, and I much prefer to have color to liven-up a space.  Then again, I'm not a quiet person.  I wear purple eye shadow (every day), and have red hair (dyed not to look natural, I hope), and I can happily talk your ear off if given the chance.  :)

I'm not a huge fan of pattern as it seems visually 'noisy' to me, so when you see my more elaborate tiles, they will always be draped in a consistent glaze.  What I love about pattern, is when it is raised, i.e. when it is a texture.  I don't like a repeated design painted on fabric, but embroider the same design, especially with a heavy wool or silk thread, and I'm drawn to it.  This is why my repeating designs (like Anaglypto) are more inspired by a repetition of texture that glaze reacts to, rather than a pattern contrasted with background like in hand-painted examples.

To this end, I love luxury that is beautiful but touchable.  At a recent trade show, people kept coming up to the glass Concordia and touching the surface.  I was thrilled!  Creating an interaction of the visual and the kinesthetic connects me, connects my work, to the outside world.  This is why I insist on carving my own wood tile molds, rather than using a carving machine (CNC), and refuse to use a tile press instead of my own hands to form the tiles and sinks.  I need to touch the wood, interact with the lines as they take shape, feel the depth and texture of the design.  When pressing the tiles, I feel the clay being worked into the mold, my finger prints are on the backs of the tile as I manually refine the pressing.  Glazing is also an interaction of liquid flowing over the surface of the tile, whether I'm hand-dipping or pouring it over a larger piece.  As the heavy-cream consistency  of the glaze cascades over each design it creates a totally unique visual life for each piece.  If I tilt the same two tiles in different directions, the same designs and same materials become one of a kind, as liquid never flows the same way twice.

So this blog will focus on things that speak to me personally.  It's not that I think everyone should agree with my somewhat-odd preferences, but you will have a better understanding of the artist behind the artwork. :)

Dealer Display Package Options

• View the individual tiles mentioned in these packages by going to clay-decor.com, and putting the tile name into the search box in the lower right hand corner.
• Clay Decor can choose the finish colors from the most popular, or you can choose what works in your market (we notice that different colors tend to vary by area of the country).
• Pricing for tiles and packages can be obtained by emailing info@clay-decor.com, and telling us a little bit about your showroom and location.

1.  Order any tile or concept board design in any stock Finish Color to a minimum $300.

2.   Large Tile Package

This package includes our very popular large tiles in the most frequently ordered designs:

• Concordia
• Aurelia Horizontal
• Imaginatio
• Quies Imperial
• Fruit Tableau
• Irish Lace
• Leilani Ellipse

3.  Small Tile Package 

This package includes an example of all 4x4 and smaller deco tiles, loose: 27 total

4.  Moldings Sampler

This package includes an example of all Molding tile designs, loose:  21 total

5.  Color Chips

This includes a 3x3 sample of all current glaze Finish Colors.

6.  Medium Tile Package 

Medium tiles include select popular designs from 6x6 to 12 x 12

• Quies
• Aquarius 9x9
• Anaglypto
• Sidereus 8x8
• Renaissance
• Corono 6x6
• Concordia Sero
• Gemino 6x6
• Foliatus

7.  Borders Package 

This package includes a selection of popular wide and narrow borders.

• Gothic Border
• Sidereus Border
• Garden Border
• Lucescere
• Fluvidus
• Thorn Flower
• Tulip Vine
• Ventillo
• Lily Consero

8.  Mural Package 

This package includes the top 3 mural designs, loose.  Make these into a concept board using moldings as a frame, or install them with different materials from your store, such as stone.

• Concordia with 2 Concordia Sero side panels
• Reflection 4-piece mural
• Elegance Mural

9.  Glass Packages

Our glass tiles are currently offered in a limited number of designs and sizes.  Here are options that include currently available designs:

9A:  Small Glass Accents:  All 2x2 (#5) and 1x1 (#1) tile designs

9B:  Glass Tiles, Medium:  Corono 4x4, Aquarius 7x7, Gothic Border, Ventillo

9C:  Glass Moldings:  1 each of Ornate Frame and Chair Rail Moldings

9D:  Glass Concordia:  21 x 14 inch, 9 mm thick

10.  Concept Boards

These boards are priced individually, and due to their size, will be delivered loose with an installation map.  Feel free to make your own composition of tiles and frames to make a board fit to your space.

• Concordia with Kallisto Molding Frame:  total size 21 x 28
• Irish Lace with 4-part surround and Ornate Frame Molding:  total size 25 x 20
• Aurelia Horizontal with 4-part surround and Chair Rail frame:  total size 21 x 26
• Fruit Tableau, Gothic Border, Chair Rail frame:  Total size 26 x 29
• Aquarius 7x7 (#9) with Chair Rail:  Total size 26 x 26

How to Become a New Dealer

How to Become a Clay Decor Dealer

Thank you so much for your interest in Clay Decor's 100% handmade artisan products!  Our tiles and sinks are individually hand-made and hand-glazed.  Each piece is UNIQUE--it will never come out of the kiln the same way twice, and this guarantees true artistic quality.

 Who are Our Partners?

Our partner stores are typically small, boutique style stores with designers or highly experienced sales people willing to work with the clients on custom projects.   These stores are in high-end markets with consumers that have traditional sensibilities.

These are ARTISAN products made by an artist.  If you are looking for off-the-shelf, pre-made items that offer consistency and uniformity, Clay Decor's products are not a good fit.  Each tile is an individual work of art with a unique appearance, that is made to-order only (applies to all works, even large quantities of plain field tiles).  Tiles come together create beautiful, unique total compositions.

What is the Lead Time?

Because every tile is custom-made for each client, there are no items 'in stock'.  Most orders have a 6-week window from the time the Purchase Order is received until the ship date.  We are happy to try and work with you, so if occasionally there is an urgent need, check with us and we'll consult the current production schedule and let you know at the time of inquiry.

What is the Buy-in?

We require a minimum initial display purchase of $300.  Display pricing is 1/2 of wholesale prices.  All stock finish colors, with the exception of hand-rubbed colors using 'Antiquity' in the name, are the same price.  Antiquity colors add $50 to medallion orders and more if applying to a number of fields.

Do We Offer Exclusivity?

The short answer is 'no'.  In general, we try to maintain a 20 minute driving distance between partner stores.  Of course, that will be less distance in a highly dense market such as a major city.  Clay Decor offers no guarantees of territory/exclusivity.

How Do You Choose a Display?

Displays are as custom as the individual client orders.  You can order whatever designs you want, in any of the stock colors.  You can order a combination of loose tiles and/or concept boards.  All concept boards will be shipped to you in loose tiles with a map for installation on site with backing materials of your choice.  As an alternative, we have several packages you can choose from, made up of the most popular designs/colors.

New Glass Tiles

Our new glass tiles were just unveiled at Coverings 2012, and are now part of Clay Decor's offerings.  We're not abandoning our clay (ever!), but this is a fun new direction of artwork and a chance to experiment with color and light in our relief designs.  So far, we have a limited number of our designs, from 1x1 to 21 x 15 Concordia.  Designs are incised into the glass as reverse-relief, or can appear almost three dimensional as you see the design in the back through a smooth top layer of glass.  Here's a picture of Concordia glass tile framed by glass Ornate Frame Moldings and surrounded by commercial mosaics (from the Coverings display).  Little bit of a bear to photograph glass... :)