Pig Futures!

Plaid Friday All Weekend THIS WEEKEND

2011-11-23T11:24:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends, Family & Fellow Celts~
Our Studio Warming is happening THIS WEEKEND.
If you're wondering what to do with the relatives or dreading the idea of being trampled in the crowds at the big box stores chose the far superior option: come out to the country and shop with us!
We've got lots of parking in a beautiful setting and can offer the warm glow that only comes from shopping with folks you know and giving handmade this holiday. (that glow might be enhanced by our mead and/or mulled cider).

Please, even if you can't attend yourself, pass this information along to anyone you can think of who might be interested... your help with my inept attempt at viral marketing is very much appreciated!

Hope to see you this weekend or later in the holiday season.
Remember, everything tastes better from a Dancing Pig Pot!
Love,
Virginia aka Dancing Pig's procrastinating potter

Dancing Pig Pottery invites you to join us for our Holiday Studio Warming.
Friday Saturday & Sunday November 25, 26 & 27 from 10 til 6 each day.

We’re celebrating PLAID FRIDAY all weekend with plenty of awesome pottery fresh from the kiln.

Tuatha will be with us as well, with wonderful Celtic jewelry, cards, stained glass
& beautiful handcrafted rustic wood hooks, chairs & walking sticks.

Also: Mead kits and samples of mead, plus plenty of hot cider, cookies, cheese & good cheer.

Put on your plaid and put our address into your gps or mapquest:
446 Railroad Lane Orrtanna PA 17353
(just outside of Gettysburg PA, only 45 minutes from Fredrick MD)

If you wear plaid, we'll give you a 10% discount! Free hugs no matter what you wear!

*Plaid Friday is the opposite of Black Friday. Instead of fighting the crowds in the big box stores, shop small, local & diverse retailers, folks who make what they sell & are vital parts of their communities.

If you can’t make it on Thanksgiving Weekend, we’re doing it all again for last minute shoppers

Saturday & Sunday December 17 & 18 from 10 til 6 both days

Details about other shopping opportunities: www.dancingpig.com

Also: Maryland and Northern Virginia Folks: we've got a closer shopping option for you

The first two weekends in December, we're taking this act on the road~

Holiday Open House & Studio Tour at Art of Fire in Laytonsville MD
Friday, Saturday & Sunday December 2, 3 & 4 December 9, 10 & 11 10 till 5 each day
We'll be back at Art of Fire in Laytonsville MD, snug & cozy in our sunny garage. Tuatha will be there with us & we'll have everything any Celt or person with good taste could want to complete their Holiday Shopping.

Pottery, hand knit oddities & great Celtic Loot. If you can't find the perfect gift here, you need better friends!

So come on out & enjoy some hot cider, good cheer and a warm welcome as you enjoy shopping with integrity & much, much better parking than you'll find at the malls!

Plus Theda's homemade cookies & the warmth and splendor of the glass studio's furnaces & gallery. You should not miss this wonderful show!
Art of Fire is located at 7901 Hawkins Creamery Rd, Laytonsville, MD 20882


Mary/Tuatha at Art of Fire's Open House a year or two ago. Don't say we don't know how to have a good time!

Plaid Friday & our Studio Warmings!

2011-11-11T01:10:00.001-05:00

Hey Friends! We've had a moving experience this summer, by which i mean we moved the studio from west central WVa to the rolling hills just west of Gettysburg PA.

The studio, not yet cleaned up for your visit!

And then we got busy what with Pennsic and Maryland Renaissance Festival. Things have calmed down a bit now that those shows are over and i've finally gotten time to set up a studio opening. In fact, we're going to have 2, cause we know how frantic the holidays can be scheduling-wise.

The first time will be on Thanksgiving Weekend. In fact, we'll be a part of Plaid Friday, a national movement that's all about shopping locally & supporting diverse merchants. To quote from their website:
"Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses. Plaid Friday is the fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store "Black Friday", and is designed to promote both local and independently owned businesses during the holidays."

So, we'll be setting up shop in our new studio, which is only 45 minutes from Frederick MD. We'll have plenty of awesome pottery fresh from the kiln and Tuatha will be with us as well, with her usual selection of wonderful Celtic jewelry, cards, stained glass and beautiful handcrafted rustic wood hooks, chairs & walking sticks.

All of this is happening Friday Saturday & Sunday November 25, 26 & 27 from 10 til 6 each day.

If you wear plaid, we'll give you a 10% discount!

Come see our wonderful new studio and enjoy some hot cider & mead as well as some tasty treats to eat. And there is a wonderful Christmas tree farm just down the road from us not to mention downtown Gettysburg which has some wonderful galleries and local shops (& great restaurants). I'm telling you, it's the perfect anti-black (aka PLAID) Friday destination.

So put on your plaid and put our address into your gps: 446 Railroad Lane Orrtanna PA 17353

View Larger Map

We can't wait to show off our new studio!

If you can't manage to come visit on Thanksgiving weekend, we're doing it all again just before Yule, for all of our last minute shopping friends:

Just Saturday and Sunday this time: December 17 & 18 from 10 til 6 both days.

My apprentice, Panda, glazing bloody pirates

need more info? pig@dancingpig.com or 304-377-1952

Post Pennsic Report

2011-08-22T10:44:00.000-04:00

Hello Folks!
We've returned from Pennsic with much less pottery than we took there and a bit more money. This makes me (and my borrowed truck) happy, because money is much easier to transport than pottery. Also: generally more useful when attempting to acquire things like yummy coffee drinks and, oh, you know, dog food.

So, anyway, i thought you might like to peek behind the scenes a bit. This is what the booth at Pennsic looked like when i showed up on the Tuesday of Peace Week. (my trusty minions Rob and Panda set up the tents for me... and left a very artistic trail of empty cider bottles for added decoration)

And this is what the booth looked like the afternoon of the next day. The caption could be "who thought bringing this many pots to Pennsic was a *good* idea?"

And finally, this is the booth all nice and set up at last. I'm impressed by myself!

Sorry, i don't have any pictures of the booth at the end of War, but trust me, there were alot of empty spaces where pots had been. This was gratifying. Thanks to everyone who helped to make our takedown much easier than our setup.

So, that happened. And now, a week later, i've done almost all of the Pennsic laundry and am in the midst of my annual freakout over the start of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Rob and Panda are setting up the booth as i type, so i've got to go make more pots to put in my nice clean non leaking booth.

Next week: pictures of steampunk and henna pots, both of which will be available Opening Weekend of Maryland Renaissance Festival. Which is August 27 & 28. I gotta go make pots.....

eBay Fire Sale is now live!

2011-07-12T13:02:00.001-04:00

As usual it has been a hectic July, but this year much more hectic than ever... Two hopefully unique events have conspired to increase the already abundant stress in my life. First, my truck burned up on the way to an event in May. Luckily, only pottery and possessions were destroyed. No people were harmed, at least physically.

Second, I moved myself and my studio 340 miles northeast to a lovely farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This move created the usual chaos and upheaval that any major relocation of personal and professional life does, and required a great deal of assistance. In the course of my move I discovered a plenitude of my own pottery which i had hoarded and stashed over the course of my 25+ years as an active studio potter. There are various examples of my own work which I kept and used, or displayed in my home. Some are prototypes unlike anything else, others are examples I liked too well when they came out of the kiln to sell at the time. My friends and new neighbors who helped me with my move suggested while packing some of these pots that perhaps I could release these items in a one time fire sale to make up some of the income lost from the fire.

We decided to use an auction format on Ebay, as some of the Newgrange pots especially are quite rare. If you purchase one of these items you will be helping me to do what I love, to wit: continue to support myself by making and selling my pottery as well as funding the occasional purchase of chocolate pastries and delightful coffee drinks.

We currently have 30 items listed and live on eBay, with another 40 to come in the next few days. Hopefully you'll find some pots you can't live without, and will shop and bid, early and often.

Here's a link to a lovely Newgrange Cereal Bowl, but be sure to check out all the great pots we've got up... too many to link to here, sorry.

Spring Flings!

2011-04-04T19:51:00.005-04:00

We're gearing up for an ambitious Spring World Tour here at Dancing Pig Pottery!
I've got a new-to-me truck and lots of pottery and i'm setting out to conquer the world!
Well, that, or sell some pottery across the mid-Atlantic region. Could go either way.

First up: April 15, 16 & 17 2011 10 til 5 each day we'll be at the
Spring Studio Tour and Open House at Art of Fire in Laytonsville Maryland.

We're making a special spring appearance at Art of Fire, setting our tent up on the lawn and giving y'all a preview of our spring line of pottery. Lots of new stuff, fresh from the kilns.
And Tuatha will be setting up with us! Come get your Mother's Day shopping on! (or better yet, bring your Mom and maybe she'll buy you some pottery too!)
(alternatively, bring your straight, single male friends who might want to date a curvy potter who laughs alot & has brain, opinions & moxie: i'll trade pottery for dates. I'm totally serious y'all) (trade pottery for dates=the matchmaker gets the pottery upon successful completion of the date)
But i digress. We're hitting the road and selling pottery. Come shop with us, early and often: here a link to our full calendar

Hope to see you (and your eligible bachelor pals) soon!

last in person shopping opportunity of the season!

2010-12-09T12:07:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know that your last chance
to buy my pots in person this holiday season is happening this weekend. It's a
wonderful Holiday Open House in Laytonsville MD (northern Montgomery
County MD) at Art of Fire's Headquarters.
This is a great good time in a peaceful, beautiful location- Art of
Fire has a gallery in a converted dairy barn and they're making glass
all weekend long, plus there are two visiting artists in the gallery and
a wonderful assortment of handmade glass and ceramic gifts for sale.
Dancing Pig Pottery and Tuatha are set up in the garage next door. We've
got lots of pottery and wonderful handmade Celtic Gifts as well as hand
turned wooden pens and other beautiful gifts for scribes from my pal
Randy, a MD Renn Fest friend who's just starting out in the crafting
world (meaning his prices are great, come take advantage of him!)

All of this shopping is happening in a peaceful pastoral setting, far
from the maddening crowds at the malls. If you love giving handmade
thoughtfully crafted gifts, this is the place for you to shop. As an
added bonus, this is just one stop on a Studio Tour of great artists
scattered across the Maryland countryside. Lots of yarn, fiber, pottery
and other arts can be found- it's an awesome way to shop in a
responsible, sustainable way.

Please tell all of your friends and pass this along: do your friends a
favor and let's all stay out of the malls and big boxes this holiday
season!

Holiday Open House and Studio Tour Dancing Pig Pottery at Art of Fire
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
December 10, 11 & 12
10 til 5 each day
directions
questions? call us! Art of Fire: 301-253-6642
Dancing Pig Pottery: 304-377-1952

This year, let's take a break from the big boxes. Shop locally and
sustainably for your holiday gifts! Your favorite potter will be very
grateful if you do!
Wishing blessings and holiday bounty for us all!
~Virginia

Come Buy Great Handmade Pottery for the Holidays!

2010-11-30T13:27:00.002-05:00

Hello Friends & fellow Potheads:
I don't know about y'all but i've had a very traumatic fall. I won't bother you with the details- if you want them you should come to our Holiday Open House this weekend & next & i'll fill you in. And if you have any straight, single, self supporting male friends who might be into fat tattooed freaky freak potters, please bring them with you!

If you don't want to know about my personal drama, come anyway & BUY POTS!
We'll have lots of them, along with wonderful Celtic Loot from TUATHA & of course, there's all the great stuff that ART OF FIRE has in their shop as well.

All of this is happening this weekend and next at ART OF FIRE's HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE and STUDIO TOUR in Laytonsville Maryland (northern Montgomery County, not too far from Olney)
FRIDAY SATURDAY & SUNDAY December 3, 4 & 5 and December 10, 11 & 12 from 10 til 5 everyday.

We'll have hot cider, cookies, a warm welcome, a barn full of great pottery and Celtic Loot, all handmade & perfect gifts for Celts and anyone else with great taste.
Can't hardly wait to see you there!
PS if you need directions or other details, don't hesitate to call 304-377-1952 or email pig {at} dancingpig.com

i'm back!

2010-10-31T22:32:00.005-04:00

I know, I know, when it comes to blogging, i suck.
However, I'm posting now, and am making a Samhain (aka pagan new year) resolution to keep this page more up to date.

There have been alot of changes in my life recently, but despite or perhaps because of them, one thing i'm sure of is that i'm going to continue making and selling my pottery. (Look, i've got two tons of clay stockpiled for my winter production season!) I am however, in need of a business partner and a romantic one as well. So, if you know of anyone who wants to buy into a struggling pottery business and or a independently wealthy single guy who's into fat tattooed potters, please send them my way! I'm also in need of a good, cheap, reliable truck or van, one that can carry around alot of pottery while towing a trailer full of tents, shelves and tables.

In the meantime, I'm making lots of pottery and selling it on Etsy and at the Art of Fire's Holiday Open House and Studio Tour, in Laytonsville MD. That's happening the first two weekends of December; Friday Saturday and Sunday December 3, 4 & 5 and then again December 10, 11 & 12 from 10 til 5 each day. Come say hello, shop for pottery & Celtic Awesomeness from Tuatha & bring your shopping list & aforementioned potential partners, both romantic or business or both!

See you soon?! I certainly hope so!

Warm Imbolc Greetings

2010-02-02T23:14:00.003-05:00

I got an awesome comment from a customer on Etsy today. She had bought two mugs from me recently and was making inquiries about buying two more. In her note to me she said: ""If you're wondering why so many mugs in a short span of time: I decided I hate washing glassware, and handmade ceramic is so much more satisfying to me to hold and use anyway" (from Jennet)
Isn't that cool?!
It makes me so happy that she prefers handmade pots to commercial glassware & even happier that she wants so much of MY pottery!
Selling my pottery is always useful in that it gives me money to buy more supplies so i can make more pots & it feeds my belly as well but comments like those feed my soul.
And the timing is perfect for Imbolc, which in my tradition is all about Brigit & her sacred hearth, the fire of inspiration that keeps us warm in the depth of winter.
What is keeping you warm "in the belly"(one of the original meanings of the word Imbolc) of this winter? I hope that whatever it is, you drink it from one of my mugs!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2009-12-02T01:08:00.006-05:00

We're back, just in time to remind folks about one of my favorite events of the Holiday Season:

Please join us in the beautiful bucolic Maryland countryside for the annual

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE and STUDIO TOUR!

At ART of FIRE's wonderful compound in Laytonsville Maryland Saturday and Sunday December 5 & 6 and then again December 12 & 13 From 10 till 5 all 4 days.

As has become tradition, TUATHA, that wonderful traveling gallery of Celtic Loot will be sharing our space and our neighbor from the Maryland Renaissance Festival, Allen the Printmaker, will be in Art of Fire's gallery- that's 4 amazing artisans in one stop!

But wait, there's more! We'll be selling mead making kits and more to the point, we'll have mead SAMPLES from Ambrosia Farm- as well as hot cider and of course, Theda's amazing cookies in the gallery! And GreenMan Leather will have some good stuff, we've got some great sage bundles from D's native american pals & i've finally got some hand knitted hats to sell- you gotta check out my Pumpkin Hats for adults! And Acorn Hats. And Gnome Hats too!

And, there's even more: we're just one stop on Countryside Artisan's Studio Tour, which has some great new studios nearby- you can pick up a map from us or download one from their site: http://countrysideartisans.com

You can get all of your holiday shopping done without ever setting foot in a mall. We've got gifts for Celts and anyone else with great taste, and it's all handmade by folks who's passion for what they do shines through into the art and craft they make and sell. It's a gift not only for the folks you give to, but also to yourself- you don't have to go to the mall or through the computer, you can actually get out into the fresh air, meet real people, share some mead and cider, talk, laugh, relax and get your holiday shopping done at the same time!

We can't wait to see you there. Please come and visit, cause I miss my Maryland (and DC and Virginia) peeps. I wanna catch up & get some hugs & maybe even sell you some pottery while i'm at it!

PS bring your friends & relatives, spread the word... i'm broke & would love to meet your pals, especially if they appropriate great Celtic pots & other loot!

for detail & directions you can go to either the Countryside Artisans site or Art of Fire's site: http://artoffire.com or our website: http://dancingpig.com or be really old fashioned and call us: 304-377-1952

We Aren't Dead! (yet)

2009-10-29T23:50:00.004-04:00

...though Pennsic and the Maryland Renaissance Festival almost killed us off.
(above, me & my family modeling our spiffy new Dancing Pig shirts at Assateague Island on our all too brief August vacation)
We've returned to the hills of West Virginia to rest up & restock.
We've got our Etsy stores back up & are making plans for Holiday Sales.
We're looking forward to the SCA Holiday Market Fair in Manassas Virginia on November 21
and then we'll be at December Studio Tour and Holiday Open House at the Art of Fire Glass Studio in Laytonsville Maryland for the first two weekends of December.
We'll have lots of pots and plenty of other goodies for sale at both events so start making plans & we'll see you at one or both of these fine festive events!

(on the right, my friend & fellow merchant scum, Mary P from Tuatha Gallery at last December's Open House. How much fun is she having? You need to come find out!)

I gotta go make more pots!!!

Buy Pots (and Mead Kits) this Saturday!

2009-07-17T13:16:00.006-04:00

Hello friends & fellow potheads!
Just a quick, last minute note to let y'all know that our friends from Ambrosia Farm will be selling our pottery and Brand New T-shirts along with their shirts and Awesome Mead Kits at the 10th Annual Adams County Irish Festival this Saturday July 18!
It's happening very near Gettysburg, PA an easy drive from DC and Philly. If you're going to Pennsic, this is a great chance to grab some mead kits & get them started so you can have some incredible home brewed mead to impress your friends with AT WAR NEXT WEEK!!! Yep, these are _quick_ mead kits. All you need to make a gallon of mead is the kit, a few pounds of honey, a gallon of water & a week or two for them to brew. If you can make tea, you can make these delicious meads! The kits are an elegant, affordable way to brew your own. Which you can then serve in Dancing Pig Pots, of course!
All of which can be found, at very reasonable prices, at AMBROSIA FARM's booth at the ADAMS COUNTY IRISH FESTIVAL this Saturday, July 18.
Hope you can make it, it should be a great good time! Me? I'm gonna stay at home in WV, frantically making pots for Pennsic! But say hello to Rob for me! And, as always, mention this post & you'll get 10% off all pots purchased at the show!

Dancing Pig Shirts For Everyone!!!

2009-07-06T16:59:00.006-04:00

How cool is that?!
Yep! My friend Rob and I designed the first ever Dancing Pig Shirt.
A cool orange 100% cotton, printed in the US of A, with very fun dancing piggies on both the front and back.

The front of the shirt has 4 colours & 3 pigs w/ mugs. A conga line!!!

The back of the shirt is just one colour, with one pig & our awesome shop motto: Buy Two. Get More.

and we've come up with a cool, pre release special. If you buy the shirt before the end of July, we'll sign & number your shirt. Be the first kid on your block with a cool, personalized custom shirt from the awesomest potter you know!!!
added bonus: Anytime you show up in our booth wearing our shirt you'll get a 10% discount on anything you buy from us! That's right, a lifetime Dancing Pig Discount~ how can you pass that up, i ask you?
Buy the shirt now at my Etsy store <--click there to go directly to the listing for the shirt and while you're there, buy some pots too.
Remember:Buy Two, Get More!

I gotta go make pots for Pennsic.
Read all about my pre Pennsic Panic on my twitter feed. And become our fan on Facebook.
We're techno potters now, baby!
Next up on the technological front: a feed from my Etsy store to this blog. Hopefully coming soon.
Back into the mud for me.

Festival Season is in full swing!

2009-06-04T01:01:00.007-04:00

And fast approaching is one of the highlights of our year, the sweet 16th annual Potomac Celtic Festival!
It's a great good time, an amazing site (& sight as well) full of fantastic crafters, great music & overwhelming Celtic Spirit. Even if you're only Celtic on St. Patrick's Day, you need to come experience this festival. And, buy some pots too, of course!
It's happening June 13 & 14 this year,on the green next to the Morven Park Mansion and Museum in Leesburg, VA.
In addition to our wonderful selves, there will be all sorts of amazing artists there, several of whom rarely come to festivals in the mid-Atlantic region: Capall Glas Studio and Wild Ravens and Tuatha Gallery and Hayman Celtic Jewelry (Michael's coming all the way from Louisiana!). And then there will be many of the great artists from the Maryland Renassiance Festival: Crafty Celts and Wolfstone Kilt Company and Potomac Leatherworks and Misc. Oddiments... I could go on, but you get the idea. Check out PCF's merchant page for links, cause it's late & i'm tired!

So, one last bit of news from us. We've got a new line of pots! They don't really have a name yet, but it'll have something to do with the moons and stars that are the decorative motif. Here's a sneak peak: pretty cool, huh?! I'm gonna have lots of these new guys at Potomac Celtic Festival (she types in her best come hither font) and hopefully there will be some for sale on my Etsy site (which, as we all recall and have bookmarked, is www.dancingpigpots.etsy.com )as well. Soon. No, really. Tomorrow maybe.
But tonight, i'm done. I'm gonna get to sleep, to dream of pots and Celts playing under the trees at PCF. And i hope to see many of you there, then.
Tired and muddy blessings & hugs,
~Virginia

Ready or not, we're hitting the road

2009-04-16T01:28:00.005-04:00

Yep, it's that time of year again. The trees are budding, our river is rising, our back yard is (according to our @ursapup at least) "a glorious mudpit and we're getting ready to (say it in yer best fake Scots accent, laddie) "Hit ta Rrrrrroad" as we seek fame and fortune (well, really, just fortune) (or, if i'm completely honest, enough money for gas, food, the electric bill and the next show's vendor fee) by selling our pottery and leatherwork throughout the mid-Atlantic.
(to the right, our Bug Dog is packing up for a road trip!)

First up, the great Loch Norman Scottish Festival is THIS WEEKEND!!! April 18 & 19 in beautiful Huntersville NC. This is a great show & we have an awesome time in the historic area- it takes a bit of effort to find us, but it's worth the walk. There are several other cool merchants up on our hill, including Crafty Celts and, if we get lucky, Curiosities Made will be there as well!

Sadly, we aren't going to be at the Spring Open House and Studio Tour in Laytonsville MD this coming weekend. Easter has messed up my calendar and i don't have enough pots to stock two shows. But never fear, we'll be back in Laytonsville at Art of Fire for the December Open House!!!

There are lots of other shows looming on our horizon, including two FAIRIE FESTIVALS. Please check our calendar page (www.pigfuturescalendar.blogspot.com) for all the details, and then come on out to play with us! We're planning on a very busy and fun filled spring and we hope we can see YOU soon, at a Festival Near You.

Of course, as always, if you can't make it to a festival, please shop with Dancing Pig online in our Etsy Store: http://dancingpigpots.etsy.com
and don't forget our sister store aka stuff made by my blue eyed, redneck Indian husband and his tribal brother: http://GreenManLeather.etsy.com

Green blessings and muddy hugs from your frantic potter friend
~Virginia

Imbolc Greetings!

2009-02-02T20:25:00.010-05:00

Hello Friends-
i'm writing this on the evening of Imbolc, February 2. Imbolc is an old pagan/Celtic holiday, usually dedicated to Bridget, a Goddess of Creativity and the Hearth. The group that i celebrate the wheel of the year with celebrates Imbolc by gathering around a hearth. We tell each other stories, the history of our group and we celebrate our creativity. It's my favorite holiday, because it really feels like family and home to me, spending a long dark night gathered near the fire, really listening to my friends. And "celebrate we will" to quote that ancient bard Dave Matthews, this coming Saturday.
But i also wanted to spend this evening- not exactly celebrating per se, as much as codifying what we do here at Dancing Pig.

I've been putting this off for a while now, but i really do feel the need to create some sort of overview of the glazes, clays and shapes we produce here at Dancing Pig's World Headquarters. The trouble is, i'm not sure exactly how to go about it, especially within this blog format.

I've been procrastinating long enough. I'm going to begin and hope that this isn't too much of a horrible mess.

So, ::ahem::, err,

Here at Dancing Pig, i make pots. One at a time, each on my ancient potter's wheel (seriously, i think it might be as old as i am, and trust me, neither of us are going to see 30 again. Maybe not even 40). I decorate most of these pots. (sometimes my sister, Jill/Bran carves the Ceilidh pots). Then i glaze most of the pots. (sometimes Darrell helps me with this, sometimes Jill does, i'm hoping to recruit Nic aka the kid nextdoor, but i need money to procure his services). The pots are fired in the electric kiln that i load and unload. They are priced and packed and then sold at shows- Celtic Festivals, Renaissance Festivals, Fairie Festivals and online, via Etsy.
I take the money i make from selling pots and buy more clay and pay my electric bill and make more pots. (cue music...."the circle of life")

It is really, really important to me to make pots that people will use in their everyday life. I believe that we each of us need to touch something handmade, something made with love and integrity, eavery day. It's a spiritual thing for me. I'm making my life, my living with my hands. I'm putting a small part of my soul into each pot i make and i'm sharing that with you. You get to take my pots with you, into your cubicle or your weaving studio, and drink your tea out of something that was made by human hands. That matters. To me, it is vital and important enough for me to spend my life working in the mud to make it happen more often for more folks. Folks like you.

OK, i'm spinning off into philosphy and mission statements. I want this post to be about the pots i make.

Spiraling back:
Here at Dancing Pig we make functional pottery, often decorated with Celtic and/or nature motifs. We make our pots with stoneware clay. The clay comes in 3 colors:
white,

tan and

dark red/brown.

I often use the same glaze on each type of clay- for example, in the pictures above, that's the same green glaze on both the white clay and the dark red/brown clay. Quite a change, huh?!

We tend to group the pots we make into colourways. About 60-70% of the pots i make are done in the white clay, because the white clay tends to show the glaze to the best effect. (and by best, i mean bestselling, which is important after all- if i make pots folks don't like, they don't sell. And i don't get to make more pots)

So, in the white clay we have:

Celtic Vine : Green and white glaze on white clay with my Celtic Vine carved on a band around the neck of the pot.

Landscape Soft Blue and Green glaze on white clay, often with prehistoric chalk figures or greenmen added.

Pete's Blue A very dark, almost black, blue glaze with a white liner and knotwork band or pithy sayings around the neck of the pot.

And you know what?! it's late, i'm tired and i have to poke about on Flickr to get the rest of my pics in order to finish this post. So, i'm gonna stop here for the evening and finish this post, with the rest of our colourways, another time. Soon. I promise. No, really. Goodnight for now!

mid December update

2008-12-17T16:17:00.004-05:00

We're hunkering down here at Dancing Pig's World Headquarters, getting ready for a bit of a holiday break before we ramp up production for our spring run to Florida.
I'm making a few more knitting bowls, which i hope to have up on Etsy just before Christmas. (i know, useful, huh?!) I'm figuring a) better late than never & b) if Santa forgot to bring you one of these, maybe you could get one for yourself... (i am, after all, the Queen of Rationalization- Not Rationality mind. Just Rationalization. Big Difference.)

What else to tell y'all?! Not much, really. I'm just making pots, reading books, watching some tv & knitting like crazy... gotta get the birthday socks done (three December birthdays in my immediate family- pity me!) and then the hats & scarves i want to give my niephem when i go visit them in early January. My niece is getting a blueberry hat, cause that's her favorite food & she's really into faeries these days. Not sure if i should make a monster hat like the one Mary is wearing below (see what you missed if you skipped the Open House!?!) for the nephew or perhaps something a bit more staid, like a Hogwarts House Scarf. Any feedback is welcome!

I'm gonna go put some more pots on Etsy (you can head over there to shop anytime: dancingpigpots.etsy.com) & then it's knitting time for me!
Love, blessings & many wonderful pots for the holidays,
~Virginia

it's the most wonderful time of the year!

2008-12-03T00:15:00.004-05:00

As has become our tradition, we're going to be at the Art of Fire's Holiday Open House and Studio Tour the first two weekends of December. I love this show! You will too! Come on out!
We've got on offer: Theda's awesome cookies, snuggles with random cats, the warmth of the glass studio, Tuatha's AWESOME Celtic goodies (jewelry, stained glass, Celtic Cards, Amazing Art, etc) and, last but certainly not least, piles of our fantastic pots. And as always, everything offered for sale here is handmade by real artisans who love what they do and add that love and integrity into everything we offer for sale. AND it's all very low stress & low key. The countryside is calm & soothing. The whole experience is as far from the maddening maul at the mall as you can get! Hell, do all your Holiday Shopping with us! (that's basically what i do!)

When is all this happening you ask?!
Why very soon, the first two weekends of December in fact:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday December 5, 6 & 7 and December 12, 13 & 14
We'll be there from 10 till 5 each day. Though, true confession, we won't really be set up until Saturday December 6- hardly anyone comes out to see us on the first Friday so we're planning on dawdling about & tweaking the set up that day- of course, Art of Fire and Allen will be totally ready to go, & we'll be glad to root about in the boxes to find cool stuff for you if you do show up on Friday. Just be gentle with us, we're very overworked & under rested pigs this time of year...
Here's where we'll be courtesy of Mapquest
Please come and say hello, we've missed you & would love to see you then!
PS: there will be puppies! Ursa and Budgth will be in attendance, ready to accept your scritches & offerings of snacks. How can you resist those faces?!

err: Better Late than Never?!

2008-11-14T13:57:00.007-05:00

Due to transportation woes beyond our control (see more about that below) Next Weekend Dancing Pig is going to be selling our wares at the SCA's Holiday Market Faire * It's happening on Saturday, November 22 from 10am to 6:30pm at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, VA.
We'll have a veritable plethora of Dancing Pig Pots, including our awesome Dirty pirate mugs!
C'mon, Everyone needs at least ONE dirty pirate in their life! And don't give me that old line about already having a dirty pirate in your life- cause if that's the case, YOUR dirty pirate needs one of these mugs!
This is a great good time, with lots of merchants offering lots of essentials for all the the medievalists in your life! We did this show 3 years ago, had a great time and the only reason we missed it the past two years is cause we've been in Florida for the month of November.
So if you're in the DC area, come make the most of this rare, November opportunity to shop with Dancing Pig and Greenman Leather!
*please note that this is a re-enactment event, there is a charge to attend and most of the folks there will be in medieval clothing.

OK, i could attempt to apologize for or explain away my neglect of this site for the past 4 or so months, but let's just say i was stupidly busy, had major computer issues and a stress aversion/ reaction that resulted in my going weeks without doing ANYTHING online other than occasionally peeking at Twitter. (to the right, a picture of my Tristan doing what i WISH i'd been up to the past few months; i.e. napping!)

But all that is behind us now.

We're moving forward, into the bright, shiny, continually updated future.

To that end, we're not in Florida this November, as we had planned.
Over the past 6 months we've gone through 3 white vans, over $5,000 usd & would still be without anything capable of hauling our pots out of our valley if not for the kind intervention of my in-laws. Thanks so much Nona & Darrell Sr! Love ya!

We now have a shiny, new, 2008 Ford 350 superduty work van. It smells very new. D is besotted. I am more or less numb.
Related: Anyone want to buy a 1998 Dodge Van w/ a brand new transmission & brakes?! It needs engine work, but it's cheap. We also have a 1983 Chevy work van that is surprisingly reliable, needs new spark plugs & a tune up & will soon need a new transmission for sale for very little money. Our yard looks like we're trying to start a breeding farm for white vans! Come take one or more of them away today!(on the right, a pic of 2 out of 3 of our vans. Guess which is which)

OK, you probably didn't come here to hear my tales of transportation woe &/or intrigue.

We're doing some shows, selling some pots.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE come buy some so we can pay some of our rapidly mounting expenses!

First, there's the Holiday Market Faire mentioned above.

And of course, we're also going to be at the Art of Fire's Holiday Open House and Studio Tour the first two weekends of December. I love this show! You will too! Come on out!
As always we've got on offer: Theda's awesome cookies, snuggles with random cats, the warmth of the glass studio, Tuatha's AWESOME Celtic goodies (jewelry, stained glass, Celtic Cards, Amazing Art, etc) and, last but certainly not least, piles of our fantastic pots. And as always, everything offered for sale here is handmade by real artisans who love what they do and add that love and integrity into everything we offer for sale. AND it's all very low stress & low key. The countryside is calm & soothing. The whole experience is as far from the maddening maul at the mall as you can get! Hell, do all your Holiday Shopping with us! (that's basically what i do!)

When is all this happening you ask?!
Well, the first two weekends of December:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday December 5, 6 & 7 and December 12, 13 & 14
We'll be there from 10 till 5 each day.
Here's where we'll be courtesy of Mapquest
Please come and say hello, we've missed you & would love to see you then!

Pennsic, arrgh!!!

2008-07-28T02:57:00.003-04:00

Hey folks, we're at War. Don't worry though, it's just a medieval reenactment that draws 10,000+ freaks to the hills of Pennsylvania every August.
It's a great good time, far to much work (& hopefully) too much fun. And hopefully i'll sell too many pots, and be frantic to get back home to my studio and my puppies in the middle of August, when i'll begin the whole frantic cycle over again, this time focusing on getting ready for Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Hope to see you at one or both of these awesome events!
Here's a quick picture of one of my dragons, wondering why the mug is empty, something i might be doing soon myself!
I'm off to War!

Dancing Pig Pots now avalible ONLINE!

2008-06-28T21:38:00.003-04:00

Yep, we be technocelts! Our shop is up and running at Etsy.
It's awesome. You need to check it out. NOW!
WWW.DANCINGPIGPOTS.ETSY.COM

We just updated! It's very keen.
Fast shipping. Reasonable Price.
GREAT POTS!

Pennsic Panic has begun!

2008-06-28T20:15:00.005-04:00

Yep, it's officially only a month to Pennsic, and while i'm pleased to report that i'm further ahead than i've been at this time in other years, i'm still a bit paralyzed by panic. In a stupid moment of i don't even have words to describe how overly optimistic i was feeling, i agreed to send Jill away to Canada to complete her yurt for the three weeks before War! Yeah, that was smart. Send the glaze monkey away for the three busiest weeks in the year. Brilliant! (above, a picture of one of our extra bonus dogs, my niece's puppy Luna, who's visiting for a few weeks. Cute, isn't she?! She's slacking off like i wish i could!)

In related news, know anyone who wants to spend a working vacation in West Virginia? Send 'em out, we'll put them to work!

OK, enough kvetching.
How about some bragging?

Here's a sneak preview of this year's Pennsic Mug.

For folks not in the loop, here's how it goes: i've been making these since Pennsic 25. Each year, i make enough mugs to match the year, so this year is Pennsic XXXVII (37) thus, there will be 37 Pennsic mugs, each one numbered on the bottom. I always sell out, usually before Midnight Madness. The last one is spoken for already, #37, but if you'd like a special number set aside for you, drop me an email (pig !at dancingpig dot com) and it will be waiting for you at War!

Other quick updates:
Our truck, the great gray giant, is dead to us. The transmission would have cost $3,000 we didn't have so we turned it in. Now, we're going to shows in a 85 chevy van, that doesn't have A/C or a radio and is very spotty in reverse. The good news is that cost us $800. That's two months of truck payments. We're hoping to get through Pennsic with this beast, and make enough money there to be able to afford a nicer used van. You know, one with reverse. Until then, the white mare is getting us where we need to go. Please send any good used van juju you might have our way! And if you know of any great deals on late 90s work vans, preferably with a heavy duty trannie, a good 8 cylinder engine, working AC and radio and possibly side windows & a body mounted trailer hitch, please let us know. We can't spend more than 4K on this project, but we've got lots of pottery we could barter to sweeten the deal!

The final bit of relevant news is that we've been branching out into the Rendezvous market. Well, i say we, i really mean Darrell. And it's a bit of a homecoming for him, as he used to hang out in that world before he hooked up with me. He's loving it. I really love making the pots for that market, they're very simple and somehow sort of pure. Not to mention very easy to glaze! Always a plus for me. So, if you're into the Rendezvous scene, come check out our trade blanket- right now Darrell's in Ohio at the Old NorthWest Territory Primitive Rendezvous and later in July he's going to be selling at the Feast of the East, just down the road from us in Gandeeville, W.Va.

That's the mid-summer update from DaPig. Hope y'all are less busy and have more money than we have right now, but it's all good. We're still hanging out out here in the hills, slinging mud & swattin' bugs.

See ya at the next show!
Blessings,
Virginia aka Dancing Pig's overworked potter

2008-05-12T00:24:00.007-04:00

Mid May Update:

We've actually got a few weeks off! Am i making pots as i desperately need to be doing? Noooo, of course not! I've got a new (to me) computer & i'm whiling away the hours setting the darn thing up & playing w/ twitter, brightkite & now, evernote.
I love social networking, web 2.0, whatever you want to call it, but darn if it isn't a huge ol' time suck, especially for an ADD control freak such as myself.
Anyway, here i am, actually posting on a work related blog. Granted, it's turning into a long post about how i'm not actually, you know, working, but still, it's a step in the right direction.

(left, a picture of me in my fairie finery at Spoutwood Fairie Festival, which was awesome, by the way!)
I do have point to make in here somewhere ::rummages around in very cluttered & disorganized brain:: Oh yeah- we've added a show to our schedule/Calendar for Memorial Day weekend (the Glasgow Highland Games in KY) and IF our truck's transmission problem is fixable, Darrell will also be at Aethelmearc's War Practice at Cooper's Lake (aka the Pennsic site) this coming weekend, May 16-18.

Sadly, that's a big IF, as our trusty steed, Ol' Leroy, died a horrible gear grinding death this past Wednesday, down near Charleston. D was picking up a tribal brother & getting ready to go out to the tribal land in central Ohio- luckily the truck died on it's way to Three Bears' house & D was able to limp to 3Bs before the trannie quit all together. We had it towed to the Dodge dealer in Charleston only to find out that the trannie guy there was in classes all of last week, so we won't know till this Monday how bad the damage is. Cross your fingers for us & please, send all the cheap car repair juju you can spare to us. We really, really need it!

That's the big news in our life at the moment. Other than that we're making pots & leather, watching the occasional Netflix movie & i, at least, am reading of Jill's bliss while she's visiting her new boyfriend James (aka @willia4 on twitter) in Charleston SC with a mixture of envy & trepidation. I'm glad she's having a good time, but am also a bit anxious that she may never return to carve & glaze my pots for me. Not sure what i'll do without her & am hoping i won't have to find out.

I'm off to while away some more time online.
Be well, do good work & be sure to BUY MORE POTS, either in person or via our Etsy store.
Thanks.
~Virginia aka Dancing Pig's distracted potter
(the picture on the right is of our booth at Spoutwood this year- i liked the way the pots & leather look together. Damn but that was a great good time- if you missed it, you NEED to be there next year!)

I leave you now with a picture of my two pups, who are both looking at me with variations of this "come to bed now" stare even as i type. Goodnight all! ::calls out to pups as she wanders away:: "Save some space of the bed for me!"

2008-04-29T01:31:00.003-04:00

YES! it's that time of year again! Fairie Festival Season is upon us!
We're packing up pots & our fairie finery and heading east over the mountains for one of my favorite festivals of the year- Spoutwood Farm's Fairie Festival is happening this coming weekend.
This is a magical show in a beautiful, bucolic spot that is annually invaded by all sorts of fairies, pixies, picties, orcs, mudsprites & all sorts of other magical beings. YOU need to put on your 'fairie best' and come out to play with us!
We'll have lots of pots fresh from the kiln, our two smallest dogs & Darrell in a kilt!

How can you miss this occasion?!
I didn't think so.
Here's the info:

Spoutwood Farms Fairie Festival
Spoutwood Farms, Glen Rock PA
May 2, 3 and 4 2008
Great good times, lots of happy kids & animals, awesome crafts & fairie abundance await! We hope to see all y'all there!

but, if you can't make it (simultaneously pouting & making come hither gestures) you could try to consul yourself by doing a bit of shopping at my Etsy shop: DancingPigPots@etsy.com

2008-04-08T10:58:00.005-04:00

Hail & Welcome to Dancing Pig Pottery's blog.
Here's what's happening this week:

Our big, biG, BIG news is that Dancing Pig Pottery finally has an online outlet- that's right, after years of foot dragging & excuse making, we're finally selling our pots online, and so far it's been great. We've got a shop over on Etsy, which is an awesome handmade/crafts marketplace. As a seller, i love how easy everything is for me over there. I should have done this years ago!
Check our our Etsy store & don't forget to bookmark it & share it with all your friends!

and then, there's this: Despite a stunning lack of publicity, we are in fact going to be in Maryland, THIS WEEKEND, selling pots. That's right, it's our semi-annual appearance at

Art of Fire's Open House & Studio Tour

I love this "rite of spring"! It's my first show of the spring season & i get to show off all the cool stuff we've been working on over the winter break. We'll have lots of chocolate pots and there will be lots of Ceilidh pots (the ones that Jill/Bran & i have been collaborating on) as well. Plus, our newest puppy, Ursa Minor, (pictured in this post) will be making her social debut. Even if you don't need pots (and really, doesn't everyone NEED pots?- don't answer that!) you should at least stop by for a chat & a cuppa tea.

That's all happening
THIS WEEKEND Friday, Saturday & Sunday, April 11, 12 & 13
from 10 til 5 each day.

As an added bonus, our neighbor from Maryland Renaissance Festival, Allen the Printmaker, will be at the Art of Fire's Open House also. It'll be like a little mini Renn Fest Spring Preview!

Details about the other studios on the tour can be found here
Details about Art of Fire & a street address for mapquest purposes can be found here
and last but certainly not least, a direct link to our up to date calendar,
with the rest of our spring show schedule in all it's glory can be found here

(above: Ursa, cooling down after playing w/ the big dogs)

2008-03-23T23:27:00.007-04:00

y'all know i'm a sucker for dogs, right? well, below, meet Ra, a very wonderful pooch we met & hung out with at the Florida Renaissance Festival last month. Ra worked across the street at the hawk & falcon show. She'd come hide under our tablecloths when she needed a break. But more about that show later...

Spring is Springing! or, as our friends at Art of Fire (the great glass studio & gallery in Maryland) say:

"Spring has sprung.
The grass has rise.
The Art of Fire is where it is."

or, something like that.
Anyway, we're going to be at the Art of Fire for the Countryside Artisans Spring Studio Tour & Open House.
It's happening Friday, Saturday & Sunday, April 11 thru 13 from 10 til 5 each day.

We'll have lots of pots fresh from the kiln! In theory, we've been making pots all winter, so come on by and see what's new! Enjoy a spring drive in the country & get some great pottery and glass.
What more could you ask for?! Well, we've got an extra attraction this year- our neighbor at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, Allen Ye Printmaker will also have his tent set up on the lawn with us! It'll be a mini Renn Fest, a spring preview if you like. So come on out & see what all the cool kids have been up to this winter!

And if you want to know where we'll be the rest of this spring, check out our freshly updated calendar here: Pig Futures, Dancing Pig's Calendar page.

If you check that out, you'll notice that our May & June is a bit light at the moment. Do you know of any great shows in the mid-Atlantic or Ohio or West Virginia that would be better if they had our pottery & leather? Please, drop me an email: pig@dancingpig.com and let me know about it. Cause i still need a new laptop & the price of gas is kicking our arse right now. We need shows that are cheap, close to home & very very lucrative right now. I know they're out there- we just need your help in finding them!

Thanks for any input you might have.
I'm gonna go make dragon mugs!
opps, but first, a few pictures from our recent "drive south" we went to the Florida Renaissance Festival, here's our booth there:
The theme of our recent southern tour seemed to be packing. Or unpacking. Or packing again. Below, our mascot pig, Amanda, determined not to be left behind:

And i'll leave you with a picture of Jill, our wonderful glaze monkey who has a new title, that of packing b!tch. She can get more stuff into less space than anyone i know. All hail the wonderfullness that is Jill. She's all that got Darrell & me & all our stuff home from Mississippi with all of our stuff (& our marriage) intact.
(you might not be able to tell, but the door of our trailer is actually bulging in the picture below)

2008-02-26T02:03:00.012-05:00

We're going to Gulf Wars soon.
And, even as i type, Darrell is down in Florida, selling pottery and leather at the Florida Renaissance Festival.
Darrell is there, but the camera isn't.
And i know i've been slack about give y'all pictures lately, so i thought i'd post a few pictures of what the studio looks like these days:

this is the door to the studio. You might not be able to tell, but i seem to have gathered a collection of cranky signs. The one over the door says "Abandon all hope ye who enter here"
The white sign says "welcome" in fancy formal lettering & then the gargoyle has scratched u-n in from & d in the back.
and the grey sign below that says simply "go away"
Can you tell that i'm kinda possessive about my work space?!

Well, if you can get past the hostility & wander through the mud & very enthusiastic doggie dance of welcome, once you're inside the studio you'll see my potter's wheel, which is where i'd spend all my time if i could:

But alas, i have to do other things as well, such as glaze the pottery when Jill's not around to bail me out. This is my work table, filled with pots that need to be glazed and on the right, the desk where i sit & look out at my river while i'm decorating my pots:

and last, but certainly not least, there are the studio dogs, who spend most of their time crashed out either on the thrift shop couch or cuter than i can stand, burrowed into the pile of plastic bags that my clay comes in. I stash the empties under the wedging table & of late, this is where both Budgth & occasionally Ursa spend most of their time. This unbearably cute behavior is what made me bring the camera out to the studio, so brace yourself for cuteness:

Can you stand it?! Neither can i! And i'm subjected to sights like this every day! It's a wonder i get any work done at all! But now, it's late & i'm going to turn off a kiln & go to bed. More pictures, and links soon, before we leave for Gulf Wars, i promise.
And, if i'm really efficent, i'm going to have an Etsy store up and running by the end of March!
Keep checking back, it *could* happen!
Blessings from the tired, overworked but also content potter.

2008-01-16T01:20:00.000-05:00

we're going back to Florida!
Yep, it's too darn cold & muddy in our WVa river valley, so we're driving south to sunny Florida!
We're looking forward to a week of fun in the sun on the Gulf Coast of Florida on Anna Maria Island, one of my most favorite places in the world!
Then we're heading northish, to central Florida and the Hoggetown Medieval Faire in Gainesville FL. That's happening the last weekend in January & the first weekend of February. Sadly, after that i have to go home to make more pots, but Darrell gets to stay in Florida- he's going to the Florida Renaissance Festival near Fort Lauderdale for five weeks (the rest of February & the first two weekends of March) poor soul!

Then we're all heading back to the Gulf Coast, though it'll be Mississippi this time. Yep, we're going back to Gulf Wars! You should come to, it's just about the most awesome SCA event i've ever been to. Come play with us! & buy some pots too, cause Mama's still without a Mac- yep, i'm still limping along on my refurbished $75 desktop PC & this just won't do! Buy pots, the money will go directly into the "get-Va-a-new-Powerbook-so-she-can-put-some-pictures-on-the-website-&-be-happy-again" fund!
Seriously folks, i'm dying here!

Speaking of computer troubles, here are some pictures for the good folks on the jury for Spoutwood Farm's Fairie Festival: Great pictures of our Leather & Pottery can be found here!

2007-12-27T22:37:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks-
we're still alive in the real world, just not online for the next month or so whilst we struggle to fix our current computer mess...
Thus we're still not checking email in anything remotely resembling a timely fashion. If you need to contact us, please CALL 304-377-1952.

That being said, we've been on the road for most of December, the first half for business, the 2nd for pleasure. And we're not done yet. Heading up to Canada to visit some more, then back home to frantically make pots for our 2nd Florida trip of the season.

We're still broke & thus very open to any special orders you might have in mind. Call us. We'll talk!
And if anyone has a cheap MacBook for sale, please, by all means, let us know ASAP. I'm dying here without it...
Next post will have some pics, i promise.
That's all for now from us crazy pottery folks.
Keep on keeping on & remember that it's getting lighter every day now! Yay light!!!

2007-12-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

holla to mah peeps!
just checking in, using my step-Mom's PC cause my much beloved iBook has died a horrible death. I did get 5 good years out of it, but am still stunned and saddened by its demise, which, like every computer death, ever, was bad timing.

It especially was bad timing because it means i didn't get to do any promotion for my annual Holiday Sale at the Art of Fire in Laytonsville, MD which happened last weekend.
Now, stop moaning & banging your head on the keyboard, cause it's also happening again next weekend. And that WILL be your last chance to shop Dancing Pig before the holidays.

So, be sure to come on out to the show THIS weekend: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 7, 8 & 9 from 10 til 5 each day.
Directions are here: directions to Art of Fire

We've got lots of pots for sale.
Great leather from GreenMan Leather & all sorts of great stuff from Tuatha.
There's even an extra special, previously unannounced special: we found & put together 4 Newgrange Lamps!!! That's right! If you act quickly, you can be the proud owner of one of these beautiful & very rare lamps. Complete your Newgrange collection & then collecting a new line of Dancing Pig Pots. We've got lots of Ceilidh & Crow pots & next weekend we'll have our first every casseroles, cookie jars & vases in both of those lines, fresh from the kilns.

Come on out & enjoy some holiday shopping with integrity. We're about as far from the maddening crowd at the mall as you can get, we've got hot cider, good cookies, a warm welcome & amazing loot for every Celt & anyone else with great taste on your list.
Plus, we're really, really broke right now & i really want a new computer-soon!. Please help support your friendly neighborhood freak... err, potter. oh, and get some great gifts for all the great folks on your list!

Thanks for your support & we look forward to seeing you this weekend!!!

PS did i happen to mention, in all my moaning about my computer's death, that i can't check mah email these days? Cause, well, i can't. So, if you want to communicate with me, please be old fashioned & call us: 304-377-1952. Thanks!

2007-11-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

Arrrgh!
No, this is not the hangover from our moderately successful Florida Pirate Festival, it's my primal scream of frustration over my laptop deciding that since i was on vacation, it was taking one too!
Only, it seems that my motherboard is on a permanent vacation. Which it decided to take just as i was gearing up to do the mailing for our annual Holiday Open House.
So, until Apple mails back my G-4 with its THIRD new motherboard, this is the only place you can find the details about it.

Ahem.
Despite a stunning lack of publicity, we ARE having & inviting you to

our annual Holiday Open House.

We're setting up the Celtic Annex at Art of Fire in Laytonsville, MD on

Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 10 til 5 each day

November 30, December 1 & 2 and doing it all again December 7, 8 & 9

Dancing Pig is debuting our TWO (!) new lines of pottery, our Crows & my newest collaboration (w/ Jillian of Mydwynter Studios) our Ceilidh pots. Yah gotta come by & fondle the new pots with their cool carving & glazes!

GreenMan Leather is going to have new stuff to show off as well. Wooden sided bags perfect for protecting your cameras & laptops, Band Braces, Cigarette Cases, the list goes on.

Tuatha is going to be there as well, with everything else any Celt (or anyone with great taste) desires. There will be Stained Glass, Jewelery & great Holiday Greeting Cards.

And of course, just across the parking lot, there's Art of Fire, with their incredible glass & gift gallery.

If you can't find gifts for everyone on your shopping list, you need better friends!

Plus, there's the added bonus of our beautiful, serene, peaceful setting. All of this is happening far, far away from the craziness of suburban shopping mall hell.

You'll be finding gifts that come with a wonderful by-product: they're all handmade, by human beings, whose passion for their craft shines through in everything they do. It's integrity you just won't find at the mall. Plus, the parking is much, much better!

Come on out to the Open House & do ALL of your holiday shopping with us!
Directions to Art of Fire can be found on their website: http://www.artoffire.com/ or you can be old fashioned & call us for directions, special orders & other details.
You can reach Dancing Pig & GreenMan Leather at 304-377-1952
& Art of Fire at 301-253-6642.
remember, until my laptop comes back-- probably middle of next week, November 27 or 28, i'm without email, so call us if you need to talk!

See you the first two weekends in December!

2007-11-05T14:32:00.000-05:00

Greetings from sunny Florida!
Dancing Pig Pottery & Greenman Leather are on the first leg of our southern winter tour. We just had an reasonable weekend at the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Festival.
OK, it was better than reasonable, but for the first time ever, GreenMan Leather OUTSOLD Dancing Pig. By more than two to one!. While i'm grateful that Darrell's leather was there to make what otherwise would have been a disastrous show, moneywise at least, into a success, my pride hurts!
I'm trying to get over it. And i'm also uploading pictures from that show here, so the good people at the Florida Pirate Festival can see how wonderful we are & let us into their show which is happening two weekends from now.
We're all about the pirate thing, so we really want to be there. If you know anybody connected with the show, put in a good word for us, please and thanks.
Here's a link to their very cool site: Florida Pirate Festival
and here is a link to some pictures of our booth at Lady of the Lakes (and some extra pics thrown in for good measure): jury photos for Florida Pirate Fair
if you don't have enough time to see the whole album, here are a few of my favorites:

2007-09-07T01:04:00.000-04:00

Finally, some pictures!

Heck, we've even got a whole album up here: Opening weekend of Maryland Renn Fest.

It's been a great show so far. So good, in fact, that i have to stay at home this weekend & make more pots. So, the Celtic Weekend is happening without me.
Good news for you, there is going to be lots and lots of Ceilidh pots & some Crow pots & lots of Pyrate pottery there.

So go get 'em while they're fresh from the kiln.
And have fun at the Maryland Renaissance Festival for me. Remember our unofficial motto:
"Have all the fun you want. We'll make more!"

2007-08-22T21:56:00.000-04:00

Maryland Renaissance Festival.
It's happening. Now.
So stop reading this, get your garb on & get out here.
It's fun. You'll like it. No, strike that. You'll freeking love it.
Turkey Legs, Pottery, Men in kilts, Wenches in bodices, Great Pottery, Good music & improv, lots of fun people watching. oh, and did i mention- Great Pottery!
What?!
You're still here?

Get out of here!!!
and remember unoffical motto Dancing Pig, esp when we're at MDRenn Fest:
"We're all here cause we're not all there"

Seriously folks, come see us at the Festival. Buys some pots. You'll be glad you did.
Here's the link: Maryland Renaissance Festival

2007-07-04T00:36:00.000-04:00

Remembering who i wanted to be

it's early July & once again i find my self with not enough time, not enough money & far too much anxiety about Pennsic, one of my favorite shows of the year.
I've been doing this show for twenty{mumblemumble} some years and i still haven't ever felt really ready for it. Guess it's true, some people never learn!
Still, every year i seem to live up to my ex-husband's observation that, to paraphrase:"every year you bitch about how you don't have any pottery ready and every year you then manage to pull an extra 20 boxes of pottery out of your arse in the last week before we go"
It's true, but it's also rather painful, the pulling it out at the last minute trick. Still and all, i guess it beats the alternative which i suppose would be not really having enough pottery ready for War.
{sigh}
and with that entirely predictable whine, i'm off to the studio to make some pots for Pennsic.
See you at War, or if not then, at the Maryland Renn Fest!
with love & exhausted, muddy hugs
~Va aka the mad potter wot posts at midnight

2007-05-29T22:20:00.000-04:00

Fairie Fest Fun!
Had to share the awesome pics my friend Lauren took at the Maryland Faerie Festival this year!

2007-05-11T12:10:00.000-04:00

Fairie Festivals!

just a quick note about how awesome the Spoutwood Fairie Festival was this year!

This event has become more than just another show for us, it's a wonderful great good time with awesome folk in an amazing setting. Shows like this remind me of why i work so hard at being a potter. It's an honor for me to be included among the awesome & talented artisans & the exuberant volunteers who do so much to create such a beautiful, sacred space.
For me, Fairie Festivals are full of amazing, intoxicating energy & Spoutwood Farm seems to be seeped in the accumulated magic of 16 years of this heady joy!
If you missed it, i'm sorry for you. Listen to me next time & come on out already!
If you made it out, thank you so much for contributing to the magic, laughter & light. Have you become as addicted to the fun of Fairie Festivals yet? Then come on out to the Maryland Fairie Festival on May 19 & 20. It's the same, but different. A different setting, a younger show, still full of earth centered joy. Come see for yourself!

2007-04-27T11:40:00.000-04:00

Pot shots!
I've finally gotten some pictures of my pots up online. Check them out here.
These pics are from Gulf Wars, an SCA show we went to in March 2007, so they're relatively recent. Hope you enjoy them!
And of course, if you ever want to buy some pots from us online, just send us a quick email telling us what you're looking for & we'll go from there! You can always find us at pots@dancingpig.com
I've gotta get out to the studio so i can make some more pots. Fairie Festival season is almost upon us!

2007-04-24T19:32:00.000-04:00

We're home from our Spring Open House & while we couldn't have asked for better weather, our sales were a bit disappointing. We did get to spend 3 days hanging outside in amazing weather, enjoying the Maryland countryside & visiting with lots of friends & family. That was all good, but sadly, not lucrative. D. claims our sales suffered because the weather was too good!!! can you imagine?! I slapped my hand over his mouth & told him to never utter those words again! Too Good?! Blaspheme! I can (and have) complained about all sorts of things at shows, but never about that the weather was too good! (Don't tell D., but i think he might have had a point-- after several weekends of rotten weather, i think lots of folks opted to stay at home & enjoy the wonderful weather for a change). But what can you do? Well, we just soaked up the sunshine & friendship.
So, we're still broke but we're moving on.
Next up: a double header!
That's right- we're going to be in two places at once!
OK, if you want to get all technical about it, our POTTERY is going to be in two places at once this coming weekend-- at both the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival (a Saturday only wonderful event in southern Maryland- you shouldn't miss it!) and here in West Virginia, basically in our backyard at Blackstone Raids. More details about those events can be found on our calendar page.
Now, i leave you with a few silly pictures from the past weekend:
This is a crow bottle, picked more or less at random, making a tour of the Art of Fire's Studio. It was fun to play about with the camera & all the colors at AoF! I can't imagine working in all that color everyday! (let alone dusting it all!) Still, it is amazingly beautiful!

So, with another thank you to Foster & Theda, our wonderful hosts for the weekend, i'm going to say goodbye for now. I've gotta go make some more pots!

2007-04-17T13:01:00.000-04:00

Pagan Pots!

i was asked about pots with pentacles on them. I do make some great pagan pots, but pentacles aren't the star (ah ah!) of this line. My unique pots have the Celtic/Pagan wheel of the year on them. Here are some informal pictures of what i do:

Here are some of the Pentacles i do put on pots- here on goblets from my Landscape line. Each goblet has the pentacle on one side & triple moons on the other. They sell for $29 each

And here we have some pictures of my Seasons pottery. The platters are a limited edition- i'm only going to make 365 of them. Each one is signed & numbered on the back. Right now we're in the 50s. We also have teabowls with one holiday on each (shown in front of the blue & green aka Landscape platter) and goblets (in front of the green & white aka Celtic Vine platter)

And finally, two bowls also in the Landscape pattern. The larger has all 8 holidays on it, the smaller only the 4 seasons/major holidays.

That's a brief taste of what we make in the pagan line. Come see these & other pots in person soon!
Bright Blessings
~Virginia

2007-04-16T19:51:00.000-04:00

we're back from North Carolina Renn Fest!

Sadly, the last day got rained out, but big time.
We also got a wee bit o' rain back here in our little river valley. I had stayed at home this weekend, ostensibly to make more pots, but i mostly took pictures of the flooding of the river that runs just behind our house and studio. Those pictures are online at my Kodak Gallery.
The Faire closed early on the last Sunday, but D. couldn't leave till Monday morning because our trailer wasn't accessible until then. :(
We did fine at NCRF, but we're still broke, broke, broke. So we're both busy getting ready for our Open House at Art of Fire this next weekend. We'll have the new crow pots (she types in her most enticing voice) (pics of the newest pots later this week i promise!)
meanwhile, here's a picture of the welcoming committee greeting D.'s return from NCRF:

type at cha later, i gotta go finish some pots for this weekend!

2007-04-02T23:48:00.000-04:00

North Carolina Renn Fest, 1st weekend report

Darrell's home safely from the first weekend at the North Carolina Renaissance Festival. We've got a great spot, just inside the front gate. The booth is up & full of lots of pottery & leather as well.
D. reports that Saturday was nearly perfect weather wise. Actually, he told me that the weather was too nice, if that's even possible! He's gotta stop with the crack smoking!
Anyway, according to D. Sunday was a disappointment both in terms of attendance and weather.
So, good citizens of Raleigh NC, what's up with that?!
You have two more weekends to check out the Renn Fest in your midst, so put on your Faire clothes & come out to play! It's a fantastic site full of friendly folks and wonderful crafts-- one might even say it's worth of a road trip (she types in her best come hither voice)(it's surprisingly difficult to type while batting one's eyelids!)
And don't forget to bring some Dancing Pig Pottery home with you as a souvenir of your day at the Festival!
See you at Faire (on the last weekend, at least)

2007-03-29T00:20:00.000-04:00

Gulf Wars prostelisization paraphernalia, err, i mean, report.

This was the 2nd time Dancing Pig had been to Gulf Wars and the first time i've been.
After D. & Rob went last year, D. came home & told me it was better than Pennsic.
I was all: "blasphemer! How dare you say such a thing?"

Well, after going down to check it out for myself i'm here to testify.
Much, much more fun than Pennsic.
Less money. More fun.
Aside from the less money part it was all the things i love about Pennsic & none of the things i don't. And Gulf Wars has better weather & amazing croissants fresh from the bakery every morning!

So, you have to come down & try it out. At least once.
Yes, it is that cool.
As further incentive, here's a picture of all the folks who camp or hang out in the bog--Proof that you do know folks who go to Gulf Wars.

And if you come, i promise you'll make lots more friends.
Here we are with some new "feels like i've known them forever already" pals.

You too can hang out with great people and make new friends. All you need to do is come down to Gulf Wars next year.
See ya there!

2007-03-28T19:41:00.000-04:00

We're home from Gulf Wars
but not for long!

Since we didn't sell as much pottery or leather as we'd hoped to (& really, i'm not sure i'll ever manage to do that) we're still in the throes of our extra-special-before-the-spring-season-gets-started-broke money drought.

So, on the "it never hurts to ask" school of thought, we called up the friendly folks at the North Carolina Renaissance festival this Monday & asked if they could squeeze us in somewhere.

Guess what. Yep. They're happy to have us!

So, Dancing Pig is hitting the road AGAIN. TOMORROW!

That's right! We'll be driving south tomorrow, heading for Raleigh, NC and the three weekend long North Carolina Renaissance Festival.
The show is going on at the Heritage Village section of the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC for the next 3 weekends.
The hours are a bit tricksky (meaning they change about a bit) so check out their website for details, but it's opening this weekend: Saturday March 31 & Sunday April 1.
Then there's a special Friday at the Faire: Friday April 6.
Usual hours on Saturday April 7 & then we're open Easter Sunday at 2pm. *admission on Easter Sunday is half price, since it's only open half as long.
Closing weekend things get back to normal: Saturday April 14 & Sunday April 15.
So get your taxes done early then come spend the refund on pottery!

It's a wonderful show, full of friendly folks. You should go check it out if you can.
And if you go, you are of course, required to buy some pottery. FROM US!

Hope to see you in Raleigh this weekend!
love from a frantically packing Va

2007-03-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

On the road again....
Greetings from beautiful Meridian, Mississippi!
(which is really a neon lit spot off the interstate &/or a welcome break from all the scrub pine & billboards)
I'm posting from the spacious Super 8 motel just off I-59. We're 700+ miles into our 888 mile trek from still wintry WVa to beautiful springlike Lumberton MS. We're on our way to Gulf Wars, an SCA event down here on the gulf coast of Mississippi.
It's been a long & slightly surreal journey so far. We left my valley in WVa before sunrise this morning. It was 25 degrees outside, the stars were amazing in the crisp cold & silent night. After driving for 13 hours, we're going to sleep in Mississippi in a hotel off the interstate where the spring peepers (tree frogs) are loud enough to be heard over the traffic and the air conditioner! It was 74 degrees at 7:30 at night! The dogwood & pear trees are in full flower & the daffodils are past their peak! (those same daffodils are barely peeking out of the ground back home). This is a welcome change indeed. I highly recommend "driving south" to find the spring if you too are frustrated with waiting for spring to come to you!
We've taken our last "real" shower & are enjoying our last sleep in "real" beds before commencing our week long camping trip tomorrow at noon (that's when set-up officially commences). We're planning on selling lots of pots & seeing lots of old friends & making lots of new ones! I plan to post more later, with pictures even. Till then, enjoy whatever signs of spring you can find wherever you are. And seriously, think about that drive. & if you do succumb to temptation, you have to play the John Hiatt song "Drive South" as you go!
Blessings from the road weary potter
~Virginia

2007-02-26T11:36:00.000-05:00

Finally, a more or less updated calendar. with links even!
Here's where we'll be when for the next few months:

March 11 through March 18

Gulf Wars Kings Arrow Ranch Lumberton MS

We're going back to Gulf Wars for a 2nd year. And Darrell had such a good time that he's making me go with him this time around. We're gonna take lots of pots and we'll have lots of leathergoods and amber necklaces with us as well. So y'all be sure to come out to the event that everyone i know who's been to describes as "more fun than Pennsic". Please note: this is a SCA camping event. You must be in garb to be on site and you have to pay for the duration of the event regardless of how long you stay on site.

April 20, 21 & 22 Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 til 5 each day

Countryside Artisans Studio Tour
Art of Fire World Headquarters Laytonsville, MD

Once again, we're back for the studio tour at Art of Fire. Sadly, Tuatha won't be here this time, though we will have a whole box of new Tinsmith CDs (everyone needs at least one copy of this awesome disc!) with us & we know we'll have lots of pots fresh from the kiln! We should have the new "crow" line up and running by now, so come on by and see what's new! Enjoy a spring drive in the country & get some great pottery, glass & Celtic music. What more could you ask for?!

April 26 through 29 we'll be onsite & have the booth open
from 10 til 6 Friday & Saturday, only open til 3 on Sunday afternoon.

Blackstone Raids Cedars Lakes Conference Center Ripley WV

This was our first event in West Virginia- our recently adopted home state! We had a great time! The site is great, the folks are friendly & the event even lets you bring your dogs out to play! What's not to like?!? Come out to fight, shop & party! We'll see you there! please note: this is an SCA event, and while they'll let you on site in mundane clothing, you'll probably feel more comfortable if you are in 'garb'. So, dress up and come play! Come explore the current middle ages & our corner of WVa! (this event is practically in our new backyard- only an hour from our new homestead) note to friends: contact us now for reservations to stay here at Hearth Hill with us. We offer bed, breakfast & hot showers & we won't make you work the booth (much)

Saturday April 28

Southern Maryland Celtic Festival St. Leonard MD

A great festival in a beautiful location. Come out & enjoy spring & all things Celtic in Southern Maryland. Note: we're not guaranteeing an actual appearance by Darrell or me. Last year we suckered/ err, persuaded our friend Rob into running the booth for us. Thus, Dancing Pig's presence at this show is subject to Rob's schedule! Will post more when we know what's up.

May 4-6 noon til 7 Friday, 10 til 6 Saturday & Sunday Rain or Shine

Pennsylvania Fairie Festival at Spoutwood Farm Glen Rock PA

Whooot! We had a great time last year- our first time at this 'Grandmother of Fairie Festivals'!!! Wonderful location, fantastic folks, great happy earth energy! We'll be back next year, assuming we're accepted!
update: yaaaay! We're in! We'll be there, with our new dogs in tow. Come out to play with the fairies & dogs!

Saturday May 12 10 til 6 Rain or Shine

Frederick Celtic Festival Urbana MD

This is a spirited & growing festival. The folks who run it are great and it is smack dab in the middle of my old stomping grounds- Come out and play at one of the most friendly festivals I know of! We'll be there unless we are somewhere else! (sort of like our shop hours- 'Open, unless we're closed')
update: our friends Rob & Sherry will probably be running this show for us while we hunker down at home & make stock. So come on out for lots of pots & a good chance for quality time with baby Luke! (pictured on the right w/ his Dad aka Rob at Pennsic last year---->)

May 19 & 20 Saturday & Sunday

Maryland Faerie Festival Upper Marlboro MD 10 til 6 Rain or Shine

This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite shows! My first Faerie Festival and still my favorite! It is soooo fun & genuinely magical. Bring your kids & your inner child & come out to revel in a beautiful site filled with (quoting their site) "love, cooperation, peace, harmony, and respect for all beings, along with a pinch of mischief!" You have to check this show out! I'm threatening to make my niece & nephew fly out from Colorado to experience this- that's how much i love this show!

May 25 thru 28

Balticon at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD

We're coming back for a 2nd year. This is a four day, 24-hours-a-day Extravaganza! though the Dealer's Room isn't that brutal. Still, we'll be there peddling pottery, leather & amber necklaces. Come on by & say hello!

Saturday & Sunday May 26 & 27

Westminster Renaissance Festival
Carrol County Farm Museum Westminster MD

a new show that we're thinking of trying if we can figure out how to split stock & be in two places at once. Updates as we figure this one out.

Saturday & Sunday June 2 & 3

Hampton Blackbeard Festival

the link is to the site for last years show so these dates are a best guess. I've promised D. that we'll try this show again (he's the pirate guy, not me!) It was fun when we went three years ago, but the sales just weren't there. So come on out and support us so we can dress up like scurvy dogs & terrorize the tourists together!

Saturday June 9

Potomac Celtic Festival Leesburg, VA

Like a phoenix from the ashes, this festival is attempting to resurrect itself after suffering a series of financial setbacks. I've been to & loved this show every year since it started, so Dancing Pig will be back. This promises to be a smaller & more intimate show, but still full of amazing Celtic spirit. So come on out & enjoy what still promises to be the Best. Celtic. Festival. Ever.

June 9 & 10

Western Pennslyvania Fairie Festival
Cooper's Lake Slippery Rock PA

A magical weekend full of music, dancing, fairies, elves, pixies, sprites & perhaps a friendly goblin or two. This is the 2nd year for this growing event, it's in a great location & the coordinators are enthusatstic, so if we can work out how to be in two places at once, we're coming here to play & sell our pots. Come play with us!

June 22-24

Celtic Fling and Highland Games Cornwall PA

Plaid wrapped fun for the whole family! Last year we were here sharing a booth with our pals from Foolish Oak Designs. This year we'll be there, though the Foolish Oak folks haven't committed one way or the other yet. It's a big event, so plan on doing some serious shopping! We'll see y'all there!
update: yes on Foolish Oak foolishness! So we'll be there under their name!

Saturday July 14

Adams County Irish Festival Gettysburg PA

The date is an educated guess. Will update when we know more. We shared a booth with our pals from Foolish Oak Designs last year and made out like bandits. So we'll be back! You should come too- great Trad music at this show! Sounds like fun! You should come check it out with us!

July 28 thru August 11

Pennsic War 36
Cooper's Lake Campground Slippery Rock PA

We had a good War last year, though i think we sold too many pots! (is that even possible?) Anyway, we're planning on coming back for my 23rd consecutive War (relax, i've only been selling pots there for 16 or so of those) (and yes, thank you, i know i don't look that old!) What was i talking about? Oh yeah, Pennsic. We'll be there, as will my pals Alasdair and Minna of Foolish Oak Designs and Ambrosia Farms respectively with their wonderful leather and mead kits. And pottery. Hopefully enough this time! ***Please note- this is a participant only camping event! You must be in garb to be on site & you must pay for the entire week, regardless of how long you stay***

August 25 thru October 21 Weekends and Labor Day Monday 10am to 7 pm each day

Maryland Renaissance Festival Crownsville MD

It will be our 9th season at Maryland & we're still having a great time! Come on out to play in the woods. There's great pottery, wenches in bodices, men in tights, turkey legs, beer, cider, improv & oh yeah, great pottery! We're still in our wonderful space, third booth in on the right from the front gate. So be sure to stop in early and often for lots of-- say it with me-- great pots!

Phew! So, that's it for now. Maybe i should have titled this post "a modest proposal"
I'm getting worn out just thinking about all this. What am i doing here typing?! I gotta go make me some more pots!
See ya soon!

2007-02-25T16:32:00.000-05:00

Home from Arizona!

This post is mostly directed at our friends & customers in the SCA, since it's about Dancing Pig's first trip to Estrella War...

Darrell has returned both triumphant and broken from Estrella (a SCA War in Ari-frincking-zona)(about 22oo miles from Dancing Pig's World headquarters here in the hills of WVa). He drove out with our friends Jillie/Bran aka the wode monkey & perma drui of the bog & Fael/Wayne aka Khavi's husband/ some Rozakii dude who lives in Philly. They had a great road trip out-- apparently they watched both "Pirates" movies in a continuous loop for 3 days on Fael's laptop. Good times.

Dancing Pig's sales at Estrella weren't as good as we'd hoped-- it was a new site for the event & apparently the gate was down by 60%. All the old hand merchants said that their sales were down accordingly. But the folks were incredibly friendly & here's the best part: Dogs are allowed!!! So we'll be back next year! We're loading the dogs up & i'm going to actually make the trip as well. Darrell's still raving about the landscape & he really wants me to go out there at least once & i think i'll indulge him, especially if i can bring my puppies with me!

Darrell is still broken however, by the cold he somehow managed to bring back with him. It was very dusty and windy & D. thinks he got the cold on the last night of the show, when they had a "going away" sandstorm. So the poor guy had to drive home with with a fever & nasty cold. (Bran & Fael bailed out & flew home from Phoniex) So to make it home, D. would drive 100 miles and then pull into a rest stop to nap for an hour. Not so much with the fun for the poor guy. And sadly, he also managed to kill my digital camera, so no pictures for this post.

We're hanging out at home for this weekend, while Darrell is trying to recover from this cold & i'm trying to avoid getting it. But we're also planning & potting to get ready for Gulf Wars in ::eeek:: less than two weeks! Arrgh! Never mind taking it easy & avoiding the cold; I gotta get off the couch and go trim some pots!

See ya'll at Gulf Wars if you're going! (and you should go, i am!) Apparently Gulf Wars blows Pennsic away, so come play with us!

2007-02-18T19:35:00.000-05:00

Alright campers, i'm going to try something radically different here: an actual post about pottery!!!
This is a report on the show we did this past December. For the first two weekends of that month, we were on the Countryside Artisans Studio Tour. Our pals, the gracious & gifted Foster and Theda of Art of Fire Hot Glass Studios in Laytonsville, MD hosted us yet again. This time we got to set up in the Celtic Annex aka a carport/ garage across the parking lot from the wonderfully warm and colorful converted dairy barn that houses Art of Fire. There was enough space this time around that our friend Mary from Tuatha joined us. It was a great reunion for me, since Tuatha shared space with my when we had the open houses at my old studio in Damascus. I really missed spending time with my wonderful whacked out little goat aka Maria Maria aka the genius behind Tuatha.

We started out with this empty garage/carport:

and after a day and a half, some struggles with stapleguns & plastic sheeting, we ended up with a space that looked like this:

We were pretty impressed with ourselves. You would have been too, if you'd come out to see it.
But fear not my friends, you have a chance to redeem yourselves!!! Because the next show we're going to do in the mid-Atlantic area is the Countryside Artisans Studio Tour this coming April. Yup, we're gonna be at Art of Fire again & there's a 90% chance that Tuatha will be there too. One stop shopping for Celts & anyone else with great taste! So come on out to the Maryland countryside April 20-22 & see all our fresh new pots!!! We can't wait to see you there!

PS if you miss my longer, more personal less coherent postings, fret not! They've just moved over to my other blog: mudcelt. Check it out: you can still know more than you ever wanted to about my dogs, travels, struggles with procrastination and life in my remote valley over there.

2007-02-18T19:15:00.000-05:00

Don't panic friends, we're still here.
No, really.
Just suffering from the winter blahs.(my guru for all things electronic told me i should keep my posts here brief, pithy & on topic. That was such a challenge that i went into a decline & haven't posted anything for over a month. Thanks Mykl!)

My latest complaint is that i am stuck here, in my sweater & wool socks, drinking hot tea & watching the snow fall in my quiet valley (tonight's forecast: temps in the high teens & more snow) whilst Darrell & our friends Bran & Fael are whooping it up out in Arizona at Estralla. Where the temperatures are a balmy 50 to 70 degrees today.
Bitter?!
Me??
NOOooo. You must have me confused with someone else.
OK, i'm not totally cranky about all of this. After all, they did have to endure 3 days of driving to get there & Darrell has to make the drive back alone, since apparently the prospect of the return trip was too much for Fael & Bran-- they're flying home-- not something you can manage with a truck full of pottery and trailer full of tents, tables & camping gear. So D. & the truck, trailer & sweaty armor are taking the slow boat home. Hopefully he'll be back by Friday or Saturday next.

Meanwhile, life goes on here. I've even gotten back to work in the studio. I've tested out a new to me clay body & i'm cautiously optimistic about it. The crow pots still only exist in my head, but they're creeping closer to reality. And we even have a new glaze grunt: my neighbor, Cindy, is learning the tricks of that trade. So far she's doing great, though she's soooo slow & careful that i bully her occasionally to lighten up. I remind her constantly of my mantra "the mistakes prove that the pots are made by humans and not machines."

That's all for now from this snow covered and cold valley in WVa!
Keep warm kids & we'll see y'all this spring, with lots o' pots for you to fondle!

2007-02-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

2007-01-04T15:09:00.000-05:00

With apologies to Sandra Boyton who had a card years ago w/ cartoons of a Hippo, a Gnu & a Deer-- i'd like to wish you a

Hippo Gnu Deer!

(say this out loud and it might make more sense. Then again, maybe not. Whatever.)

from all of us here at Hearth Hill!

I've got a few New Year's resolutions: to eat more & exercise less & i'm pleased to report a resounding success so far! OK, that's not totally true: I have managed to actually exercise 3 of the past 4 days. Dang! Another resolution blowed! A 3rd resolution is to update this dang blog once a week. We'll see how long my good intentions last with that, but at least know that i'm thinking good thoughts and occasionally putting fingers to keyboard and getting them up here for y'all.

Another aside: the reason i'm writing Dang and blowed up so much is cause my best Christmas present this year (and yes, i'm including the awesome iPod in this statement)(& my plane ticket to Colorado to bother my niece and nephew) came from my sister, who gave me the awesome game REDNECK LIFE. This is a board game, not unlike the old school game of LIFE, but in this much improved version, the goal is to get to the day of reckonin' with the most teeth, the fewest younguns and the smallest debt. You have to get married, divorced, remarried & pay to have your tattoo of your first spouse removed and replaced with the name of your 2nd (discount if they have one or more names in common or if you sleep with your divorce attorney) When you remarry, you roll dice to see how many redheaded stepchildren (i am NOT making this us) named Darrell you end up with. It's pretty funny & silly and very unpolitically correct & if you ever come visit me i'm gonna sit you down on the porch couch and make you play the game with us! Dang! One of you Darrells get me another beer from the yard fridge!

So, here's how i spent my holidays: AT HOME! This is an awesome and unusual feat! I've even managed to clean alot of clutter out of my house and studio. This was in part an attempt to get more organized but mostly motivated by a severe lack of money. Yep, we're broke. AGAIN.

This has driven Darrell back to his roots. Or maybe it was playing REDNECK LIFE. Either way, he's taking all of our cast off clutter and some leather and a bit of pottery down to a flea market in Charleston to make some money for dog food and the cable bill, so we can limp through this month and next. Last weekend he didn't do so good, but the theory is that even though the weather was warm, folks were spending their money on New Year's parties (around here New Year's Eve is a special party night. You get Budweiser longnecks rather than Old Milwaulkie in a can. And Jagermister too!) rather than clutter from the flea market. Just like a craft show, the next one/weekend is always going to be better!

Anyway, if you find yourself in Charleston, WV of a January weekend, come on out to the Capital Flea Market. You can score some cheap used DVDs or pig paraphernalia
(if i'd only known that picking the name Dancing Pig meant i was going to get pig stuff as presents for the rest of my life i might have reconsidered. And then where would we all be?) and a few good stories from Darrell and his pal Three Bears!

Meanwhile, i've actually managed to clean up the studio and i even scored a studio couch at the Goodwill! This beauty cost me all of $10 and it's a great place for the dogs to lounge about while i work. Or, that's the theory anyway. I haven't actually gotten any work done, since i'm having an holiday extension: my friends Ceit and Storm (who we visited in Canada three weeks ago) are here for a quick Christmas break visit (Storm is a teacher in Ontario so she gets extra time to goof off over the holidays. A whole week after New Years. How cool is that?!)

With Ceit and Storm have come their bad dogs, Ashe (a malamute mix) and his big sister Daemon (a sweet fawn colored Great Dane). Daemon is Spike's girlfriend. Or, rather, Spike wants Daemon to be his girlfriend. Daemon is mostly indifferent to Spike's advances.
Ashe is Budgth's mentor in the trouble making department. (like she needed any help!) Between the four of them, our house is all romper room all the time. It's fur filled chaos & we're all really enjoying ourselves. But we have only one more day of slack and dog centered domestic goofing off and then it's back to real life for us: Ceit and Storm and their bad dogs go back to Ontario, Darrell heads to the flea market, and i will have run out of excuses and it's back to the studio for me.

More next week, when i hope to actually have mud under my fingernails!
muddy blessings & wishes for a prosperous New Year for us all!
~Virginia

PS i almost forgot to tell y'all about the real live episode of REDNECK LIFE that happened last week. I was up late, goofing off on the computer when i heard a skid and thud. I peered out, but didn't see anything. Turned on my porch light, just in case anyone needed some help and sure enough about 20 minutes later, i had 3 wet, muddy, slightly stunned and more than a little drunk, teenagers on my front porch. The called for a ride (no ambulance or cops, thanks) and we all waited for someone's Mom to come get them. It turned out that they had put a brand new, bought it that afternoon, F-150 crew cab sunroof 40K pickup truck into the river. If they hadn't caught a rear tire on a tree branch, i think they wouldn't have gotten out of the river alive!
I took some pics of the debacle the following morning before the three wreckers that ended up on the job managed to haul the truck out of the river.

2006-12-24T18:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidaze y'all!

We're settling in for our "long winter nap" here in the hills of Arnoldsburg!
After being away from home for most of November and December, we've managed to make it to our winter break. The picture above is what i look like when i'm actually writing this blog... just in case you were curious!
We get to stay home for a whole month! Unless, of course, we get an offer we can't refuse... we've heard rumors about a great show in Florida in January that sounds pretty appealing (then again, anything in Florida in January sounds pretty good). But i'm going out to Colorado to help my Mom and bro-in-law wrangle my niece and nephew while my sister goes on a business trip. This means that the road trip to Florida is less likely, both in terms of time and stock (as in, i can't make pots while i'm in Colorado)
And anyway, i need to get to work on both a) the new pots to replace the newgrange line and b) my new project. More about that later.
First, some pics:

Above, all of my sweeties snuggling on the couch at my friends house in Hamilton,ON

Below, the dogs wrasslin with our doggie host: (they're just playing. No, really!)

Below, Budgth is trying to sleep on our drive back home from Canada:

and here's Spike actually napping on the way home: Cool sweater, huh?

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Spike got his name from our friend Ceit, who is her sleep deprived state on our first night in her house in Canada, called him that cause she couldn't remember an of his other names. It sort of stuck, cause he's small, has light coloring, is a bit scruffy, would have a British accent and is ambivalent about whether to use his powers for good or evil. These are all traits he has in common with Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Thus, the name has stuck. (though the sweater was subsequently destroyed in a wild rampage with Budgth).
So, that's what's going on here in Dancing Pig Land over the holidaze. Have a cool Yule and a enjoy the return of the strengthening Sun!
Bright Solstice Blessings
~Virginia

2006-11-27T13:19:00.000-05:00

Good Dog News!

Here's the latest dog news from Dancing Pig! We have 2 new dogs, both rescues from our local shelter, Roane County Animal Shelter in Spencer WV.

First up is our Budgth (we do iron age Celtic re-enactment and believe in superfluous letters whenever we can fit them in-- it's a very Gaelic way of spelling. We also have a Hemingway cat named Pthumbh). Budgth joined our family a month ago, on November 1st. She was listed on Petfinder as a Boston Terrier mix, and she looked spookily like our beloved Ani. Ani was our first little dog love, allegedly a JRT/Cocker Spaniel mix. We got Ani as a 4 week old puppy from a flea market parking lot last February and she lived with us for 7 wonderful, joy filled months. We loved her so much. Ani was hit by a car and killed instantly in late September. (see earlier blog entries below)

We found Budgth on Petfinder. She was at our local shelter. They do their best there, but it's a high kill shelter-- that's the reality of life in poor, rural communities. Too many animals, not enough money or motivation to get them spayed and neutered. I try not to be too judgmental-- it's hard to pay for your dog's elective surgery when you can't afford health care for yourself or your children (we're not gonnat go into the flat screen tvs and fancy ATVs parked in front of falling down derelict trailers with 5 scrawny dogs chained outside) (well, i said i TRY not to be judgmental-- in never said i achieved that state of grace very often)

Anyway, we went in to meet the Ani lookalike & fell instantly in love. While we were meeting her, i noticed a JRT mix in a cage off in a corner. His front leg was swollen at the 'elbow' and he was obviously in pain, but also obviously sweet and gentle and desperate for a home. We were leaving for a business trip in Florida in a week and would be gone for 2 weeks and he couldn't travel. And we still had our big dog, Barnaby to consider. Still, i couldn't walk away from him. So, i sponsored him: i paid for his vet visit, x-rays and antibiotics and pain meds and promised to stay in touch with them. We took a joy-full Budgth home and had two and half wonderful days with her and Barnaby. We came up with her name because a) she's totally a cuddle bug and b) she reminds us of the character on Crossing Jordan called Bug; like him, our girl is sweet and earnest and a bit undersized, dark skinned and a bit socially awkward, and that's all part of her charm. We figured the TV Bug wouldn't object to having a girl as a namesake.

Three nights later, my husband was walking Budgth on the leash while Barnaby was running free. Barnaby was hit by a truck that didn't even stop. It was an unbelievable loss for both of us. We took ourselves and Budgth down to Florida and sold pottery on the weekends and sat on the beach and cried during the week. Budgth was a wonderful comfort for both of us. She's an awesome being and such a cuddler. A very sweet girl. An awesome 'consolation' prize.

We came home to Hearth Hill on Thanksgiving Day. On Friday, we went over to the shelter and met our next new dog. His current name is Sage, though that might change. We're thinking maybe Feegle (after the MacNacFeegle aka the Wee Free Men of Terry Pratchett's books) or maybe Albert, after Burt from Sesame Steet (i wanted to change Budgth's name to Ernestine/Ernie so we'd have Burt and Ernie, but my husband isn't having it. He's insisting on keeping Budgth's name as is). Sage looks like a tall JRT mix. Someone docked his tail, but didn't bother to get him fixed. He's a really thirsty guy, he drinks water all the time. We think that his previous owners might have been fed up with his constantly peeing to mark his territory, and instead of getting him fixed, they just denied him access to water. It's a typical redneck solution. (opps, that's the judgmental side showing up again).

He was brought into the shelter as a stray in late October/early November, severely beaten up, either by coyotes or a pack of dogs. He was throughly worked over, bitten on his head, ears, back and chest. The bite on his front leg seems to have gone into his joint & gotten infected. His tongue has a hole in it that seems like it might be permant. Maybe we should get him a tongue stud! He's painfully skinny and a bit worried about new situations. But despite all of this, he's also gentle, loving and very desperate to cuddle. He's also a talker-- very vocal, lots of barks and singing, especially when he catches sight of our big orange cat. He's not quite yet acclimated to indoor living and our new tile floor-- so he sees the cat, starts yowling and tries to lunge for him, but inevitably he spins out on the tile floor and ends up slipping and skidding around, looking very put out by it all. If he weren't re-injuring his leg when this happens, it would be even funnier than we currently think it is.

Sage is also the smelliest dog i've ever met. I'm talking room clearing farts. I hope this is a side effect of the antibiotics, cause if it's not, we're gonna have to make some serious dietary changes. Phew! Even Darrell, who thinks a good ripping fart is the highlight of his day, even big D has been offended by the stink this guy produces!

So, that's the latest dog update from Dancing Pig. Come on out to the Open House this weekend or next and meet the new dogs. You can even vote for a new name for the broken up & very smelly JRT. Hope to see you then!

2006-11-22T00:26:00.000-05:00

For reasons that are not at all clear to me, i am unable to update the events section of my website. So, here's the latest info:
We are doing the Countryside Artisans Studio Tour at the Art of Fire in Laytonsville, Maryland.
We'll be there, with lots of pottery and leathergoods and wonderful Celtic art, cards, jewelry, stained glass and much more from our pals TUATHA

DECEMBER 1, 2 & 3 and again DECEMBER 7, 8 & 9
FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY from 10 till 5 each day

We're taking over an outbuilding at the Art of Fire's World Headquarters. Lots of room, lots of pots, lots to see. All in a relaxed atmosphere, as far from the maddening crowds at the mall(maul?!) as you can get.

Come see us & get gifts for everyone on your list. And of course, lots of necessary luxuries for yourself as well!

For directions to Art of Fire:http://www.artoffire.com
For information about the Studio Tour: http://www.countrysideartisans.com
For information about Tuatha: http://www.tuathagallery.com

if you need to know more about Dancing Pig, drop me an email: pigatsymboldancingpigdotcom

& remember, shop early, shop often and always add some integrity to your gifts.
Give handmade crafts!

2006-11-21T23:26:00.000-05:00

Live from Anna Maria Island!

it's the Dancing Pig Road Show!
That's right folks, we've slunk off to the Gulf Coast of Florida to lick our wounds in sunnier climes. We're bruised, burnt out and heartsore but we're still trying to carry on.
We'd planned this sojourn in early September, when both of our beloved dogs were still alive and well and we couldn't back out. How does the song go? "Can't turn back and you can't stand still and if the thunder don't get you the lightning will" Well, we decided to run away from the thunder and lightning. At least for two weeks.
We came down here to do the Sarasota Medieval Faire. It's a two weekend, 2nd year show that we knew practically nothing about other than it was in Florida & we had been pre-approved as crafters. It was pretty cheap fee wise and came at a time when we could use a vacation, so we went for it.

We booked ourselves into a great hotel that we'd found when we crashed a family reunion two years ago (long story condensed: my brother in law's family live down here, we came down and stayed with sis, bro-in-law, niece and nephew when they were down for Grandpa's 60th or 70th birthday). The hotel is only a block from the beach on an awesome island and best of all, they welcome pets. So, we figured, hey, tax deductible vacation. Come down, do the show on the weekends, lounge on the beach during the week, what's not to like?!

Then, dog tragedy stuck, twice in 6 weeks. We were stunned and numb, but carried on. We loaded ourselves and our new and now only dog up and hit the road, in search of money and healing on the beach.

Lucky for us, our new dog, Budgth, is very much a road hound. Here she is, the queen of our caravan:

Not so much with the money. The show was full of great folks and we made some new friends and good contacts, but not very much money. No alcohol at the show made for lots of "Looky Lous" and not so much with the "wrap it up i'll take its"

The first weekend, we set up under some beautiful trees, covered in spanish moss. It was very picturesque, but also very much out of the way. Here's a snap of the booth on the first weekend:

Great neighbors. Beautiful scenery. No customers. Or at least, hardly any foot traffic.
We moved our tent from the back end of the faire into a more central spot for the 2nd weekend and that helped, but it was still a marginal show for us money wise.

Still, we've had a conversion experience and are currently-- not sure if you'd call it brainstorming or daydreaming, but either way, spending alot of time scheming about ways to become snowbirds & spend most of February and March down here on the gulf coast, selling pottery and leather and hiding out from the cold and rain. We even went window shopping for a new trailer: a 'toy box' which is basically an RV and cargo trailer combined. We figure it would save us on the hotel bills... that's our story anyway. Wouldn't it be cool to have all the comforts of an RV and still be able to haul our stock and setup with us?!? And the one we looked at was only 23K! A bargain at half the price! OK, so it'll be awhile before we can afford one of those suckers, but it was fun to dream...

I think we're a little young to become snowbirds, but heck, if youth is wasted on the young i guess the opposite applies: retirement is wasted on the old. We're thinking you don't have to be 70 and wealthy to be a snowbird. I'm even toying with the idea of taking up a supplemental craft that i can do 'on the road' so i don't have to come back to the studio and kilns to make more stock. I'm thinking either knitted wool socks &/or maybe funky painted chairs and tables and beaded jewelry... or cool/ funky dog leashes and collars-- that would combine D's leatherwork and my general weirdness... anyway, that's what happens to me when i spend the better part of two weeks goofing off in the sub-tropical sun.

When i got here last week, i was all mocking about the folks down here: "They're either old or drunk or both. And litterbugs. These people are filthy!" (there is alot more trash down here than i see in either WVa or Maryland). "And weather wimps! Everyone has their panties in a bunch and their winter woollies on because it's going down to 50 degrees tonight!"

In my defense, it did get colder this second week. And downright windy. There were even some respectable waves. Here's a cool pic of the sunset on a very blustery day:

Well, you can guess what happened. This week i'm in Walmart looking for long sleeved shirts and warm socks cause it's getting COLD at night. Heck, it's gonna be 50 tonight! How quickly we adjust. I just hope i can adjust back, cause we're going home to my valley tomorrow morning and the projected high for Thursday is 43 degrees. That's the HIGH! Wailee, wailee wailee! How will i manage?!

2006-11-05T12:51:00.000-05:00

In loving memory of Barnaby
June 2001 to November 3, 2006

He was a great dog, a good friend and a gentle, loving soul.
The world is a sadder place for me, without him.

I am still grief stricken, stunned and numb.

Just after dark on Friday evening November 3 when Darrell was walking our newest dog on the leash-- so she wouldn't run into the road-- he saw and heard Barnaby get hit by a truck, driving too fast on our road. The truck didn't even stop.

Barnaby died that night, three hours later at the emergency vet in Charleston.

I don't think he was ever really in pain-- he was in shock for the first 2 hours and then, once he started showing signs of distress we were at the vets and they gave him painkillers.

We had begun to hope that we might have gotten away with something by then: there was never any blood, he couldn't walk, but he could move the front half of his body... the vet and her staff were so very competent and compassionate, it was a blessing to have such caring people surround us in our hour of crisis.

Even the vet said that she had begun to hope that Barnaby might get out of there with 'only' a bruised or broken pelvis. They had done extensive x-rays and hadn't seen any damage, and they were moving him into a kennel to stabilize him and then come and give us the relatively good news.

However, as they began to move him into the kennel, he crashed.

He stopped breathing and his heartbeat became erratic & faint. They put a tube down his throat and manually breathed for him and gave him an ephedrine injection to try to get his heart going, but it was no use. A tech came and got us and we were with him at the end, which was peaceful and natural... his heart simply stopped beating.

When they took the tube out, it was covered in blood. The vet said this confirmed that he had suffered massive internal soft tissue damage-- it didn't show up on the x-rays. His insides got pulped and his lungs filled with blood and his heart couldn't take the strain.

The good news is that he probably didn't suffer. He was in shock at first which blocks the pain, then he was sedated.

In the hour long drive to the vet, he was breathing a bit heavily occasionally but he didn't seem to be in pain. He slipped in and out of consciousness, but i'm sure he knew i was there with him. He was surrounded by love and compassion throughout his ordeal.

Here's what was going through my head as we drove home from the vet:

In the house of long life
I will wander.
In the house of happiness
I will wander.
With beauty before me
I will wander.
With beauty behind me
I will wander.
With beauty above me
I will wander.
With beauty below me
I will wander.
In old age traveling
On the trail of beauty
I will wander.
It shall be finished in beauty.
--NIGHT CHANT OF THE NAVAJO

And his death did have a beauty and dignity to it. Not what i would have chosen. Or maybe-- not WHEN i would have chosen, but beauty nonetheless.

Barnaby was a sweet, gentle giant. He was my nap buddy and a boon companion.

He hated water. I used to say that he was allergic to it. He was horrified if he saw me swimming-- he just couldn't comprehend voluntarily getting wet.

Yet he was stoic when being bathed, simply resigned to his fate. It was humbling to see such a large, powerful dog so miserable yet so resigned. He was both dignified and silly all at once.

He was a 130 lb lap dog.

He had a rough start in life. When we met him at the Montgomery County Humane Society, he was 4 months old, a 40 lb skinny pup with scary big paws. He'd lived outside all of his life, in a kennel with his mom and littermates. Yet, when we brought him into our house for the first time, he walked calmly around the kitchen and living room, then headed directly into the bedroom and hopped up onto the bed and laid himself down for a nap. He knew he was home.

I was so lucky to have him in my life.

He was my first truly big dog, and his bulk was a wonderful, calming physical grounding gift, especially when i was in distress. When my life was falling apart, in the midst of my separation and divorce, he was a gentle, peaceful companion who grounded me. Simply having his bulk sleeping in the bed next to me through those lonely nights made it possible for me to get through to the next sunrise.

And, once i'd found Darrell and we moved to Hearth Hill, the four of us: me, Darrell, Lucie and Barnaby, he was delighted to be home here. He ran free, especially in the early evenings, just after dark. He'd chase deer out of the yard or just bound about in the moonlight, delighting in movement and freedom.

B. napped alot and he was good at it. Once Lucie died, in September of 05, Barnaby became a champion napper. He seemed to get older and slower. Always a skittish boy, his fear of thunderstorms and sudden noises and of just being alone, seemed to increase.

He was at first a bit taken aback by Animosh's arrival. Ani was so small and so ALIVE that B. didn't seem to know what to do with her, how to respond to her. But Ani knew what to do, and within a month, Ani was in charge: pulling at B's tail when she wanted to play or distract him, inciting him to riot in the house by hauling a squeaky toy up onto the bed and then squeaking it at a napping B till he couldn't take it anymore, and with a sigh B would haul himself to his feet and set about chasing and playing with her.

Barnaby was with Ani when Ani died a little more than a month ago. They were about 1/4 mile down the road together, and B came back alone, more quietly freaked out than i'd ever seen him. B. looked at Darrell-- just one simple, silent, intense moment of eye contact and Darrell knew something was really wrong. Darrell got into our little car and went down the road to find Ani's body.

Barnaby once more was with me through my mourning. It was a sudden, intense grief-- that small life ripped so quickly from us on a sunny autumn day. B. was with me as i wailed and cried, and slept by my side when i finally surrendered to a healing sleep.

And, it seems, B. kept sleeping. After Ani's death, more even than before. He slept all night at the foot of our bed, on his own dog bed. In the morning, Darrell would get up before me and B. would haul himself up onto the bed and flop down into Darrell's vacated spot. He stayed there, often all day, only getting off the bed to eat breakfast, and maybe go outside to pee. Then it was back to bed and only after he was awakened and fed dinner was he interested in going outside for a few hours of night roaming. Then inside, to sleep on the sofa with us if there was TV watching, or back on the bed if we had other things happening.

That was the shape of his days for the last month of his life. We specualted about doggie Prozac. Was he depressed? It was had to tell. So, instead, we got him another dog.

Three days before he died, the new dog came home. She was an unexpected arrival, a gift of fate and healing.

We've named her Bug and she and B. got along quite well. She is less bossy than Ani, but at least once or twice a day she incited Barnaby to riot, and we had doggie chase scenes in our living room again. Bug also was determined to sleep in the puppy pile with the rest of us. Barnaby accepted her, and even seemed happier and more lively with Bug's arrival.

Then, as i said above, it ended. Darrell was out, walking Bug after dinner. It was dark, and B. was running as usual. I think he might have even been showing off for Bug, a sort of big brotherly "nah nah, i can go where i want & you can't" sort of thing.

Then, the trucks headlights, D calling out a warning to Barnaby to "keep his happy ass out da road" and that sickening thud and B's one yelp.

That was the beginning of the end. However, at least we got a chance to say goodbye, to tell him how much he was loved.

I know that he is playing with Ani and Lucie and Blaze. I hope and trust that Mike Lea and Barry Morley are organizing walks and snuggles. It's a good pack that's waiting for me on the other side, and since i don't think time matters over there, i guess i'm already there with them. But that doesn't stop me from missing them here. All of them, but most intently, my big, gentle, huge galumphing mutt. My Mr. B.

Pass to thy Rendezvous of Light,
Pangless except for us---
Who slowly ford the Mystery
Which thou hast leaped across!
--Emily Dickinson

This is the last picture we have of him. We were napping, maybe a week ago:

2006-10-31T03:42:00.000-05:00

It's the end of the Renn Fest as we know it....
(but, actually, i don't feel fine)
I feel tired.
It was a good season. Mostly. But i'm worn out. Usually i get a few weeks off once MDRenn Fest is over, but this year, we're going down to Florida (almost 1,000 miles each way) for two weeks to check out the Sarasota Medieval Faire. No rest for the wicked, i tell you what!

The Sarasota Faire should be fun, but i seriously messed up on my timing: i thought i had TWO weeks between the end of MDRF and the start of Sarasota. And, technically, i guess i did. But i didn't include details like, oh, the time it takes to clean and close the booth at Maryland. And the time it takes to drive down to sunny Florida. You know, stuff like that. So, i've been busier than the proverbial one legged man in an arse kicking contest. But i'm still hopping around, doing my best to kick some butt, and make some pots in the process. I'm gonna manage to have some stuff for Florida. I *hope*. Gods willing and the creek don't rise. Further, i mean.

Here are a few pics from the past season at MDRF:
Pumpkins. I made alot of clay pumpkins. Here's a pic of some of them drying in the studio:
And here's what they looked like in front of our booth at Faire:

Since i'm writing this on Halloween, i'm done with the whole pumpking thing for this year. Phew! I made at least 200 of the suckers this year. That's alot of pumpkins. I had 40 to 50 a weekend at the Faire from mid September till closing weekend, and i sold out almost every weekend, often on Saturday even... Now that Halloween's done, you'd think i could catch a break, right?! Nope. Now, i'm making pirate mugs for Florida. Gotta have something to put on the shelves down there, so we can justify our week of lounging on the beach in between weekends of selling. Speaking of which, i need to go check the kiln. And then, hopefully, to bed for my very tired self. Will try to post more soon.

No, really.

2006-10-31T02:55:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a month, but we're still really missing our Ani. In fact, our pain is "fresh" in some ways, because D & I got tattoos last week, in honor of Ani. Our friend Jill (an amazing, aspiring tattoo artist) designed the butterflies for us-- we told her we wanted black and white butterflies with attitude.
Black and white, cause those where Ani's colors. Butterflies because a) Ani loved to chase them b) they are beautiful but short lived, just like her c) At quote from Philip Pullman's beautiful novel, The Golden Compass that resonates with me so much. It's a witch (who lives much longer than humans do) explaining to a girl about why witches fall in love with men even though they know they'll die very quickly..."men pass in front of our eyes like butterflies, creatures of a brief season. We love them; they are brave, proud, beautiful, clever; and they die almost at once. They die so soon that our hearts are continually racked with pain. "

We put a bit of her ashes in the ink, so she'll always be with us.
This is what they look like...
this is mine:

and the hairy back on the right is Darrells:

2006-09-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

In loving memory
Animosh aka little girl aka Monkey Girl aka Poopie Head
February 1 2006-- September 27 2006
"Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there"

The newest member of the Dancing Pig family left us on a sunny late September weekday. She ran out onto the road, on her way home from the bone stash (a spot about 1/4 mile from our house that folks have dumped deer carcases for years-- our dogs head down there, grab some leg or rib bones and bring them back to the house for an afternoon snack... this is life in rural WVa). She was hit by a passing car and died instantly. Her head was crushed, and our hearts feel as though they were crushed as well.

Ani had a brief life with us, but it was a very full one. She went about everything full tilt. She was full of energy, piss and vinegar and she was the boss of our house. It was fun to watch her torment our big dog into playing with her. She weighed 25 lbs. when she was full grown and B. was at least 130 lbs for her whole life. But even if she wasn't large, she was in charge, and she hung off his tail or pulled at his ear till he did what she wanted him to.

Ani was a great snuggler, and slept in bed with Darrell and I everynight- under the covers if it was cold, on top, usually in between my legs, if it was warm. I don't know how i'll manage sleeping without her.

We got Ani at a flea market near Charleston in early March of this year. She was only 4 weeks old. She had been weaned early by her mom cause her whole litter had sharp teeth. She weighed 5 lbs and won our hearts right away.

Ani was allegedly a Cocker Spaniel/ Jack Russell mix. And she did seem to have the fierce independent spirit of a JR terrier but also the heart and eyes of a Cocker Spaniel. She took herself down to the river every day as soon as she was large enough to get down our porch steps. We still have sand in our bed, because she'd come home covered in sand and dirt from her river adventures and hop right onto the bed for a post swim nap.

Ani didn't like to have her belly rubbed. She'd growl and mutter and carry on, but D. "gots the tummy" every day. It was usually what i woke up to: D. rubbing and carrying on, Ani wriggling and growling, trying to get away and enjoying the snuggle all at once.

Ani was a mamma's dog. She always wanted to go with me, wherever i went. She'd get bored in the studio after awhile though, esp. late at night or in the middle of the afternoon. Then she'd crawl up under my wedging table, which is where i stashed abundant stock of empty plastic bags (clay comes in 25 lb blocks inside these bags. I go through 4,000 to 5,000 lbs of clay a year- i have lots of these bags). Ani would crawl into the crinkly pile and rummage around, arranging a nest just so, and then she'd nap till it was time to go into the house. I relished her quiet company & it's just one of the many things i'll miss about her.

She was our heart and our soul, the love in our house flowed through her and we will miss her so much more than words can express.

Fare Well, my brave little one, and know that you were loved and cherished here. We will always love you and look forward to many more belly rubs and river adventures in the Summerlands with your distinctive fiercely beautiful self.

The following is from Philip Pullman's beautiful book THE GOLDEN COMPASS. This is a witch, who lives much longer than regular humans, explaining to a girl why witches take men as lovers, even knowing that they will outlive them:

You are so young, Lyra, too young to understand this, but i shall tell you anyway and you'll understand later: men pass in front of our eyes like butterflies, creatures of a brief season. We love them; they are brave, proud, beautiful, clever; and they die almost at once. They die so soon that our hearts are continually racked with pain. We bear their children, who are witches in they are female, human if they are not; and then in the blink of an eye they are gone, felled, slain, lost. Our sons, too. When a little boy is growing, he thinks he is immortal. His mother knows he isn't. Each time becomes more painful, until finally your heart is broken.
Perhaps that is when Yambe-Akka* comes for you. She is older than the tundra. Perhaps, for her, witches' lives are as brief as men's are to us.

*Yambe-Akka is the witches' death goddess

2006-08-31T11:39:00.000-04:00

Procrastination is a wonderful thing, ain't it?!
And now, i even have a doctor's note!
That's right, folks, i have a medical excuse for slacking off: Lyme disease.
Apparently, i've had this lovely tick borne bacteria making it's home in my body for the past year or two. Explains the lack of motivation, energy & stamina, huh?
Now that i know, i gotta take the nasty antibiotics to deal with it.
Yipee, a month of making war on my gut. All the little beasties must die- good, bad and indifferent.
But hopefully, once they are gone, i'll be back to my usual cranky but more energetic self again.
In the meantime, i'm sleeping too much and eating alot of yogurt.
And (yeah, yeah, stop nagging) trying to make some pottery when i'm awake.
Got another bumpersticker recently that applies to my life these days:
Consciousness that annoying period between naps.
Speaking of which, i think it's time for my post breakfast lie down!

2006-08-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

We're OFF! and furthermore, we're leaving!
(sorry, i have a weakness for bad british humor)
anyway, the hard working folks at Dancing Pig are heading off to War.
Where, we can work even harder, party all night, snatch a few hours of sleep as we twitch to the pounding of the party drums, then get up and do it all over again! In the mud & heat! Isn't life grand?

This will be my 22nd consecutive year at Pennsic! (though i've only been selling pottery for about 15 years now) It's damn hard work, too hot, too muddy, too muggy, too loud & they don't allow dogs. Other than that, it's about the best time i've ever had & i (usually) manage to make money doing it! Doesn't get much better than that! Here's what we're leaving behind. I don't know what i'll miss more- my mutts or my bed!

So, i gotta go pack up pottery and clean underwear & wean myself off of air conditioning and indoor plumbing. I'll be back home on Aug 20th & hope to have a link to photos up soon thereafter Though, of course, once i get home it's a mad scramble to get ready for opening weekend at MDRenn Fest. But that's another post...

2006-07-10T16:58:00.000-04:00

Early July Update:
We're having a great time here in the hills of West Virginia!
We're busy recovering from the invasion of friends and family and dogs over the past weekend- it seems like there where at least 50 kids and 30 dogs and not nearly enough adults running herd over them!

herre's what our house looked like most of the time:
(these guys are playing, i promise!)

Though really, i don't think we had more than 10 rugrats & maybe three extra bonus dogs and 15 nominal adults up for a camping/hangout weekend event.
We went kayaking and canoeing and swimming in the river and we shot off lots of fireworks. Cold frosty beverages where consumed and songs where sung around the campfire. Fireflies where chased and caught. We watched the moon rise over the mountian. We went hiking and ate too much and played alot. All in all, a very relaxing weekend!

And i still have hangers on! My sister & her kids are visiting from Colorado- they flew into Pittsburgh on Thursday night/Friday morning... ok, it was like this: They landed at 12:06 am Friday morning, but once we gathered up all the luggage and went to the pottie & loaded ourselves up and drove back down to Dancing Pig World Headquarters, it was 5 in the morning.

in this pic, D & Ani catching up on some much needed zzzs.

So, our sleep schedules are still a little screwy, but we're managing. And it's great to have the pitter patter of little feet about the place. I'm really enjoying time with my little sister & her wonderful kids!
We took some time to do a bit of sightseeing. Here's my niece, my sister & me at the overlook for the bridge over the New River (aka the Grand Canyon of the east) (how can the G.C.o.t.E. be in WEST Virginia?!) Anyway:

The nephew is 7 and is a total Harry Potter fanatic. We're dyeing his hair jet black this week so he can look like his idol.
Here's a photo of us "in process"

The niece is 5 and sweet as ever. She's into all things pink and kitties and dollies and is such a girlie girl that i am a bit taken aback- i'm not sure where all this girliness came from, but it is so adorable in her that i am smitten!

Here we are playing with hats at Tammark:

It's all i can do to drag myself away from them so i can work in the studio.
But work i must, for Pennsic LOOMS.
And, as if that wasn't enough stress, we've added two more shows to our schedule for July!
This coming Saturday, July 15 Darrell and the pottery will be sharing a booth with our friends from Foolish Oak Designs at the Adams County Irish Festival near Gettysburg PA: http://www.adamscountyirishfestival.com/
and then the week after that Darrell and the pottery are heading north, the furthest north we've ever been as a business in fact, to the Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival in Sutton, MA (yes, Massafrickingchusetes!) which is happening July 22 & 23.

So come on out to one of those shows and say hello! And i'll try to keep making pots so we have enough for War and the Renn Fest as well!

I gotta go make pots!

2006-06-30T19:33:00.000-04:00

don't have time for a long post today, but had to put in this link, it made me smile!
http://www.nataliedee.com/062806/fortune-cookie.jpg

this chick is wickedly smart, witty & funny! no, i'm not talking about myself. Check her out, go out, git...

2006-06-28T17:23:00.000-04:00

Road Trip!
Dancing Pig "hit the road" yesterday (aka Tuesday June 27). We went north and bit west some 150 miles to Weaver Leather, Darrell's idea of the promised land.
This mecca of all things leather is in eastern central Ohio, smack dab in the middle of the largest Amish enclave in the US. In 'downtown' Mt. Hope, there were actually more horse drawn buggies than there were cars! It made the trip there and back again very scenic and picturesque, but it also made me feel very much like a tourist, so i didn't take any photos of them, even though i wanted to. We did see some very beautiful horses and lots of Amish kids hanging out or walking down the road, including one really cranky looking girl, who seemed about 14, in a huge hurry, striding down the pavement on the side of a country road, barefoot, scowling and looking as if she was going to kick someone's ass! Glad it wasn't me on the recieving end of her wrath!

It took us almost 4 hours to get there, but it was worth it just to see how happy it made Darrell! We got to go into the back and pick out leather from the piles and piles of it- all sorts of dead cows, pigs & even kangaroos!

I'm trying to figure out how to add photos into the text, so please bear with me. This should be a pic of the wall o' suede:

Woot! i think i've got it! The blue in this photo made us think of our pal Morganna/Mavi & we almost got some for her. But we'd spent too much money already, and made the very patient Amish man who was helping us add more leather to our tab 3 times before i found this corner of the warehouse!

Anyway, here's a last photo of the pile o' leather that both D & i kept ourselves from jumping into & rolling around in, but just barely:

So, that's what we did yesterday. Oh, yeah, on our way back we stopped off at a fireworks place and loaded up for the weekend after the fourth party we're planning out here. (and to which anyone who wants to come to is invited! email me for more details!)

Now you know what we do when we have a bit o' cash! Pay bills? Nah! We go on a road trip and spend our money on dead things and dangerous bits of cardboard that go boom!

This _should_ all pay off for us by Pennsic, when D will have lots of new product to show off! So be sure to stop in and ask what's new! (and to inquire after all our fingers and eyes after the firework extravaganza!)

OK, that's enough for now! I gotta get to work in the studio! We have to unpack ALL of our pottery, let it dry out overnight, then replace any pricetags that got all runny and blurry in the deluge, inventory and then repack the suckers.

Did i mention that D. got rained out big time this past weekend at the Celtic Fling?!? He said that they had rain coming down in buckets while they were loading out! We have inches and inches of standing water in the plastic boxes that hold our pots, thus the need for unpacking and draining the suckers. Water doesn't really hurt the pots, but it can make any leather or corks packed in with them get all mildew-y and gross and in general it's just kinda nasty and besides, i have to inventory anyway, so i can get to work on what to make for Pennsic and MDRF... no rest for da' pig. Or, not much anyway.

2006-06-22T22:46:00.000-04:00

My first show report!

Dancing Pig attended the first ever Western PA Fairie Festival a few weeks ago. This happened June 10 & 11th, at Cooper's Lake Campground, about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Yes, that's right campers, the same place that hosts Pennsic.

The weather was great, even a bit chilly if you were in the wind.
The crowd friendly if a bit sparse. The merchants awesome & the mood suitably festive and fey! Our sales could have been stronger, the crowd could have been larger, but all in all a postive experience. We'll be back next year. Hope you come on out too!

We had lots of fun! This fairie house on a turtle's back was amazing! Don't know if you can read it, but the yellow sign says "Fairieland or Bust!"

Darrell got inducted into the B. O. G. (Beloved Order of the Greenman) aka 'Groved' which made him very happy! We really liked the two oak trees that we were set up under. It was fun being in Eastrelm Royal as a lowely money grubbing merchant!

and here's one last picture of me, doing what i do best,

especially at a slow show on a sunny day!
Naptime for me! Speaking of which....

2006-06-22T14:07:00.000-04:00

So, the plan is to try to keep this blog up to date about the goings on and upcoming events here in Pigland, aka Dancing Pig's World Headquarters/Compound located here in the suburbs of Arnoldsburg WVa.

First the big news flash: we're going to be at the Celtic Fling this weekend!!! We're sharing a space with our pals from Foolish Oak Designs. Since this is a last minute event, we're not going to be listed on the program or anything, but the important thing is that our pots will be there. So you should be too!

Here's a link: http://www.parenfaire.com/outdoor/CelticFling/Celticfling.htm

Actually, in the interest of full disclosure, i should clarify this. Dancing Pig will be there. Our pots will be there. Very cool other stuff from Foolish Oak and friends will be there. Big D will the there. But i will be at home, basking in the glory of my air conditioned studio and frantically making pots for Pennsic. But as i said above, that shouldn't keep YOU from being there. So go already!