Local Treasures

Coming soon to Whipple Tree Junction

I am happy to tell everyone we will be part of a local artist store. They will be featuring art works from many different artists in the area and I have the Honor of being one of the artists that will be displaying their work for sale in the store. Gerry will also have wood working items paired with my pottery.

Opening day is attentively scheduled for January 15, 2015

Shawnigan Light up 2014 with Inspire Shawnigan

The light up night at Shawnigan Lake was great fun. At Inspire Shawnigan there was potato stamping and Ornament decorating. There was also Mulled Apple juice and Carolers.

I was there with an assortment of ornaments for the kids to decorate. We went through about 100 ornaments and there was quite the crowd at one point. Crazy for 2 hours. Great energy.

I want to thank all the people who run ( for non-profit) Inspire Shawnigan for having me there with my work and donating to the Community Light Up for Shawnigan Village.

2014 Craft Fair experience ( My first year with the Pottery)

Finally after all the Christmas rush for gifts and events I have an update for everyone.

Both craft fairs we attended went well for us this year. Good sales and more great contacts. One of the highlights was meeting a teacher from the local elementary school and arranging with her to do ornament decorations with her class. To my great pleasure she showed my samples to her co-works and I got 3 more classes the week before winter break. It was noisy, messy, chaotic at times but great fun with the kids. Grades 3-7. They want me to come back in the new year and talk about other projects to do with the kids.

Here are some photo's of My Craft Fair table set up.

My pre-set up for the Cowichan Fire Hall show.

Center image of Clock by Gerry. Was made all by Hand no electric tools used. All hand cut, plained, sanded, no nails. Out of pine wood.

Shawnigan Lake Craft Fair. Shared a table with a friend.
There are wooden items that Gerry made also.
The end table has my ornaments hanging already painted.
I have a small basket with unpainted ones as well. For do it yourself crafters.

Along with my Water Color / Ink cards.




I enjoyed the time spent doing the shows and making ornaments. I learned a lot about what people are looking for and to start now with making plain ornaments for next year.

Some samples of the painted ornaments I did. and were for sale. Some of the choices are available plain for anyones own personal touch.

Craft Fairs and Activities

Starting Saturday November 22nd we will be at Cowichan Bay Fire Hall for our first craft fair this year. From 9am to 3pm.

Then Saturday November 29th at Shawnigan Lake Community Centre from 10 am to 4pm

 I will have some new items with us. I have been working at an assortment of decorations and some smaller dip bowls. Some honey pots with wooden lids and dippers made by Gerry.
There will be some wood working items by Gerry also.

Then at Inspire Shawnigan on Dec 7th for the Village light up. 5 to 7pm. For anyone who wants to do any slabs for gift ideas. I will be holding a work shop for Only $12.00 a slab. Slabs will be ready by  the 21st of Dec. for pick up.
  There will be bisque fired decorations that you can finish decorating for $1.00 each. to take home that night.

Hand Building pottery class photo's

I have the pleasure of posting some pictures that were taken by Rebecca Bernard and myself, during my first session of classes at the Shawnigan Community Centre this past October. 2014
Every one had fun which was my main goal and produced some great projects.

Here are a few pictures of finished projects.

 All projects made in wooden molds for beginners.
Tea light holder and a clay bowl.
Using  the coiling method, rolled balls, stamps and cut out designs.
colouring is done with stain only or left plain.
Leaving plain you can use crafters paints for a decorative bowl.
Stains used were Red Iron Oxide, Green and Blue.

Another project was a mobile using a circular cut out with stamped designs on them. Or cookie cutter images.

You can paint or stain the finished project. 

 The moon and stars mobile was cut out with cookie cutters then a rock design was rolled over the front leaving the images slightly out of shape to add some character. After the bisque firing Blue stain was used for the coloring then kiln fired one more time. Hemp twin was used to bring it all together to hang.

 Making a mobile with ferns from outside on one side and stamped images on the other side.

This mobile was painted later

 This mobile was stained Blue and kiln fired again.

Beginner Handbuilt Pottery at Shawnigan Lake Community Centre

Hi to all      I am pleased to say that my beginners pottery classes at the SLCC are going very well. I have a class of keen students, that are producing some nice work already.

After this session which ends Oct 30  I will be introducing a level 2 class for thoughs who have done the first level or thoughs who do have some knowledge and want to do some hand building. You will need to know the basics of coiling and slabbing and joining. That's all! nothing complicated.

The new session will start at the end of January, so watch for the broucher I will have pictures to show off the finished works from this first class, at the beginning of Nov.

I have enjoyed teaching this class and look forward to passing more knowledge on to interested people.

I will be offering a day class for my Beginners Introduction to Hand building again
Then a night class for the level 2 Beginners

Clay Garden Slabs at Inspire Shawnigan

Come in and join Me at Inspire Shawnigan every Tuesday from 1 - 3:30 to create your own Garden Slabs.

  $12 each includes, 2 kiln firings, 1lb of clay, and staining.All tools needed to create. Also many stamp ideas and back grounds to chose from.

I will be there all of October. Great timing for something hand made for Christmas ideas. Or just because. Many uses for these slabs.  Garden decoration, trivet, wall plaques are just a few.

All ages welcome.  Children under 10 will need adult supervision.

Inspire Festival August 17th

What a great way to see who and what is going on in the community of Shawnigan Lake.
We had a demonstration table and some sale items. The day was hot and lots of people were milling around.
I want to Thank all the people who had a hand in organising this event from Inspire Shawnigan and the Shawnigan Museum. Also all the behind the scenes volunteers.
We look forward to next year. It was a Great Day!

 Demonstration for a tea light holder at my station.

 Medallions of my carved stamps. These were to color with felt pen and half the donation was for the Food bank. Kids and Adults a like had fun coloring them. There were 6 different ones to choose from. This person colored the turtle.

 One of the wonderful slabs made this day.
with red iron oxide stain. Made by and Adult

 Another wonderful slab made this day.
with the red iron oxide stain. Made by and Adult

Another wonderful slab made this day.
with the red iron oxide stain. Made by a 4year old with help from Mom.

Sunday Market last Day August 31st

Our introduction to the Sunday Farmers Market was a Great adventure. All though it ended early this year we met a lot of great people. Customers and Vender's a like.

Very positive responses to our clay slab idea and the work we do.

We introduced the combination of pottery and wood with some Honey pots. These have wooden lids and wooden dippers.
 Also a couple of sets of sugar and creamers, the sugar bowl with a wooden lid.
We have a few larger vase type pots with wooden lids. Great for keeping garlic on the counter or tea bags. All wood is local big leaf maple tree.

Tanis has many more new ideas for coming events! 

 Garden slabs made at the Market

 Honey pots made with Maple wood lids and dippers.                 With cinnabar glaze and opal drizzled around the edges

 Honey pots with wooden lids and dippers made from Maple wood. With root beer glaze and opal.

 Garlic or Tea vases with wooden lids made from Maple wood and purple mint glaze.

 Creamer and sugar bowls with root beer glaze and opal. With a Maple wood lid.

 Hand built tea light. Made in a mold with clay made into coils and balls. Added stamp designs and cut outs. Green stain is used to enhance the details of the design.

Introduction to Beginner's Hand Building Clay

Come join me at the Shawnigan Community Centre for Introduction to Beginner's Hand building clay classes. Starting  Thursday's Oct 2  from 11am to 2pm. until Oct 30 
The add is in the program booklet on page 26. My name was left out by mistake, but it will be myself and Rebecca Bernard as my assistant.
I am looking forward to teaching the class and am excited to begin. If interested call soon, space is limited.
Any questions please feel free to email me, I will be happy to answer.  

South Cowichan Farmers Market

Come join us at the South Cowichan Farmers Market every Sunday until the end of August ( except for the 17th we will be at Shawnigan Community Centre Field for the Inspire Fest Festival.)

10am to 3pm

We have Original Art Cards and Pottery made by Tanis. Also you can do-it-yourself garden slabs that Tanis will be demostrating and help you with if you need it. $10 a slab and includes a kiln firing with stain.
See you there

Garden Slab Work Shops

 August 17th Sunday from 11 to 3:30 I will be demonstrating the garden slabs at the Elsie Miles Field for Heritage Inspire fest. For more information go the Inspire website.