Summer has come.

It’s just that summer in the Pacific Northwest can be a little confusing. Putting the lounge chair cushions out is a sure way to make it rain. Plan a BBQ to eat out on the patio and the temperature will drop 20 degrees between the invitation and the actual dinner. Turning the heater off and opening the windows will cause the wind to blow all the pollen into the house. I always have blankets in a basket out on the patio for our diners because….we live in a gorgeous but unpredictable part of the world.

But, I am determined to enjoy this summer. Over the course of the last couple of years we have lost friends and family members. It is a huge reminder (almost a smack in the head) to enjoy each and every moment that you can. How many summers have flashed by without you going to the beach or the mountains or your happy place? Do it.

We are lucky enough to be able to make pottery on a fairly loose schedule so when it is sunny and gorgeous we can pack ourselves into the car and go.

And when we find ourselves missing people, we call and invite them for dinner. Nothing fancy, but served, of course, on our mismatched but gorgeous dinnerware. Those plates hold a lot of memories….

So, get out there and enjoy the summer. Maybe bring a sweater...

We kept our heads down.

It turns out that a whole year has gone by and I have not written a thing.

We turned out tons of orders, had weekly dinners with the kids, dealt with health issues, did maintenance on cars and the house. Mostly, we just kept our heads down, focused on the business of life and making pottery.

That is not to say I didn’t find joy, inspiration, and motivation. I truly find it daily. If I was to give myself any piece of advice, it would be to keep on enjoying every bit of time we have. Read the book, paint the painting, buy the pillow…stand on the porch with your face turned to the sun and listen to the redwing blackbirds and chickadees. Take relaxation to the next level. Put down the device and pay attention to the movie.

I have said it before. We love what we do. We never have to drag ourselves to the pottery studio. We talk about pottery all the time. We get excited when we try something new.

We hope that you find joy in your everyday life.

Barry & Terri

I don’t want to say the “C” word is coming….

I do want to say, that if you want to give a handmade piece of Crutchfield Pottery as a gift, now is the time to think about ordering.

We ship right up until three days before Christmas, errr, I mean that day that comes sometime later in December, and we get our last kiln out the day before that.

We have mugs and bowls in stock and ready to ship, but as it gets busier our lead time on most things extends to 2-4 weeks. Please message us with any delivery questions, quite often we can find a solution.

Time for your signature mashed potatoes to get the serving bowl they deserve. **Helpful tip from Terri: I leave a few lumps in mine so they know they’re homemade…..

I hope this message finds you well. I hope your October was amazing. I hope you have a true Thanksgiving. I hope that your holidays are wondrous.

It’s Almost Over

August 11, 2022

We are hanging on to summer like a cat on a screen door. But our calendar is telling us that the time to plan for Fall is upon us.

So, let’s go!

We are designing and getting ready to produce a 9” pie plate. Oven proof, microwave,and dishwasher safe. And, of course, available in all of our glazes. Great for your favorite pie ( mine is pumpkin) or quiches.

We made a butter dish for a customer and one for us as well. I cannot believe we never had one. Our butter stays covered and spreadable and our butter consumption is up 200%...

These pieces will be available soon at $40.00 each, with free shipping.

Until then I am thinking of homemade chili in our soup cereal bowls. https://www.crutchfieldpottery.com/shop/p/slate-set-of-4-soup-bowls-cermaic-cereal-stoneware-handmade-pottery-slate-cereal-bowl

A 9” bowl of popcorn to eat while watching our favorite Fall movie.

https://www.crutchfieldpottery.com/shop/p/serving-mixing-bowl-handmade-blue-and-red-large-9-bowl-hand-made-stoneware-ceramic-serving-bowl

Apple cider with a cinnamon stick in one of our handmade mugs.

https://www.crutchfieldpottery.com/shop/p/large-handmade-mug-blue-green-twilight-olive-handthrown-stoneware-mug

We see you Fall and raise you one pumpkin muffin and a pumpkin spice tea.

Bittersweet

The last few weeks it has felt like Autumn. Warm days and cool nights and the kids went back to school this week. Here, in our small town of Cashmere, the Fire Department leads the seniors though the town to their first day of their last year. Sirens and lights, four by fours, cars, trucks, and any other vehicle the kids can round up..

I can’t tell you how many memories it brings back. Our oldest daughter graduated in 1995 and our youngest daughter in 2005. Our kids were raised in the woods, in the foothills of the Cascade mountains, but traveled all over the country with us., quite often missing 3-5 days of school. I was always sad when summer wound down and we had to let them go back to school. At a certain point in their lives, they needed to be allowed to stay home and have a regular school life, with friends and hot lunches…..

They learned marketing, retail, and social skills at hundreds of street fairs and art shows and now they run a successful online skincare business -Moody Sisters Skincare- using those skills and learning from our examples and from our mistakes.

We switched to online selling in 2009 when a recession took a toll on the art shows. It was hard to give up and to change our whole way of doing business. But…Working from home has so many advantages. Our commute is about 20 feet, no need to pack a lunch, and no worries if you forgot to take something out for dinner or throw the laundry in. After driving, setting up, selling, tearing down, and driving home again for over thirty years, we are pretty happy about it. So, while I miss traveling together, I really love being able to send funny memes, text, commiserate, and be inspired by my family.

Here’s to Fall, to finishing projects we started in June, to cool nights and crisp warm days.

A handmade mug of tea and a pottery plate of muffins.

Blue Green Large Handmade Mug Blue Green -- Handthrown Stoneware...

https://www.crutchfieldpottery.com/shop/p/blue-green-large-handmade-mug-blue-green-handthrown-stone

To Do

I need to clean my house and mow the lawn. So, I am sitting on a lounge chair with the dog, watching the birds….. You have to play to your strengths….

We have several guests coming over the next few weeks and we love to play host. We clean all the windows, swiffer the cobwebs, and scrub the floors. We make our favorite breakfast croissants and bake our fresh blueberries into muffins. The house is all sparkly and clean for about two minutes and then we relax and have fun.

I had to learn that last part. Relax and have fun, let the chips fall where they may, without running for the broom and dustpan….because our true friends do not care if the house is sparkly. They care if we’re happy. And we care if they are relaxed, are able to leave their cares at the door and feel welcome in our home.

My handled mixing bowl, salad bowl, plates, soup bowls, and mugs are going to get a workout this month…. good thing I know a potter