Stoneflower Pottery           Wellsville, New York Microwave Safe, Dishwasher Safe, Lead-Free

Stoneware clay stamped with a flower - tagged with a story
   by Elaine Hardman    elaine@stoneflowerpottery.com        Click Here for Map to Studio

Throwing pots at the wheel is a wonderful way to spend time.  The transformation from ball of clay to vase or bowl remains as amazing now as it was when I first tried in 1973 at the Roberson Center for the Arts in Binghamton, New York. I have since studied at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Pennsylvania and at Alfred State College with Pete Nye and, more recently, at Alfred University with John Gill. My first glazes were developed in the 1980s under the direction of Pete Nye.  These are Oatmeal and Cinnamon, Celery Soup, Blueberry Stain and Burnt Pancakes.  All are lead free and food safe. Additional formulas were created in 1999 and 2001 at  Alfred University.  The basic formula for these glossy glazes was in Clay Times Magazine - brought to my attention by Susan Parrish (www.susanparrishpottery.com).   These glazes are Raspberry, Strawberry-Peach, Vanilla Tapioca, Blue Hare's Fur and Lime Tapioca.

Carol Seidman helped me create Geeze Louise.  Based on Albany Slip, a high-silica, brown clay, Geeze Louise gives a blue, green, brown glaze with great variety and interest.  Lately, Louise has been paired with Blueberry and Raspberry for some wonderful, mottled results.

The newest glaze is Marty's Butterscotch.  It pairs well with every glaze I have.  On pink, it turns white.  On Geeze Louise it turns into golden flecks. With Celery Soup or any of the blues it just gives the glaze depth.  Marty was great to share it with me.

I use my pottery in the microwave and put it in the dishwasher without reservation.  I do not put any pottery into my oven or on a direct heat source such as a stove burner or a wood stove top.  Bowls, platters and covered jars are intended as serving pieces.

My work is available at The Gallery on Main Street in Alfred and at The Portage Hill Gallery in Westfield, New York on Route 394.  Westfield is just a few miles beyond the Chautauqua Institution.  This gallery, an award winning fixture in the area for over twenty years, is always worth the drive.  Visit www.portagehillgallery.com for more information.

Guests are also welcome to visit the studio with hours by chance or appointment. 

Firings are made on an irregular schedule.  Items can be personalized with names (piggy banks, mugs, bowls. plates) and such orders can be filled in two to four weeks.

This web site was designed for visitors to the Allegany Artisan Studio Tour which is held annually on the weekend after Columbus Day in October.  There are 31 members of the Allegany Artisans now and we all open our studios for demonstrations and sales during the Artisan weekend.  

For the tour, Rick and I put my pottery on display in our kitchen as well as in what was once my sewing room and I demonstrate at 10, 12, 2 and 4.    

If you would like to be put on a mailing list for the Artisan Tour catalog, please contact  elaine@stoneflowerpottery.com or info@alleganyartisans.com. 

For more information about Allegany Artisans explore www.alleganyartisans.com. 

Upcoming Events:

Lily Dale Victorian Weekend - Sunday July 13, 2008 in Lily Dale, NY 

Featured Artist at Silver Lake  - Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 1 to 5 p.m.  - Demonstration/Show/Sale

Find Charley and Betsey Orlando in the same location 2 weeks later. 

This is information about the Silver Lake community from their website:

"The Silver Lake Institute sits on the east bank of Silver Lake, along the water's edge, extending back up the hill, almost to the screen of the Silver Lake Drive-In.  Like its counterpart, Chautauqua, the Institute was founded in the late 1800's as a Methodist Assembly camp for Bible study and spiritual training. 

Complete with an outdoor auditorium and Hall of Philosophy, the Institute was a hotbed of religious activity.  Outdoor revivals and services were common.  The auditorium burned early on, and the Hall of Philosophy is no more.  Epworth Hall, however, is undergoing major renovations to restore it to its original splendor.  Donations to this cause are being collected today.

The Silver Lake Depot (Train Station) was also located along the waterfront on the Institute grounds.  Almost directly across from the Hoag Memorial Art Gallery (also known as the Library), which still stands today.  Alas, the train station is no more.  Summer art programs are still held throughout the summer in the Hoag, however.

Today the institute is a wealth of history and activity."  Learn more at SilverLakeView.com.

 Cuba Garlic Festival -  September 13 & 14, 2008, Route 305 South, Cuba, NY

This info is from 2007:  This is a special event featuring 8 Allegany Artisans.  Dick Lang and I will do pottery demonstrations on my small potter's wheel.  Russ Allen will bring his miniature lathe and make table and chair legs and work on other miniature furniture projects.  Betsy Orlando will demonstrate doll making and I'll tell you that in her hands a tiny knot of thread turns a ball into a face with character.  Bob Chaffee will carve all day (also making faces with character) and Laurie Johnson will demonstrate making her Wear Bear Hats.  Trina Allen will work on Jewelry (pouring ceramic garlic ear rings in a method she developed) and Sarah Phillips, well, you never know which of her many skill areas she will demonstrate.  We will all be in one large tent so stop and visit our Artisan's Alley.

21st Allegany Artisans Studio Tour - October 18 & 19, 2008 

At 3180 Riverside Drive, Wellsville - 585 593 6345 - Hot Cider and homemade cookies and brownies inside and pottery demonstrations in the garage - visit, look, learn, and maybe decide that one of my pieces of pottery was made just for you - personalized plates, bowls, mugs and banks made to order.

Holiday Studio Show Friendship, NY - December 6 & 7, 2008   10 till 4 both days

At Peg Cherre's home in Friendship on Pangburn Road.  Peg opens her home to a few area artists.  She keeps hot mulled cider on the stove, coffee brewing on the counter and we all put snacks and goodies on the kitchen table.  Eat, visit and shop in low pressure.  Gift wrap is the norm so you can go home with the shopping and wrapping finished and you'll have hand made, one of a kind gifts that will recipients will use (and remember you for) for years or decades.  Visit Peg at www.secondwindjewelry.com to see her work and look at www.greencirclegrove.com for work by Kristen and Meredith.

 From Elaine: 

I "sign" my stoneware pottery with a flower stamp, actually an antique button.  I've used this button for 30 years and can't remember where I found it but my husband, Rick, suggested it would be a neat and tidy signature.  Of course, it's small and it would be in danger of being lost or reprocessed into clay so it has to be embedded into something larger - like a chair spindle, painted green to stand out in the gooey clay. 

My work is high fired, functional, stoneware pottery, glazed in whites blues, greens, raspberry and a deep blue-green called Geeze Louise.  It's all safe for your dishwasher and microwave.  I make bowls (square and round), cookie jars, piggy banks, nightlights, Mommy vases, mugs, platters and a variety of kitchen items.   Most of what I make has a sprig attached - a clay version of a bit of lace.

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