After an extensive interview about my work and what I do each day in the studio, Etsy published the article on their site on April 1st.

Check out the full interview by clicking here.

Pick up your handmade Valentine for $18 each at the studio this week, from 9:30-12 Tuesday, 10-3 Wednesday, 10-3 Thursday, and 10-1 Friday (in case anyone is celebrating Valentine’s Day a little late!).

Because I’ve taken a part-time job as the Writing Consultant for East Tennessee State University’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, I’ve had to block out some new regular hours for the studio for the next few months.

My new position (you can learn more about it here) is mostly in the evenings, so my availability for people wanting to take classes in the evenings, or drop by to do a little shopping after work, is limited, but not gone! I won’t have regular evening hours scheduled in the studio, but you are always welcome to call or e-mail and schedule a time outside my listed hours to come by, or schedule a class for some nights and weekends. Happy New Year!

Burning Fork Studio regular hours for January-May 2013 are:

• Monday: 9 a.m.-Noon
• Tuesday: 9 a.m.-Noon
• Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Thursday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m.-Noon

You’ll experiment with form and texture in this fun exploration of hand building with clay. You’ll make picture frames to glazed bisqued ware. While making these projects you’ll learn how to roll out and cut clay, attaching pieces of clay, drawing in wet clay, creating upright forms and glazing. You’ll make four projects during this course.

This is a four-session class, held each Tuesday in February from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

To find out more information about the course or to register, please click here to be taken to UT’s Non-Credit Programs website.

Also, don’t forget that these artists will be at the Market Square Farmers Market “Holiday Market” on Saturday’s, Dec. 15th and 22nd. Click here to visit the Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team website, or click here to visit the team’s Etsy.com page and learn more about our team’s more than 200 members! Happy Holidays!

Sassy Glass Studio

Anika Toro

Intertwined

Smathers Creations

Finding Focus

Zuparoo

Burning Fork Studio is proud to take part in Small Business Saturday, and I encourage everyone to Shop Small® with us on November 24th.

Plus, we’re having a special Small Business Saturday offer! Visit my Etsy.com page on November 24th and qualify for Free Shipping on various items. You can find my Etsy page here.

Most importantly, get out there, Shop Small, and let’s make this November 24th the biggest day of the year for small business.

To learn more, visit www.shopsmall.com.

For Immediate Release

(August 17, 2012) – KNOXVILLE, TN – The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of hand-built lace pottery by Lahla Deakins of Burning Fork Studio, opening Friday, October 5, at 5:00 PM in the display case of the Emporium Center in Knoxville. Deakins combines intricate lace patterns with simple forms to make variety of functional ware, from tumblers and serving dishes to picture frames and jewelry.

Lahla Deakins, a native of Johnson City, began taking pottery classes at the University of Tennessee as a journalism student, and instantly fell in love. After working as a copy editor and later receiving her Masters of Liberal Studies at East Tennessee State University, she decided to turn her artistic passion into a business, creating Burning Fork Studio in late 2010. The studio is located at West Jackson Workshops, 514 W. Jackson Ave., Suite 103, where Deakins creates her pottery and offers classes, workshops, and pottery parties for students age 4-adult.

“I’m inspired by vintage china patterns as well as sleek, modern forms, and I’ve always been drawn to rich textures,” says Deakins. “I love experimenting with pressing different types and patterns of lace into the clay—each one gives a piece an entirely unique personality.” Deakins uses lace she has collected from thrift shops, a local bridal shop’s scrap bin, and her own wedding dress, which inspired her to offer bridal lace special orders. Customers can bring her lace from their own wedding dress (or other keepsake lace) to have a custom vase, picture frame, or other piece designed. For more information about lessons and special orders, visit www.burningforkstudio.com.

Deakins’ pottery will be displayed at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, from October 5-26, 2012. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on October 5 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, October 6, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

About the Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission (www.tn.gov/arts) and First Tennessee Foundation (www.firsttennesseefoundation.com).

Contact: Suzanne Cada
PO Box 2506
Knoxville, TN 37901
(865) 523-7543
sc@knoxalliance.com
www.knoxalliance.com

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This summer I spent two weeks attending a workshop at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, taught by wonderfully talented potter  Lana Wilson. It covered hand-building techniques, plus Lana’s crazy cool slip decorating methods. We also had the treat of a guest artist for a couple of days, so we got some instruction from Sandi Pierantozzi, one of my absolute favorite potters ever!!

The best part of the whole workshop (where I learned to make several new pieces, including beautiful hand-built bowls!) was watching the contrast between Sandi’s and Lana’s work styles. Funny woman Lana calls herself “the queen of low standards,” which you certainly can’t tell if you’ve ever seen her work, but means she doesn’t stress over each seam and rim, and also just kind of likes to see what happens when, say, you slam the clay on the table 10 times. Sandi is more of a perfectionist, paying careful attention to measurements, angles, and symmetry in each piece. But both artists love texture and surface decoration (as do I!), and both produce stunning work, just with different ways of getting there. They were also charming, funny, and seemed genuinely delighted to share with us their experience and techniques, making the workshop a wonderfully comfortable learning environment—and making me energized and excited to create new work with all my new skills!