Arts and Crafts

In my last post, I said I would post some "in-progress" photos of the new 4"x4" tile I am working on for the retail shop at Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff Estate, which is located near Buffalo, New York. As promised, here they are: First picture: Almost finished sculpting. At this point, I showed it to my husband and he immediately said it reminded him of a Buffalo nickel, which thrilled me. Buffalo nickels (made from 1913- 1938) were a source of inspiration for this piece, but I hadn't told him. His comment felt like high praise! Second Picture: Ready to pour the plaster for the mold. Last...

It is an honor for me to announce that Emu Tile are now available in the retail shop at Graycliff Estate, in Derby, NY. Graycliff was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1926 and 27 on the shore of Lake Erie. It was rescued from demolition in the late 1990s, and has been thoughtfully restored by the Graycliff Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the one of a kind property. To learn more about Graycliff Estate and plan a visit, go to graycliffestate.org Because ginkgo leaves were one of Mr. Wright's favorite motifs, the first batch of tiles I sent included many ginkgo tiles. Here...

This is a very special kitchen. I have been holding onto these photos for months, hesitating to post them out of fear that my write up won't do them justice. But the reality is, photos this nice speak for themselves! They need to be shared and now is the time. So without further ado, behold the kitchen of Sue and Ted R: The plant and animal themed tiles are all Emu Tile, naturally (glaze is "leaf green.) The surrounding field tiles and decorative border tiles were made by another fine Ohio tile maker, Seneca Tile (glazes are "celadon," "eggshell," and "evergreen"). Over the stove...

McKay Bricker Gallery, in Kent, Ohio has been very good to me. I am extremely grateful for all that gallery owners Cass and Bob have done to promote my art over the years, so I decided to express my appreciation by making a handmade tile version of their ubiquitous oval shaped Black Squirrel logo. If you live in Northeast Ohio you have almost certainly seen the design. Here in Kent, it seems as though ever other car has one of these bumper stickers: (this is the one on my car!) Bob and Cass had these stickers made to celebrate black squirrels which are numerous in the area, and have become our unofficial...

It has been way too long since I have posted customer installation pictures! Especially since I have been sitting on some really nice ones, including these: This pretty kitchen features a classic color palette of white, black and gray. The backsplash is a consists a combination of painted wood paneling and tile. The tile above the cook top is a mix of natural stone and ceramic tile. The centerpiece is a 6"x6" "Tree of Life" tile made by yours truly.The picture at the top takes a closer look. I love how this installation shows you don't have to use a lot of handmade tiles...

Oh my goodness, I can hardly believe that May is almost over and I haven't posted this yet. It is a great honor for me to be included in the talented group of tile artists whose work is currently being shown at indigenous gallery in Cincinnati, OH. Fortunately, the show runs through June 15th, so there is still time to check it out! For more information, visit www.indigenouscraft.com  

I am happy to add JF Tile & Stone Studio in Carson City, NV to the list of galleries who carry my work. JF Tile is a small business run by the talented Jeannie Fung-Donaire, a woman who appreciates unique and handmade tiles and knows how to integrate them into her clients homes.  If you live near Carson City and are not sure where to begin on your tile project, make sure you pay a visit to their sunny showroom. JF Tile can help you with all aspects of your project, from planning and tile selection to installation.  Address:  JF Tile & Stone Studio 4611...

I have been busy! I just added 10 brand new tiles to my online store. Ok, only one of them is a completely new design, but all ten of them have never before been available in these sizes. I resized many old favorites, including the woodpecker which now comes in the 2"x2" size: The elm tree can be ordered as a 4"x4" or a 6"x6": The mermaid is now available in 4"x4", instead of only 2"x2" The grasshopper & preying mantis have been shrunk down to 2"x2". The spider is completely new. The mantis also grew to 4"x4" My dog tiles used to only come in the 2"x2" size,...