Arts and Crafts

There is so much tile news from the last month, there is no way I can put it all into just one blog entry. But I have to start somewhere if I want to catch up, so here goes! Today's entry is about some of the new tiles I have been working on. None of the designs are completely new, but they have been resized or reconfigured in some way. The first one was commissioned by a customer. I almost refused the job because I have been crazy busy, but then I couldn't get the idea out of my head...

Since returning from my hiatus, I have been blissfully busy in my newly clean & organized studio. But I have let this blog (and Facebook and twitter) lapse because I have too much to say and I don't know where to begin. Closing the studio for the first time felt really scary, but it was so worth it. Coming back, I feel energized & excited, it is like I am falling in love with making tiles all over again. I realize now that occasionally taking time off is essential for me to refill my well of inspiration, and clean and improve...

I love this time of year. I wouldn’t want to live with winter all the time, but I am making an effort to appreciate its beauty while it lasts. The days are getting longer now, which gives me a psychological boost.  It is a great time to think about new beginnings, and reflect on where I’ve been. I am in the midst of my first-ever total shut down of tile production. Prior to this, Emu Tile was open continuously since 2005. In the early years, that was fine. There were slow periods to work on new designs, maintain my workspace,...

Did you miss the deadline to order tiles from our website this year? You can still buy Emu Tiles at a number of "bricks and mortar" retailers while our online store is closed! some of the tiles recently delivered to McKay Bricker Gallery If you are near Akron, Ohio, visit Hazel Tree Interiors Holiday Open House today between noon and 8pm. I delivered a nice selection of tiles there yesterday for this event. If you can't make it to the open house, stop by anytime they are open during the holiday season to see a delightful collection of work by...

..in a wood shop. More of the tiles I sent out last week have been installed! The good people of Woodcreek Furniture just sent me photographs of three projects they completed using my handmade tiles: two decorative mirrors and one Arts & Crafts style wooden frame. The frame looks so right around my 6"x6" Tree of Life tile in Watercolor Blue Glaze: Project two is a mirror that is surrounded by four of my 2"x2" animal tiles in spearmint glaze:  A close up of the animal tiles appears at the bottom of this page. Speaking of animals, I love the...

I sent out the first of my new rooster and bee tiles four short days ago, so I am surprised and delighted that I just received pictures of some of them installed. That was fast! This a great tile layout for a kitchen. I love how the slate wall tiles extend onto the counter in stripes. (more pictures below) The cinnamon glaze on the art tiles plays off the reds & browns in the stone. These designs have significance for the homeowners; a rooster and bee are historical symbols of the town in which they live. This local connection makes the installation...

Blue glazes, that is! I mailed out almost 200 tiles yesterday; among them was this set of aquatic tiles glazed in Pacific Blue and Watercolor Blue: Above: assorted 2"x2" handmade tiles.  (more pictures below)   Below: Blues are a natural choice for 1"x6" wave tiles: The lighter color is "Pacific Blue" the darker one is "Watercolor Blue." Here they are on 4"x4" Frog tiles: These particular tiles are on the way to their new home, but fortunately I do have plenty of both glazes left so I can always make more blue tiles. That makes me happy. Sometimes it is good to have the...

Tree art is a natural choice for fireplace decor, since fireplaces burn wood & wood comes from trees. Using representations of trees in hearth design pays homage to the trees that are burned there. These installation photos I recently received are a great illustration of this idea. And as an added bonus, one of tree tiles featured is my brand new 4"x4" oak leaf tile. It looks great installed! Close up of the oak leaf tile in the afternoon sun. The color of the glaze looks so right with the stone tile and wood floor. Earth tones and neutrals blend together...