Here is an example of a truly local treat for those living in the Northeast! The tradition of eating the new shoots of the Ostrich Fiddlehead Fern that begin to pop up in the forests around Mid-May, is one that is enjoyed by lifelong Mainers and transplants (such as myself) alike. These lovely little green delicacies look so fancy and foreign on the plate, yet they could not be more local.

I cooked up the batch pictured here on Saturday night, stir fried in a little olive oil, along side some grilled, locally raised, chicken breast from Maine-ly Poultry. For recipes, facts and information on fiddleheads check out Maine Fiddleheads.com or The University of Maine’s Facts on Fiddleheads page.

I am very interested in the link between potters and the local foods movement, and I would love to hear about indigenous to your area. What truly local food traditions get you excited? Ramps?…Morels?…Sassafrass? Let me know!

Due to events beyond my control, I was unfortunately unable to attend the Maine Crafts Association workshop weekend at Haystack Mountain School of Craft…bummer! I had planned to assist Jason Green with his workshop there, which I am sure would have been a great experience. I think it is so very important to continue to challenge one’s self as an artist. The flow of ideas created in workshop settings is an invaluable tool to any craftsperson.

However, even though I am unable to attend the workshop, I am still making a contribution to the fund raising auction that will be held at haystack during the weekend. Organizations like Haystack and the Maine Crafts Association rely heavily on donations made by individuals in the community as well as help from craftspeople and artists. Here is a picture of the sweet pot I sent to Haystack for the auction. Let’s all do what we can to help out those organizations which provide such great opportunities to both the community and artists!

As an artist in any medium, it is essential to see as much art or craft as possible. To view new ways of approaching a material allows us to look at our own work in a new way. That’s why I think it’s so great to see galleries and shops featuring online exhibitions that coincide with actual gallery shows. While not a substitute for seeing art in person, these online shows make exposure to a wide range of works and styles so much more accessible for everyone. This is just another example of the internet’s contribution to our new global culture. Check out the Joe Pintz “Sense of Place” show at The Clay Art Center, or Christa Assad’s show at Red Star Studios!

In keeping with my interest in adding more sculptural and modeled elements to my pots, a large part of my current body of work is devoted to “Everything Dog.” I am working on lots of dog bowls, treat jars, big serving bowls for “people food” that depict playfully running dogs, and even some large covered boxes with little happy circus dogs on top!

I think the inspiration for this group of pots surely comes from my two pups and the joy they bring into my life. Daphne (formerly known as Happy) spends the day in the studio with me; as I work I can look over and see her silly antics as she plays with her toys or just catch a glimpse of her as she sleeps. Phthalo, my big furry girl, oversees the whole household with the calm wisdom only a few special dogs possess. I feel the connection between dogs and people is such a special bond, and I hope that this new group of pots will help to celebrate that wonderful partnership!

Just to keep things interesting for myself, I have been adding more and more sculptural and illustrative elements to my pots. Here is a picture of one of my new favorites, a funny, nubbly, little sheep, which has come to reside on the top of a large, round covered jar I handbuilt…as if he is king of the hill. To give this guy his awesome texture, I first formed the basic body of the sheep then covered him in tiny little press molded nubbies. I love the way these nubbies mimic curls of wool…and of course, I eventually added my signature googly eyes!

Having grown up in a home where dogs played a starring role in the family, I always feel most comfortable when I have at least one dog around. Scott and I have been a number of years as a single dog family…Phthalo is our baby, and brings us great joy and companionship. However, we recently began to talk about the idea of bringing a second dog into our life. We knew we wanted to adopt a shelter dog…for my life philosophy, this is the only way to go when choosing a new dog. I started searching petfinder.com and finally settled on adopting “Happy,” a black and white mixed breed girlie from Friends Fur Life, in Tennessee.

So this Saturday, we made the trip to Windham, New Hampshire, where we met Peterson’s Pet Transport, and picked up our new girl! Nothing could have prepared us for the scene that day. The pet transport is a large enclosed horse hauler outfitted inside with a number of individual crates and kennels. As the hauler pulled into the car park, people began to pour out of vehicles and crowd around the trailer door. Then the fun began, as dogs of every shape and size were each led from the kennels and given to their new families or foster homes. It was such an emotional time…if not for all the wonderful people who were willing to adopt these dogs and give them a second chance, these sweet pups would have been euthanized.

Happy has only been with us for a few days, but already she has become one of our little gang. She is so sweet and playful…always keeping the more sedate Phthalo on her toes. Like many shelter dogs, she seems so happy to have been given someone to love. Thank you to Renee Huntley of Friends Fur Life of Tennessee for facilitating her adoption and to everyone else who helped her out along her way!

Somewhat recently, I have begun listening to audiobooks as I work in the studio. I have always been a big reader, and as I have been spending more and more time with clay, I feel at a loss with less time to read. So audiobooks have been a great source of enrichment during the long hours spent working alone. There is just something about listening to a wonderful book as I work with my hands in the clay…when a part of my mind is occupied with processing what I am hearing, the ideas are somehow left to flow more directly into my hands.

Currently, I am listening to Animal, Vegetable, Miracle…A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver. The book, which chronicles the year Kingsolver and her family spent eating only locally grown foods, is described as “part memoir and part food journal.” This witty, enlightening look at the way we as Americans have grown away from whole foods and our connection to the Earth, is read by Barbara Kingsolver herself (along with sidebars from her husband Steven L. Hopp and daughter Camille Kingsolver.)

I truly feel that it is our duty to seek out good, whole, sustainably grown foods. Think about where your food comes from…how far did it travel to get to your table? Make a trip to the Local Farmer’s Market. Help kids learn about healthy eating. Plant a few of your favorite veggies or herbs…even if you only have space for a window box. Simply take time to gather fresh ingredients and cook dinner. Through tiny steps like these, we can begin to develop a healthy food culture in our country.