Market season 2015 is starting soon! and about Jiro, the samurai farmer

I just emerged from hibernation.  I stayed cooped up in my studio, building up my inventory throughout the winter, but finally the market season is starting up again!!  Here is my schedule for May:

Saturdays ( May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30th) - Art Court by Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30am to 1:30pm

Sundays ( May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31st) - Orenco Farmers Market, 10am to 2pm

The  picture shows cereal bowls I made for my friend's kiddos.  I am so bad about keeping in touch with friends who live far away ( maybe because I am anti-Facebook ), and this is the only way I know how to show my appreciation for our friendship.  I hope they will enjoy the bowls :-)

I want to introduce a wonderful young man, who lives in Miyagi, Japan, running his own organic farm - I call him, "Jiro, the samurai farmer".  I met him a couple of years ago at one of the markets.  He was learning organic farming in Oregon.  After his time in Oregon, he went back to Japan and started Farm Muraoka from scratch.    Jiro and I agree that "making stuff with our own hands is awesome!"  You can see his work and passion towards his farm with beautiful pictures on his website:

http://farmmuraoka.strikingly.com/

マーケットがいよいよ今年も始まります！　予定は上記のとうりです。　皆様にお会いできますことを楽しみにしています。
今日は素晴らしい若者を紹介させていただきます。　村岡次郎さんは、２年ほど前にオレゴンに農業の研修のために滞在しておられました。　そのころに同じマーケットで出店していたことをきっかけにお会いしたのですが、自分の手でものを作る素晴らしさへの彼の熱い気持ちにとても共感いたしました。その後、次郎さんは日本へ帰国され、宮城県でオーガニック農園を始めました。何もなかった土地に農園を作り、今は立派なお野菜を愛情たっぷりに育てておられます。　彼の活動は村岡農園のホームページでごらんください：http://farmmuraoka.strikingly.com/
みずみずしい野菜たち。。。おいしそうです。　そして、彼が撮影する農園の植物や、生き物たちの写真がこれまた素晴らしい！　遠くにいるので、次郎さんの野菜が食べられないのが残念ですが、応援しています。次郎さんの農業に対する真剣な姿に感銘を受け、”サムライ・ファーマー・ジロウ”と勝手に命名させていただきました。　次郎さん、いつでもオレゴンに遊びにおいで。応援してるよ！　

Holiday Market schedule

The picture shows the special order mugs I made earlier this month for a very special customer.  I was so happy to see that the brown and red of the mug matches the color of rugs in the customer's beautiful home :-)  

Here is the holiday market schedule for the rest of the year:


Nonember 29th and 30th, Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 4pm - Vancouver Holiday Markets
(The Hilton Hotel in Down Town Vancouver, 301 W 6th St. Vancouver, WA 98660)

Decemver 5th and 6th, Friday and Saturday, from 10am to 5pm - Oak Hills Holiday Bazaar
(Oak Hills Rec Center, NW 153rd at Oak Hills Drive, just off NW Cornell Rd)

Decemver 7th, Sunday, from 12 noon to 5pm - McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Holdiay Market
(4045 NW Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro, OR 503-693-8452)

November Holiday Show Schedule & French Butter Dish

Pictures show my new French Butter Dish.  The butter is packed into the lid, then the bottom container holds salted water.  Butter will be upside-down and placed into the water as the lid is closed.  The water creates a seal to keep the air away from the butter, and you are able to keep your butter at room temperature, soft and spreadable.  There are a few tricks when using these things, such as softening the butter at room temperature before packing it in, and changing the water at least once a week.  I had had a few requests from customers in the past, and finally I was able to come up with the shape and design I like :-)  They will be available for purchase at upcoming holiday shows, as well as on my Etsy shop at :
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TohkiyaPottery

Here is my November schedule.
November 16th, Sunday, from 11:00am to 3:00pm - Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County Local Artisans' Craft Show
(22785 NW Birch Street, Hillsboro, OR 97124)

November 29th and 30th, Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 4pm - Vancouver Holiday Markets
(The Hilton Hotel in Down Town Vancouver, 301 W 6th St. Vancouver, WA 98660)

September is here!

I know I am late again... but here is my September schedule:
September 6th, Saturday - Art Court (right by the Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30 to 1:30)
September 7th, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market (10:00 to 2:00)
September 13th, Saturday - Art Court (right by the Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30 to 1:30)
September 20th, Saturday - Art Court (right by the Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30 to 1:30)
September 21st, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market (10:00 to 2:00)

I am also gearing up for the holiday season!  I am going to introduce a new item, French Butter Dish, soon!

Ahhhhhhh! Belated July schedle... and August schedule before I forget again

I totally forgot to update my blog... and it is already the end of the month...

Oh, well. Here is (was) my July schedule!  I only have one more market day left...
July 5th, Saturday -  Art Court at Beaverton Farmers Market (8am to 1:30pm)
July 6th, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market (10am to 2pm)
July 12th, Saturday - Art Court at Beaverton Farmers Market (8am to 1:30pm)
July 18~19th, Fri/Sat - Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood
July 20th, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market (10am to 2pm)
July 26th, Saturday - Art Court at Beaverton Farmers Market (8am to 1:30pm)

Before I forget, I should post my August schedule, too!
August 2nd, Saturday - Art Court at Beaverton Farmers Market (8am to 1:30pm)
August 3rd, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market (10am to 2pm)
August 23rd, Saturday - Art Court at Beaverton Farmers Market (8am to 1:30pm)
August 24th, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Merket (10am to 2pm)
August 30th, Saturday - Art Court at Beaverton Farmers Market (8am to 1:30pm)

 

June market schedule

It's been so much fun to be back at the market!  It's so nice to see customers returning to my booth, telling me how they have been enjoying their yarn bowls or mugs :-)  Yay!
The picture shows wonderful pieces created by my dear friend and her daughter: Squirrel cup (left) and pinch bowls (right).  The squirrel cup has a tail on the back which works as a handle.  How cute!  Now the weather is nicer, it's time to play with clay!
Here is my June schedule:
June 1st - Orenco Farmers Market, 10am to 2pm
June 7th - Art Court, right next to Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30 to 1:30
June 14th - Art Court, right next to Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30 to 1:30
June 15th -  Orenco Farmers Market, 10am to 2pm
June 21st -  Art Court, right next to Beaverton Farmers Market, 8:30 to 1:30
June 22nd - Orenco Farmers Market, 10am to 2pm

2014 market season starts!

It is always exciting to start the market season!  I've been trying to come up with a new item every year, and my new item of 2014 is... (drum roll),  Jewelry Bowl!  I have had a few requests from customers, and I had been thinking about making them.  I will have them at the market this month :-)

Here are the market dates for May:
May 3rd, Saturday - Art Court by Beaverton Farmers Market, from 8:30am to 1:30pm
Mar 4th, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market, from 10am to 2pm
May 10th, Saturday - Art Court by Beaverton Farmers Market, from 8:30am to 1:30pm
May 17th, Saturday - Art Court by Beaverton Farmers Market, from 8:30am to 1:30pm
May 18th, Sunday - Orenco Farmers Market, from 10am to 2pm
May 24th, Saturday - Art Court by Beaverton Farmers Market, from 8:30am to 1:30pm
May 31st, Saturday - Art Court by Beaverton Farmers Market, from 8:30am to 1:30pm