In this issue: Have Some Fun in February! Looking forward to another boring February? Why not add a little excitement to your winter by planning a vacation? Forget Mardi Gras! In February, New Orleans has nothing on Asheville, North Carolina, when Arts and Crafts lovers gather from far and wide for the biggest party of the year: the 14th annual Grove Park Inn Arts and Crafts Conference.
Those of you who have been to this conference in the past know that it lives up to its billing as "the most important weekend of the year for Arts and Crafts collectors." As amazing as it is, the event seems to get even better with each passing year. This year's Conference is sure to be no exception. The finest contemporary craftspeople of the Arts and Crafts renaissance will again be participating, as will antiques dealers from all over the country. The conference also features seminars, workshops, and lectures.
EFP's display at Grove Park is our biggest and most exciting of the year. During the long, cold Wisconsin winter, our artists are holed up in the studio experimenting with new forms and designs. We introduce these experimental pieces to the public at Asheville, along with custom pieces born of collaboration with other talented artists. This year, we plan to bring a unique art vase sculpted on an EFP form by Ed Klein, a talented artist who also happens to be the husband of EFP's new potter, Laura Klein (see story below). We'll also be offering custom lamps made of EFP pottery bases featuring stained glass and copper and mica shades. As always, pieces shown in our catalog will also be available.
We sincerely hope you can join us this year at the Grove Park Inn. You can get more information about the conference by clicking on one of the links below. Kevin, Scott, Jesse and Kristin hope to see you there!
EFP is pleased to welcome Laura Klein, a talented artist with 14 years of experience as a potter, to our staff. Laura joined us last July, and has already made significant contributions, both creatively and productively. Laura's personality is also an asset. "Laura is a calming influence in the studio," affirms fellow potter Kevin Hicks. "Her stories about her kids and her life keep me grounded." (Laura has 3 boys, who range in age from 2 to 17.)
Working at EFP is exciting to Laura because it affords her the possibility to sculpt as well as throw. After nearly a decade and a half as a potter, what motivates her? "I keep doing it because I love it," she says simply.
EFP's first Holiday Event and Seconds Sale was a huge hit with holiday shoppers. Braving freezing temperatures, collectors began lining up outside Dovetail Antiques, EFP's company store, well over an hour before the door opened in order to take advantage of the best selection. Popular items included rare first-year pieces with the 1997 mark, as well as the second-quality, irregular, and journeyman pieces, which were offered at reduced prices. Kevin Hicks, Scott Draves, Laura Klein, and Kristin Zanetti were on hand to sign collectors' purchases. Many collectors took advantage of this unique opportunity to add an original signature to their vases and tiles. A prize drawing was also held, and three lucky collectors got early Christmas presents. The winners were:
We enjoyed meeting and visiting with so many of you at this event. John Mathews, owner of Dovetail Antiques, and all of us at EFP sincerely thank everyone who attended for spending part of their busy holiday season with us.
As announced in the previous issue of News From Ephraim, EFP had its first price increase ever on January 1, 2001. We needed to adjust the prices on some items to reflect the costs involved in making them. The prices on nearly half of the items in Catalog #5 remain unchanged. Those of you who ordered our catalog in the past or have purchased pottery from us should receive an updated price list inserted in your paper copy of this newsletter. If you have Catalog #5 but did not receive an updated price list in the mail with your newsletter, or if you'd like to order Catalog #5 ($6), please call Wendy at EFP (888-704-POTS). Maintaining high standards of quality, and creating work that exhibits character and integrity of design, are of primary importance to us. We always want you to feel good about buying our pottery.
The following pieces, which were retired on January 15, are no longer available:
Those of you who ordered these pieces can expect to receive them starting in late March. Please be aware that the Dragonfly Wall Pockets may ship later, as they take longer to get through the firing process. Please note that the Large Jardiniere, #719, has been discontinued. This piece was originally shown in Catalog #2. View the complete list of
discontinued pieces
Shake, rattle, and roll...NOT what you want to hear when you open your box of pottery! Although we pad pieces with wads of bubble wrap and float them on seas of Styrofoam peanuts, occasionally a piece breaks during shipment. Even though breakage is rare, we wanted to let you know what to do if this situation occurs.
Following these guidelines helps us maximize our reimbursement for loss and damage claims, which in turn helps us keep our shipping costs in check. We appreciate your cooperation.
In the world of art pottery, makers' marks serve important functions. Makers use them to identify their work, so that their pieces aren't misattributed or misrepresented. Collectors use them as an aid in identifying the maker, the date, and the authenticity of the piece they're considering purchasing. In January of each year, we introduce new marks that will be used for all pottery and tile made during the course of the year. Last year, we used three different marks: one each for pottery, tile, and cabinet vases. In 2001, we will use only two marks. A larger, rectangular format will be used for tile and vases with a wider foot. A smaller, circular mark will be used for cabinet vases and other vases with a narrower foot. The foot of each vase also bears the signature of the artist. Here are the marks that will be used in 2001:
Identifying our work is something we take very seriously. We've made our 2001 marks clearer and deeper in order to enhance legibility. We also place tick marks outside the round EFP logo to further differentiate each year's mark. Thinking of our round logo like the face of a clock, the tick marks for this year are at the 12 and 1 positions, representing the year 2001. As a maker of contemporary Arts and Crafts pottery and tile, EFP feels that it is our responsibility to educate collectors about our company and our work. We provide information and remain visible and accessible through our web site, our ads in national publications, exhibiting at Arts and Crafts pottery shows, and this newsletter. You can help, too. When someone asks about our work, please tell them about us, and encourage them to log on to this web site or to call us at 888-704-POTS if they'd like more information. Also, if you come across examples of fraud or misrepresentation of our work, please let us know about it. We appreciate your help in this regard.
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Laura
sculpts koi on an experimental vase.
