News From Ephraim

May 2004
Vol. 6 No. 2

Yes, we know we said that we weren’t going to do a whole new catalog again this year, but, well, things change. Due to the suspension of tile production (see article below), our body of work for 2004 changed significantly. Because so many of the items that were shown in last year’s catalog (#8) are no longer available, we decided that we needed to do a new catalog again this year.

If you are on our postal mailing list, your copy of Catalog #9 is on its way to you. And what a catalog it turned out to be! Check out the new flip-out glaze color chart inside the back cover. You  won’t want to miss our new Antique Green glaze, shown on page 15. We also have a new glaze called Prairie Grass (page 2), and more pieces shown in the popular Pumpkin. Happy browsing!

If you're not on our postal mailing list but want to be, please email Kristin at EFP.

As of March 26th, 2004, EFP indefinitely suspended production of tiles, lidded boxes, and paperweights. We do not know if or when production of these items will resume.

The reason our company exists at all is due to the talents, interests, and strengths of our artists and employees. If something doesn't ring true for us, or if we're not interested in a certain type of product, we won't make it. Likewise, as the interests of our employees and our employees themselves change, what we make changes, too.

Todd was the person at EFP with the talent and interest in making tiles and other pressed and molded items. The strengths and interests of our remaining artists lie in throwing, sculpting, and glazing. For now, we will be concentrating our efforts on what our remaining artists do best: making pottery.

Todd has finished making the tiles that were on order prior to March 26th. Because there are not many surplus items, we didn’t think that there was a way to make the ordering process fair and equitable for 8000+ customers. For this reason, we have decided to reserve the surplus tiles, boxes, and paperweights and sell them at the following shows: Arts & Crafts Grand Californian, Arts & Crafts San Francisco, and Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend. Information about these shows can be found on page 3 of the newsletter. If you are interested in purchasing these items, please come to these shows. Sorry, but we will not be able to reserve items for customers in advance. A list of  tiles, boxes, and paperweights that are slated for each of these shows will be posted on the “Events” page of this web site.   There will be a limit of 3 of these items per customer. See the Events page for more details.

We hope you will join us in wishing Todd all the best for the future.

L

Wanted a tile but can’t make it to one of the shows in California?

J

All may not be lost!

Some of our retailers still have tiles in stock, or will be receiving their final orders soon. Click here to view a list of our retailers. If you need additional assistance, please email Marilynn, and she’ll try to find a retailer who can help you.

The suspension of tile production (see story above) drove this home to many collectors. While suspension of an entire category of work is an unusual occurrence, Todd’s departure proves that it can happen.

The interests of our artists continue to change and develop. Some work that we’ve done in the past, we just plain aren’t interested in doing anymore. Also, the content of some raw materials can fluctuate, and sometimes raw materials become permanently or temporarily unavailable. Changes in raw materials can make it impossible to continue to create some pieces and glazes. All these things can cause us to discontinue items.

When it’s feasible to do so, we will continue to give advance notice of impending retirements in our printed newsletter and on this web site. We really hate to disappoint our collectors, so if there’s a piece that you just can’t live without, please don’t wait to purchase it. When you get around to it, it may just be too late.

RETIRING SOON...

The following items will be completing their limited edition of 500 pieces very soon:

#061 Northwoods Pine Cone Cabinet Vase ($68)

#226 Fiddlehead Vase ($98)

#309 Feathery Leaf ($118)

Call 888-704-POTS to order yours now!

Limit 1 per customer

The following pieces have been discontinued since the February issue of our newsletter was released.

#119 Copper Eucalyptus Vase
#120 Copper Dragonfly Vase
#126 Pacific Eucalyptus Bowl
#201 Prairie Low Bowl
 #221 Bleeding Heart Vase
 #229 Fruitful Vine Vase
 #236 Deerfield Vase
 #247 Copper Maple Seed
 #271 Ginkgo Paperweight
 #272 Deep-Sea Octopus Paperweight
 #317 Water Dragonfly
 #324 Dark Forest
#827 Morning Glory Vase
 #828 Morning Glory Cabinet Vase
All tile, boxes, and paperweights (see above)

For a full list of retired and discontinued items, click  here.

Who designed the following new pieces? Can you identify our artists’ unique styles? Answers appear at the bottom of this page (come on now, no cheating!)

What a fun contest to judge this year! A big “thank you” goes to all of the entrants  - you really outdid yourselves! Hundreds of photos were submitted by 48 different collectors, each with his or her own individual style. The 20 winning entries were chosen based on adherence to contest rules, composition, clarity, aesthetic, mood, and how well they represented our work and the ideals of our studio.

Since we wound up doing a new catalog this year (see above), we had the pleasant task of choosing which beautiful entry would grace the cover. This year, the honor goes to Jim Spencer of Denton, Texas. You can read about Jim on page 2 of the catalog, and view another of his outstanding photos on page 12.

A list of the 20 winning entrants appears at right. Click here to view their winning photos. Each winner received a Swirling Leaves Cabinet Vase in our new Antique Green glaze. This glaze option was done especially for the winners and will not be available on this piece to other collectors. The prize pieces were also numbered and impressed with a special mark representing our Photo Contest. How will we top this next year? You’ll have to wait and see!

The contest prize:
Swirling Leaves Cabinet Vase in Antique Green

Photo Contest Winners
(in alphabetical order)

Janet Akcakal
Edgar Angelone
Leigh Armistead
Dede Bangs/Michael Haeger
Matt Brunner/Clay Yeoman
Jim Carlson
Sue Carrizales
Linda Clerkin
Nancy Devaney
Michael Glick
Jan Jaworski
Trish O’Connor/Russ Peterson
Eric O’Malley
Christine Robbins
Deb Sahd
Don Snell
Jane Tormey
Peg Wachowski
Toni Williams

A schedule of the shows we will be doing for the remainder of this year is posted on the "Events" page of this web site. We hope that you’ll stop by to say “hi” when we’re in your neighborhood!

With our lead time for filling orders currently 18 weeks, attending a show provides instant gratification for your pottery addiction. It’s hard to believe, but the holidays will be here before we know it, and a show is also a great place to get a head start on your holiday shopping.

Please note that we will not be participating in the Wisconsin Pottery Association Show and Sale this year. With a heavy volume of orders already in process, we thought it best to concentrate on filling those orders instead of making more pottery for another show. For those of you who usually visit us at WPA, we invite you to make the short drive out to Deerfield and visit Dovetail Antiques that weekend.

For more details about these shows, including lists of tiles, boxes, and paperweights slated for each show, click here. We hope to see you at one or more of these events!

Large Climbing Bear Show Piece
17" h at rim
Weight: 16.1 lbs
$1000.00

Other pieces for reference to show scale [Wild Iris, Brussels, White Pine (3.2 lbs.)]

We try to bring some special pieces to each show. This large Climbing Bear Vase (17"h at the rim; 16.1 lbs.) is destined for the Arts & Crafts Grand Californian in Anaheim. Show pieces are only available at shows and cannot be ordered at other times. Different pieces may be brought to each show. In order to find out what the show pieces are, you have to come to the show! Sorry, but we don’t reserve pieces in advance.

Valley Ridge Art Studio

Wherever you go, there you are.

Earlier this month I attended a writing workshop at Valley Ridge Art Studio. Valley Ridge is located in an area of southwestern Wisconsin that was left untouched by the glaciers that covered the rest of the state during the last Ice Age. A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, I had never visited this area before. It was beautiful—green valleys, wooded hills, old red barns. Valley Ridge sits at the top of a hill, surrounded by pastures and woodlands. It was gracious country living at its best—peace and quiet and gorgeous views.

Since I left Valley Ridge, I’ve found myself longing to purchase a house in the country. Ah...fresh air, no noise, space for my dogs to run. It would be like a dream, like heaven on earth. Of course, after giving it a bit of logical thought, I’m  quite certain that it wouldn’t be the heaven of my imagination. The owners of Valley Ridge work hard to make it a place of beauty and serenity where their guests can retreat from their everyday responsibilities.

My parents have lived in their former vacation home for several years now. My mom was recently interviewed for a story about making your vacation home your permanent residence. When asked by the reporter what advice she would give to someone considering such a move, she said, “You used to have a retreat, and now your retreat has become your home.” It changes everything.

The view from Valley Ridge

Why bother to “get away” unless you have something to get away from? I love my neighborhood. It’s a place where folks chat on their front lawns, parents play outside with their kids, and little girls run out to pet my dogs when we walk. But when I’ve had enough of the noisy lawnmowers, I can leave for a while. In a place of peace and quiet and absence of responsibility, I can re-experience just being. It’s the rarity of it that makes it so sweet.

Answers to Who designed it?

#425—Jesse Wolf
#420—Kevin Hicks
#405—Kevin Hicks
#400—Laura Klein

Ephraim Faience Pottery - PO Box 168 - Deerfield, WI 53531
Tel 888-704-POTS/ 608-764-1302 - Fax 608-764-8439