The Big Brothers Big Sisters Southwest Flair A-Fair is coming up soon, November 5 to 7 (Friday–Sunday), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, at Plaza Palomino. It’s an excellent chance to get started on your holiday shopping while supporting a terrific cause. I will be in my usual location, booth 88, in the east parking lot, close to La Placita Cafe. I will also have work up in Flux Gallery in the plaza.
As I get ready for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Southwest Flair A-Fair starting this Friday, I have been enjoying having a few days in the studio to make new vessels. Knowing my time was limited, I have focused on small vessels, which I always love. There is real sweetness in making things that just fit in a cupped hand. At the same time, I have been trying to finish a slightly more ambitious piece, a mesquite jar inspired by a revisiting of the classic book How to Wrap Five Eggs, about Japanese packaging. I am making a lid of shaped and dyed half-inch oak boards. As soon as the finish cures (which seems to be taking longer than expected—perhaps because of the dye I used—namely, Fiebing’s black leather dye), I will glue the handles to the lid and the vessel will be ready to go. The body of the jar is simple but handsome. I wirebrushed the exterior of the mesquite to give it an almost clay feel.