Not for display only!

Recently a woman purchased a set of Jean Elton's hand-painted dishes and brought them home to put them on display.  Her young son was so excited to see them and immediately asked if they could be used for dinner.  "No!" She answered.  "Those are too nice to use, they are only for display!"Her son was so disappointed.  "Why is it all the nice things in this house are only for display?"While she was right that Jean Elton hand-painted dishes are lovely for use on display, they are durable enough to be used every day!  And if you'd like to see the whole process, check back in a few days for a video of the making of the plates, from start to finish.

"I just LOVE the mugs"

You've seen how the mugs are made, but do people actually enjoy using them?  Don't take our word for it, take Sandra's, an avid fan of Jean Elton, especially the mugs.

I just LOVE the mugs – they are the BEST I have every owned – from a drinking perspective, and art form – they are simply the BEST and everyone should own a set of these......Love them!!!!

Jean Elton through the Decades: The 70's

Their journey with clay began in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1973, where Lois and Bill fell in love with pottery.  They learned there was to be a class at the military rec center on pouring molds by an instructor who had an MFA in pottery.  Upon arriving at the rec center, however, they were disappointed to learn the class was not on pouring molds, but on using the potter's wheel.  But Providence intervened because their whole lives changed that night.  They loved working on the wheel and they spent many nights and every weekend at that rec center to learn more.  While Bill continued working on the wheel, Lois began hand-building slab teapots.  Looking back now, she says, "They were hysterical!"In 1974, they moved to Heilbronn, Germany.  They had a small wheel installed in their kitchen, so they could continue what was then only a hobby.They also had a small updraft kiln on their balcony, which they had shipped from the States.  The kiln used two propane tanks, located on the ground below.  The tanks were intended for home heating, but when they were used for firing a kiln (which used the gas at a much faster rate), the tanks would freeze over, even in warm weather.  Bill would have to jump over the balcony to keep switching which propane tank the kiln was connected to, in order to keep the other tank from freezing.The pictures below show some of their work while in Germany.Finally, in 1977, they returned to Lawton, Oklahoma where Jean Elton Studio was born.  "Jean" for Lois's middle name, and "Elton" for Bill's.  The Studio was their first child, an intermingling of their ideas and creativity, and of course, their mutual love of pottery.  They displayed their work in a small gallery in Lawton, as well as the "Quadrangle", a gallery in Dallas (see photos below).  Lois remembers that at one point, there was a break-in at the gallery in Lawton.  The only items stolen were a painting and a piece of her pottery.  "That was kind of flattering!" she says now.  The thief had good taste!In 1978, they moved to Quechee, New Hampshire and Jean Elton had a gallery on Main Street.  They shared the gallery with a well-known painter and selected which paintings would appear in their gallery from her home.  While there, they also selected several photographs taken by the painter's husband.  Years later, he was featured as one of the "Seven New Prominent Artists in New England" at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.  He credited Jean Elton Studio and Gallery with his discovery.Then in 1979, they moved to Hanover, New Hampshire.  They made friends with the Margolises, who allowed them to use their basement as a pottery studio.  Around that time, Lois began feeling insecure about her artistry.  People wondered to her how she could be so feminine and delicate, yet create these large primitive pieces.  Dr. Margolis noticed Lois's insecurity and told her the story, "From the Journal of a Leper", written by John Updike.  He was trying to tell her that what people saw of her was not actually what she was on the inside.As you can see from the photographs below, they still have many of the pieces they made from Germany, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire.  If you are familiar with their work from today, you can see the similarities and the differences.  They have learned a lot over the years, but the pieces sitting in their kitchen today remind them from where they have come.Keep checking back for a continuation of Jean Elton through the Decades: The 80's!

Facebook, Twitter, and Other JE News

Many of you may be reading this blog because we now have a Facebook and Twitter presence.  But for those of you who read and do not know, please check us out on both!  If you are on Facebook, become a fan!  Or follow us on Twitter here.In other news, starting in the new year, Jean Elton's online gallery will become a fully fledged store.  Instead of ordering via email or phone, you will be able to shop online.  Check on the site in January for its new look!Meanwhile, happy holidays and merry Christmas from all of us here at Jean Elton Studio and Gallery.

Corporate Gifts

Around this time of year, the artists at Jean Elton Studio and Gallery are quite busy with a number of corporate gift orders.  You have seen the Making of the Mug, but in addition to pressing mugs, they have been pressing plates and building bowls.  It is not an easy process, especially considering the orders are anywhere from 50 to 150!  But at Jean Elton, they love those kind of orders!It usually starts around September, because in order to complete larger orders, they need plenty of time!  A busy professional will pick the piece that they want (mug, plate, etc.) and then pick an accompanying glaze.  For an extra special touch, they may purchase a stamp with the company's logo to be stamped onto each piece.  Jean Elton will keep the stamp so that each year, the professional can purchase an additional piece to match their previous years' gifts.Over the next several months, the pieces will be pressed or built (depending on the item), trimmed and cleaned up, fired in a bisque firing, glazed, and then fired again.  The items are then packed and ready to be shipped!Keep this in mind next year, as you wonder what to get for your employees, customers, or clients!  And don't forget to order a stamp for that extra special touch.

Jean Elton through the Decades: Introduction

Though this blog is relatively new, Jean Elton Studio and Gallery has been around for decades. It is a business owned and run by William and Lois Barker, and has spanned the length of their 35-year marriage. Dishes that they made over 30 years ago are still in their cabinets and used every day.They began in 1973 in Lawton, Oklahoma when Bill was in the military.  Lois would go to a local rec center and build her signature coiled vases.  Then, in 1974, they moved to Germany, where Lois showed her artwork in military craft shows in Stuttgart.  In 1977, they moved back to Oklahoma and their pieces were in a gallery in Oklahoma City, as well as The Galleria in Dallas, Texas.  In 1979, they moved to VT and continued to work and show their pieces.  Eventually, after moving a few more times, in 1986 they moved back to Connecticut and built a studio. It started with a potter's wheel and a small kiln and evolved into what it is today.  Now, they continue to develop new designs for their artwork and dinnerware, which you have seen and will continue to see on this site, as well as in their store.For a more detailed history, keep checking this blog for the new series "Jean Elton Through the Decades".  You will learn how the business started and see the pottery (and the artists!) evolve through the years.

Shopping at Jean Elton from Home

Can't make it to the Holiday Show today or tomorrow?  You're in luck!  Take some time to browse the gallery below and, if you see something you like, feel free to place an order!  We can't guarantee that specific item will still be available (although it can't hurt to ask!), but we are happy to duplicate items if we can.Click twice for a large picture.

2009 Holiday Handcraft Show: A Preview

This upcoming weekend is the 2009 Holiday Handcraft Show featuring Jean Elton art, dinnerware, and ornaments.  Not quite sold yet on coming?  Here are some pictures to help convince you!

Out of the Kiln

Yesterday we did a glaze firing in our gas kiln.  Unloading a glaze firing is always a highlight for me.  I love to see how the colors come out and to see all of our hard work pay off in a beautiful finished product.  This firing went up to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit and takes a full 24 hours to reach that and then cool back down.  Because I am too impatient to allow it to cool all the way, we usually open it at 375 degrees.  This is OK to do and does not affect the glazes, but you do have to be careful when unloading at this temperature.  The pieces are very hot!   I wanted to share the experience with you, so below you will see a gallery of me unloading the kiln and the pieces as they come out.

Make sure to check back next week when we give you a picture preview of the upcoming Christmas show!  You'll see some familiar art work on display.

Another special feature...

We all know how beautiful the ornaments have turned out to be, but did you know they can also be personalized?

Just use a fine point Sharpie to write your personalized note on the back.  It can be anything from a simple "to/from" note to a short message for your loved one.  More ideas:

• Use them as gift tags to top presents
• Give them as gifts to teachers, students, employees, and other friends
• Give them as your yearly Christmas ornament to your children
• They also make great stocking stuffers!

The prices range from $2.75 to $4.25, so order yours today!