These types of trays have become very popular at my craft fairs. They are lightweight yet strong (made out of stoneware), and run anywhere from 12 to 24 inches long. The bowls are separate, unlike typical “chip and dips” – which makes for a more versatile serving platter. I usually display them on a table at the front of my booth. Almost everyone walking by, including children, automatically put their hands out and run their fingers across the textured surface.
The trays are hand-built and impressed with leftover rubber cut-outs marked for disposal that I retrieved from an industrial rubber manufacturing company. The last tray is from my Little Gems series and glazed in a green microcrystalline glaze that went golden after I misprogrammed the kiln’s holding sequence at the end of a firing. A keeper in my book…in other words, not for sale. I’ll most likely never be able to match that color again.
Beautiful pieces, I’m so happy I clicked over your way and saw your work this morning.
I’ll add you to my blogrolls on One Painting a Day and I Live on a Farm so others can find you as well.
Best wishes,
firefly
Thanks, firefly!
Very beautiful, I love the pattern. What did you use to make it??
Hi Eva, I used rubber cut-outs to make the patterns. I got them at a rubber manufacturing company. They come in big sheets that I cut up into different shapes and sizes. Glad you like the result!
They’re perfect for chips, dips, and veggies! I never have enough platters and end up using little bowls and plates:(
They are all wonderful, and as you say the colors in the last one are extraordinary (a happy accident as painter Bob Ross would say). I love the use of different sizes of mat on the first one, it reminds me of snake skin for some reason. I also like how you repeated the pattern in the cup on the third one.
They look great! I love the idea of the serving trays. And the textures are wonderful. Good luck on both of your craft fairs. May you have an empty truck to go home with!!
I’m glad that you’re keeping the one that you know you probably will never be able to duplicate (though, given your talent and creativity, I don’t think I’d bet on it). I was at Nan Rothwell’s (our local pottery teacher) the other day and someone mentioned a potter who, at the end of his career, was very sorry that he had sold all his best work. We all agreed that this was the most likely thing to happen — we give away or sell our best, because who’d want to give or sell the stuff we aren’t proud of.
But if we don’t save at least something for ourselves, where are we at the end of the process? Yes, we’ve had the fun of making them, but it’s nice to be able to touch them once in a while too. It seems to me this has application in other areas of our life, too. It’s great to give and often necessary to sell, but we don’t want to give it all away, or sell it all! We don’t have to put ourselves first, but we ought to be somewhere in the food chain!
Melynn, these trays are incredible! They are all so unique and beautiful. I can see why they are so popular. Katy
**Also, I loved the video, I never get tired of seeing stories about potters.
What beautiful big trays you have my dear! I also agree that the first one looks like a lot like a snakeskin. I think it is cool you are using recyclable materials to make these pieces. I love it when humans find beneficial uses from discarded materials. Sometimes we just have to open our eyes and see the apple before us!
I do keep a few pieces for myself but not many. I mostly will sell any of my work. I have regretted in the past not selling work because I was too attached to it and now I am stuck with it, ha! I realized that I am always making new work and those pieces become my new favorite pieces. Keep on playing!
PS My wife just got her website up. Here is the URL http://www.lindaweatherly.com
Hi Walter, your wife’s artwork is beautiful. I was especially moved (to tears) by her breast cancer painting series. Thank you for sharing the link. The courage and faith you and Linda have demonstrated during her illness is astounding. I hope and pray she continues to regain her health.
These are absolutely beautiful! Will you be adding any of these to your shop? I don’t blame you, I would have kept the gold one myself.
Hi…yes, I hope to add a few trays to my shop, once I build up some inventory. They are the first to go at my craft shows. Thanks for the visit!
We really love ours – much better to see them IRL… Look forward to using it soon.