April
Welcome to my vision of Pennsylvania Redware. I hand make this pottery in the traditions of the Pennsylvania German potters.
Pottery is meant to be touched and you can feel the design scratched into the surface of my sgraffito pieces. My tulips, birds and hearts are inspired by Pennsylvania German folk art of all kinds. I use a rolling pin, molds for shaping the clay into plates and bowls, a coggle wheel to decorate the edges and handcrafted tin cookie cutters for the ornaments. The pieces are fired in an electric kiln rather than the traditional wood-fired kiln.
I am a Master Artisan with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and listed in the Directory of Traditional American Crafts presented by Early American Life magazine.
My favorite Pennsylvania German saying is "Lieben und Geliebt zu werden Ist die Gröst Freud auf Erden” Translation = "To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth"
News
New YouTube video
"Your Berks Craftsmen" recorded via Zoom - July 2020
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* Pottery Classes / Workshops *
Learn about and make your own Pennsylvania German Redware.
Classes are tailored for age group and private instruction is available.
Offering classes held on my patio in late spring.
In the future I will again offer classes in my studio -
One day sgraffito class and a two day redware class.
More detail is available on the Workshops page
I am offering sgraffito classes (in late spring) on my patio - good weather required. We would be outside where we can sit more than 6 feet apart without masks. I have room for 2 students that are in the same bubble, because you will sit next to each other. I will be offering heart ornaments, 7 and 10 inch plates. Details on the Workshop page.
Scheduled for 2021 in Harleysville and TBA in Lancaster
Learn the art of scratching on clay to create your special plate - an ancient technique the Pennsylvania German potters' used to decorate their fancy pieces of pottery.
All materials, tools and idea books are provided.
May 15th at the Mennonite Heritage Center, Yoder Road, Harleysville, PA Sign up here
September 18th at the Mennonite Heritage Center, Yoder Road, Harleysville, PA Sign up here
I expect to schedule classes at the Landis Valley Museum outside of Lancaster, PA once the site reopens.
* Early American Life Magazine *
I am included in the 2020 Directory of Traditional American Crafts.
My Peace Dove ornament is available for purchase through EAL beginning October 2020. It is a limited addition and each ornament is signed and numbered
* The Studio *
The studio is located on the outskirts of Macungie, Pennsylvania
The original portion of this one and a half story house was built in the mid-1700's; before the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
