Stoneflower Pottery           Wellsville, New York Microwave Safe, Dishwasher Safe, Lead-Free
Stoneware clay stamped with a flower - tagged with a story    by Elaine Hardman  elaine(at)stoneflowerpottery.com     Click Here for Map

Throwing pots at the wheel is a wonderful way to spend time.  The transformation from ball of clay to vase or bowl remains as amazing now as it was when I first tried in 1973 at the Roberson Center for the Arts in Binghamton, New York. I have since studied at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Pennsylvania and at Alfred State College with Pete Nye and, more recently, at Alfred University with John Gill. My first glazes were developed in the 1980s under the direction of Pete Nye.  These are Oatmeal and Cinnamon, Celery Soup, Blueberry Stain and Burnt Pancakes.  All are lead free and food safe. Additional formulas were created in 1999 and 2001 at  Alfred University.  The basic formula for these glossy glazes was in Clay Times Magazine - brought to my attention by Susan Parrish (www.susanparrishpottery.com).   These glazes are Raspberry, Strawberry-Peach, Vanilla Tapioca, Blue Hare's Fur and Lime Tapioca.

Carol Seidman helped me create Geeze Louise.  Based on Albany Slip, a high-silica, brown clay, Geeze Louise gives a blue, green, brown glaze with great variety and interest.  Lately, Louise has been paired with Blueberry and Raspberry for some wonderful, mottled results.

The newest glaze is Marty's Butterscotch.  It pairs well with every glaze I have.  On pink, it turns white.  On Geeze Louise it turns into golden flecks. With Celery Soup or any of the blues it just gives the glaze depth.  Marty's work is totally different from mine - totally stunning as is the gift of this glaze formula. 

I use my pottery in the microwave and put it in the dishwasher without reservation.  I do not put any pottery into my oven or on a direct heat source such as a stove burner or a wood stove top.  Bowls, platters and covered jars are intended as serving pieces.

My work is available at The Gallery on Main Street in Alfred and at The Portage Hill Gallery in Westfield, New York on Route 394.  Westfield is just a few miles beyond the Chautauqua Institution.  This gallery, an award winning fixture in the area for over twenty years, is always worth the drive.  Visit www.portagehillgallery.com for more information.

Guests are also welcome to visit the studio with hours by chance or appointment. Click HERE for Google map.

Firings are made on an irregular schedule.  Items can be personalized with names (piggy banks, mugs, bowls. plates) and such orders can be filled in two to four weeks.

This web site was designed for visitors to the Allegany Artisan Studio Tour which is held annually on the weekend after Columbus Day in October.  There are 31 members of the Allegany Artisans now and we all open our studios for demonstrations and sales during the Artisan weekend.  

For the tour, Rick and I put my pottery on display in our kitchen as well as in what was once my sewing room and I demonstrate at 10, 12, 2 and 4.    

If you would like to be put on a mailing list for the Artisan Tour catalog, please contact  elaine(at)stoneflowerpottery.com or AlleganyArtisans@gmail.com -  Please put Studio Tour in the subject line to help me filter out junk mail.

For more information about Allegany Artisans explore www.alleganyartisans.com. 

Upcoming Events:

September 19-20  Cuba Garlic Festival – Artisans Alley - the big tent

October 17-18   22nd Allegany Artisans Studio Tour - Saturday & Sunday 10-5

At 3180 Riverside Drive, Wellsville - 585 593 6345 - Hot Cider and homemade cookies and brownies inside and pottery demonstrations – modifying thrown forms right in the kitchen - visit, look, learn, and maybe decide that one of my pieces of pottery was made just for you - personalized plates, bowls, mugs and banks made to order. This year Jim Horn and HM Bateman will be right here with me with their marvelous mirrors and those art-to-wear pins that make everyone smile. Stop and visit all of us and find a cookie or two. Demos in handbuilding inside and wheel throwing on request.

November  -  No Shows scheduled so I’ll be at home in my studio.
Feel free to stop by and look at my Pottery Showroom. 585 593 6345 

December 4-5  Holiday Studio Show in Belmont - Friday & Saturday 10-4

Friday and Saturday 10 till 4 both days at the green church hall on Route 19 in the village

Gift wrap is the norm at this show so you can go home with the shopping and wrapping finished and you'll have handmade, one of a kind gifts that will recipients will use (and remember you for) for years or decades.  I’ll be there again with my pals, Peg www.secondwindjewelry.com, Margaret Shulock with her calendars and note cards and, as always, Green Circle Grove.  Arrangements with other artisans are pending.  

From Elaine: 

I "sign" my stoneware pottery with a flower stamp, actually an antique button.  I've used this button for 30 years and can't remember where I found it but my husband, Rick, suggested it would be a neat and tidy signature.  Of course, it's small and it would be in danger of being lost or reprocessed into clay so it has to be embedded into something larger - like a chair spindle, painted green to stand out in the gooey clay. 

My work is high fired, functional, stoneware pottery, glazed in whites blues, greens, raspberry and a deep blue-green called Geeze Louise.  It's all safe for your dishwasher and microwave.  I make bowls (square and round), cookie jars, piggy banks, nightlights, Mommy vases, mugs, platters and a variety of kitchen items.   Most of what I make has a sprig attached - a clay version of a bit of lace.

PAST EVENTS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE ON THE SCHEDULE FOR 2010

May 8-9  Spring Show in Belmont - Friday 11-6, Saturday 10-4         

The spring show that was once in Peg Cherre’s gardens on Pangburn Road in Friendship grew and moved last year to Elaine’s studio will this year involve work from 7 artisans in and around the big purple Victorian home near the Courthouse in Belmont on Friday & Saturday, May 8 & 9, 2009. The show is free; the work is fun and it’s in time to support local artisans and their families while you find a special Mother’s Day gift

What is Mother’s Day without Mommy Vases? These mini vases have special gift bags with a selection of stories: Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Friend, Dad – and the list goes on. Find interesting bowls, cookie jars, mugs and other whimsical and functional pottery.  Her lead-free glazes and pin frogs are non-toxic and the pottery is microwave and dishwasher safe. Elaine, an Allegany Artisan, says that knowing that her pottery becomes a part of family traditions is the very best part of being a potter.

Also find Green Circle Grove (soaps, jewelry, bags and purses), Peg Cherre’s jewelry and weaving as well as Kay Brooks’ pottery, Kathy Huey’s stained glass and Joan Sinclair’s needlework.

June 13  Alumni Weekend in Alfred - Saturday 10-4

On the quad next to the administration building on Main Street in Alfred, open to the public, 10-4.

July 4  Lavender Festival 2009 - Saturday 10-4

The second annual Lavender Festival will be held Saturday, July 4th, in Angelica’s Park Circle from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. What started out as a vision of lavender growing all over Allegany County by a few local women to stimulate new business built around lavender products, tourism, and pick-your-own farms, has now become a thriving project with no end to its growth in sight.

In addition to my pottery there will be work by other artisans, bakers, crafters and also local food products including Lavender wine from The Angelica Winery.

July 18  Americana Folk Art and Music Fair in Ellicottville - Saturday 10-5

On Saturday July 18th from 10-5, artisans of all types will be in the Ellicottville Town Square showing you how to weave, spin, carve, paint, sketch and sculpt. The ever-popular hay wagon and tractor rides will take on a tour of the village passing the unique petting zoo, carvers and the art show. Also find an Antique Fair, an auction, homemade chicken BBQ, an operating saw mill cutting logs into boards and beehive demonstration. This is a family event for all ages organized to benefit the Rotary Foundation for Youth and the Ellicottville Historical Society.

August 8  The Hornell Summer Arts Festival - Saturday 10-4

Broadway Mall, Hornell, NY - Sponsored by the Hornell Area Arts Council.

This will be the first year for this event designed to support the efforts of the Hornell Area Arts Council.

Other links: