Belltower Bugler - Volume 5
Jess Out of Studio
I will be out of the studio this week Monday, July 25- Friday, July 29 and will not be replying to emails or texts. If you have an emergency, please email Micah HERE. Dr. Amy will be out of the studio for two weeks as well.
Self-Service Clay:
As many of you have found, the clay closet is now self-service. This means you can get your own clay at any time. On the door of the clay closet you will find a clipboard with a sheet to fill in with your name, date, and clay type. Please be sure to log it at the time that you get a bag of clay. I will charge your card when I am able to process the sheet. Remember that clay is $25/bag now. Porcelain is $40/bag.
Clay Restock
We are getting an order of clay this week on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. It should include the following:
Trinity White Stoneware: 500 lbs (looks gray, but fires to a light buff color, just like the clay we’ve been using) Our supplier has been out of our usual studio clay, so we got this for wheel throwing until we can get a restock of Standard 240 with grog
Standard 760: 200 lbs Sand Brown (does not have speckles that show up under glaze)
Standard 112: 400 lbs Speckled Brown
Laguna Speckled Buff: 500 lbs
Standard 710c: 300 lbs Dark Brown (looks red, but fires to a deep brown color)
Standard 213 Porcelain: 200 lbs (This particular clay body will be $40 per bag because it is significantly more expensive for us to purchase.)
Belltower Market: August 27
We will be having our first market for studio members to sell their pots on Saturday, August 27, 10am-4pm. Tables and tents will be located in front of the coffeeshop & studio, and on the coffeeshop patio. Members will not be charged a booth fee, but are asked to contribute 10% of whatever they earn at this show to the studio. If you are interested in participating, please contact Robin Marsh, who is coordinating the event HERE.
Key Fobs/Coffeeshop Hours
Due to the fact that our coffeeshop has changed its normal hours to 7am-3pm every day, we are providing a key fob for all members, and removing any additional fee for those who already have a key fob. If you do not currently have a key fob, you should find a blue button fob or a white key card on your shelf next time you visit the studio. Yay!
Underglazes:
We have expanded our underglaze offerings. You will find Amaco and Speedball underglazes available for your use on the gray cart near the front of the studio. Additional underglazes can be found in the first bookcase near the bottom in a cardboard box. We have also purchased some Clay Lady Clay Paints that are located on the same bookshelf. A sample tumbler with these is placed at the top of the sample bookshelf near the clay body samples. Clay Lady Clay Paints are intended to be used only on greenware. Underglazes can be used on moist or leather hard greenware or on bisque fired pots.
For those of you who are new to underglazes - think of them as a colored slip. They fire matte and most potters who use them add a clear glaze afterward. If you apply them at the greenware stage, you can allow them to dry, then bisque fire, as usual. After bisque, you can apply more underglaze (or not) and then add a clear glaze.
If you use them at the bisque stage, you can allow them to dry and then immediately clear glaze them. If you use this method, you may want to dip in clear for a bit longer or heat the piece first since they seem to have more trouble absorbing the clear glaze after they have absorbed the underglaze.
Sue’s White Glaze:
We have a new formula for our studio white glaze. I recommend an 8 second dip. A sample tumbler and test tiles are available on the glaze table.
Member Challenge: Cylinders
In the studio, you will see a large white board that should include member names. In addition, there are instructions for completing the challenge. When you finish, please mark next to your name with a star and let me know. You will receive a magnetic badge for your shelf to show the work you’ve done! I hope you will be able to collect these badges. We will be introducing a new challenge each month.
Member Meeting and Social Throw:
We will resume member meetings and social throws in the fall. They will be held the last Monday of each month.
Ongoing Clay Options
We will now be stocking the following mid-range clay bodies in our studio. For specific requests, please contact us HERE.
Sample clay bodies fired to glaze temperatures can be found on the top shelf of the bookcases near the front of the studio. Half of each tumbler is clear glazed, the other half left raw.
Basic Studio Clay Bodies:
- Standard 240 with grog (when available)
- Trinity 610-T White Stoneware (great for throwing or handbuilding)
- Standard 240 without grog
Speckled Clays:
- Laguna Speckled Buff
- Standard 112 Speckled Brown
Handbuilding:
- Laguna B-Mix (primarily for handbuilding, but is also good for throwing)
- Trinity 610-T White Stoneware (great for throwing or handbuilding)
- Standard 112 Speckled Brown
Alternate Color Clays:
- Standard 710 Dark Brown (really pretty with glazes that break over it)
- Standard 308 Red Brown (currently under consideration for re-order due to the level of mess this clay body makes)
- Standard 760 Sand Brown (box says speckled brown, but speckles do not show through glazes)
Belltower Bugler - Volume 4
Glazing: A Tough Cookie
By request, we have added “The Basics of Glazing” class on Wednesday, June 15, 6pm-8pm. It is $35 and includes a month of premium glazes for members.
Click HERE to read about what we’ll cover and to register.
Please be sure to place a kiln cookie (on the metal shelf in the kiln room) under any new or untested glazes you use in the studio. Kiln shelves are expensive and take a lot of time and effort to grind when pieces get stuck to them. I don’t want anyone to feel guilty if you’ve done this… I know I have done it myself - I just want to give information so that we can avoid it in the future!
Glaze rings from pieces that stuck to the kiln shelf.
Kiln cookies (bisque fired discs for placing under pieces with untested glazes).
We have new 5 gallon buckets of clear and white glazes. They are the same formula, but seem to be working better than the older buckets. I still plan to add a new clear glaze as soon as I can test and put together the glaze.
As many of you have heard, Amaco is discontinuing many of their dipping glazes, including five we use in the studio: Iron Luster, Blue Midnight, Smokey Merlot, Albany Slip, and Ironstone. I am currently testing replacement glazes. I am also considering replacing Pebble Beach and Mottled Blue with more stable glazes. Members will vote on replacement glazes when testing is complete. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for your input!
Lima Bean, Mandarin Orange, Winter Day, and Beeswax are being discontinued in the studio. We still have some Winter Day and Beeswax left and you’re welcome to use them until they’re gone. Members who like those glazes can purchase smaller quantities online through MidSouth Ceramics.
Studio Care:
With the separation between production and member studios, I need your help to keep the studio clean! Here are a few things you can do to help:
1) When you are finished using workspaces, please use a damp sponge to wipe them, including the wedging table and hand-building tables.
2) Sweep up pieces after trimming or carving.
3) Wipe out sinks, rinse out sponges, and place clean buckets on the shelf. Please do not leave buckets in the sink.
4) If you spill a lot of clay, slip or glaze , please grab a mop and clean up your spot.
5) Please put glaze buckets back under the tables when finished glazing.
6) Put up tools, wires, clay bags, towels, buckets, etc. before you leave the studio. Remember the Boy Scout rule - leave it better than you found it!
Thank you so much for helping me keep our studio clean! I’m so glad to work alongside all of you in our clay studio. If you have suggestions about taking care of our studio, please let me know!
Member Meeting and Social Throw:
Our next meeting and social throw will be on Monday, May 23 from 6pm-9pm. Please bring a snack or drink to share. We had about 12+ people last time, had a lot of fun and learned a lot from each other. We’ll announce the member challenge at this meeting! Get ready! As always, we’ll have a giveaway for a free bag of clay or month of premium glazing.
Paint & Sip:
We’d love to have your help painting the studio walls and improving the bathrooms 10am, Saturday, May 21. Christopher has promised to buy lunch (BBQ anyone?) and we’ll have mimosas so we can combine work and brunch vibes! Hope you can make it! Please let me know if you plan to come and if you have any dietary requests (e.g. vegan options, etc.).
Upcoming Class Schedule
Monday, May 16, 6pm-8pm - Throwing Larger Pots on the Wheel with Will Lescheck:
Wednesday, May 18, 6pm-8pm - Surface Decoration with Jess Tinsley
Wednesday, June 15, 6pm-8pm - The Basics of Glazing with Jess Tinsley
Wednesday, June 22, 6pm-8pm - Surface Decoration with Jess Tinsley
NEW! Monday/Wednesday Month-Long Wheel-Throwing Classes with Georgia Peeler
Tuesday/Thursday Month-Long Wheel Throwing Classes with Will Lescheck:
NEW! Monday/Wednesday Youth Wheel-Throwing Classes for 6th-12th grade students taught by Georgia Peeler
NEW! Wednesday Youth Make-a-Mug one-time classes taught by Georgia Peeler
A Month of Free Membership?
Hello everyone! As I’m sure you’ve noticed, our team has recently added some serious capacity in the production space that has allowed for some exciting developments for our entire studio community. Our custom handmade mug production is something that we want to involve you in as this aspect of our business grows.
You now have the opportunity to refer people/businesses to our production team and get a free month of membership if they place an order!
We sell mugs to organizations for 3 primary uses - retail sale, gifting, and fundraising; this is to all kinds of shops, non-profits, schools, real estate agents, etc. If you are connected with a business that has a strong brand, they may want custom handmade mugs! I will happily make a free custom sample mug for anyone who reaches out to me about it - you can give them my email or the contact form on the website below where they can list you as a reference!
https://www.belltowerpottery.com/wholesale-pottery
Thanks, Micah DempseyCo-Founder of Belltower Coffee and Studio:
Kids Camp - Coming Soon!:
1) If you have kids or friends with kids, get them signed up soon for kids camp. The first week begins May 30 and we’re filling up quickly.
2) Please be aware that our studio will be full of 24 children from 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday May 30-June 3 and June 6-10. I recommend that you come in early or late on those days!
Questions or Comments: Contact me HERE!
Belltower Bugler - Volume 3
What’s going on at Belltower Pottery Studio! For members and friends of Belltower Pottery.
Thank You!
If you’ve been to the studio lately, you know that the production team has moved to their new space and our membership space has expanded to include the front of the building. We have created a hand-building that all of our members are welcome to use.
I want to thank all of you for your patience with us during the move. We had a couple of hiccups, but overall, things went pretty smoothly and I’m so excited to have such a large space where we can expand and spread out!
Intermediate Classes!
Based on your requests, we are offering the following new, one-time classes:
Centering and Pulling Walls on the Wheel: 12pm, Sunday, April 24th, 2022, taught by Christopher Galbreath.
Click HERE to for more info or to register.
Throwing Larger Pots on the Wheel: 6pm, Monday, May 16, 2022, taught by Will Lescheck.
Click HERE for more info or to register.
Surface Decoration with Vicki Babb-Holt: TBA
And more coming soon!
Glazing
Glaze changes are coming soon! Since we have divided glaze use from the production team, we have the opportunity to consider which glazes will be available in the future. Our plan is to reduce the number of premium glazes, but to include all dip glazes in the basic membership, so that there is not an additional cost for specific glazes. However, this means that not every glaze will be available if it isn’t popular with other members and some may be discontinued. The good news is that you can still purchase glazes for yourself - I would recommend a pint size to begin, unless you use it a lot. Please be sure to run any new glazes (or clays) by me first to make sure they are the correct type for the temps we fire to.
I will be testing some new glazes and will look for your input in the studio. There will be a place to vote on your preferred glazes. Look for that to show up soon!
Social Throw and Member Meetings
Monday, April 25th, 6pm-9pm: This month, we’ll have our member meeting on the same day as our social throw. I know everyone is pretty busy, so this will allow us to get some business out of the way first and then enjoy our time together, building our clay community! Please bring something to share - it could be a snack plate or a bottle of wine - whatever sounds delicious to you!
Help Save Our Drains!
If you have not already been through re-orientation to learn how to use the bucket system, please get in touch with Jess to schedule a time to meet up OR catch Jess in the studio if your schedules happen to coincide.
Buying Clay:
Member clay is now located on the bottom level of the membership shelves with a small blue sign over it. Clay sales will be on the honor system, and we’ll keep track of inventory. Feel free to grab your own clay, but please be sure to text me or email when you do so that I can charge you for it.
Belltower Summer Camps: Please Share With Your Friends!
We have created a Facebook event that you can share with your friends, or just pass along the link! Every class sale helps us to keep Belltower Pottery Studio running and expanding! We hope to one day have a gas kiln, opportunities for internships, a larger campus and more!
May 30-June 3, 2022: Kids Pottery Camp (Click HERE for more info.)
June 6-10, 2022: Kids Harry “Pottery” Camp (Click HERE for more info.)
We’re telling you this for two reasons:
1) If you have kids or know someone who has kids who would enjoy our camps, we encourage you to sign them up, or share the info on social media or directly with friends. All the info is in the links above.
2) We want you to be aware that the studio will be full of children during the day for two weeks. May 30- June 3 and June 6-10, 2022. They will be done by 4pm, so you may prefer to be in the studio during the evening or early in the morning.
April Calendar (& Beyond):
Tuesdays in April: Month-Long Wheel-Throwing Class (Sold Out)
Wednesdays in April: Intro to Hand-Building with Betsy Young
Thursdays in April: Month-Long Wheel-Throwing Class (Sold Out)
Fridays in April: Beginner Mug Making Class (one-time class)
Saturday Afternoons and Evenings in April: Intro to Wheel-Throwing (one-time class)
Centering and Pulling Walls - Intermediate Wheel-Throwing Class:
12pm, Sunday, April 24, 2022
Taught by Christopher Galbreath. Click HERE to register.Raku Firing: 2pm-6pm, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Sign up with Will Lescheck, sign up sheet in the kiln room. $10 per piece fired. Bring your own bisque-fired piece and any supplies you need to create textures and patterns.
Member Meeting & Social Throw: Monday, April 25, 2022, 6pm-9pm (or later) Bring your favorite snack or drink!
Throwing Larger Pots - Intermediate Wheel-Throwing Class: 6pm, Monday, May 16, 2022. Taught by Will Lescheck. Click HERE to register.
May 30-June 3, 2022: Kids Pottery Camp (Click HERE to register.)
June 6-10, 2022: Kids Harry “Pottery” Camp (Click HERE to register)
Sign up for classes and camps online HERE!
Replies, Ideas, Questions, and Help:
Belltower Bugler - Volume 2
Summer camps, handbuilding classes, clay supplies, and much more…
Studio News
Good news: We have a door! The door to the new production space has been installed, and changes are happening to get the new space ready for our master potters to work. We expect them to start moving by the end of the month. This means we will have extra space in the studio and we’re thinking we’ll add a hand-building space. This will be just in time for our new month-long, progressive class, taught by studio member, Betsy Young: Intro to Hand-building. Here is a photo of Betsy’s beautiful work that she’s developed through her years of experience in ceramics. You can see more on the website listing for the class HERE. The class will be held on Wednesdays in April and will be limited to only 8 students, so get your spot right away!
Member Meeting
We want to connect with and hear from our members, so we are planning to start having a member meeting once a month. After the meeting, everyone is welcome to stick around and work on their projects or just chat and socialize. We hope it will build an even stronger clay community with members building into each other and sharing knowledge.
The first meeting will be Monday, March 21, at 7pm. We’ll probably run for about an hour and then hang out and socialize and/or work on our projects until people need to sleep. There will be food and drinks! Feel free to bring a snack or adult beverage to share!
Help Save Our Drains!
One important part of this first member meeting will be to talk about our new process for dealing with reclaim, saving our drains from constantly getting clogged and flooding the studio. Those who are not able to attend the meeting will be asked to attend a make-up session for a re-orientation with Jess Tinsley (Membership Coordinator) to go over the fine details of this new bucket/reclaim system and make sure everyone is handling clay so that the least amount goes down the drains.
Member Clay & Supply Order
Mid-South Ceramics, based in Nashville, TN, usually supplies our clay, glazes, and other clay needs. Jess is planning a trip to Mid-South Ceramics March 22, 2022 and would be happy to pick up any supplies you’ve ordered, at your request. You can place an order, then choose “Pickup” at checkout and give Jess the order info so she can pick up for you. Click here for a link to the site.
Since there have been some clay shortages, you may want to consider ordering some extra clay. You could also consider ordering cone 6 speckled clay, colored clay, etc.
Belltower Summer Camps: Save the Date!
This year, we’ll be having two weeks of summer camps for kids! The dates are:
May 30-June 3, 2022: Kids Pottery Camp (Click HERE for more info.)
June 6-10, 2022: Kids Harry “Pottery” Camp (Click HERE for more info.)
We’re telling you this for two reasons:
1) If you have kids or know someone who has kids who would enjoy our camps, we encourage you to sign them up, or share the info on social media or directly with friends. All the info is in the links above.
2) We want you to be aware that the studio will be full of children during the day for two weeks. May 30- June 3 and June 6-10, 2022. They will be done by 4pm, so you may prefer to be in the studio during the evening or early in the morning.
Member Challenges
This one is just what it sounds like: We’ll soon be introducing member challenges that will be manageable for you to work at your own speed. When you complete each challenge, you’ll open a new “level” and level up your work. You’ll also receive a badge for your shelf to show your honor of completion and level of competence!
Social Throw
For all those pottery extroverts out there (just kidding, introverts can attend too!), we will be hosting a “Social Throw” a couple of times a month as an opportunity for people to throw at the same time. Feel free to join us or avoid us in the studio during these times!
Evening Social Throw: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 6pm-9pm (or later)
Afternoon Social Throw: Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 12pm-2pm
March Calendar (& Beyond):
Social Throw: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 6pm-9pm (or later) Bring your favorite snack or drink!
Order clay supplies from Mid-South Ceramics before March 11, and contact Jess Tinsley regarding pickup.
Member Meeting: Monday, March 21, 7pm
Social Throw: Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 12pm-2pm. Bring your favorite snack or drink!
Raku Firing: 2pm-6pm, Sunday, March 27, 2022. Sign up with Will Lescheck, sign up sheet in the kiln room. $10 per piece fired. Bring your own bisque-fired piece and any supplies you need to create textures and patterns.
March Month Long Class: Sold Out, Tuesdays and Thursdays in March, 6pm-9pm
Intro to Hand-building with Betsy Young: Wednesdays in April, 6pm-9pm. (Click HERE to register.)
Mug Making Class: Friday nights, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Intro to the Wheel Classes: Saturdays at 3:30pm and 6:30pm.
May 30-June 3, 2022: Kids Pottery Camp (Click HERE to register.)
June 6-10, 2022: Kids Harry “Pottery” Camp (Click HERE to register)
Sign up for classes and camps online HERE!
Replies, Ideas, Questions, and Help:
Contact: Jess Tinsley, Membership Coordinator
Email: jess@belltowercoffeeandstudio.com
Text: 865-363-6426
Belltower News - Volume 1
February 2022 Belltower Studio Updates
Studio News:
Exciting changes are coming to Belltower Coffeehouse and Studio! Due to the increasing demand for Belltower mugs, we are expanding to include a separate space for our production potters to work on Belltower products. Because our production potters will be working in a separate, private space, it will provide extra room in our member studio for expanded classes and exciting improvements. We expect the production potters to move to the new space around May or June 2022.
Please also be sure to read through to the end of this newsletter for new and updated info about what’s happening in the studio.
Important Info:
To purchase clay, please contact Jess Tinsley, our new Membership Coordinator, as she will be solely responsible for clay purchases. Please be sure to let Jess know in advance or during her working hours (listed below) and she will charge you and put clay on your shelf. You can contact Jess by text at 865 363 6426 or by email at jess@belltowercoffeeandstudio.com
Meet Jess Tinsley, Our Membership Coordinator
To maintain the studio and to offer more opportunities for our pottery studio members, we are happy to announce that Jess Tinsley will be gradually assuming the role of Membership Coordinator. She will be your point of contact regarding anything membership related - invoicing, membership levels, etc. She is happy to help you get clay and supplies, answer your questions about kiln firings, glazes, schedules, classes, and help in any other way.
Artist Statement: “Jess Tinsley, a native of Memphis, is a multidisciplinary artist, focusing primarily on painting and ceramics. Filled with visual movement and fluidity, Jess’ artwork expresses hope for something better. It invites the viewer to think about living in the tension of a world bound by the things we can touch and see but inspired and changed by the things we cannot see. Jess has five children and incorporates five lines into much of her work."
You will also receive a bi-monthly newsletter from Belltower communicating news, class information, updates, and the hours Jess will be available each week.
Contact Info for Jess:
jess@belltowercoffeeandstudio
Cell Phone (please text): 865-363-6426.
Jess will be regularly available in the studio: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-3pm or 4pm.
She will also be available some evenings and weekends - to be determined.
Upcoming Classes & Events:
Intro to the Wheel:
One session class: Every Saturday: February 5, 12, 19, 26. 3:30pm & 6:30PM
Mug Making (for beginners):
Every Friday, 6:30pm
Month-Long Class (for beginners):
February Classes - Sold Out
March Classes - Sold Out
April Classes - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6-9pm
For Members Only:
Classes coming soon!
Register online Click HERE.
Raku Firing with Will:
Last Sunday of the month. $10/piece. Sign up in kiln room.
Coming Soon!
Handbuilding and members only (intermediate and advanced) classes!
Water Situation/Bucket System:
Due to the plumbing problems in the studio, we’ve moved to a bucket system for handling water and reclaim. We’re hoping that this will eliminate the drain clogs and the clay sediment in the pipes. Here’s the process for handling it the new way:
1) Double check your bucket for tools
2) Please put clay clumps in the reclaim buckets on the floor in front of the sink.
3) Dump top layer of dirty water into the sink.
4) Rinse sediment out of your bucket in the first bucket, second rinse in the back bucket
5) Only dirty water (no clay or grit) down the sink drain, please.
Pottery Signature:
If you change your signature, please be sure to let Jess know so we know where to put your pieces when we unload the kiln. You can email, text, or tell Jess in person. Thanks so much!
Raku Firings:
Will Lescheck will be offering Raku firings on the last Sunday of every month. Each piece will cost $10 to fire and will need to already be bisque fired. A sign up sheet will be in the kiln room. Please be sure to sign up early if you would like to get a spot.
Lost & Found:
Lost and found ceramic items are unidentified pieces that have usually been bisque fired or glaze fired and do not have a distinguishable member signature on them. Please check the lost and found shelf in the kiln room on a regular basis to make sure none of your work goes missing! If not picked up, pieces may be disposed of within a month.
Drying Cabinets:
Please be sure not to leave your pieces in the drying cabinets for more than a week. When you place your work in the cabinets, please include a note with your name or signature and the date. Thanks so much!
Danger!:
Sharp tools that get dumped into reclaim clay buckets can cause serious injuries when our potters stick their hands in the clay to move and wedge it. This can prevent them from working with their hands - and doing their jobs. Please be SUPER careful to remove your tools before emptying your buckets. Thank you so much!